Benchmark and hornady 52 bthp

[chapstix97]

Any body got a good recipe with benchmark and hornady 52 bthp for 223 Remington bolt rifle. I loaded up in .2 grain intervals from 24.4 to 25.4 and various depths and have not found consistent less then .5 moa.

Just want to use the last 2 pounds of benchmark I was forced to buy because of the powder famine we had this past two years.

 

[L-46]

Have you seen any pressure signs?

 

[chapstix97]

None

 

[L-46]

just load 1 round with .3 gns more powder, start at the lowest powder charge and fire and inspect the case for pressure, when you get pressure, do not fire any more, just pull the bullet.
load 3 shot of each load,keeping below your max, and test for accuracy.

 

[K22]

I found with benchmark, in my 223 bolt rifles - all 12" twists, that it was erratic often producing inconsistent groups over time.

For me, H4895 and Varget, worked much better with 50 to 55 grain bullets.

 

[Mega]

Go a bit more powder.

I use a CZ 527 Varmint, 1:9" Twist and with Berger 52gr Bullets 25.5gr Benchmark (for me it's called Bench Mark 2) shoots really tiny 0.25" hole groups at 100 metres. That's a long way from maximum loads.

Varget and H4895 as you guys call them, gave poor results in comparison since they are slower powders and more suited to heavier bullets in my opinion. More like 0.5" to 0.75" groups which are fine but there is better if you experiment.

Play with seating depth after you find the most accurate load.

 

[MK 19]

In a 1-12 twist 20" T/C Contender my best load was 25.5gr of Benchmark under a 52gr SMK, that load shot in the 4's all day long

 

[wapiti25]

In a 223 I found changing primers can make big changes in groups. I would try changes in seating and primer before I decided BenchMark does not work. Nosler used the 7 1/2 primer with BenchMark and had good results, so did I.

 

[ranger3]

My three 223's like 25.5 gr benchmark under 53 vmax. All three shoot this .6 moa or under. 7 1/2 primers, probably would do better with CCI 450 or BR4

 

[long40shot]

Benchmark is good stuff. I use 25.0 under a 50 v-max. I know it's not the bullet you asked about, but close enough

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I understand your desire to use up your powder. I have at least three pounds of Benchmark sitting here.. I just hang onto it.. If you must use it up then do a bit more experimenting.. One man's super duper load is another man's failure..

 

[ranger3]

What level of accuracy are you looking for? I don't know what you have on hand for primers, but here is what I would do. Load up 3 shells with one level of weight (say 25.5 grains) of powder each 3 shells with a different primer. see how these group. If you have several types of primers on hand that would tell you which primer is favored by your rifle. Then you have eliminated a key variable and go check on powder level and seating depth. I'm confident that you'll find Benchmark will give you good results.

 

[Lone Hunter]

Keep buying powder for it. Save the benchmark and get some H335 or something similar in burn rate. I've had good luck with H335, H4895, and IMR 4198. You can't ever have enough powder.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Keep buying powder for it. Save the benchmark and get some H335 or something similar in burn rate.

The pet loads on the side of the can are nearly identical if I remember correctly.

Yup. Just checked it. For a 55 grain bullet in 223 the H335 is 25.3, and Benchmark is 25.6.