18' 1-8 twist W.O.A. AR in .223 loads

[josie6637]

Getting ready to start loading for my .223 18" 1-8 twist. I am thinking on loads in the 70's (hornady/SMKs)grains and will be using varget powder w/ lake city brass, Fed match primers.

Anyone load same or similar for their 1-8 twist? I tried the search engine and can't seem to find pet loads guys have.

I know I need to load up to whatever pet load I am wanting to do but would like a few ideas of where to start so I can skip some of this process w/ starting at min load.

 

[Sowastrong Industries]

Re: 18' 1-8 twist W.O.A. AR in .223 loads

I'm happy with Nosler 69gr HPBT's (i try supporting local/regional at least over h4895. 1/2 grain shy of max per Hodgdon site; not positive max so I'll leave that to you. Using varget with 55 gr sp, throwing them charges so I'm a comfortable amount shy of max. Happy with the varget groups and cheap armscor soft points fwiw

I'm shooting 16" 1-8" ss bbl.

Matt

 

[rkaires]

Re: 18' 1-8 twist W.O.A. AR in .223 loads

My 20" 1/8 twist likes 23.8 gr of AA-2520 with 77gr SMK's.

 

[Jimlaw83]

Re: 18' 1-8 twist W.O.A. AR in .223 loads

My 24 inch Stag 1/8 with LC 2011 brass and CCI SR (not the br) primers liked Hornady 75gr bthp matches over 24.2 gr of Varget at mag length. Ended up going with 2000 MR at 26 grains (over book max, work up and be careful). Group was tighter, velocity better, and powder is a little cheaper and cleaner.

 

[Rob01]

Re: 18' 1-8 twist W.O.A. AR in .223 loads

Look up in the Reloading Depot at the top of the Realoading page. There's 5 pages of .223 loads. Here's a link

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=351023#Post351023

I use the Hornady 75grn BTHP in my 8 twist 18" barrel and it's very accurate. I shoot the loaded ammo though and don't load yet.

 

[wrhunter]

Re: 18' 1-8 twist W.O.A. AR in .223 loads

My standby go-to load is 25g Varget with 69smk or 69 Nosler CC.
Working on a load with 8208xbr which meters much better than Varget. So far 24.1g looks promising.

I've never had good luck with the Hornady 75 BTHP's in MY rifle which is disappointing because around here they are cheaper than the smk's

 

[josie6637]

Re: 18' 1-8 twist W.O.A. AR in .223 loads

Thanks guys, a lot of this info is exactly what I was looking for.

 

[jbailey]

Re: 18' 1-8 twist W.O.A. AR in .223 loads

70gr Berger VLD
+
25.2gr of RL15
+
Winchester brass
+
CCI #41
=
Nasty mag length AR load.

Same BC as the 77gr SMK, but I can get them going 200fps faster. Its doing 2925fps out of my 20" 1:8 twist. Super accurate as well (drills one holes at 200yds and first round hits at 800yds +).

 

[pdice]

Re: 18' 1-8 twist W.O.A. AR in .223 loads

I need to check my OAL, but my 24" WOA 1:8 setup is best with 24.5gn Ramshot TAC with a 69 Sierra Matchking .