223 reloads for my slow twist m77 1-12

[chevytruck_83]

I'm pretty new to reloading so bare with me. I recently aquirred a ruger m77 mk ii matte stainless with bull barrel. I did research and was sure it was 1-9 twist till it was shooting like 5 inch 50 yard groups. So just today i got out with some 55 grain and 40 grain factory loads. 55 held about 1 1/2 inch at 100 and the 40 had a couple half inch at 100 3 shot groups. Naturally im happy with that. Before i go buying bulk 40 grain bullets though Does anyone have specific loads that work best for them in this particular rifle. I've read it is very picky. Please be specific. I'm again very new to reloading. Thanks, nick. O yea. Mostly target shooting from 100-300 for fun.

 

[LR_Shooter]

In my Rem 700 in 1:12 I use 26.8 gr Varget and 55 gr V-Max, very consisten 0.25 - 0.3" @100 yards

 

[chevytruck_83]

I see a some good reviews on the barnes 36 grain. Are these capable out to 300

 

[LR_Shooter]

here is one using 55 gr V-Max

 

[chevytruck_83]

im just a little worried that it may be to heavy for mine since the rem 55 shot terrible.

 

[LR_Shooter]

this is Rem 700 varmint 1:12 twist factory barrel, I tried 50 and 52 gr bullets, but I still come back to 55 V-Max, 52 gr A-Max shoots about the same, also 55 gr Nosler BT

 

[Jayman_10x]

I'm pretty new to reloading so bare with me. I recently aquirred a ruger m77 mk ii matte stainless with bull barrel. I did research and was sure it was 1-9 twist till it was shooting like 5 inch 50 yard groups. So just today i got out with some 55 grain and 40 grain factory loads. 55 held about 1 1/2 inch at 100 and the 40 had a couple half inch at 100 3 shot groups. Naturally im happy with that. Before i go buying bulk 40 grain bullets though Does anyone have specific loads that work best for them in this particular rifle. I've read it is very picky. Please be specific. I'm again very new to reloading. Thanks, nick. O yea. Mostly target shooting from 100-300 for fun.

ChevyTruck,

I own the same rifle as you have. I use 50 gr. Hornady V-Max stoked with 25.7 gr. of Ramshot's TAC. Just an incredible load - if I do my part she'll hold 1/2" at 200 meters! That load/rifle combination is devastating on prairie dogs. I am traveling at the moment and can't recall exactly what my overall length is, something like 2.550". In fact I'm taking her to our annual MT prairie dog pilgrammage next weekend to spread her wings.... can't wait.

Those M77 223 1:12 twists are true shooters.

-Jason
Minnesota

 

[37Lincoln1]

I have the same Ruger rifle, I've been getting real tight groups (sub.25") @100 with 52 SMK or A-Max with loads of W748 25.8 grains in Win/Hornady/Lapua or 26.1 grains in R/P.

200 Yards with 52 A-Max, not so good with factory 55's in box target . . .

 

[chevytruck_83]

Awesome info. Thats what i like to hear. I have a fixed weaver t36 on it so i'll be able to milk the accuracy out of it.

 

[chevytruck_83]

I got out to the range with 50 grain v max and 40 grain v max's loaded with 26grains of varget. Length on the 50 was 2.24 40 was 2.20. Loaded into new remington brass with federal match primers. Best i managed was 1.25 inch at 100. Kinda hoped for better. Especially since the fiocchi 40 gr v max held a couple half moa groups. Do you think the ram shot tac would help tighten this up? Jayman did you happen to come across what length works that well for you? At this point i may just buy another box of fiocchi and try its coal. Right now my hunting rifle rem 700 vtr in 308 is whooping What i hoped to become my target rifle.

 

[LR_Shooter]

if you have something to measure bullet seating depth by ogive, then I can recommend this: 25.5 gr Varget, 52gr A-Max seated 1.925" ogive, or 25.7gr Varget 55 gr V-Max seated 1.895" ogive. I had good result using this loads 0.9@300 yards all away to 4"@500 yards. Light bullet got low BC wind is a factor for long shots. Also I use LC brass sorted by weight, annealed and neck turned, bullets also sorted by weight and ogive, primers I use CCI 400, nothing wrong with them for 223. Do not use crimp!

 

[necchi]

I'm pretty new to reloading so bare with me.

Best I managed was 1.25 inch at 100. Kinda hoped for better.

And you'll get there.
All of the powders you've mentioned, and the bullets, will produce the groups your after. There isn't really a single load and bullet that will do it.
I'm still new to loading with only a few years under my belt, so I remember well my beggining's. My groups weren't those magic cloverleafs I wanted either.

It took more study (alot of reading and questions on forums like this, and advice from experianced loaders)(some of that advice was worthless too!) for me to develop the better techniques and attention to details at the bench I needed too finally start dialing those babies in.

I took buying more tools, , to find out my biggest trouble was run-out caused by my die setup and my clumbsy hands on the lever, I needed tools to adjust seating depth properly. And more, It was alot of little things all piled together.

In short, my first few months worth of big groups weren't from a poor choice of bullet an powder it was actually me just learning (and I'm still learning). So hang in there man, it'll start coming together soon,,

 

[chevytruck_83]

Thats exactly where im at. Seems some guns work with a wider range of loads then others. My rem 700 vtr loves just about anything i throw at it. I guess This picky m77 will in the end make me a better reloader.

 

[CZ93X62]

We were ALL new reloaders at some point in time. I've been assembling shotshells since 1971 and metallics since 1976, and I still learn things pretty frequently.

Keep in mind.......the original Old School M-16/M-16A1 used a 1-14" twist, and shot the M-193 55 grain FMJ/BT pretty capably. The fixture standard was 2 MOA for M-193 ammo. Not spectacular, but a 1-14" twist kept them point-first.

1-12" is the twist I'll select for my next AR upper, a 24" rat strafer in 223/Wylde. The 69 grain and heavier .224" bullets have about priced themselves out of consideration for varminting--unless we hit the lottery. The 50-55 grain bullets are more reasonably-priced, and will do nicely on varmints. I would try a number of bullets in that weight range before throwing in the towel--and the Sierra 52 or 53 grain Matchkings would be my first stop on the road.

Of course, those 40 grainers DO show some early promise.

I had a brief chat with the Sierra reps at the SHOT Show earlier this year. FWIW, they sell more bullets in the 52-55 grain weight range than all other .224" bullet weights/styles combined. Lotta folks still like 'em.

 

[ava123]

yes, the Ruger rifles, at least any that I have shot, and reloaded for, do well with the lighter bullets, and fast powders. I have shot one hole groups using Berger 52's, fired by H322. any thing heavier like and 60 grain bullet just wobbles around. Try the 52's, they are cheap enough and will give you great accuracy, especially with H322 or such. I spend a little more for accuracy in the field.