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New to loading rifle: loading 223 for bolt guns

Baer45

I understand the differences between 223 and 556 but my problem is Hornady reloading manual only goes to 60ngr bullets in their 223 loads and any bigger loads are service rifle or AR designated. I have a custom barrel for a Desrt Tech Conversion designed around shooting 75/77 gr bullets. Do I just use the bigger loads in 556 but being careful to work up? Do I still load my bullets to or just off lands since my magazine is big enough just like I do for other bolt action caliber guns?

Lastly, does it make any difference whether I use 223 or 556 brass so long as they are same brand and used in any load workup?

Thanks for any input. As soon as I think I understand it....I have to start all over.../
 
It confused me too, in the beginning. I just used the data for the bullet weight and worked up carefully. I have used a few different kinds of brass with the Sierra 77. PMC, Federal, Lake city and Lapua. They all work and hold up. For my custom barrels, I use Lapua, tho I just started trying some PMC because I have a ton of it. It’s shooting pretty well so far.
In all of my guns, I find an accurate node below published max. I start in the lands to find a good charge, then play with seating depth.
The trick to brass longevity is pushing the shoulder back only a couple thousandths. This also helps to keep your internal volume the same. My problem is having four custom barreled 223s and all the brass is different! It’s a job keeping them separate!
When I use LC or the PMC for my good gun’s, I pick out a hundred that weigh the same and keep those batches separated.
Hope this helps.
Josh
 
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Baer45 said:
Big help. I am loading primarily for bolt gun. Any reason not to use nato brass if I take the crimp out?
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None whatsoever! Think about buying some Lapua. It’s not that expensive for a hundred and they’ll last a long time if you treat them right. 20+ reloading cycles is not unheard of. Add the reassurance of shooting the best brass out there and it’s an easy purchase in my book.
 
Thanks. I like Lapua and have no problem with buying some. I have access to an unlimited supply of once fired mil spec Lake City Ammo so was just wondering...
 
I use both Lapua and Lake City, both give me sub one-half inch 5 shot groups which is about as good as I can shoot most of the time. While my Cooper Varminter 223 is not a benchrest rifle I cannot tell any difference in accuracy when using one or the other, The only thing I do to the Lake City is trim to the same length and sort by year.
Be aware that with the once fired Lake City you may occassionally encounter a piece that has been fired in an oversized chamber and the base will be expanded so much that it will not chamber - in that case just toss it and go on with life.

drover
 
If you look at the .223/5.56 loading data the difference is throat length and twist rate.

I have a Savage .223 with a 1in9 twist and it has a throat longer than my AR15 rifles.

Rifles with a 1in12 or 1in14 twist will have a short throat for lighter shorter bullets.

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Good afternoon,
Hoping someone can help, trying to get load data. I'm shooting a 223 cal. 30"- 1:7 twist barrel. I'm going to use Berger 80.5 and 90 grain bullets with Lapua brass, CCI small rifle primers and CFE223 powder. I can not seem to find any load data for this combination. Dose anyone have any data or info where I can look for this. Will appreciated any help. Monty
 
For a reasonable price you can download Hodgdon’s annual reloading manual with tons of loads. I also went Sierra’s site and bought their app which is a great tool when shooting Sierra Bullets. It has new data added often that is not in their last book....
 
Baer45 said:
For a reasonable price you can download Hodgdon’s annual reloading manual with tons of loads. I also went Sierra’s site and bought their app which is a great tool when shooting Sierra Bullets. It has new data added often that is not in their last book....
Click to expand...
Thank you Baer45, I have the Berger Book and even called Berger and sadly no info on what I asked for and I'm waiting for Hodgdon to reply to my e-mail. I find info on Berger bullets but not with CFE223 powder or I find CFE223 powder and not on Berger bullets.
 
Some folks would fine load data for a same or close weight BULLET of another manufacturer with similar profile and work up. Have you tried a “search” for CFE223, Berger xxxx? Should be able to find someone else on here that has tried your combo....good luck...
 
I just bought a Savage 223 with 1:9 twist and it has zero freebore, bullets are seated just touching. It shoots 55 - 69gr bullets and RL-15, 10 shot groups inside one MOA at 100 yards using sorted range brass. And I originally bought this gun just for the action...but it shoots so well that I hate to part it out.
 
Montyblu said:
Good afternoon,
Hoping someone can help, trying to get load data. I'm shooting a 223 cal. 30"- 1:7 twist barrel. I'm going to use Berger 80.5 and 90 grain bullets with Lapua brass, CCI small rifle primers and CFE223 powder. I can not seem to find any load data for this combination. Dose anyone have any data or info where I can look for this. Will appreciated any help. Monty
Click to expand...

Monty, what do you know about your chamber/freebore? That will have a huge impact on responses. Factory Savage FTR?. 169 freebore?
 
If using range brass, most of which will have been fired from AR15 rifles, I recommend the RCBS small base sizing die. Most auto fire rifles do not chamber the cartridge fully in the chamber and this leaves the base of the brass slightly over sized.You only have to use this die the first time you reload it, if used in a bolt action rifle. After that the brass will be resized to fit your action by fire forming.
 
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