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My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
#6137264
01/15/16 06:31 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,699
603Country
OP
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OP
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Posts: 15,699 |
wife went off to a girly lunch, so I dragged out the 223 and 260. The 260, as always was dead on. That Vortex Viper scope has been thumped and bounced and knocked into stuff, and the zero has never ever changed. I'm impressed and pleased.
The 223, now that I've gotten familiarized with how to shoot that light rifle, just stacked the 40 grain Nosler BT's one on top of another. I'm happy, since that's the standard reload that I use. Then I found my 55 gr Nosler BT reloads and my 65 gr Sierra GK reloads and was less impressed with those reloads. I'll choot em up and try again to work up loads. I'll probably stay with H335 on the 55's, and that's what I use with the 40's, but I'll try another powder with the 65 gr GK's. And that's where ya'll come in. I have Varget, IMR 3031, AA2230, BL-C(2), IMR4064, and the H335. Those of you that shoot the Sierra GK 65 grainers, please share with me your pet loads. With the last barrel on this rifle, I used AA2230 with that bullet, but with the new barrel I don't want to just assume that's the best. Plus, AA2230 isn't that easy to find around here, if I needed more.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: 603Country]
#6137293
01/15/16 06:58 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,542
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,542 |
Mine likes Benchmark with 60 grainers.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: 603Country]
#6137479
01/15/16 08:41 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 7,937
bigjoe8565
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 7,937 |
Mine loves 55 grain Sierra Gamekings with Win 748
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: 603Country]
#6137498
01/15/16 08:55 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,520
RiverRider
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,520 |
I don't shoot that bullet, but if I did I would choose Varget from that list of powders for my first try.
"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty." -Augustus McRae
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: 603Country]
#6137515
01/15/16 09:14 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,493
kmon11
junior
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junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,493 |
With bullets 60gr to 90gr in the 223 I use Varget and from that list would be my choice. Going to try some CFE223 in it though since it meters so well and is a little slower burning and I bought several lbs for the Grendel.
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true Mainstream news might be fun to watch
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: 603Country]
#6137541
01/15/16 09:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 46,950
Gravytrain
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My 20" 1:8 rifle liked 65gr SGK's with 25.1 gr of Varget. I would step ladder around my load.
My 1:7 16" rifle doesn't like anything yet.
Last edited by Gravytrain; 01/15/16 09:30 PM.
Upon us all, upon us all, a little rain must fall
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: 603Country]
#6137546
01/15/16 09:32 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 715
catsquirrel
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 715 |
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: 603Country]
#6137688
01/15/16 10:35 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,699
603Country
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OP
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Well...by golly...Varget will be tried out with that bullet. Thanks.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: 603Country]
#6137810
01/15/16 11:51 PM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 33,946
Buzzsaw
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: 603Country]
#6137874
01/16/16 12:33 AM
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Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 868
Txhillbilly
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 868 |
I use H335 - IMR4064 - and BL-C(2) with the Sierra 65 gr Gamekings with very good results out of my Savage 12 FLVSS and all 3 of my AR-15's.
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: 603Country]
#6138356
01/16/16 12:37 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,921
GasGuzzler
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,921 |
Pass the gravy.
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: 603Country]
#6138400
01/16/16 01:32 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,636
DStroud
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,636 |
Varget would be fine with that weight bullet I like AA2230 /XTerminator(same powder) as well I was given a can of BL-C2 and I just used it to make some 3-gun ammo and was quite surprised how well it shot. It would work well with heavier bullets too very similar powder to CFE223
Last edited by DStroud; 01/16/16 01:34 PM. Reason: Spelling
"Anyone taking up handloading necessarily plays with unknown factors and takes chances. But so does anyone who drives a car,goes to a cocktail party,eats in a restaurant,or gets married."
Jack O'Connor 1963
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: 603Country]
#6138465
01/16/16 03:02 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,699
603Country
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OP
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It's a 1 in 9 twist. I'll get after this load testing tomorrow. Looking forward to it.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: 603Country]
#6139477
01/17/16 04:22 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,149
kry226
The General
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The General
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,149 |
I shoot the 65 gr SGKs. I'm going off of memory since I don't have access to my records, but should get you in the ball park.
First load I worked up was with Varget and I think I settled on 25.3 gr. But that's just about a full case with LC brass, and I wasn't really all that happy with the accuracy, about 1.25 MOA. It wasn't really moving that fast either (16" barrel). Plus it's really a pain to load into the small case mouth too.
Currently, I'm shooting CFE 223 at about 26.6 gr. It's a little more accurate at just over MOA, and a little faster. But I'm still not totally sold on this powder either.
Due to my propensity to shoot in all weather between 10-100 degrees, I really want to stay in the temp stable powders, and Varget certainly fits that bill, but I still think there are better powders for the .223. I think H322 is my next choice for testing.
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: 603Country]
#6139641
01/17/16 01:56 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,699
603Country
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OP
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After I finish my coffee, I'll head to the workshop and set up to load. After a bit more thought on the issue, the reason I used AA2230 with that bullet was that it was the Lyman 49th accuracy load. I do think I'll start with that powder instead of Varget. The 65 gr Sierra and AA2230 were extremely accurate in the original barrel on this rifle.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: 603Country]
#6139721
01/17/16 03:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,021
pertnear
"Demolition Man"
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"Demolition Man"
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,021 |
Here's my last test results from my Ruger #3 .223 1-10" twist using the 65gr GK. The little light weight Ruger has a tendency to vertically string which it did badly with Varget. I settled on H380. All groups 5 shots at 100yd. I have shot 4 hogs with the 65/H380 load but they were all in the head so that doesn't prove much...LOL
"Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” - George Orwell
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: pertnear]
#6139801
01/17/16 04:23 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 569
nyalubwe
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 569 |
Looks like H380 is your Huckleberry. I just loaded up a batch of Sierra 63 gr. SMPs in my .223AI for pigs...planning on head shots only. Please post your results with the 65gr. GK when you get some body shots. Thanks!
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: 603Country]
#6140204
01/17/16 10:12 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,699
603Country
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OP
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So, I went out to the barn and set everything up. Sat down and read my notes on that 65 gr bullet in this rifle. The notes said that the moderate load was an excellent shooter, with H335. Well, it shot not so good a couple of days ago. So rather than take apart a bunch of ammo, I thought I'd go shoot a few. So I did, and they went into a great group right where the 40 grainers print. Gotta say that I have no idea why they shot poorly last time. Further, the other day there were pressure signs. Not so today. All I can figure is that I had some loads that I loaded wrong. Very odd. Has to be my fault.
Now that deer season is over, I'll park the 260 and hunt with the 223 for a while. Pigs and coyotes.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: 603Country]
#6140271
01/17/16 11:01 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,586
ckat
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,586 |
I never could get H335 to shoot well with the 65gr SGKs or 69gr SMKs. I switched to R15 and my groups shrunk considerably. I keep my H335 to 55gr and lighter.
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Re: My 223 reloads - some good, some not so good
[Re: 603Country]
#6143401
01/19/16 07:21 PM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 220
Tipps
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 220 |
I've loaded the 65 gr, and used Varget. It did ok with different charges. since then, went to all 53 gr. v-max, a bit more to my preference on grouping.
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