223 Contender Loads

[rdb8847]

Getting ready to load my first batch for a new barrel purchase. Looking at using some components I have on hand. H335 and the 40 gr V Max. I have manuals with T/C loads listed but thought I would ask if anyone had a pet load that is working good out of a 14 barrel. Thanks !!

 

[WVRJ]

H335 is a good choice.I like the 40 grain V Max or the 50 grain Sierra Blitz.I think the lighter bullets work better out of the 14" barrel.I've thought about either Benchmark or IMR 8208XBR in mine,but they're too precious to use except in my bolt action target rifles.I've also got some good results out of Varget,but it too is hard to come by for a lot of shooters.LGS here in WV has had several 8 pounders of it on the shelves for a month now.I'm gonna scarf up another one for myself in the next week or two,that'll give me three stuck back.I'm kinda padded up well in all powders except 8208,so I'll let it sit on the shelf at the store for a couple weeks before I buy it so the other guy has a chance.Except 8208,when I see it,I buy it.

 

[williepete]

what is your twist rate?

 

[Richard Jones]

I shot H335 out of a 14" XP .223 years ago. Great accuracy, also a great fireball! Really cool shooting it at night, looked like a flaming basketball coming out of that barrel... Sorry, can't remember what the load was.

 

[Iowa Fox]

I have a pet 15" stainless 223 factory Encore barrel. It shoots most loads pretty good. Here is what I have settled on.

50 grain bullet

11.5 grains of Blue Dot
24.5 grains of H322

I probably shoot 5 to 1 Blue Dot over H322.

 

[HotkavaASF]

Ditto on the Blue Dot with a 50gr Hornady varmint bullet. I try to keep the powder towards the back of the case when chambering and keep this in mind while firing to minimize hang fires. The load has almost no recoil and is very accurate out to 200 yards. At 100 it holds around an inch in my 14 ss bull.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

So, what makes Contender loads different than any other 223 load?

 

[lb-ft]

I’d try H322 or AA2015 if you can. H335 was always accompanied by too much boom and flash for my liking, and this was in a .222 TC (less powder than your .223)

I’d try the very fastest powders listed in the load manuals

 

[Richard Jones]

So, what makes Contender loads different than any other 223 load?

14" barrel vs 22"+??

 

[markm87]

Agree on the twist rate being critical, AND H335 being obnoxious. I keep a pound of that stuff on hand for night shoots where I want to put on a show (flash city).

From the AR-15 realm, a short barrel works best with a 77gr OTM if the twist rate will support it. We'll run 77 gr OTM out of a 10.5" AR well past 500 yards with a spotter. If the twist rate is too slow, the VMAX bullets in the 50-55 gr range are always great.