shoots45s
Member
I'm loading for 223 with a 55 gr SP bullet using BLC-2 powder. Trying to find the best load for accuracy I did some load testing. All brass was new Lake City. Carbine is a Carbon-15 Bushmaster with a Nikon M223 1-4x scope set at 4x. Shot from shoulder, seated, with front sling mount resting on sand bag (barrel was free to move).
I first tested powder charges from the min of 25.5 to max of 27.5 in 0.5 gr increments, 10 rounds at each. I found that 26.0 gr gave best accuracy at 50 yds (actually 43 yards - a friend had a laser rangefinder). Then I tried different seating depths - from 2.20 to 2.26 in 0.015 increments, 10 rounds each. Same distance. I found that 2.23 had the best accuracy. Grouping was about 2" circle
So I loaded up 80 rounds at 2.23 in and 26.0 gr. Went to the range. At the supposedly 50 yard range, I got similar grouping as before. I also tested with some factory Prvi ammo and my loads are far more accurate than the factory stuff.
But when I went to 100 yards, my bullets were all over the place. No grouping that I could discern. They were more accurate than the factory Prvi stuff at that distance though judging by the number of holes on the target (the range gives two 1 foot paper targets - I used one for the factory and the other for my loads).
So do I need to determine a different load for 100 yds vs 50 (43) yds?
Thanks,
I first tested powder charges from the min of 25.5 to max of 27.5 in 0.5 gr increments, 10 rounds at each. I found that 26.0 gr gave best accuracy at 50 yds (actually 43 yards - a friend had a laser rangefinder). Then I tried different seating depths - from 2.20 to 2.26 in 0.015 increments, 10 rounds each. Same distance. I found that 2.23 had the best accuracy. Grouping was about 2" circle
So I loaded up 80 rounds at 2.23 in and 26.0 gr. Went to the range. At the supposedly 50 yard range, I got similar grouping as before. I also tested with some factory Prvi ammo and my loads are far more accurate than the factory stuff.
But when I went to 100 yards, my bullets were all over the place. No grouping that I could discern. They were more accurate than the factory Prvi stuff at that distance though judging by the number of holes on the target (the range gives two 1 foot paper targets - I used one for the factory and the other for my loads).
So do I need to determine a different load for 100 yds vs 50 (43) yds?
Thanks,