Questions about reloading for long range 223

[odoylerules]

I’m getting a 223 conversion kit from Short Action Customs for my desert tech SRS. I plan to shoot this a lot, as a trainer. Ive never reloaded 223. I will be shooting 70-80gr projectiles. Any advice those with experience about components or load data would be greatly appreciated thanks.
Also, do you guys think its worth it to buy nice Lapua brass for my intended purposes?

 

[Brent B]

IMHO you can't go wrong with Lapua. I have been satisfied with Lapua in .223 6BR .243 6 Creed. I just wish they made 300WM

 

[Jack Master]

I send 75gr hornady elds at 3000fps with 27gr of CF223 behind it. I use cheap range brass because it's a trainer that is supposed to be cheap to shoot.

 

[AR-180]

I use Lake City brass and Noslers. I use powders that meter well. The goal is to spend more time shooting and less time reloading.

 

[TimK]

77SMK with 24.0-24.5g of Vaget is a classic accuracy load.

 

[padom]

80 Amax @ 2910 with 24.6gr Varget in Lapua brass out of my 26" Kreiger is a hammer. Matches my 6.5cm in drop out to 800. One of my favorite guns to shoot

 

[DIBBS]

I have a .223 standard and a .223 Ackley Rifle. I buy nosler 77 CC when on sale, and they both shoot extremely well. Varget at 24.5 in the standard chamber, and as I recall 25 grains of 8208 XBR in the Ackley. Both have shorter barrels, but man do they shoot. Load for both on a Dillon 550. Spotting impacts at distance past 600 can be troublesome. I have also had good luck with 75 grain Amaxes, and recently bought some 80's to try as well. I have been using Winchester and Lake City brass, I have Lapua sitting on the shelf but don't believe I can do much better with same.

 

[unclefreedom]

While I don't shoot bolt guns in .223 I stretch out my AR 20" match barrel 1:7 to 1000 yards rather consistently. I run Hornady 75gr BTHP, 77gr SMK, 69gr SMK, 68gr Hornady BTHP and just got some Nosler 70gr RDF. I have found my most accurate loading in the middle never at max. with max loads I have seen higher SD and ES and an explosion in group size. I love 75 BTHP over 23.1 gr Varget lower Velocity sure but boringly consistent. Make sure you ladder load and then find you happy grouping spot and then ladder load those. I recently did some benchmark under 75gr started at 21.5, 21.8, 22.1, 22.4, 22.7 and 23. My accuracy node was 21.8- 22.4 Then I laddered 21.8, 22.0, 22,2 and 22.4 turned out 22.3 was my golden child. To me laddering for 5.56 and .223 is more involved and PITA than loading for my .338 lapua