Favorite .223 Target loads?

forrest r said:

Home swaged jacketed bullets made from free 22lr cases/free range lead and free range pick-up mixed nato brass using a heavy bbl'd $200 savage axis chambered in 223rem.

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where did you get the Swaging Die?

My do-it-all load with 55 gr. is 25.8 gr. of BL-C(2) with CCI 41 or 400, seated to cannelure or 2.23". It approximates M193 with FMJ, and is my deer round with 55 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint. I've found it to be very accurate from a .223 Handi-Rifle, several AR's and several Axis .223's.

Jack63 said:

I use varget 24.2 55gr. Bullet

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I used 24.5 gr. Varget with a 55 gr., and found that to be deer accurate to 200 yards. (3" @ 200)

ahutch71 said:

I shoot .223 from a CZ 527, and have been having a good time working up some plinking and target loads. I have been shooting both 55 gr Hornady softpoints with cannelure, and also 55gr cast gas checked (Lee C225-55-RF) pan lubed, cast with Hardball 92-2-6 (similar to #2).

My current favorite 100yd load for the cast boolits is 13.0gr IMR 4227 with Cream of Wheat (CoW) on top to keep the powder at the bottom of the brass against the primer, slightly compressed. Just shot it yesterday, great accuracy at 100yd (about a 1.5" group, which is good for me). Haven't chrono'd yet but my guess is just a bit north of 2,000 fps (probably closer to 2,100). No leading, I believe due to the gas check, relatively hard alloy, and I've heard that the CoW may have a "scouring" effect.

My 50yd load is 12.0gr of Accurate 5744 (although I shoot SW Buffalo Rifle as a substitute, and my understanding is that Lovex used to make 5744 for Accurate and it's exactly or almost exactly the same powder...sure behaves like it) with no CoW buffer and the same boolit. Feels like shooting a 22 Mag (almost no recoil) and I can get nearly same hole hits at 50. I have chrono'd that one at 1815, +/- 10fps.

Anyhow, I'd be interested if others have any "pet loads" in 223 for target work and entertainment. Also, I haven't come up with any real favorites for the Hornady 55 grainers, so suggestions are welcome.

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That is interesting info on the SW Buffalo were you using the Hornady SPs or the cast for that , or both ? Thanks

Got a 12T 527 223 as well,it's the LUX model. Have a scope for it but only use it for load development.... then it's back to the factory irons.

It is my favorite iron sighted rig. I shoot milder cast loads out of it. The one 223 bolt that is the go-to for scoped rigs is a '16 R700 ADL sporter. It is stupid accurate,like bragging groups @100 with.....

Lee 225-55RF loaded to a med hard jam with mostly "hardball" but with about 20% range scrap thrown in. Water quenched running the mold hot enough to just get some frosting. I don't size the whole bullet in a Lyman 4500...

I run a custom top punch that covers the whole nose section. The GC is installed on a beautiful little jewelry C frame press,which very nicely centers the check on the base. A lot of attention is paid during this initial install,to include rolling on a flat plate making sure the GC is deadnuts. THEN,it goes to the 4500 where only the check,and half of that lowest drive band get run in. BTW,the handles on my 3,4500's are torque wrenches. These allow "setting" not only the check but insures any manipulation of the bore ride section is controlled through extreme repeatability.

On this ADL,the as cast nose is deadnuts for diameter so dosen't need to be bumped or taper swaged..... love this Lee mold. It is also one of,if not THE most perfect round dropped as cast. The torque wrench is pretty durn slick.... once you note the yield point on that batch of bullets. Then stay under that #. I also use clicker style torque wrenches. They're faster,once you have your yield #'s.

OK,where were we....

Back to the flat plate for another check on the GC. No lube gets applied with the lube sizer... just gets the GC crimped. Next is knurling,and roll sizing of the body... a process I developed a few years ago. The knurling plays a part in holding,or slowing down the release point of the lube. It's also part of the roll spinning process. Look at 22 rimfire bullets,along with swaged target 38 bullets. Way too complex to discuss here.

The lube is ONLY applied to that tiny space above the GC... and done with a small Schrade pen knife that's been on my loading bench since the 1970's. I use BW/vaselatum (vaseline base product) in a 3-1 ratio.

H4198 to about 2800fps. I won't even tell you what typical 100 yd 5 shot groups are except..... you're gonna want a moving backer cause nobody will believe it otherwise.

A little more to it but that's the gist. I'll look for a pic. Look at the land engraving,they're all exactly the same length,tough to photograph.

This is a cpl pics of the C frame press. The bullet is a 145g 7mm RCBS that's getting taper swaged.

23gr of IMR4895 under a 60gr V Max with a WSR primer. An OAL of 2.257.

OK,one more "trick" that isn't....

I call this the "little goober" or LG for short. It's an ogive spinner/uniformer. Lube is still under development but right now am using LLA that has most of the reducer evaporated out. I poured this stuff in an empty Kiwi shoe polish tin. Leaving the top off for a few weeks will see most of the mineral spirits evap out.

Honestly,it ends up almost exactly like the original Kiwi in texture. Take the loaded round and wipe a bit of the heavy LLA on the ogive and run it in the LG.

The other way is,smear some regular,thin LLA on an old piece of RCBS lube pad. Then sprinkle graphite on top of that. Follow the above,wipe on bullet and run it in the LG. This shot is of a RCBS 60g in a 22-250 that runs up to around 2800fps. It also only uses the tiniest bit of lube.... just that little space above the GC.

I put the LG in a drill motor,and is the last OP before boxing up the rounds.

For plinking I load 23.1 gr TAC with 55 gr Everglades FMJ Bullets.

I also load 24.5 gr Varget with 60 gr Hornady SP and 62 gr Everglades FMJ.

I load 21.3 grains of 3031 under a 62 grain FMJ for my dad, which he likes. Never shot it myself, but it groups decently well when I've seen him shoot it.

69grn SMK over H335 in my Colt H-bar... that rifle really likes that bullet. I could probably do better trying a different powder, but it works, and I'm OK with it.

I've been working up a generic load with the (I believe) Hornady 62grn BTHP bullet as an alternate to the 55grn FMJ cheapo bullet, which the H-bar does NOT like, again, over H335.... so far so good. Even my beater 16" middy likes it, and it's a much cheaper bullet than the SMK.

ahutch71 said:

Thanks for all the replies - I’m going to compile these and put them in my 223 folder so I have plenty of things to try.

I did call my guy at the LGS (they’re closed for weather but I know him well) and he’s going to hold the 527 carbine with a 1:9 twist for me and I’ll pick it up later this week when things thaw out. That should give me some more options with heavier projectiles (I’m thinking 1:9 will take me up to ~ 70-75 grains?).

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Twist Rates
The .223 Rem shoots a wide range of bullets very effectively, from 35gr flat-based varmint bullets, to ultra-long 90gr VLDs. However, you'll need the right twist rate for your choice of bullet. For max velocity and accuracy with the lightest bullets, a 1:14" twist may be ideal. More versatile is a 1:12" twist that will allow you to shoot the popular 60-64 grain match bullets. (However, a 1:9" twist is needed for the steel-core 62gr bullet used in the M855 military loads, because that bullet is as long as most 70-grainers.) For normal lead-core jacketed bullets, a 1:9" twist will let you shoot up to 73gr bullets. Since most .223 Rem shooters prefer bullets in the 50-73gr range, a good "do-it-all" solution is a 9-twist, unless you're a Highpower competitor.

For long-range match purposes, long, high-BC bullets are favored for their ability to buck the wind. You'll want at least a 1:8" twist to shoot the 77gr and 80gr MatchKings and 80gr Bergers. To shoot the new 90gr pills, a 1:6.5" is recommended, though a true 1:7" will work in most conditions.

Overall, what twist rate is best? For varminting we like a 12-twist. The slower twist will give you a bit more velocity, and minimize the risk of jacket failure at high rpms. For general use, an 8-twist barrel will let you shoot the excellent 77gr and 80gr Sierra MatchKings and nearly all varieties of non-tracer milsurp ammo. We'd only select a 1:7" or faster twist barrel if we had a need to shoot the 90gr VLDs.

I use 55 gr. vmax over 22.5 gr. of Benchmark

For my 1:12 ...

52 Grain Sierra HPBT
24.6 grains of IMR 4064
CCI 450


50 grain Flat Base Hollow Point bullet
23 grains Shooter's World Tactical
Remington 7 1/2

50 grain Flat Base Hollow Point
25 grains VV N133
Remington 7 1/2

Just tested one this weekend. 55 gr Hornady FMJ over 24.7 gr of H335 was the best out of my A4 style rifle but I have to confirm it at least one more time.

A 75 gr Hornady HPBT over 23.5 grains of IMR 4064 has repeatedly been my most accurate load from a 16” barreled version, running from half to 7/8 of an inch on various outings. I had one group out to 2”, but I think I pulled that one. I saw the same pattern in different rifles that day.

300 yards and below 3 loads are my go to

http://www.dayattherange.com/?p=5881 for detailed review

Loads: 6 Rounds fired of each load. I waited 5 minutes between groups to allow the rifle barrels to cool.
Reloader 15 25.2gr COAL 2.252 – 60gr Vmax
ARComp 23.2gr COAL 2.250 – 60gr Vmax
H335 24gr COAL 2.248 – 60gr Vmax

These are NATO pressure but two loads that work well with both of my AR pattern rifles are:

73 gr ELD-M 25 gr Varget 2815 FPS Rem 7.5 primer
This load will pass clean through both shoulders on mule deer at 200 yards so long as you don't hit heavy bone.

69 gr SMK 25gr Varget 2870 FPS Rem 7.5 primer

Both shoot under a minute at 100 yards and 2/3 scale IPSC are not a challenge at 600 yards.

My favorite load with a 55gr BT is with Varget (25.8 gr) gives velocity of upper 2900-3000
Also have pretty good luck with Reloder 15 (25.5) is max, mine are closer to 23.5, again for a 55gr BT

Tested in a Colt upper & I forget who made the lower. 20"
1 in 9 looks like a 70s era with Triangular hand guards

Diamond Back 16" 1 in 9 is not quite as accurate, I'd have to rework for that particular rifle.

For a 100 yd Service Rifle course of fire I like Sierra 69 gr SMK over Varget in 223 Remington.

I’ve never fired a full 600 yd course of fire during my brief tenure shooting Service Rifle but I’d probably have a 75-80 grsim bullet load for the 600 yd slow fire course.

I like Accurate 2230 with 55 grsin bullets. I get good accuracy with this combination in my Colt Match Target.

For prairie dog shooting with my 26” barrel 204 Ruger AR-15, I load 39 gr Sierra Blitz King or 40 grain Hornady V-Max over CFE223.

Tula .223 don’t know the specs. looks all steel.
Don’t know the group

paid $215 / 1,000 shipped to my door! in 2019

ahutch71 said:

sorry, was away for a week and just saw this. I’m using the Buffalo Rifle with the 55gr cast gas checked. Feels like you’re shooting a 22 Mag, which is basically what I’m doing but with a 55 grain bullet.

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Thanks , I will have to give that load a try .

Mark_Mark said:

Tula .223 don’t know the specs. looks all steel.
Don’t know the group

paid $215 / 1,000 shipped to my door! in 2019

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Huh ? The OP is asking about target loads .

I just tested some Berger 50 grain FB with Ramshot TAC . My rifle likes, 24.6 grains with 15 jump .

55 grain Hornady FMJ with federal brass and Winchester primers. Sprinkle in 24.7 grains of H335 and propel to 3100 fps from a 20” barrel with chrome lining.

DMW1116 said:

55 grain Hornady FMJ with federal brass and Winchester primers. Sprinkle in 24.7 grains of H335 and propel to 3100 fps from a 20” barrel with chrome lining.

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Something similar for me. With CCI primers and 24.5 Grains of H335.