.223 Load Development

[HumpHammrr]

Bought a Savage Precision Carbine in .223. I wanted to keep everything as simple as possible with my load. I'd rather spend my time and barrel life shooting and learning the rifle rather than trying endless load development.

I settled on Winchester Cases, 69 SMK, Varget powder and CCI #400 primers and seated .005 off the lands. I did a ladder work up to settle at my charge weight/velocity node and have a solid 1/2 MOA group in every group I have fired thus far.

For one experiment outside of my stated purose of "keeping everything simple", I did do a head-to-head test between the CCI primers and some Federal Gold Medal SRP.

Starting with a clean barrel, I fired a 3 shot group with the CCI primed loads to foul and settle the barrel followed by 4 more 3 shot groups. I then cleaned the barrel and repeated the same with the Federal primed loads.

The 3 shot group averages were:
Federal = .682
CCI = .529

Was this limited test reasonable to verify the CCI as being better than the Federal with this particular load combo?

 

[pjparker]

Re: .223 Load Development

If you really want a definitive test, you need to do a ladder test with both primers, find the node for each and do a head to head test of the "winners" from each ladder test. Just swapping primers is not really a fair comparison, IMO.

Anyway, the performance you are getting is not too shabby.

Let's look at it this way - .682 - .529 = .155 in. That's not very much to consistently hold. There will be more change in point of impact from a light breeze, even at relatively short distances.

Pick the load you like best and go shooting!!!!

Paul

 

[AUJohn]

Re: .223 Load Development



You would need a lot more groups to work out if you have found an accuracy difference. 5 - 10 shot groups are better. If you found an accuracy difference I bet it could be traced to velocity.
Barrel life on a .223 is not an important factor. It's going to last a long time but if you have a load you are happy with then stick with it

You might want to remember a change of powder batch often means velocity or accuracy changes and loads should be worked on again to check for accuracy and pressure.
What ranges will you be shooting on? Out to 600 or so the 69SMK is quite ok. Longer ranges mean you should change to a heavier projectile like the 75g Amax if your 1/9 will run it accuratly.
Shorter ranges and you might want to look at some of the flat base match projectiles.
I tend to stick to 1 hunting load and 1 accuracy load.

 

[Clark]

Re: .223 Load Development

IMHO, powder charge has little to do with size of those groups.

The trick to magic is distracting the audience with the wrong variable.

 

[RTH1800]

Re: .223 Load Development

I would consider a powder that drops well out of a measure. RAM-SHOT TAC is near perfect and shoots less than .5 moa to 600 for me. And fast to load. I am sure others will do as well.