223 Varmint Load Help

[Charlie-NY]

I just started shooting my brother's 112 BVSS in .223. The rifle is supposed to be a 9 twist but it actually measures out to an 8.5" twist which could accommodate most bullets up to about an 80gr.
While the Hornay 50gr Z-max shot fairly well with a multitude of powders, the Sierra 69 HPBT bullet and Varget shot .75" @ 200yds on the first try with no load work-up. I arbitrarily loaded them .020" off the rifling and used Lapua cases and Fed 205M primers.

 

[dusterdave173]

Man that sounds great! I just found some Varget this week and had some of the Sierra 69SMK on the shelf--was thinking of loading some up today--what was your powder charge weight?
Thanks!

 

[Benchrest Braxton]

This is my velocity work up with n133 and 53 vmax in my 12 twist remington 700 vls. Mind you the bullets are seated out pretty good, just 10 thou off the lands. I have yet to hit any pressure signs……this was virgin winchester brass, cci 450, factory remington barrel

24.0 - 3,292 ft/s
24.1 - 3,293 ft/s
24.2 - 3,298 ft/s
24.3 - 3,305 ft/s
24.4 - 3,317 ft/s
24.5 - 3,306 ft/s
24.6 - 3,335 ft/s
24.7 - 3,344 ft/s ***max load per lapua***
24.8 - 3,379 ft/s
24.9 - 3,374 ft/s
25.0 - 3,400 ft/s
25.1 - 3,391 ft/s
25.2 - 3,424 ft/s
25.3 - 3,430 ft/s
25.4 - 3,447 ft/s
25.5 - 3,462 ft/s
25.6 - 3,436 ft/s
25.7 - 3,457 ft/s
25.8 - 3,462 ft/s
25.9 - 3,476 ft/s
26.0 - 3,490 ft/s
26.1 - 3,508 ft/s
26.2 - 3,492 ft/s

Anything 50-53 grain using benchark/n133 in my gun shoots lights out and my current load is an honest sub 1/2 moa all day out to 550y.

I didn’t do alot of work with n133 besides some quick testing to see I could lower my es some. I’m finishing up my remainder of benchmark then will be switching over permanently.

Pic is my friend shooting my rig.

 

[moorepower]

When it's 105f out there, a bit less powder will make your barrel thank you.

 

[Damon555]

I use my 223 (AI) strictly for varmint hunting. 20+ years ago I discovered that the 40 grain Vmax will shoot in just about any Savage rifle....from a 9 twist 223 to a 14 twist 22-250. Speed and accuracy all in one package. As mentioned inside 200 yards is easy but past 300 or so your shooting ability starts to come into play. Those 400 yard shots with "switchy" 20-30 mph winds are darn tricky with the smaller .224 caliber rounds. I've got 6mm's that take over from there.......

This is a 300 yard shot with above mentioned Savage/Criterion 223 AI shooting the 40 grain Vmax......Notice the insane amount of wind drift.....that's what you get with a steady crosswind that's always 20+ mph.

 

[jaygorski]

I have been working on 223 load for my Savage bolt rifle--primarily for prairie dog and just general fun round--I found that 53 g Vmax with 23.3g of N133 works fantastic--it will shoot one hole half inch to 5/8ths groups at 100 yds again and again--at around 3130 FPS--very low ES usually under 15 many low single digits--easy recoil--I love it but the powder load is way below max of around 24.8 listed Higher powder loads shoot good but will not group as well.
Am I OK with this load? Should I smile and just load a pile of them or ? Some I talk to say I need more powder and higher speed --Rookie here, never shot a PD but have trip booked to SD soon
THANKS!!

That's a nice velocity if you ask me, just loaded some 52MKs and Hornady Match bullets with 23.5grs 2230, after figuring out how fast they'd be going it came to just over 3KFPS(awaiting chrono confirmation) from a RRCarbine 16.5"bbl., I'll be happy if I can get 2900 or so.

 

[AckleymanII]

DusterDave, you can find accuracy nodes at different velocities. The issues with nodes at the very bottom is that they are not stable as much as top end nodes are...at least in my experience.

There should be another accuracy node, at or north of 25g of N133, and I would use a cci br4 if you have them, if not some kind of primer with a thick cup.

Benchmark load with 55's start off at 24.5g of Benchmark and work up. My load for 55g Noslers Varm is at 3450 out of a 24", 12T Rem 700 sporter, This is my Mack Daddy Coyote load for my Rem 223 Sporter.

Plinking loads:

50g what evers, 27.5g of Win 748, 26.0-26.5g of Win 748 with 55g.

For dogs, it is nice to get some velocity to add to the helicopters, double twists, and 15' launches that speed will give you. I LOVE to see those dogs FLY'en!

I hope you get a bore scope and keep your barrel clean of carbon and copper, carbon is the barrel killer.

26g of H335 with a 55g has always been a good generic load for me, also.

 

[dusterdave173]

I APPRECIATE the help and comments--I am a long time shooter short time reloader--so when this thing dropped that good load in my lap right off the bat I was very happy--I have tested it again and again from 65-98 degrees--It does not always do 1/2 inch--that is as much me and that days wind--how crowded the range was--was I by myself all "dialed in" or were there 4 guys ripping on the AR's But...over 8 weeks that powder charge just keeps on out shooting any other load--I am lucky I had about 4K of the federal 205 and I have about 7K of the basic CCI SRP--I understand about the thicker cup deal but have had to buy what I could source here local--I am glad you mentioned lower load would be a blessing in high heat--I had hoped that would be the case--we will be in South Dakota July 21st so...
Also--I have 4 cases of the Fiocchi 50 gr Vmax ( advertised at 3300 fps) but it is around 3200 or tad less on my chrono so my load shoots very close to that one--not too far off so I figured that might be a plus
I had really considered since this was my first PD shoot--that I might just do the factory Fiocchi but I am taking both and decided to give mine a try
I will let you know for sure--how it goes--I expect this will be steep learning curve but like to think that Next year I will be able to really sock it to them.
If primers were cheaper and more powder available I would probably wear the barrel out testing and playing but have decided to settle down--take what I have--and just see

Again

Many Thanks to all the help for a raw rookie

 

[dusterdave173]

Damon555 That was fun to watch! My local range ( just few miles from the house) is nice but just 150 yds--we did get two sessions at a 400 yard range--very first time trying my Savage at that distance--I was pleasantly surprised that out to about 300 looked a lot easier than I thought--At 400 I was able to smack a 4 inch steel with most shots--Then the wind would come up and ummmm impress on me that I have a ways to go.

 

[SBS]

When you have time, work with 50 gr. plastic tipped bullets (Blitzking, Ballistic Tip, V-Max) and suitable powders such as N-133/Benchmark or similar. I shoot the 53 V-Max in the .22-250 & Swift, but it can be finicky. The 50's are a good compromise weight that drifts less than the 40's and goes a little faster than the 55's and the plastic tipped bullets are dynamite on dog aerobatics. I avoid the older ball powders because working a load up in normal weather does not accurately predict the accuracy, pressure and velocity of those loads in a hot rifle with hot weather. Popped a few primers with H-335 on dogs, but the loads were just fine when working them up. Be sure to spot for each other and try to shoot dogs at the same distance & angle before moving to another group of dogs. Once you get the distance and wind right, shoot all you can around that spot. Just got back from a hunt with 35 MPH winds the last day. A spotter was essential and lots of dogs got reprieves for another day. High winds like that tend to be gusty and the wind drift changes almost every shot -- makes it a little frustrating. Good Luck.

 

[RegionRat]

This is my velocity work up with n133 and 53 vmax in my 12 twist remington 700 vls. Mind you the bullets are seated out pretty good, just 10 thou off the lands. I have yet to hit any pressure signs……

24.0 - 3,292 ft/s
24.1 - 3,293 ft/s
24.2 - 3,298 ft/s
24.3 - 3,305 ft/s
24.4 - 3,317 ft/s
24.5 - 3,306 ft/s
24.6 - 3,335 ft/s
24.7 - 3,344 ft/s
24.8 - 3,379 ft/s
24.9 - 3,374 ft/s
25.0 - 3,400 ft/s
25.1 - 3,391 ft/s
25.2 - 3,424 ft/s
25.3 - 3,430 ft/s
25.4 - 3,447 ft/s
25.5 - 3,462 ft/s
25.6 - 3,436 ft/s
25.7 - 3,457 ft/s
25.8 - 3,462 ft/s
25.9 - 3,476 ft/s
26.0 - 3,490 ft/s
26.1 - 3,508 ft/s
26.2 - 3,492 ft/s

Anything 50-53 grain using benchark/n133 in my gun shoots lights out and my current load is an honest sub 1/2 moa all day out to 550y.

I didn’t do alot of work with n133 besides some quick testing to see I could lower my es some. I’m finishing up my remainder of benchmark then will be switching over permanently.

Pic is my friend shooting my rig.

 

[moorepower]

I know that nobody thinks that mfg psi check their loads, and Lapua brass is low capacity, but they list max load with N133 as 24.7 grains with the 53 Vmax

 

[RegionRat]

I know that nobody thinks that mfg psi check their loads, and Lapua brass is low capacity, but they list max load with N133 as 24.7 grains with the 53 Vmax

I do appreciate it when load data also lists pressure, but I have calibrated and measured enough pressure data to suggest you squint when you look at it...

There are so many issues starting with calibration of the transducers, the barrel sample, and the natural dispersion of the data, that it takes a strong stomach to digest pressure data.

Just the same, I do appreciate the difficulty with showing load data in a litigious society. The margin of safety on your brass comes up earlier than the next failure points so go slow with your hot workups and play it safe.

 

[Benchrest Braxton]

View attachment 1350301

What did you use to plot this?! I’ve been looking for something to plot graphs!

 

[RegionRat]

What did you use to plot this?! I’ve been looking for something to plot graphs!

That is very basic Excel which is part of Microsoft. It is one of the oldest and most common desktop spreadsheet programs around.

 

[David Milisock]

I have been working on 223 load for my Savage bolt rifle--primarily for prairie dog and just general fun round--I found that 53 g Vmax with 23.3g of N133 works fantastic--it will shoot one hole half inch to 5/8ths groups at 100 yds again and again--at around 3130 FPS--very low ES usually under 15 many low single digits--easy recoil--I love it but the powder load is way below max of around 24.8 listed Higher powder loads shoot good but will not group as well.
Am I OK with this load? Should I smile and just load a pile of them or ? Some I talk to say I need more powder and higher speed --Rookie here, never shot a PD but have trip booked to SD soon
THANKS!!

I'm most likely the odd man out here but with varmint shooting with a 223 I don't use my most accurate load. Granted at 300 yards in near zero wind my accurate load and my chosen load are about 3/32" different. That's an average of 10 5 shot groups each. However there's 500 FPS increase in speed for my load of choice. This significantly reduces the time of flight.

I find that the 223 just can't push any projectile above 40 grains fast enough to be of much use in the wind much past 200 yards.

I use 40 grain VMAX moly coated with a moly coated bore. I use H322 in Malaysian military brass with the bullet seated out as fas as the magazine allows. Rifle is a Howa 1500 with a 22" varmint barrel, a laminated stock.

It prints 1 1/6" at 300 yards, (MY LOAD ONLY REDUCE 15% MINIMUM TO START FOR YOUR RIFLE) I'm running 29 grain of H322, (the Malaysian brass is thinner and it accommodates additional powder), I get 3,900 FPS with no extraction issues and very modest pressure signs. This runs over SAAMI pressures.

In the typical wind during the hog season in South Central Pennsylvania the rifle stays inside 2" at 300 yards, on nasty days 2 1/2". That's significantly better performance at that range then any heavy projectile on this rifle by about an inch. Worse days then that I move to a 6MM Remington.

I have head shot hogs ON NEAR ZERO WIND CONDITIONS out to 350, I took one at 450 with a body shot but accidentally hit him in the head.

I find the 223 a decent cartridge for my area, a bit wind sensitive so not the only varmint caliber you'll need.

 

[JSH]

Interesting input gents. Been shooting 223/5.56 long enough that I know it can be fickle at times. Working with a fast twist in a Badrock rifle, the 7.7 twist “ain’t your grandpas rig” for sure.
H335, just yesterday said me new 22BR loads. Left them in the truck out of direct sunlight, shot them yesterday about 17:00. 5/10 off top end book for a 53 grouped as I wanted, zero issues. Also this particular lot of H335 was gifted to me some years back, the old cardboard square container with the black plastic plug/cap. Era of the 70’s, the old BR fellow that gifted it to me said the lot # was highly sought after and possessed magical properties.