heavy 223 loads

[byrnesy94]

G'day all! im just looking for some loads for my 223 rem bolt rifle which has a 1:8 twist, and id like to utilise that twist rate if possible! so i think id like to stay above the 60 grain range, ballistic tips and hollow points, any ideas?

 

[45lcshooter]

I wounldn't go much over 70gr bullet. It wont have enough time to start to spin going down the barrel. Once it come out the barrel it will go all over the place but not in a spiral.

 

[Grumulkin]

G'day all! im just looking for some loads for my 223 rem bolt rifle which has a 1:8 twist, and id like to utilise that twist rate if possible! so i think id like to stay above the 60 grain range, ballistic tips and hollow points, any ideas?

Well sir, with a 1:8 twist barrel you should be able to shoot any bullet weight short of 80 grains. I can't tell you though which will give you the best accuracy. I have one 223 that shoots Speer 70 gr. Semi Spitzers very well with it's 1:12 twist barrel. I have another 223 in which I've tried at least half a dozen bullets and even more loads and what it shoots the best with its 1:10 twist barrel (about 0.5 MOA) is the load with Nosler 77 gr. BTHP match bullets I had worked up for yet another 223 with a 1:7 twist barrel.

Getting back to suggested bullets, if you're planning to hunt with them, I can highly recommend the Speer 70 gr. Semi Spitzers if they shoot well in your gun.

 

[MtnCreek]

if you're planning to hunt with them, I can highly recommend the Speer 70 gr. Semi Spitzers

Big +1. I've seen 1 hole 100yd groups with that bullet in a couple .223's. If flies much better than it looks like it should.

 

[helotaxi]

I wounldn't go much over 70gr bullet. It wont have enough time to start to spin going down the barrel. Once it come out the barrel it will go all over the place but not in a spiral.

What are you talking about? Match shooter routinely shoot up to 80gn bullets using a 1:8 twist. The 77gn Noslers and Sierras will usually stabilize in a 1:9 twist as will the Hornady 75gn OTM.

 

[justifiedbyfaith]

Depending on the action length and mag length you should be able to shoot the Hornady A-Max 75gr (If you want to shoot single shot NP). I bought a few because they were less money than the Speer 70gr semi spitzer. They should shoot fine out of your barrel.
Don't try them out of a stock T/C Contender barrel as stock twist is only a 1:12 and those A-Max key hole at 10 yards.

 

[heathkiks]

Another vote for Speer 70 gr. Semi Spitzers. Numerous deer and antelope were shot with those out of my Ruger #1

 

[WVRJ]

I'd look hard at the Hornady A-Max or the 69 gr Nosler custom competetion.1 in 8 should be good up to at least 70 grs.I shoot the 69 gr Noslers out of my 1 in 9.

 

[FROGO207]

I would use Varget or H4895 for good velocity loads with that Speer 70 grain Semi Spitzer. It will be accurate I bet.

 

[SlowFuse]

You've gotten good suggestions for your projectile, not sure what you can actually get being in Australia.

My personal favorite "heavy" load for just punching paper is the 77 grain SMK over Varget.

To keep it simple I've standardized to using Varget for everything over 62 grains and H335 for the lighter stuff.

 

[BoilerUP]

75gr Amax...leave the 80gr Amax for me!

 

[Hondo 60]

Sounds like lots of advise.
To me that means lotsa trips to the range to test 'em.

Oh darn!

My 1:9, 20" likes plain ol' cheap 55gr FMJs
26 gr of Varget & 2.225 OAL.

They run near 3000fps.

 

[ZXD9]

I shoot Sierra 69 & 77g in my 1:8. Shoots 'em really well.

 

[Rangemaster]

77 gr Nosler bullets

Anyone have any luck loading these for long range shooting?
I been shooting at or below 400 yards, using the 55-60 grain bullets with very good results.

What I just bought was the Nosler .224 77 grain HPBT

I need to work up a load to shoot 500-600 yards.

 

[rcmodel]

It wont have enough time to start to spin going down the barrel.

That's just plain wrong advice right there.

It either is up to full rotational RPM in one bullet length after it leaves the case mouth?

Or it has stripped out of the rifling and is never going to spin at all.

rc

 

[murf]

don't forget about the velocity in that calc, rc. i'd make it at least ten bullet lengths!

murf

 

[rcmodel]

I didn't forget about the velocity.

But it either has to be up to rotational speed & starting velocity in one bullet length, or it will strip out of the rifling.

Barrel length, or how far it has to start spinning has nothing to do with it.

rc

 

[BoilerUP]

You'll need a 1:9 or faster barrel to shoot 77s.

I shoot 77gr CCs in a 1:8 18" AR15 with 23.5gr 8208XBR (book max is 23.2gr) and had great results in two different 1:9 Savages using the Hornady 75gr HPBT and 24.0gr Varget.

 

[rcmodel]

Mmmm?

He said in the first post he had a 1:8 twist Remington bolt-action.

Just say'n.

rc

 

[BoilerUP]

The guy who asked about 77gr Nosler CCs wasn't the OP...

 

[B.W.]

69gr smk over Varget and 70gr Berger vld over blc-2 are both great combos in my 1:9 bolt action

 

[murf]

rc,

misunderstood your post. if i understand you now, either the bullet will grab the barrel lands and spin, or it will not grab the lands and skid down the barrel without rotating (much). if that is what you were saying, i agree. and it happens (or doesn't happen) as soon as the bullet contacts the lands.

did i get it right this time?

murf

 

[rcmodel]

Yeppers!

That's what I was saying.

In post #15, I was disagreeing with what was said post #2.

rc

 

[Jim Watson]

I'd try the 75 gr Amax.
They shoot very well in my 6.5 twist if I don't load them so fast as to blow up in midair.

 

[Rangemaster]

I have a 8-1 twist heavy bull barrel 24"