Greater effects with bullet or powder?

[Viperdoc]

I am getting ready for this year's PD shoot, so will be loading around 800 rounds. Even in an AR, I have neck turned, trimmed, uniformed, chamfered each piece of brass (223).

Last year, I had worked up a ladder for 53SMKs using H335 (easy to measure), but once in the field, these loads became too hot for the gun, with blown primers, etc. probably due to the summer heat. The rounds were kept in a cooled styrofoam box, but the ambient temperature was probably pushing 90F. I think the load was around 24.6gr.

Anyway, these are target bullets, not varmint bullets. I don't have time to do lots of ladder testing and trying infinite combinations of bullets and powders.

So, the question is: which will likely play a bigger factor in achieving the best accuracy- bullet choice or powder choice? If I find a bullet that shoots well, then play with different powders, or pick a good average powder (H335, BM, TAC), and then play with different bullets?

Was thinking of the 60gr Berger FB varmint bullets in my 1/9 Krieger as a good range bullet that should be well made and consistent, or again possibly the Sierra 53gr FB.

Ideas?

 

[BoydAllen]

I have found that plastic tipped bullets give excellent results in the varmint fields. Generally they have a higher BC per weight. As to matching your twist, as long as the jacket quality is good, and the throat length is not excessive, I think that they are a better choice at most ranges that a .223 would commonly be used. One issue that comes into play, when you are loading large quantities of a particular load, is chamber throat wear. In the past, if the rounds were to be shot over several days, I have recommended that rounds be loaded long, and seated back to the desired relation to the rifling for each subsequent shooting day. This does not require a lot of equipment. It can be done with an arbor press and seater. What kind of accuracy are you getting with your current loads? One issue that caused a friend to stop using match bullets is ricochets. After hearing a number of them (electronic muffs), and having some concern for the probable hazard, he switched to bullets that are more fragible. I think that he had a good point, that is commonly overlooked.

 

[357Mag]

Viper -

Howdy !

I DK how far your typical PD engagement ranges might be ?

If range permits, IMHO you can't go wrong w/ the Hornady .224" cal SXSP.

You can choose from the 50gr or 55SX; although I strongly recommend the latter.... windage considered.

Very explosive, even @ .223 vel.


With regards ,
357Mag

 

[necchi]

which will likely play a bigger factor in achieving the best accuracy- bullet choice or powder choice? If I find a bullet that shoots well, then play with different powders,

IMHO, the Bullet;
50-55grn Hornady V-max or Nosler Balistic tip.
(I swing to the 55's for wind)

 

[Bradley Walker]

The benchrest shooters that shoot 6 PPC use .3 grains per 10 F degree change to keep the gun in tune.

I have never found a powder that does not react to heat despite all the advertising to contrary. Once your barrel and chamber gets hot you are going to start popping primers. Some powders are worse than others.

I would just load one whole grain grain light and plan on shooting hot. Use as slow a powder as you can get away with also... Faster powders get twitchy faster (I think).

You might try the new 8208 XBR. I know everyone says Varget is temperature impurvious, but I used to pop a lot of primers on hot days with Varget when I was practicing rapid strings!!!!

PS: I found 55 grainers to be too slow in 223 for real quick and explosive kills. 40 grainers were much better... I could get those up to 3850 in my Rem 700 and Ruger M77. A really good load for 40's is use 26.5 or 2015BR or Reloader 10x. I think you will find the little bullets are more fun and those two powders are pretty darn temp stable with those little pills.

 

[Viperdoc]

Haven't tried anything lighter than 50gr bullets in the 1/9 twist. Not much accuracy with any of the plastic tipped Hornady bullets.

Will the extra light bullets come apart in the 9 twist?

 

[Bradley Walker]

I don't think so... 223 shouldn't have that much pop even at that twist.

Try the reloader 10 or 2015br. If it doesn't work then these are also my fav powders for 55 gr loads (25 grains).

I shoot moly coating so you might drop down .5 grains for neked bullets.

 

[jo191145]

My first question would be what primer are you using?

JMO in a custom barrel such as your Kreiger bullet choice would play the largest role.
In a factory barrel sometimes powder makes the biggest impact.

 

[Viperdoc]

Tried CCI sr and br4, also rem 7 1/2, but based upon reading have been using Wolf SR magnums lately.

Got some 8028xbr and benchmark to try. Was thinking about the SMK 53 FB bullets, but they don't have much zing when hitting a PD. Still, not bad in the wind.

Ordered some Berger 40's, probably will try with H335, but agin time in working up ladders is getting limited.

 

[necchi]

Don't do a Ladder, cut to the chase and get it right.
Once you try this and figure it out, you'll wonder why you ever wasted time with a ladder.

http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/

 

[sdneil]

Varget is hard to beat in a .223 shooting dogs all day with a 50-55gr b. tip , there will be explosive hits I promise you!!! have never blown primers, usually load around 25 gr, have had the barrel on a few so hot as to not be able to hit anymore, a quick gun swap will fix this first shot!!! Neil

 

[effendude]

Please, please, please don't use match bullets in the killing fields! That bullet may go 2-4 miles after it hits or misses something. Shoot a relatively fragile varmint bullet and be safe. I will gladly give up some distance rather than risk a ricochet. Who knows what is over that last hill.........
Scott

 

[kgcoker]

I had the same problem years ago with a Swift.

Switched to Hodgon powers - they are not very temperature sensitive.

I am shooting 50 grain Nosler BT. Moly coated with 27.5 grains H335.

This is too much fro a non plated bullet.

KG