52, 53, 55, 69 grain, FMJ, HP, BT etc .223, what's your most accurate powder/bullet combination??

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Rarely do ball powders shoot bullets more accurate than stick powders.

Shoot several 3- to 5-shot groups with each powder + bullet combination. Pick the powder for each bullet weight whose largest group of several is the smallest. Don't pick the powder that shot the smallest group for a bullet; that powder's biggest group for that bullet is sometimes the largest group of all.
 
Rarely do ball powders shoot bullets more accurate than stick powders.

Shoot several 3- to 5-shot groups with each powder + bullet combination. Pick the powder for each bullet weight whose largest group of several is the smallest. Don't pick the powder that shot the smallest group for a bullet; that powder's biggest group for that bullet is sometimes the largest group of all.
Excellent advice. I need to get this press to msking some bullets! Thanks for your always sage advice! Comparing sizes of the largest groups never occurred to me, but makes good sense. Helps to remove factors that dont really matter, is that the idea?

Thanks Bart, much appreciated,

Russellc
 
Yes, that's the idea.

All things shoot groups between zero and some number of units. They average about the mid point. The smaller the largest ones are, the smaller the average and tiniest ones will be. Besides, how does one tell if the smallest ones were due to all variables cancelling each other out, or, all the variables were minimum and at or close to zero spread?
 
In a 'round about way ... the picking of smallest of the largest(SOL) ... Is what I've been doing for a long time ... just never put a "label" on the process ...

By picking "SOL" ... You eliminate the "LOL" ... the largest of the largest ....

But I am in an ever lasting conquest to make the SOL .... even smaller !!!!
 
Just got my Remington SPS .223 this spring so I haven't had much range time for testing, but Nozler 55 grain Varmagettion, over 24.5 grain of Varget is printing 1/2 inch or better. It's a journey as you know LOL. hdbiker
 
To avoid going off thread on another thread, https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/can-sp-be-accurate.821978/, I have started this one. I think we all agree that these thing can vary from one shooter and the particular gun, so its not definitive, just informational as to what you have found. Please, no "this is the best so if it isnt for you you must be doing something wrong" as anyone who knows anything, things vary from one to the next, from gun, materials used, and for that matter, anything that tends to increase confidence! We all know about that 5th shot anomaly!

So lets here it
just curious why all the different weights of bullets? I started with 55gr SP and h335 and got softball groups from min-max so i tried v max and got decent hunting groups and then fmj-bt and got so-so groups. i went with benchmark and h322 and v max and fmj-bt shot very well. I recently got a box of nosler 55gr to see how they shoot as they are cheaper but since i found a bullet that shoots very well-55gr v max ill likely stick with it.
 
Holy cow! 30 inch barrel. I've got to rethink this...my longest is my "SPR" build, only 18 inches. I've wanting a bolt gun, in .223 and was thinking 20 or so...but AR guys are doing that and more. Hmmmm, better look at some long barrels. Another upper and it can go on the SPR lower!

Russellc

Long barrel AR-15s are cool.

I have a 24" 17 Remington AR-15, a 26" 204 Ruger AR-15 and a 24" 223 Remington AR-15. I've used the 204 Ruger on a couple of prairie dog hunts to good effect.

Each tips the scales at about 12 pounds so they do not make good walkabout hunters.:)
 
just curious why all the different weights of bullets? I started with 55gr SP and h335 and got softball groups from min-max so i tried v max and got decent hunting groups and then fmj-bt and got so-so groups. i went with benchmark and h322 and v max and fmj-bt shot very well. I recently got a box of nosler 55gr to see how they shoot as they are cheaper but since i found a bullet that shoots very well-55gr v max ill likely stick with it.
In the other thread these were weights and shapes starting to be discussed. I have had great luck with the 69 grain Match King, but point of impact is of course different than the bullets in the 50 grain range. Another reason is thst folks are using various barrel lengths and twists, which act differently, and I wanted this thread to have as many contributors and info as possible. No one expects anyone to try them all, but if you have a .223, AR or not, you are bound to have used some of these, no?

Just wanting to include as many in the catagory, so we can all see what has worked for others, their use, barrel and twist.

Oh, and thanks for your input as well, much appreciated!

Russellc
 
In the other thread these were weights and shapes starting to be discussed. I have had great luck with the 69 grain Match King, but point of impact is of course different than the bullets in the 50 grain range. Another reason is thst folks are using various barrel lengths and twists, which act differently, and I wanted this thread to have as many contributors and info as possible. No one expects anyone to try them all, but if you have a .223, AR or not, you are bound to have used some of these, no?

Just wanting to include as many in the catagory, so we can all see what has worked for others, their use, barrel and twist.

Oh, and thanks for your input as well, much appreciated!

Russellc
i gotcha now. I thought you wanted to try all those weights cause one or the other wouldn't shoot well. :) I didn't realize it was an informative for all. :)

I have tried the 50-52/53 gr hornady superformance and it wasn't great so i just stuck with the 55gr cause factory shot well so i ran with them for reloading but thanks to this thread i might just have to go spend more money and try different weight and powder. :(
 
Actually, my best load is with a 77 grain Sierra match king over 24.5 of Varget in a Wylde chamber 24" 1:7.8 twist barrel. (Federal Gold Medal Match SR)
For a hunting load, 65 grain Sierra Game King in a standard 1:7 twist (Armalite) 16" barrel, using Remington 7 1/2 and a max charge of CFE 223. This groups under 1" from the bench at 100 yds.
 
i gotcha now. I thought you wanted to try all those weights cause one or the other wouldn't shoot well. :) I didn't realize it was an informative for all. :)

I have tried the 50-52/53 gr hornady superformance and it wasn't great so i just stuck with the 55gr cause factory shot well so i ran with them for reloading but thanks to this thread i might just have to go spend more money and try different weight and powder. :(
I havent tried the Hornady 52 53 grain bullets, but the Match King Sierra bullets in these weights shot fantastic. I was also pleased that they had a similar point of impact as my 55 grain loads. The 69 grain match kings, had a different point of impact. Not the end of the world, but a little less fiddling.

Russellc
 
Actually, my best load is with a 77 grain Sierra match king over 24.5 of Varget in a Wylde chamber 24" 1:7.8 twist barrel. (Federal Gold Medal Match SR)
For a hunting load, 65 grain Sierra Game King in a standard 1:7 twist (Armalite) 16" barrel, using Remington 7 1/2 and a max charge of CFE 223. This groups under 1" from the bench at 100 yds.
I have got to build a long barrel upper!

Russellc
 
50gr V-Max with Benchmark and 60gr V-Max with Varget are the two loads that immediately come to mind for me. I don't remember charge weights at the moment but both loads consistently shoot at 1" or less at 100yards in my budget rifle, a Savage Edge with Rifle Basix trigger. With 55gr or less I stick to Benchmark, if I have enough Benchmark. But I'll use Varget with 50gr and up if I'm low on Benchmark.
 
I've had my best luck with benchmark but can't get it local anymore so I am searching for a replacement. AA2015 has been promising. Tac is my favorite powder for loading in bulk.
 
Smudged screen made me do a triple take could NOT figure the purpose of a 16' .223 bbl!! Bahahahaha!! Loving h322 for 50gr 20" 1:12 pdogs, yotes, and targets out to 300 ish yds depending on the wind sometimes farther.

It is a a 16 inch bull barrel ...heavy enough as it is ... I could not image a 16 foot barrel

Another Load that shoots really good is RL10x with 53 grain VMax ... Those are sweet bullets ...my LGS does not keep any on the shelf ... I've asked a time of two .... But probably going to make an order to MidSouth and stock up ....
 
In my 223 Remington 700 with 1:12 twist barrel I've had very good results with MidwayUSA 55gr HPFB Dogtown bullets (apparently currently made by Nosler) and H322. 5 shot groups between 0.3 to 0.6 MOA in the 100-200 yard ranges. Good cost effective fun. Velocity with 26" barrel 3225 fps.

Hope this is useful.
Lou
 
The short answer is: a 69 grain Sierra Match King over case full of Tac, mag length.

This would be out of a 20” 1 in 7 service rifle barrel with a Wilde Chamber. This would be with Winchester brass purchased new and only shot in this chamber. Across several barrels chambered by the same company. Very very consistent chambers. I also have had great results with Varget. Maybe better than Tac. To get good results with Varget I had to check weigh each powder charge. Some days I could get 20 good powder drops in a row, some days I couldn’t get two in a row. I just don’t have time in my life for that. A friend (and high master) that was kicking my butt regularly suggested Tac. Since I never argue with a high master, I tried it. Works for me.


OK for the load that “if this doesn’t shoot in your gun, your gun is broke”

A 52 grain Match King over a very full case of 335. Short line magic.


OK for the 5th shot anomaly.

Once you have a few loads that you think are pretty good, just get some NRA prone targets for the yardage you are shooting and shoot twenty rounds each through them. Keep score and the best score wins.
 
The short answer is: a 69 grain Sierra Match King over case full of Tac, mag length.

This would be out of a 20” 1 in 7 service rifle barrel with a Wilde Chamber. This would be with Winchester brass purchased new and only shot in this chamber. Across several barrels chambered by the same company. Very very consistent chambers. I also have had great results with Varget. Maybe better than Tac. To get good results with Varget I had to check weigh each powder charge. Some days I could get 20 good powder drops in a row, some days I couldn’t get two in a row. I just don’t have time in my life for that. A friend (and high master) that was kicking my butt regularly suggested Tac. Since I never argue with a high master, I tried it. Works for me.


OK for the load that “if this doesn’t shoot in your gun, your gun is broke”

A 52 grain Match King over a very full case of 335. Short line magic.


OK for the 5th shot anomaly.

Once you have a few loads that you think are pretty good, just get some NRA prone targets for the yardage you are shooting and shoot twenty rounds each through them. Keep score and the best score wins.
Yes, and I like Bart's idea of several targets for several loads, and judge by comparing which larger group of a given load is smaller than the others, rather than comparing the smallest groups.

Russellc
 
In my 223 Remington 700 with 1:12 twist barrel I've had very good results with MidwayUSA 55gr HPFB Dogtown bullets (apparently currently made by Nosler) and H322. 5 shot groups between 0.3 to 0.6 MOA in the 100-200 yard ranges. Good cost effective fun. Velocity with 26" barrel 3225 fps.

Hope this is useful.
Lou
.3 to .6 groups with inexpensive bullets is always useful! Closest twist to yours I have is 1/9. I have several things to try again, your dogtown bullet load, and another's 52 grain SMK with a "fullcase" of H335. My full case wont exceed recommended max for that bullet...which Looks way full!

Russellc
 
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Shooting a 55 gr. Hornady SP, with 24 grains of Benchmark, through a Ruger AR 556, a Saiga 223, and a Ruger 14 Mini Ranch. All 3 find that combo the most appealing. I have used Varget with heavier bullets, and tried many other powders, but always seem to come back to Benchmark.
 
Shooting a 55 gr. Hornady SP, with 24 grains of Benchmark, through a Ruger AR 556, a Saiga 223, and a Ruger 14 Mini Ranch. All 3 find that combo the most appealing. I have used Varget with heavier bullets, and tried many other powders, but always seem to come back to Benchmark.
It is on to try list, that and IMR 8208 XBR .

Thanks,

Russellc
 
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