Downside to minimum charge .223 load?

[Belmont148]

I have been developing loads for my 1:7 16" Colt AR, and have been working with 55 FMJ, 60 V Max, and 75 BTHP. The smaller weight bullets have been very accurate in the upper charge range, and cycle great with no signs of pressure. So I am good on those.

However, on the heavy pill, my starting load of 22.2 gr. was very accurate. Cycled great, and obviously no signs of excess pressure. It was more accurate than the best of the 55 & 60. From there things got bad. Accuracy was way off all the way until the upper end of my development. Accuracy got pretty good on the final load of 25.9 gr. but no signs of pressure still. This was all developed with CFE 223. I didn't chrono anything, but might be getting 2100-2300 FPS if I had to guess.

Am I hurting myself by using a light load? Like when I go to shoot past 100 yds. will I be losing accuracy at distance? Should I find a faster burning powder for the heavier bullets and just use the CFE 223 for the lighter ones? I have lots of H4895 that I load for .308 and can try it if a faster powder would be better.

 

[243winxb]

75gr bullet & CFE223 - light load 22.2 gr.- will I be losing accuracy at distance?

When the bullets drops below the speed of sound, accuracy may not be good as the bullet becomes unstable. If shooting animals/game at unknow distances, highest velocity & a flatter trajectory are more desirable.

 

[Belmont148]

Gotcha, so if I am working up this load for 300-600 yd. shots I want to focus on the upper end of the charges.

Any reason why I should switch powders to H4895, or just keep working up with the CFE 223 and see where I can get?

 

[MtnCreek]

For anything beyond about 300 yds, you'll need the velocity to help deal with wind drift.

 

[243winxb]

25.9 gr. would seem to be maximum when looking at Hodgdon data. The fastest ways to improve accurace for me is, change bullet brand or powder burn rate. So give your H4895 a try first.

 

[gahunter12]

If you are not getting good hits on paper, I would try a different powder. I use H335 behind my 55gr, 62gr, and 69gr bullets. AA2230, and AA2200 worked great for 55gr pills, but didn't work for me behind the larger pills.