I'm just starting to reload and I was wondering if anyone had a good baseline for .223, 26" barrel, 1:12 twist. From using factory ammo I know it likes 55 grain bullets so I was going to use to experiment starting with them. I'm more curious with different types of powder and primers to use.
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Re: New to reloading need a starting point for .223
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: immcpat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm just starting to reload and I was wondering if anyone had a good baseline for .223, 26" barrel, 1:12 twist. From using factory ammo I know it likes 55 grain bullets so I was going to use to experiment starting with them. I'm more curious with different types of powder and primers to use. </div></div>
Go up to the RELOADING DEPOT tacked at the top and read under the '223' section. Also, what manuals do you have?
What are you going to be doing with this rifle...hunting, plinking, long range target shooting?
With a 1:12" twist, I wouldn't bother with the 68/69gr class of bullets, but I would try something like the 60gr VMAX from Hornady.
I've got a Savage 12 VLP in 22-250 and it has a 1:12" twist, so not ideal for the longer/heavier higher BC target bullets. 60s and under should get stablized well enough.
There are a lot of powders out there for the <60s--AA-2230 and H-335 being pretty popular with the lighter bullets. There's the new CFE-223 out that gets decent marks, but the sky's the limit.
You need to get a few different powders, a couple of different primer brands and more than a few bullets and tell us what your rifle likes.
Chris
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: immcpat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm just starting to reload and I was wondering if anyone had a good baseline for .223, 26" barrel, 1:12 twist. From using factory ammo I know it likes 55 grain bullets so I was going to use to experiment starting with them. I'm more curious with different types of powder and primers to use. </div></div>
Go up to the RELOADING DEPOT tacked at the top and read under the '223' section. Also, what manuals do you have?
What are you going to be doing with this rifle...hunting, plinking, long range target shooting?
With a 1:12" twist, I wouldn't bother with the 68/69gr class of bullets, but I would try something like the 60gr VMAX from Hornady.
I've got a Savage 12 VLP in 22-250 and it has a 1:12" twist, so not ideal for the longer/heavier higher BC target bullets. 60s and under should get stablized well enough.
There are a lot of powders out there for the <60s--AA-2230 and H-335 being pretty popular with the lighter bullets. There's the new CFE-223 out that gets decent marks, but the sky's the limit.
You need to get a few different powders, a couple of different primer brands and more than a few bullets and tell us what your rifle likes.
Chris
Re: New to reloading need a starting point for .223
couldn't agree more with ChrisGarret
couldn't agree more with ChrisGarret
Re: New to reloading need a starting point for .223
Very top of 'reloading' forum.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=29&page=1
I've found some good loads with 52 and 53 smk's; they're worth a try. For a hunting load, 55gr Nosler BT's shoot very good in every rifle I've put them through.
H4895 is a really good starting powder IMHO. It seems to give pretty good results from start to near max. 90% of my .223's are now loaded w/ imr8208, but that's mainly due to good powder drops on a progressive.
Good Luck.
Very top of 'reloading' forum.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=29&page=1
I've found some good loads with 52 and 53 smk's; they're worth a try. For a hunting load, 55gr Nosler BT's shoot very good in every rifle I've put them through.
H4895 is a really good starting powder IMHO. It seems to give pretty good results from start to near max. 90% of my .223's are now loaded w/ imr8208, but that's mainly due to good powder drops on a progressive.
Good Luck.
Re: New to reloading need a starting point for .223
for starting out, load your 1st 1000 with something reasonably priced
55gr hornady FMJ , any standard primer, once fired brass 25 gr H335 - it is not a hot load and has done a reasonable job in about 15 rifles
after that consider expanding into higher end components
for starting out, load your 1st 1000 with something reasonably priced
55gr hornady FMJ , any standard primer, once fired brass 25 gr H335 - it is not a hot load and has done a reasonable job in about 15 rifles
after that consider expanding into higher end components
Re: New to reloading need a starting point for .223
You don't have a long range precision barrel. With that twist I would get some 52gr SMK's and push them pretty hard, with the requisite safe workup of course. Try BLC2 or WW748. If you want a 223 for long range you will need at least 1-9 twist and personally I would opt for 1-8 for best flexibility. Both mine are 1-8 and they do well with all the 80's and down to 52gr.
You don't have a long range precision barrel. With that twist I would get some 52gr SMK's and push them pretty hard, with the requisite safe workup of course. Try BLC2 or WW748. If you want a 223 for long range you will need at least 1-9 twist and personally I would opt for 1-8 for best flexibility. Both mine are 1-8 and they do well with all the 80's and down to 52gr.
Re: New to reloading need a starting point for .223
IF you have a Rem 700 SPS Varmint...I quickly discovered mine hates boat tail bullets, loves the 53gr SMK & 55gr SPT.....either one with 26gr Varget.....Bingo! I use the SMK for target fun and the SPT for critters that enter my sanctuary. H4895 works well, but the Varget groups are a little better. IMR 4064 shot the best group, but a little too temp sensitive for me. Jumping .007-.010. I shot these loads out to 525 yards.
IF you have a Rem 700 SPS Varmint...I quickly discovered mine hates boat tail bullets, loves the 53gr SMK & 55gr SPT.....either one with 26gr Varget.....Bingo! I use the SMK for target fun and the SPT for critters that enter my sanctuary. H4895 works well, but the Varget groups are a little better. IMR 4064 shot the best group, but a little too temp sensitive for me. Jumping .007-.010. I shot these loads out to 525 yards.
Re: New to reloading need a starting point for .223
I guess it depends on what you mean by long range but..... 223 is not the right 'long range' caliber. And then on top of that 55gr makes the quest even worse. If by long range you mean, 200-300 yards, then your fine.
I guess it depends on what you mean by long range but..... 223 is not the right 'long range' caliber. And then on top of that 55gr makes the quest even worse. If by long range you mean, 200-300 yards, then your fine.
Re: New to reloading need a starting point for .223
You can have a lot of fun with what you have.
You can have a lot of fun with what you have.
Re: New to reloading need a starting point for .223
1:12 is generally recommended to stay around 40-55gr pills, which means you're limited on range, but what range you have will be a near lazer-like trajectory since you can move some fast bullets.
Sierra makes a 63gr bullet specifically for those slower twist barrels, gives you the ability to have a heavy without all the destabilization problems that most heavy bullets do because of their length.
1:12 is generally recommended to stay around 40-55gr pills, which means you're limited on range, but what range you have will be a near lazer-like trajectory since you can move some fast bullets.
Sierra makes a 63gr bullet specifically for those slower twist barrels, gives you the ability to have a heavy without all the destabilization problems that most heavy bullets do because of their length.
Re: New to reloading need a starting point for .223
I would suggest getting the Sierra reloading manual and buying several 100 count boxes of Sierra 52gr .224" diameter MatchKings. A pound of Varget powder and a quantity of CCI BR-4 primers equivalent to your bullets purchase gets you into the ballpark.
I would suggest loading batches of 20 each of 25.0gr Varget, 25.2gr, 25.4gr, ..., up to 26.0gr. Start out seating them with the traditional Cartridge Overall Length of 2.250". Shoot them from a solid support in 5rd groups. One of these increments will probably shoot especially nicely.
This is load development at its most simple.
Greg
I would suggest getting the Sierra reloading manual and buying several 100 count boxes of Sierra 52gr .224" diameter MatchKings. A pound of Varget powder and a quantity of CCI BR-4 primers equivalent to your bullets purchase gets you into the ballpark.
I would suggest loading batches of 20 each of 25.0gr Varget, 25.2gr, 25.4gr, ..., up to 26.0gr. Start out seating them with the traditional Cartridge Overall Length of 2.250". Shoot them from a solid support in 5rd groups. One of these increments will probably shoot especially nicely.
This is load development at its most simple.
Greg
Re: New to reloading need a starting point for .223
Like others have said long range will be a serious battle with light bullets being blown around and rapidly shedding velocity, I'd focus on trying to shoot bugholes inside of 300yds.
I'd take Benchmark over Varget, it meters far better and does well with lighter bullets, but I've had great results with both. The market is absolutely flooded with good powder options for the .223. Half the fun of reloading for me is seeing how the different ones perform, just cranking out ammo tends to bore me. As far as primers, I've done well with plain old Winchester small rifle, CCI400s, and Rem 6 1/2s, a small rifle magnum might be worth a try if you decide on a ball powder, I find most primers will work adequetly as long as the load was developed with them, randomly change primers and you may see some differences. Maybe try some Hornady 52/53gr bullet offerings.
Like others have said long range will be a serious battle with light bullets being blown around and rapidly shedding velocity, I'd focus on trying to shoot bugholes inside of 300yds.
I'd take Benchmark over Varget, it meters far better and does well with lighter bullets, but I've had great results with both. The market is absolutely flooded with good powder options for the .223. Half the fun of reloading for me is seeing how the different ones perform, just cranking out ammo tends to bore me. As far as primers, I've done well with plain old Winchester small rifle, CCI400s, and Rem 6 1/2s, a small rifle magnum might be worth a try if you decide on a ball powder, I find most primers will work adequetly as long as the load was developed with them, randomly change primers and you may see some differences. Maybe try some Hornady 52/53gr bullet offerings.
Re: New to reloading need a starting point for .223
As a varmint rifle chambering (which is what it is with lighter weight bullets), I've considered the .223 to have an effective range of about 275-300yd (I.e., a good shot placement will be lethal on a varmint sized critter).
For the wily paperbeast, I'd add maybe another 100yd, and trim that back when the wind picks up.
If I were a little less conservative, I'd be considering CFE223 as a propellant; but I'm not really interested in subjecting my rifles to another round of load development.
Greg
As a varmint rifle chambering (which is what it is with lighter weight bullets), I've considered the .223 to have an effective range of about 275-300yd (I.e., a good shot placement will be lethal on a varmint sized critter).
For the wily paperbeast, I'd add maybe another 100yd, and trim that back when the wind picks up.
If I were a little less conservative, I'd be considering CFE223 as a propellant; but I'm not really interested in subjecting my rifles to another round of load development.
Greg
