AR15 1:9 53gr v-max loads

[Irish Bird Dog]

New here today...this may be posted someplace here...if so please redirect me...otherwise I am looking for direction(s) to load the Hornady 53gr V-Max in my 1:9/20" standard Bushmaster bbl with 5.56 chamber.
Powders I have available to use are BLC-2, CFR 223, Win 748, Varget, TAC & MR 223 (not AA-2230). Primers available are Winchester Small Rifle. Brass is mixed .223 civilian.
I have perused several (most older) reloading books and have some ideas but most use 1:12 twist for 53gr testing. Also, none show a Hornady 53gr v-max only other brands of 53gr HP. Use that data and start 10% low or ?????
Thanks for any input from you forum folks.

 

[patrol120]

The 53 V-max is a relatively new bullet. I would just use 52gr A-Max data to start with.

 

[mrbig]

I quit working up loads for 223,,from 50-69 gr bullets all my rifles shoot Varget very well,,and get good speed,,I am not sure if you could even make a dangerous load with any of those powders in 223 with a 53 gr bullet,,

start about 24 grs and work up to a case full Varget and you should find a good load,,several of the other powders are just as good but it is just to much hassle to me wasting time and effort when I know that Varget will shoot in just about any 223,,

 

[Kiba]

I've been shooting 53gr Vmax for a few years now out of both bolt guns and ARs. The 53gr Vmax has one of the best BCs of any of the "light" .224 bullets I've run across. My .223 bolt gun is 26" 1/12, my old varmint AR .223 was 24" 1/9 twist, new varmint AR .223 is 22" 1/8 twist.

While you don't have it on your list I use N133 for all of them... excellent accuracy with N133 and the 53gr Vmax is very reactive on squirrels and way better in the wind than any of the other Vmax offerings. Coyotes don't care for them either. Velocity is 3300-3350 out of the .223s depending on the rifle. I've also loaded them for a friend's .22-250 with excellent results.

I'd say start with 52gr or 55gr data and go from there with the powder of your choosing, it will get you in the ballpark. The 53gr Vmax is a little longer though and will cut into case capacity a bit if you don't load long which is an option in a bolt gun but not for magazine loading from an AR. For reference on your data & load work ups, I run right around 24.6gr of N133 behind them. For N133 Vihtavuori says 25.0 max for a 52gr Sierra or 24.5 max for a 55gr, so the N133 53gr Vmax loads my rifles like sits comfortably in the middle. So, following 52-55gr data for other bullets will get you very close.

Out of the powders you have I'd probably try Varget and CFE223-- although I've had better luck with Varget with heavier .224 bullets than the sub-60gr bullets. For the lighter bullets I really like how N133 performs, I haven't had a .223 with 50-55gr bullets *not* take a very strong liking to N133.

 

[codger49]

I have an AR 1 : 9, 16" tacticool upper. I bought a bunch of the 53 gr. vmax bullets. I only had Alliant provarmint powder that I had. not much load devolopment out there. I also use blc-2
with alliant I went as high as 26.7 gr. and primers were ok. I settled at 25.8- 26 gr as a load in my rifle. cycles fine, but have not chronoed yet. accurate load out of my rifle. hitting prairie dogs out to almost 300 yrds. with little trouble.
my go to load with blc-2 is 26.2 gr. for 53 to 60 gr.
I was warned in the past that Winchester primers are on the soft side and not to be used in AR's. I have used remington and CCI 400.
Remember also, I am in s. california at sea level. on hotter days blc-2 will run higher pressures.
If I get to shoot and chrono, I will update my info because I see little about this bullet.
Best of luck

 

[briang7511]

I am using same gun with 16in barrel, very good results varget and 52 horny bthps. I am not home so I don't remember powder charge but it was near max. Pm me if interested and I will check later. I did try the 52 amax with good results but it distorts the tip. I have some fiocci box ammo from cabelas with 40 and 50 vmax that shoot good also. they probably distort the tip a little too but doesn't seem to affect accuracy. Using standard federal small rifle primers.

 

[JLR]

I ran the 53s for awhile shooting 3gun and they shot really good with 26.5gr of TAC. Same load that I use with 55vmax

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

 

[kyabrams66]

I've been using this load out of a 20" Rem 700 SPST 1/9 twist

LC Brass
26.5 gr Varget
Rem 7.5
2.253 OAL

 

[briang7511]

The seating die is doing this or something else?

when they feed from the mag into the chamber. apparently as they slide up the feed ramp they bend the tip a little.