Just picked up a used Rem 700 bolt gun in .223. It's got a 12 twist barrel (yes, I measured it) so I headed to the range to test out what it might like.
50 gr Fed Value pack - nope (had this stuff shoot great before in one of my JP AR's)
55 gr Nosler BT - nope again (25.0 grains of IMR 4895)
68 gr BHills - nada big time (blue box)
I figure it will like lightweight bullets with that twist so I switch it up and try out some 40 grain Hornady factory V-Max stuff. Shoots it ok but not great. What to do, what to do. I'm resting my head on the stock and mulling over the fact that I might have to handload lighter bullets for it (but I really want to shoot the heavier stuff).
Soooo as a last resort I pull out the factory Federal GMM 69 grain ammo to humor myself. BAM !!! 5 rounds all touching at 100 yds with about a .397" group. WTH ?! Wouldn't have figured it would have liked 69 grainers AT ALL but there's the proof. And I was holding on the black vertical line and estimating the middle of the line. Next time I'll setup a better precision target to shoot at. I'll post a pic tomorrow when I get some time but now I've got to settle on replicating the GMM 69 grain load. Any ideas of what powder to use?? Varget? 4895?? or ???
50 gr Fed Value pack - nope (had this stuff shoot great before in one of my JP AR's)
55 gr Nosler BT - nope again (25.0 grains of IMR 4895)
68 gr BHills - nada big time (blue box)
I figure it will like lightweight bullets with that twist so I switch it up and try out some 40 grain Hornady factory V-Max stuff. Shoots it ok but not great. What to do, what to do. I'm resting my head on the stock and mulling over the fact that I might have to handload lighter bullets for it (but I really want to shoot the heavier stuff).
Soooo as a last resort I pull out the factory Federal GMM 69 grain ammo to humor myself. BAM !!! 5 rounds all touching at 100 yds with about a .397" group. WTH ?! Wouldn't have figured it would have liked 69 grainers AT ALL but there's the proof. And I was holding on the black vertical line and estimating the middle of the line. Next time I'll setup a better precision target to shoot at. I'll post a pic tomorrow when I get some time but now I've got to settle on replicating the GMM 69 grain load. Any ideas of what powder to use?? Varget? 4895?? or ???