223 load for Heavy AR

[Scotsman1]

Building my son an AR in 223 Wylde.
1:8 Twist. Heavy 24"
Would "like" to run 69-77's SMK's (Have MANY left over from bolt guns)
Since he will be using it for Prairie Dogs and Yotes, he's NOT getting my Lapua brass!
So, probably going to be using LC brass with 205's

I've got all the powders, especially 133 and XBR
Any advice on a starting a close work-up for the 77's ?

Thanks Boys!

Scotsman

 

[mac86951]

My 69s loved 25gr varget (work up), and my 77 likes the following: 22gr ar-comp, 24.2gr N140, 23.8gr varget, 24.1gr cfe223, and well you get the picture; 2.260 col. I'll try what's availabke locally and it all works well. Watch for case head swipe, and try a faster powder, or adjustable gas block.

A 300y ladder test should be far enough to show good accuracy nodes.

-Mac

 

[chuckbuster243]

23.2 imr8208xbr with 77's mag length shoots awsome in mine. But as always work up to it. Matt

 

[Baddog0302]

Contact Sierra and ask for their AR data, they will send you a file containing AR data. The AR data covers all their 224 bullets up to the 80 SMK, BUT that one should be loaded "single shot"
Hornady has a pamphlet with their "service rifle" data 68 & 75 gn data. The 75 & 80 A Max also need single loading also
Sierra lists VVN 140 as their "most accurate". I'm trying to find AA 2520 to try in my AR.

 

[bobcat93]

Personally I've used the xbr in my ar-15 and I'm not impressed. I shoot 69 gr. Hpbt or 77 gr. Hpbt with the 77 gr. Bullets I use 22.9 gr. IMR Xbr powder.
I stick with alliant reloader 15. I like it better then varget, xbr, and everything else I've tried I get very good accuracy with 24.9 gr reloader 15 , Remington 7 1/2 br primer, 77gr. Nosler custom competition bullet, LC once fired brass from Graff and sons. I have a 26" Krieger HV barrel 1-8 twist

Remember: just cause it works in mine, doesn't mean it will work in yours. Work up to this load

 

[searcher]

The Match Kings would not be my choice for the smaller varmints such as prairie dogs due to the thicker jackets which might affect ricochets and slow opening upon impact - but I know what you mean about being nice to use up what you have. I have a 24" Shilen heavy-barrel 1-9" A/R, as well as a 18" Criterion 1-8" w/Wylde chamber and both of these guns favor the exact same load - something that is rare for me. It is 25.3 grains of 8208XBR in Lake City cases, 50 grain V-Max bullets, Tula .223 primers (or Federal A/R match). I get 3,094 f.p.s. in the 24" tube and well under 1/2" MOA. The 18" tube a bit less velocity but just as good accuracy. I love the 8208 powder but never had the best accuracy using the heavy bullets - my guns all favored Reloader 15 or Varget. With those lighter bullets, 8208 can be REALLY good.

 

[DHD]

23.2 imr8208xbr with 77's mag length shoots awsome in mine. But as always work up to it. Matt

This is my 18" rifles best load. I haven't run it over the chrono, but @ 600 I need 17.75 MOA.

FWIW, I use either a 205 or 205M, LC10 brass (the year don't matter, it's just what I use most), and believe it or not, a Nosler CC 77 grain that I point @ 2.265" (or as long as my mag will hold). I have taken this to 600 yards and am surprised each time. As I'm getting older, I don't believe in Santa Claus or .5 MOA AR's (consistently that is), but this rifle/load makes me want to believe that reindeer really can fly........

Also, 24 Re15, 450, and a pointed 77SMK @ 2.265" in LC10 brass shoots very well @ 600 in that rifle. This load shoots a little flatter @ 17 MOA.

Back off of these about .5 grains to start. Both recipes are safe in my gun, but they are as far as I'll go.

 

[dieselmudder]

I tried identical loads using Sierra 77 TMK, and Nosler 77 CC, same velocity, same powder, same COAL. out to 400, side by side. The Nosler shot about 4-5 inches flatter at 400. The TMK had about 4 inches less wind drift at 400. Nosler groups were slightly tighter. both using 23.5-23.7 grains of Reloader 15 about 1650 FPS

I should mention, 20 inch, stainless bull barrel, 1-8 twist. .223 wylde camber.

 

[A_Gamehog]

You want to try

XBR 23-24.5 Hot in some rifles!
LC brass
69's
CCi 450's thicker cup and lower es.

Very nice PD load, it "Pops" the dogs and skins them out to 200+ yards in heavy winds. Very impressive expansion on small game. Out past 300 it's just a punched hole but dead-dog. The 77's never open up
for special viewing , (if you catch my drift) eg. flips, 1/2 body misted, heads flying....

The 60 V-Max is a good bullet with Varget or R-15 if you can find them.

 

[fredo]

For ~600yd plinking, my 20" 1:8tw (Shilen Select Match) Dtech really liked 24.5gr TAC behind a 75grBTHP. This bullet is a great performer @ mag length for semi-auto feed, as an AR is posta be run Liked it mo' betta than the 69gr SMK. TAC meters wonderfully and bet it'd work well with the 77, too...

For killin' coyotes, i loaded 65gr Gameking w/25.2gr H335. Right outta Sierra's manual.

Both loads seated to mag length (2.258"), Win brass/WSR primers.

 

[Albany Mountain]

Load 24 grains RE15 for a starting load and it will be the last load you need to experiment with.

 

[Shiyfire]

Load 24 grains RE15 for a starting load and it will be the last load you need to experiment with.

right on the money