Pet 223 loads

[blacksmithden]

I've got the numbers in the manuals....blah blah blah. I'm still going to let your guys decide what to load these 223 rounds to.

I've got some unknown brand, 55gr full metal jacket, boat tail bullets, and lots of Varget. 18.5" 1 in 9 twist barrel. What do you think ? What's your pet load ?

[harbl_the_cat]

Out of my Mossberg MVP's (18.5" 1:9) and Ruger American Predator (22" 1:8)

20.0 to 20.5 grains of IMR-4198 (dropped from a Lee Autodisk) with Federal standard small rifle with an OAL of about 2.230-2.240 with CAMPRO 55gn FMJ, mixed headstamp brass trimmed to 1.750-1.755 yields 2.00-2.50 MOA off a bench with a light weight bag rest.

With BDX branded 55 gn FMJ's from BDX (either IVI or Montana Gold, I'm not sure) with 25.0 - 25.5 grains of Accurate 2230 (same brass, OAL and primers), I was getting 0.75-1.50 MOA (same shooting configuration)

Neither load I think is suitable to shoot past 300 meters.

25.5 grains of W748 (trickle charged by hand) with 69 grain Sierra Match Kings with IVI brass trimmed 1.750-1.755 (forgot OAL of the top of my head) with Federal Match Small Rifles, yielded 1.00-2.00 MOA and much less wind drift out to 500 meters than the 55 grains with the same shooting configuration.

19.4 grains IMR-4198 (trickle charged by hand) with same bullet, brass, primers, and OAL yields 0.50-1.50 MOA - but with noticeably lower velocity (untested, but a big concern out to 500).

[Camo tung]

Out of my Mossberg MVP's (18.5" 1:9) and Ruger American Predator (22" 1:8)

20.0 to 20.5 grains of IMR-4198 (dropped from a Lee Autodisk) with Federal standard small rifle with an OAL of about 2.230-2.240 with CAMPRO 55gn FMJ, mixed headstamp brass trimmed to 1.750-1.755 yields 2.00-2.50 MOA off a bench with a light weight bag rest.

With BDX branded 55 gn FMJ's from BDX (either IVI or Montana Gold, I'm not sure) with 25.0 - 25.5 grains of Accurate 2230 (same brass, OAL and primers), I was getting 0.75-1.50 MOA (same shooting configuration)

Neither load I think is suitable to shoot past 300 meters.

25.5 grains of W748 (trickle charged by hand) with 69 grain Sierra Match Kings with IVI brass trimmed 1.750-1.755 (forgot OAL of the top of my head) with Federal Match Small Rifles, yielded 1.00-2.00 MOA and much less wind drift out to 500 meters than the 55 grains with the same shooting configuration.

19.4 grains IMR-4198 (trickle charged by hand) with same bullet, brass, primers, and OAL yields 0.50-1.50 MOA - but with noticeably lower velocity (untested, but a big concern out to 500).

I've got some unknown brand, 55gr full metal jacket, boat tail bullets, and lots of Varget. 18.5" 1 in 9 twist barrel.

[harbl_the_cat]

I'm still going to let your guys decide what to load these 223 rounds to.

What's your pet load ?

[Camo tung]

I'm still going to let your guys decide what to load these 223 rounds to.

What's your pet load ?

The list of parameters was quite narrow. 55 FMJ, Varget & 1-9 twist. How's the cat?

[blacksmithden]

I was kind of looking for how many grains of Varget Harb.

[harbl_the_cat]

I was kind of looking for how many grains of Varget Harb.

I didn't read that from the title, sorry.

I have 2 lbs of Varget, I could never get myself to load it, given that I have 24 lbs of IMR-4198, 16 lbs of CFE-223, and 16 lbs of Accurate 2230.

I'll probably let it go when it's $200+ / lbs...

[Rory McCanuck]

I think Varget is pretty slow for that light of a bullet, isn't it?

I've had good luck with the Canpro 55 gr bullets, but with IMR 4198 and H-335.

[M1917 Enfield]

223 Varget Data.jpg

[t_glover]

I had three 9" twist .223's and none of them liked 55 grain bullets.
They were more accurate with 60 or 68 grain bullets. The Hornady
68 grain match bullets were the most accurate.