What would you guys start with on reloading with a 23-3/4 inch barrel. The barrel is 7/8 inch at the little end.The gun was built by Jim Green. I don't know if i can get the 40 grain bullets up to the lands. I just ordered a aol gauge because i was having trouble with the short distance with the 40 grain.
223 with a 1-14 twist
- Thread starter LR coyote
- Start date
I shoot a Cooper M21 same barrel length/twist in 223. But nothing about my load would apply to your barrel.
As a reloader, you have to determine this, so it's kind of hard to help.
I suggest you start with a reloading manual, working your way safely into a good shooting load as described there.
A good place to see what some have managed is Reloader's Nest;
http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=18
Berger's seating depth testing can save some tail chasing as well.
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f28/getting-best-precision-accuracy-berger-vld-bullets-your-rifle-40204/
If it's a true 14tw(measure it), things center more on stability. 40gr bullets would be a good choice. I shoot a 50gr flat base bullet, and have shot 50gr ballistic tips. I noticed shooting improves with stability improvements.
Truly, 14tw is the very limiting in 22cal. 12tw is better because it doesn't hurt anything and provides more options.
As a reloader, you have to determine this, so it's kind of hard to help.
I suggest you start with a reloading manual, working your way safely into a good shooting load as described there.
A good place to see what some have managed is Reloader's Nest;
http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=18
Berger's seating depth testing can save some tail chasing as well.
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f28/getting-best-precision-accuracy-berger-vld-bullets-your-rifle-40204/
If it's a true 14tw(measure it), things center more on stability. 40gr bullets would be a good choice. I shoot a 50gr flat base bullet, and have shot 50gr ballistic tips. I noticed shooting improves with stability improvements.
Truly, 14tw is the very limiting in 22cal. 12tw is better because it doesn't hurt anything and provides more options.
Thanks for the replies. I was just trying to see if i could shoot the 40 grain better than the 50 grain because of the 1-14 twist. I could not get the OAL with my method of using a empty shell and flaring the neck and then putting back in the rifle and measuring.The length of the 40 will only give me about half of the neck on the 223.The longer calibers i have no problem with repeating the same oal.I guess i will have to buy me a AOL gauge.
The most accurate bullet I have found in my 3 Factory tubed 14tw ,222 Remington chambered long guns has been the 52 gr. Berger. They all have long throats and I was able to reach the lands. I would start with the previously mentioned VihtaVuori N133, JMHO.
What do you intend to do with the load you develop?
If all you plan to shoot is targets I would go with 52 and 53 grain Sierra match bullets and some N133 and H322 powder. As long as you can keep at least .100 of the bullet in the neck I would start into the lands with a light load and work up in charge and away from the lands in the typical fashion.
If you are going for a varmint load, get some 40 grain ballistic tips from Hornady, Sierra and Nosler. For volume shooting get a 500 pack of 50 grain Zmax and do the same thing as you would developing a target load. If you have Varget, try that along with the H322 and N133. You never know what might work the best, and good enough might be exactly that.
I'd really like to have a 14 twist .22 caliber in a .222 or .223 and see just how accurate it could be with the light bullets. Good luck and have fun.
If all you plan to shoot is targets I would go with 52 and 53 grain Sierra match bullets and some N133 and H322 powder. As long as you can keep at least .100 of the bullet in the neck I would start into the lands with a light load and work up in charge and away from the lands in the typical fashion.
If you are going for a varmint load, get some 40 grain ballistic tips from Hornady, Sierra and Nosler. For volume shooting get a 500 pack of 50 grain Zmax and do the same thing as you would developing a target load. If you have Varget, try that along with the H322 and N133. You never know what might work the best, and good enough might be exactly that.
I'd really like to have a 14 twist .22 caliber in a .222 or .223 and see just how accurate it could be with the light bullets. Good luck and have fun.
I would for sure start with 40 grain ballistic tip bullets.
The .100 in the neck isn't a cut and dried rule. I had heard a full caliber needs to be in the neck but I've found a lesser amount is okay in some cases. Certainly on a single shot you can get away with it, but I would not want to use too little bullet in the neck on a caliber that recoils hard. Cartridges in the magazine can have the bullets work forward under recoil and you could end up with pressure problems. If I do place very little bullet in the neck I try to use more neck tension by using a smaller bushing in my die.
The .100 in the neck isn't a cut and dried rule. I had heard a full caliber needs to be in the neck but I've found a lesser amount is okay in some cases. Certainly on a single shot you can get away with it, but I would not want to use too little bullet in the neck on a caliber that recoils hard. Cartridges in the magazine can have the bullets work forward under recoil and you could end up with pressure problems. If I do place very little bullet in the neck I try to use more neck tension by using a smaller bushing in my die.
if you can find it, 8208XBR and a 52 gr bullet is great in my 14 tw...26 gr is max so start a bit lower. knowing where your lands start is critical for load development. you can find them by seating a bullet in a sized case with it's pressure ring 1/4 into the neck, measure base to ogive, spin the case while buffing the bullet with 4-0 steel wool to give it a dull color, chamber and extract, then look for the lands engravings. tangential lighting is crucial as the engravings can be hard to see. if no marks are seen, you aren't into the lands yet. if, however, you see marks, measure base to ogive again to be sure the bullet hasn't been pushed back. if not, seat .005 deeper and repeat until the last seating of .005 and no marks,,,this is the lands. i use the hornady device with the modified cases, but this process gives me the most accurate measurement.
Ackman
Gold $$ Contributor
Not sure if that's exactly what you're using but the split-neck case is a good way to find the lands. And if 40's are actually seated halfway down the neck when touching the lands, that's fine.
Nothing wrong with a 14" twist. Mine shoot 40-55's very well......even the 55blitzking which some people claim is too long for a 14" twist.....that's bs. I shoot mostly 50TNT's because they're accurate and explosive and well-priced when you buy them in 1,000rd box.
A whole slew of powders are good in the .223. For me AA2015 or VV133 are best with 40's and 50's, VV135 with 55's. With your barrel length and the right load you should get close to 3900 with 40's and at maybe 3550 with 50's. Use good strong brass, don't even mess with Rem. And a strong primer like the 7-1/2 or BR4.
Nothing wrong with a 14" twist. Mine shoot 40-55's very well......even the 55blitzking which some people claim is too long for a 14" twist.....that's bs. I shoot mostly 50TNT's because they're accurate and explosive and well-priced when you buy them in 1,000rd box.
A whole slew of powders are good in the .223. For me AA2015 or VV133 are best with 40's and 50's, VV135 with 55's. With your barrel length and the right load you should get close to 3900 with 40's and at maybe 3550 with 50's. Use good strong brass, don't even mess with Rem. And a strong primer like the 7-1/2 or BR4.
searcher
Gold $$ Contributor
The 50 Z-Max (or v-Max - same thing) are great as others note. I have a 1-14 Remington bolt gun that also loves 40 grn V-Max and Nosler lead-free 40-grn Ballistic Tips. These all work great with W-748, Reloader 7, Accurate LT-32, etc.. Small bullets tend to work best with the faster burning powders. I don't load mine from a magazine, but rather single shot follower. Those small bullets should shoot from yur gun. It is the guns throated for the longer, heavier bullets needing a faster twist that can make it difficult. You should have no problem.
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