Loading data .223 60gr V-Max N135

[Skoodifoo]

I'm in need of a load for 60gr V-Max using Vihtavuori N135. The Lapua/Vihtavuori manual doesn't have data for other than 60gr HP Hornady which goes from 23.1gr to 25.8gr using OAL of 2.244".

The gun I load for is a factory CZ (1/9?) and it has pretty short leade so I'm forced to use OAL of 2.224" unless I want to jam bullets to rifling. My problem is that using the load data provided the load starts to compress even at 24.0gr, so the 60gr HP data can't be relevant for V-Max. I'm on a tight budget at the moment so I'm staying with N135 as that's only powder I have at hand.

I'd be grateful if someone had some data for the components provided so I'd have a starting point for my loads.

 

[MrMajestic]

I'm on a tight budget at the moment so I'm staying with N135 as that's only powder I have at hand.

Oxymoron?
Start low and work up. Enjoy the ride!

 

[Taildrag15X]

You should measure to the lands not go by the OAL....I think you'll find the V-Max can be loaded longer, unless it's fitting in the mag well you are worried about.

 

[Skoodifoo]

You should measure to the lands not go by the OAL....I think you'll find the V-Max can be loaded longer, unless it's fitting in the mag well you are worried about.

The max OAL 2.224" is just away from the lands, so no possibility to load longer unless I want to jam in to the lands. I've understood that Hornady loading manual doesn't have load for the V-Max either using N135, so I quess that I just need to experiment on my own.

 

[Dirtfarmer]

Try checking with Vhita vuori. They may have Vv 135 loads for the .223. I know they show Vv 133 loads. Vv 135 is slower, like RL-12 and IMR 4895. Looks to me like it should work with the heavier bullets, esp. 75's, etc.

DF

 

[rabbit fingers]

Quickload shows a max pressure load of just under 25gr N135 with 120%fill (so pretty compressed). at a oal length of 2.224 with 60vmax. WORK UP TO IT OBVIOUSLY. If I was you I'd start right around 23gr and work from there.

 

[Dirtfarmer]

Rabbit,

Can one compress a 120% fill in a .223 case and still get a bullet started? I never tried that and would think the powder may be up in the case neck and even to the mouth of the case. I wouldn't be surprised if all the powder in a 120% fill would even fit in the case, and the .223 is a small case with the heavier bullets taking up some of that capacity. In such a situation, the amount of a slower, bulkier powder that would actually fit in the case topped with a heavy bullet wouldn't be enough to achieve the desired performance.

If a powder is that bulky, requiring a 120% fill ratio, and knowing that heavy bullets take up some of the case space, then a faster powder with less bulk is called for.

IMHO,

DF

 

[rabbit fingers]

ag

Rabbit,

Can one compress a 120% fill in a .223 case and still get a bullet started? I never tried that and would think the powder may be up in the case neck and even to the mouth of the case. I wouldn't be surprised if all the powder in a 120% fill would even fit in the case, and the .223 is a small case with the heavier bullets taking up some of that capacity. In such a situation, the amount of a slower, bulkier powder that would actually fit in the case topped with a heavy bullet wouldn't be enough to achieve the desired performance.

If a powder is that bulky, requiring a 120% fill ratio, and knowing that heavy bullets take up some of the case space, then a faster powder with less bulk is called for.

IMHO,

DF

agreed, I doubt you'll get enough in the case to create max pressures. MY personal choice would be n133 but the op asked for info with n135.

 

[Dirtfarmer]

OP may need to invest in another can of powder...

DF

 

[moorepower]

My Hornady manual shows 22.7 as max load with Hornady brass.

 

[Skoodifoo]

Thanks everyone for your input. I loaded 50 rounds using 23,2gr of N135 and none of them did show pressure signs and even the primers were round. The 23,2gr load did prove to be as accurate as I did hope, 11 shots off the bag to 90yards with two obvious fliers the other 9 rounds did one ragged hole.

My Hornady manual shows 22.7 as max load with Hornady brass.

I think Hornady is pretty conservative about their loads, as I'm half a grain over the Hornady max and no signs of pressure, brass is Lapua Match and CCI #400 primers, but I really can feel the case being full, no rattling when shaking the cartridge.

 

[Skoodifoo]

Ok, now I've probably found 'THE' load for my CZ, this gun is far away from your super BR -rifles but seems to be doing nicely in the accuracy compartment.

I upped the load for 1,51Grams(approx. 23,35gr) of N135 and the smallest five shot group to 100m(~110 yards) out of five groups shot was 3,5mm CTC which would be about .15 inches.



The brass is deburred,chamfered and flash hole uniformed virgin neck sized Lapua Match.
Group in the picture was shot in under two minutes from cold to warm barrel.


I don't think I can expect much more from a factory rifle ;D

Now I would be interested to find a decently accurate load for brown hares and other eatable animals, as the V-Max would probably cause too much of that famous jellifying. Any ideas for bullets and loads to try? I would rather use something else than FMJ's though.


And if someone with Quickload would be kind enough to calculate how much velocity I would get approximately with this load using 23,35gr N135, 60gr V-Max, OAL 2.244" as I have no clue because the lack of load data available.

 

[rabbit fingers]

quickload predicts around 3000 fps from a 24 inch barrel.

 

[Skoodifoo]

quickload predicts around 3000 fps from a 24 inch barrel.

Thanks rabbit, I'll base my trajectory estimates to 3000fps.