Good groups but

[Cade]

Rem 223 trued action trigger tech trigger, 26" Bartlein 7.7 twist Varmint topped with a Vortex Viper PST Gen ll 3x15
Was looking at some different loads with same powder (Varget) and shooting 5 shot groups at 100 yds. I have been shooting 23..4 gns behind Hornady 75 bthp Lapua brass, Fed 205M primers at about 2800.
I shot 23.4, 23.6 24.0 & 24.5 gns. 23.4 & 24.5 shot the best with under 1/2" groups at 100. with the others at about an inch.
But all the SD's were in the 20's and 30's and the ES were in the 50's to 70's' I have tried 8208 and 4895 and Varget gave better groups. Have had lower SD & ES with same powder in the past.
I measure powder with a RCBS auto charger and then weigh on a balance beam and remove or add powder as needed. The temp was in the mid 80's. Why the jump in SD & ES?

 

[dstoenner]

I would bet that the bullet is the issue. I would suspect bearing surface is varying enough to account for velocity difference. You didn’t say what your COL was. My experience is that 77 SMK will shoot inside the Hornady 75. My load for my bolt gun is 24.0 Varget in Lapua brass with BR4 with COL of 2.340.

David

 

[Cade]

My OAL is right at 2.270 and according to a comparator case check I'm touching the lands at 2.276 for the 75gn BTHP. Book calls for 2.260 so will try that. Also I see the 75gn ELDM is touching at about 2.376.

 

[dstoenner]

I am sitting right at 2K rounds on my current 223 barrel. I chase the lands but seat to about .025 off the lands. I have my 223 in an MDT LSS-XL stock so the 223 AICS mags let you seat out to past 2.500. Your barrel must be really new to have the lands at 2.276. My guess things will settle in at about 200 rounds. I have never run any of my loads across my magnetospeed so I don't know what I do have. Right now I only shoot my 223 at 100.

If I do load 75 or 77 at 2.260 then I reduce my charge to 23.5 for Varget and 23.0 for H4895.

David

 

[varget204]

Suggest measuring Ogive of bllets,sort in .002 groups [max .003]seat by BTO,if seating by OAL,bullet Ogives very,when one seats by OAL, BTO can very .005-,010 or more.This changes internal volume inside case.Primers,would try different brands of primers,they can cause differences in E.S. and S.D.

 

[CharlieNC]

Have you ruled out the chrono as a potential problem?

 

[Zero333]

Try a different bullet.

With the right bullet you'll never get bigger than moa at 100yards no matter what powder charge weight you throw in the case (as long as it's not above maximum )

 

[Texas10]

I'm shooting a Criterion Match 26 inch 8 twist barrel, and 69 gr. Lapua Scenar over Varget. I had a good load at 25.2 grs and seated +.005 IN, but it started blanking primers when temps got over 80F. I was also crunching powder so much that I could not move the bullet back off the lands and get a reliable CBTO. So I had to drop down to 24.7 gr to get it to behave. Unfortunately my barrel is not a 223Rem Match chamber, which has a longer throat for the heavier bullets. Is that what you're shooting?

As far as SD's, I've never seen the kind of SD's in my 223 as I do in my other rifles, 6br, 308. But from what I read, I'll never see those single digit SD's out of a 223. Something about the oversized spit hole contributing to the higher and more random SD's and ES's. Nevertheless, it shoots dots, so I'm not so concerned with the statistics so much as what it does to the target.

 

[vmaxpro]

Long time ago I shot a 223 26.0gr varget and 75 amax. Lapua brass, rem 7.5 if I remember correctly I didnt see single digits until I stepped on it. Right around 3000-3050fps it settled in.

 

[NorCalMikie]

My Chronograph hasn't been out of it's box in 10+ years. ES? SD?
Who cares how fast the bullet is going if you can't hit what you're aiming at?
I don't check FPS. Never had anything out ruin one of my bullets.
I load at a "lower" node and am sure to leave myself some wiggle room.
You load 70* and step outside to 90+*,(?) you've already got 2 strikes against you.
If you can't cover a 5 shot group with a dime, it's time to go home and start over anyway. 3 shot groups don't count.
Varget STINKS but it's good stuff. A little temp sensitive. I prefer NOT to cut kernels.

 

[vmaxpro]

Norcalmike I hear you, I dont get to crazy chasin numbers either. I’ll do a quick check for a peace of mind to make sure Im in the ballpark pressure wise.

 

[searcher]

If you plan to shoot at 100 yards - I'd try the Berger 73 and IMR8208XBR and various other powders, including Varget. You should be able to get much better and a lot of guns in that twist will shoot the lighter bullets really well - and much better sometimes. Also try the lighter Sierra Match King (or replacement bullet)

 

[CADDIE5]

My f class rifle was chambered with 223 rem match reamer. My load is 23.3gr Varget cci450 primers Winchester brass 2.30"oal (.020 jump) 69 SMK . 300yd f class league match SMT e targets mr63f.
2823 fps muzzle 30" Brux 7 twist bbl. Accuracy trumps speed.
Steve

 

[NorCalMikie]

Thinking back to when I got my first Savage in .223. (Savage 110 V)
Didn't know that much about reloading and lacked experience but I remember seating the bullets with a jam into the lands.
Ended up with a chamber full of powder a few times when I opened the bolt with a bullet stuck in the lands.
Like mentioned, I load in the middle and can remember groups that I could brag about. Shooting out to 200+ yards and hitting ground squirrels so the OAL may have made the difference? Might be worth a try adjusting the OAL?
Starting out, I used a BUNCH of AA2230C till they quit making it, then went back to AA2230 with very good results. I used the AA 2230C in just about everything except my pistols. Close to 40 pounds over a couple of years. .221 Fireball, .223,.308. The price was right. Gas guns really eat up powder.
Just plan ahead and make sure the rig (barrel) is pointed UP if the round is live and you open the bolt. We all go thru stages and learning experiences. I'am still learning.