.223Rem and 68 grain BTHP load?

[DShortt]

8208 XBR

I just happen to have 2 lbs of that sitting around.

Something else to try.

Haven't seen any in a LONG time though.

Edit - guess I've not been looking in the right places. A quick search shows it available.

 

[BW64]

Was just out this morning. 69 BTHP 25.8 CFE223 in Ruger 24" 1;8 running 2880. Shooters world Match Rifle also works . These are .040 off lands. Groups were 1/4 to 3/8 inch. 500yds were 2- 1/4 " 825 yds just under 4- 1/2" Match Rifle groups were just under 1/2 inch. at 100yds. All LC brass.

 

[tlc2057]

View attachment 1730664
Well, maybe my expectations are unrealistic? These were all shot at 100 yds doing a seating depth test. 10 shots each. 1 1/4" or less. 5-10 MPH wind. 30°. Had to quit a couple of times and warm up. Fingers were getting numb.
Seems to me there's room for improvement.

Don’t give up! A older (84)wise friend of my is shooting them out of his 9 twist savage with great results,.5 or less most of the time. If my memory serves me right on the powder charge it is 24 grains of ram shot Tac. Just a little off the lands, .010.

 

[DShortt]

Don’t give up! A older (84)wise friend of my is shooting them out of his 9 twist savage with great results,.5 or less most of the time. If my memory serves me right on the powder charge it is 24 grains of ram shot Tac. Just a little off the lands, .010.

Mine is a Shilen barrel on a Model 12 action and stock. Stock is bedded. Leupold Vari X III 6.5x20. One piece bedded base. Lapped rings.

Should be better, me thinks.

I've shot much better with less.

 

[3Ackleys]

I have shot a lot of 223's. In my testing if a couple different powders don't shoot small with a certain bullet, trying more powders doesn't change much. I would change bullets.

 

[DShortt]

I have shot a lot of 223's. In my testing if a couple different powders don't shoot small with a certain bullet, trying more powders doesn't change much. I would change bullets.

I appreciate your observations.

I've already got a couple of test batches loaded so we'll see how this goes.

12° and 25+mph winds here this weekend. I'll be staying inside.

 

[mic2377]

I would say your initial results, while not amazing per se, are not bad. It maybe that is as good as the 68 BTHP will shoot in your rifle.

What is the twist rate? What powder was your original target shot with?

I have had good results with a variety of powders. I generally use ball powder like H335 with 55-60 gr, and a little bit slower one with 68-75's.

If you have 8208 XBR on hand that would be the first one I would try. A high level of powder charge consistency is necessary in the 223, it is a small case and sensitive to this. This meters much better than Varger or the IMR powders.

Also if you are using a temp sensitive powder and shooting in the extreme cold you may just be out of your node.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I have shot a lot of 223's. In my testing if a couple different powders don't shoot small with a certain bullet, trying more powders doesn't change much. I would change bullets.

This is, GREAT advice ^^^^
The 68 BTHP Horn bullet, did NOT, shoot Well for, my son and I ( his AR was, a 20" 1-8 tw, mine a 16" 1-7 tw ).
We moved on to, the 69 gr SMK for Me and the 75 gr. BTHP Match for my son and BOTH Bullets shot GOOD after, the "Change".
For some reason, the 68's won't, "shoot" for,.. everyone.
My guess is, being a Secant Ogive design, it takes some SERIOUS, bullet "Tuning" or just, getting,. Lucky ??
Again, if a Bullet doesn't "work" for you,.. move On,.. Quickly !

 

[DShortt]

I would say your initial results, while not amazing per se, are not bad. It maybe that is as good as the 68 BTHP will shoot in your rifle.

What is the twist rate? What powder was your original target shot with?

I have had good results with a variety of powders. I generally use ball powder like H335 with 55-60 gr, and a little bit slower one with 68-75's.

If you have 8208 XBR on hand that would be the first one I would try. A high level of powder charge consistency is necessary in the 223, it is a small case and sensitive to this. This meters much better than Varger or the IMR powders.

Also if you are using a temp sensitive powder and shooting in the extreme cold you may just be out of your node.

Rate of twist is 1 in 8. Groups above were with Varget. I have loaded 20 test rounds with 8208XBR. .3 grain difference in charge weights. If the performance is still mediocre, I'll be trying a different bullet.
15° and a 15mph wind here today. I'll be staying inside.

 

[kevinbritvec]

I have had very good results using the Hornady 68 and 24.2 grains of VihtaVuori N140. Velocity was only 2700 fps from a 20" AR. I would suggest trying more moderate loads when using this bullet, and don't buy the cannelured version, it's not the same bullet. I don't crimp.

 

[KMW 1954]

Spent 3 winter seasons shooting 69gr 223 in an informal league. Through that rifle I shot mostly 68/69gr bullets and also some 60gr VMAX. The bullets I used were Sierra SMK, Barnes Match Burners, Nosler Custom Competition and the Hornady Match.

With those bullets I tried a bunch of different powders; Benchmark, BL-2C, TAC, Varget, A2460 and a couple others that friends shared. With all of them I was able to find a load that worked as reasonable as any of the others.

I finally settled on A2460, Benchmark and TAC. I have since added some N135 to try.

 

[Eric Leonard]

Shot my CZ527 yesterday and checked the speed with 25.5 Varget and the 69 SMK and it was at 2960
That’s a UBR target turned backwards and was using that low backwards bullet hole as aim point. Rifle has been shot a crap load of times but still shoots decent.

 

[urbanrifleman]

The Hornady bthp match type bullets shoot great and are incredibly forgiving to jump.

They also blow up pdogs pretty good.

 

[GetReal]

I've tried hornady bullets in about every caliber Imaginable and quite honestly have never had any real success with them.

In my opinion , they are plinkers and blasting ammo.

Im a Berger guy, for all my rifle ammo. 338 Norma Mag, 6.5 CM, 6 Dasher, 224 Valk, 6 ARC ( 2 different loads, bullet weights) , etc. I do use Hornady 9mm stuff for my pistols and SBRs.

Berger... cost more, and worth it.