Best powder/bullet for .223 bolt action at 100/200 yds.

[desertrat]

I've set up a Howa .223 with a rifle basic trigger at 14oz., tactical stock, and Sightron 32 power. When it was factory, I could put down about .5" at 100 yds.

The trigger wasn't spectacular so I switch it to the 14oz rb trigger and the Bell tactical stock.

I've tried several different loads from the AR-15 supply recently and I've gotten worse! I have 1000 50gr Vmax that I'd like to load up with CCI BR primers. I just don't know what powder to get although I thinking VV 133??? (just what I've read as nice)


Any suggestions for a bolt gun and 50 gr Vmax? I know there is a lot posted for AR type .223 but want something that maybe a really decent starting point.

Thanks

 

[ShaneG.]

I've had good luck with IMR 8208XBR and 53g Smk's recently.

 

[A_Gamehog]

match brass norma or lapua
CCI 450's or Wolf SRM
50 grain Bullet (anybodys')
H-322 or
IMR4198 or H-4198
8208 is also good..

at or near max loads.

You will get great groups with the V-max but not like a 52 or 53 match bullet. If you wanted a longer range varmint load use the 53 V-max
and 8208. The only draw back is the V-Max 53's need a 1-9 or 1-10 to shoot accurately in the 223s'. Where the 52 match are a 1-12 or faster twist bullet.

let me know how you do?

 

[wapiti25]

Bench Mark works very good with bullets in the 50gr range. I have had real good groups with the 53 and 55gr bullets and Bench Mark.

 

[markm87]

match brass norma or lapua
CCI 450's or Wolf SRM
50 grain Bullet (anybodys')
H-322 or
IMR4198 or H-4198
8208 is also good..

Not sure if you're locked into the lighter end bullets... but we've killed with the color combo above using 69 and 77 gr SMKs.

 

[MGYSGT]

I like 24.5 gr varget and 69 gr Serria HPBTM. I use Wolf mag primers, just becasue I have a gob of them, but SR primers work just as well. My rifle is a Rem 700 with 1:9 twist.

Tom

 

[GSRswapandslow]

best group my sps tactical has shot:
50gr z-max (v-max..but cheaper)
24.5gr WC844 (i.e h335...but cheaper)
LC brass at 1.74"
WSR
COL @ meplat: 2.210"


groups well...best group was 0.118" wide/0.291" high at 100yds

 

[fredhorace77]

+1 for Benchmark

 

[kyreloader]

N133 and the 53g SMK FB was the most accurate load that I could find in FIL Rem 700 SPS.

(Also tried 8208, Varget, AR Comp, Benchmark with 52g Amax, 52g SMK HPBT)

 

[Bradley Walker]

I think you are on the right track in using VV N133 powder and 50 grain bullets for short range shooting. My experience with the 223 Remington using VV N133 powder has been limited to 52 grain BR bullets but it should also apply to your use of the 50 grain VMAX bullet. I have had good luck with 52 grain bullets, 25 grains of VV N133, and CCI BR-4 primers in Lapua cases. This is with a Savage Model 12 VLP with a Hart 27" barrel. Please let me know if you have questions or need additional information.

Lawrence

Yup. That's the load.

You can also pretty much substitute 2015BR/Reloader 10x and probably H322.

 

[K22]

The 223 in my experience is one of the easiest cartridges to reload since a wide number of powders and bullets work well in it.

I've tried a number of powders including IMR 4895, H322, H335, Benchmark, and Varget and all worked well with 50 and 55 grain bullets. I use Federal 205 Match primers and Noslers bullets but I've used 50 and 55 Vmax's in the past and they work very well also. All my rifles have 12" twists.

I currently use Varget with my long barreled varmint rifles (24 - 26") and Benchmark with the shorter barrels (20 to 22 inches). Both powders performed exceptional well for me with groups in the sub 1/2 moa range.

Some testing for optimum seating depth should be considered since this can pay huge dividends once you find the optimum one for your rifle.

 

[SShooterZ]

best group my sps tactical has shot:
50gr z-max (v-max..but cheaper)
24.5gr WC844 (i.e h335...but cheaper)
LC brass at 1.74"
WSR
COL @ meplat: 2.210"


groups well...best group was 0.118" wide/0.291" high at 100yds

I've had some great success with a very similar load. Love that WC844.

 

[SS427]

I will second K22's recommendation on Varget. Most my 223s have 26 inch inch barrels too. Intersting to note none of them liked Benchmark all that much...never thought barrel length would have an impact but that could explain it. My 223 with a 22 inch barrel shoots Benchmark better, but it still shoots Varget the best.

N133 works very well in my 223s, but no better than Varget, which seems to be more consistent from morning to late afternoon in the sage rat fields.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Varget works good. I run the case full (27.4 grains) and get 3380 out of a 24" barrel (50 V-max, 55 Ballistic tip - same load 2.250 OAL). Accuracy is right there too.

Since I use my rifle for varminting, I'm going to do some load testing with H322. According to QL, if I run the pressures as described by CIP (SAAMI is only 55Kpsi, CIP is closer to 62K), I can get the velocity up to 3540 or so where there is another node (theoretically). I'm going to see if it works when I get a chance (late July).

BTW, to prevent primer blanking (piercing), use heavy-cup primers with loads that might make more than 55 Kpsi.

 

[wapiti25]

Side note here using Benchmark the 71/2 primer worked the best, with IMR4895 Wolf's worked the best with 55gr bullets. Benchmark was slightly better for about 8 three shot groups on three trips to the range. The Benchmark load came from the Nosler loading book but I did not use the Nosler bullet.

 

[desertrat]

Picked up some VV N133 today. Primed&Prep. 100 rounds of brass. If it's not windy tomorrow, I'll hit the range and see. I'll try a few different powder loads. I have some Varget and 8208XBR but I haven't had much luck w Varget like everyone else seems to be having.

For 50 gr bullets, Varget seems to be too slow & Varget turned out to be the worst performing in two different rifles in 308, but it may be a bad lot...I'm not very fond of it right now.

I may try it along with the XBR just to compare; but I'll end up letting everyone know what seems to be best.

 

[MarkS]

desertrat,

My go to load for many 223 over the years is : H335, 50 gr bullet, CCI 450 primer. this load will give you speed and accuracy. Other loads above are good, but this is where I start.

Mark Schronce

 

[desertrat]

So far with the 50 gr vmax ( I have 1000 so would like to work something up):

1st round results, all with CCI BR-4 primers. Various loads tested +- .3 gr of powder variations to hunt for a sweet spot.

I wasn't super thrilled with this but it will do for crows and other various desert varmits

VV N-133 25gr @3400fps or just below; best of bunch so far w one grouping in the .4s very uniform powder around +-15fps W loads at 24.7 and 24.3 the best I could get was .6 or so. Thinking I may try just a tenth or so more and work around that. It seems to be an acceptable combo.

8208 gave results @3200fps; .5 to .7 not very impressed but may try to improve with it.

Varget seemed too slow after looking things over with a 50 grain.

Just picked up some Berger 52g match and still have some SMK in 52, also some Hornady 53g match w their amp jackets. I'm going to try and figure out what will work best for me and using up the remaing 8208 and Varget along w the VV.

Any thoughts on jump, jammed? Does it seem to matter much? I now looking at the 52-53 match type as I think the Vmax will go mostly for the AR-15 way

 

[Shynloco]

I shoot A Savage .223 Model 12 VLPDBM and load for pure accuracy. I've tested several powders and bullets over a couple of years. My best loads out of this rifle is a Berger 53 gr FB bullet being pushed by 28.7 gr of BLC-2. I use Federal Match Primers, but have found CCI, Wolf and most any of the other small primers work equally as well. Since I buy mostly Federal for my bench guns, I just go ahead and use them in my Savage .223 as well. Lastly, don't forget that each rifle is unique and what works for one rifle, may not necessarily work in others. Gotta test to see what you baby likes. I will say that Savages seems to really take to BLC-2 in .223 when compared to all the other powders folks listed previous to my post all of which I tested. I would NOT recommend BLC-2 powder however in a gas gun.

 

[ColWhitecakes]

Just a question: when you switched to the new stock, did you bed the action, or just drop and go? How is the toque on your action screws? I may be misunderstanding your post; but, it seems like you are saying that the rifle was shooting respectfully until you changed it. Was this the case?