Need Input for .223 Cartridge Guide Page

[Forum Boss]

It's .223 Time, and the editors need your help.

We are working on a .223/.223 AI Cartridge Guide--similar to what we've done for the 30BR, .308, .243 Win etc.

These have been extremely popular site features.

We are looking for:

1. H20 capacity for various headstamps of brass,either virgin or fired and FL-sized, but please specify which)

2. Pet loads--both short-range and long-range.

3. Thoughts and recommendations on factory ammo.

4. Reloading tips/tricks for max accuracy and low run-out.

5. Velocity comparisons for a std load at various bbl lengths,hard to ascertain without a cut-down test, but if we can get multiple reports of guys shooting the same factory ammo in different length barrels we should have something useful to report).

6. Thoughts/experiences re loading .223 Rem with a progressive press.

So... share your wisdom. Most of my .223 Rem experience has been with AR-type rifles and I know that is only part of the picture.

 

[OldSchool]

Well I got lots of experience with the 223. Can post about anything you would like but for now I will say for factory ammo I will put Black Hills blue box 52gr BTHP Match against most anything but handloads and at a way better price than most.

 

[12man]

I agree also had good luck with 52 gr Match Blue box Black Hills, my 1-8 teist AR-15 has all the mods & likes the 50 gr V-Max a little better though. We have a hard time getting the Red Box Black Hills in Alaska. It shoots the 69 gr Sierras or 69 Nosler Match with 25 grains of N135 /Varget equally well

 

[Austin]

On paper blackhills 52gr match in my 22" rem 788 1:12 shoot 1/2" groups.For varmints hornady varmint express with a 55gr V-MAX and Ultramax 55gr Nosler Ballistic Tip both shoot in the same hole.Iv alternated rounds in the mag and there is no diff. Both are critter slayers.Will shoot 1/2-3/4".Never cronographed them though.

 

[harvey13118]

Can we add in the difference between 1:8 and 1:9 with different barrel lenghts 20" 24" and which likes what bullets best.

I am looking this direction for a varmint AR type rifle that will have a quick follow up for moving target out to 150 yds maybe more, hopefully less.

Harvey

 

[gaintwist]

Happy Holidays,
I shoot a bolt gun Krieger 30" 1-7. Max loads are mildly compressed 26g R-15 in WW cases with 80g bullets @3100+. Haven't tried the 90's yet and would like advice on starting loads with them if anyone has been there done that. Can't tell you anything else about cases, I have only used WW. When I switched from Varget to R-15 my velocity went up and the pressure signs went down. Will try VV-550 after the next powder order. I like Rem 7.5's but they are almost extinct. If you have any 90g bullet experiences you could share I would appreciate it.
cheers,
-lige

 

[vmthtr]

I have been shooting the 223 AI for a few years,,5) and have really been taken by it. I am using a 50g Vmax and VV133 in IMI brass, whcih is near impossible to find now.

Mike

 

[Ogre6br]

HI
I had a 223AI made on a R700 SA with a local made 1:9 CM HV profile barrel finished at almost 27 inches.

Should never have sold it in a moment of absolute madness- have regretted selling it for about 10 years. Chambering was for no neck turn.

Best factory ammo I found for fireforming was the American Eagle 50 grain HP.
Clean clear sharp shoulders and sub 3/4 accuracy while fireforming.

For re-loading I used the Sierra 60 grain HP and Benchmark or the local made EQ of H4198,AR 2207). AFIR avg was 0.65 moa. Never "chrony"ed the load though.

The American eagle load and the 60 HP load shot to within 3/4 of an inch horizontal of each other.

90% of the time I used it was for culling vermin and kangaroo's under permit.
The other shooter used a 22/250 and the same Sierra 60 grain HP.
The roo's dropped just as emphatically with the 223AI loads as they did with the 22/250.

Waiting for a barrel to arrive so I can build another .223AI.

What I found really great about the 223AI is for 30 grains or less of powder it would perform like a 22/250.

later
P

 

[yat3b35]

I'm new to the forum,but would like to comment on the .223Rem.I started off with a factory Rem. 700 varminter with a slow twist and had good luck with 52 gr.hpbt Sierra,but nothing else seemed to work.I traded that rifle on a custom Rem. 700 in .223 with a 1-8 twist Douglas heavy barrel 26".I used the same load data that I used in the factory rifle,with the same results. 52gr Sierra hpbt atop 25.5 gr Varget and CCI450 primers.10 shot group center to center .315 .I then started working new loads with heavier bullets and found that my rifle likes the Berger 80grVLD's better than any other bullet.I also found that it liked H4895 powder better than Varget.I use this rifle for the local "groundhog" shooting matches.We shoot 100,200,300,400,and 500 meters,depending on which rifle range I go to. I found that an 80grVLD Berger atop a load of 23.3gr H4895 backed by CCIBR4 primers to give me the best results. My best 5 shot 100 yard group was .027" . The bullet is well in the rifling when chambered.My best 500 meter group was 2.5" . My rifle weighs in at 13.5 lbs with the T36 Weaver mounted atop.which puts me in the light custom rifle cat. I have not won any matches yet as I'm competing with the PPC',and other top quality guns.

 

[mysticplayer]

Just started playing with my new Stevens 200 in 223. Sporter 22" barrel. I have bedded the action, tuned the bolt camming and trigger as light as possible,3 lbs). Still shooting in the factory plastic stock but the hockey puck recoil pad has been replaced with a Hogue.

With the 9 twist, all my loads will concentrate on the 75gr Amax. Using WW cases, CCI primer,BR4 and 450), my first powder was Varget.

This showed alot of promise with 2 to 3 rds touching or around 3/8" at 100yds in rather cold weather. However, there was always a flyer or two that pushed the group out to 3/4"/1".

This occured over a number of trips which proved very irritating. I switched from BR4 to 450 thinking that the cold temps might be causing irratic ignition. Problem got better but flyers persist.

I have now switched to H4350 which is showing promise,last 3rds group went 5/16"). More testing to follow. Hopefully, it is just a powder issue with Varget being too peaky in this rifle.

Again, I am pleasantly surprised at how well these Stevens/Savage rifles shoot. When I can elimiate the flyers, I expect this rifle to shoot in the 3/8" range. A pretty tall order for a factory rifle in a less then ideal stock but looks possible.

Future tweaks include more work with H4350, using a Lee collet neck die to reduce runout more, a bit of neck turning, comparing primers as the temp warms up, long range accuracy.

I also have a Pac Nor 7 twist with polygonal rifling on the way which will become a tactical/F,TR) rifle this summer. I want to see how this case reacts to the 80 and 90gr bullets at elevated pressures. Also, what benefits the polygonal rifling can offer.

Jerry

 

[JDY]

I am shooting a Savage 12 LRPV with 1-7 twist.
75 gr. Amax
25 gr. Varget
Lapua match brass
Redding type S F/L with .246 bushing
CCI primers standard or BR Savage likes both
Seating depth -10
Groups size to date @100 yards .187 with .200/.250 the norm
With this setup I can hit 8" steel disk out to 500 yard's consistently
LOVE my Savage

 

[mysticplayer]

Been shooting my new Pac Nor 7 twist barrel on a box stock Stevens 200 for the last couple of months. It is certainly working well with the 75gr Amax and Varget and Benchmark. I have switched to the CCI 450 primer as the temps have drop to single digits C. This has eliminated flyers that were present when using the CCI BR4 primer.

At 200yds, this rifle is 1/4MOA capable and I do get a number of groups that cloverleaf,around 1/8" C to C) so the barrel is working nicely.

The barrel does clean up nicely with little/no copper fouling. I usually just run a couple of dry patches down the bore every 20 to 30rds and it just keeps shooting them into small groups.

Got a chance to shoot it at 1000m last week in cold but calm conditions. I was able to keep my shots inside a 1/2 X 3/4 MOA rock. Sizing was based off mil dot reticle subtension.

Varget shoots a bit tighter then Benchmark but Benchmark can be dumped from a powder measure accurately. Will use the Benchmark for high volume shooting/varminting and Varget when tiny groups matter.

All shot in Win brass neck sized with a Lee collet neck die. Bullet seating chores are handled by a 221 Fireball RCBS seater. Seems to work just fine.

Only had a few 80gr Amax to test but these also proved very promising. Varget was the powder used.

Jerry

 

[fdshuster]

Recently had the opportunity to test some 223 loads in a Savage Mdl 10fp at 600 yds. 26 grs. of Varget, 69 gr. Sierra #1380 at 2.300" oal, cci400, chronographed velocity of 2881 fps. 5 shot groups held moa in light & variable wind conditions. This is a recommended accuracy load in the Lyman #48 manual, which I find to be a very reliable source of info. Then tried the 75 gr A-Max w/ recommended 23 grs. of Varget and groups opened up, a lot. Too long,1.095") and heavy of a bullet for the 9 twist,?), although Hornady label on box lists 9 twist.

 

[Jason Boersma]

My best load is 28gr of win 748 with any 50 or 52gr bullet.