Re-17 for 223

[Steve]

I had some info on Re-17 for 223 from quickload. I know to slow for a little round, well maybe.
So at the gun show last weekend i was finally able to find a pound to try without ordering and paying the haxmat fee.
Now first off this is not a standard 223.
It is throated for 80 grain Bergers,2.510 oal) 1:8 twist 30 inch long barrel,Broughton f-class taper).
I know what kind of velocities I am getting with Varget so I am going to do a comparison.
I will share info later after my testing phase is over. I will also test some A-Maxes as well,since i have a box or two of them).

 

[Steve]

Well, looks like 17 is not the powder for 223.
I started off with some quick load data using this powder with my particular setup. I then came up with a starting load and performed the ladder test starting at 23.2 grains and stopped at 26 in .2 grain increments on the initial testing. I loaded up two sladder tests one for 80 grain Bergers and one for 80 grain A-Maxs.
I also loaded up my pet load of 24.5 grains of varget and sighted in at 200 yards,longest distance at our local range).
I never saw pressure signs, bolt opened smoothly, primers looked good. So I went back and loaded up 26.2 grains and went till I stopped at 27.6 grains, at that point I was getting slight compressed loads. I will say this, 17 meters well and packs in,or settles) better than varget and to me was cleaner burning powder.
I then took the chrono with me because at 26 grains I was impacting the target the same as 24.5 grains of varget.
Well, 26.2 grains was about 2800 just like my varget load of 24.5 and 27.6 grains was about 2950, still never saw any pressure signs. I'll post some pictures.

 

[fdshuster]

Steve: For my 223s' with 'heavy' bullets: 77 & 80, Varget remains the first choice, Reloader 15 the second. All barrels with 1-8 or 1-7.8,Krieger) twists.