loads not working out?

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Axis II

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anyone run into issues where your powder, case, primer, bullet combo didn't work out so well? what do you do in this situationn?

I have 1lbs of h335 and 1lbs of benchmark for my 223rem shooting 55gr Hornady v max. I noticed the last few weeks the stores don't have a heck of a lot of powder, primers, etc. I'm worried I will have issues with the combos I chose and not be able to get other supplies to try.

Currently I have 50-60LC 223 cases, 25 Hornady, 50FC. and some other mixes. CCI-400 AND BR4 primers, h335 and bench mark with 55gr SP, FMJ, V MAX bullets.

I have about 100 rounds factory I've been trying to save but would like the Hornady brass to reload but afraid my reloads may not work and im out 100rds of factory ammo.
 
Can you go into more detail on "loads not working out" It looks like your selection of components isn't an issue so something else must be going on.
 
I loaded some 55gr sp last year with h335 and rem brass and couldn't get it to hold a tight group.

I haven't tried any this year with what i have but was worried say maybe the powders im using don't work out for my gun. is that possible? I see a lot of powder i can use for 223 and was just wondering what the odds are that one or both doesn't work for what im trying to achieve. i was going to pick up some cfe223 and a couple other 1lbs to try later on just incase i cant find h335 or benchmark but i couldn't find anything but benchmark.
 
just reload, save your factory ammo till you get a good supply of the powder you find a good load with.

I have always had at least acceptable accuracy from benchmark and H335.

With the H335 if you haven't tried magnum primers maybe start there... Any ball powder i load gets magnum primers, to be honest i always use mag primers keeps things simpler that way.
 
As I mentioned in my first post, the components you have are good, there is something else going on that is causing your handloads to not perform to your liking. If you want help with sorting out why we need more information. Things like what rifle are you using, what load recipes have you tried, what distance you are shooting, what is the group size?
 
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/prod...in-splattering-target-100-sheet-pack?a=814581

In the target above I was shooting at 100yrds. started at first load of h335 with 55gr SP in the hornady manual and worked up .03 until near max and stopped. my groups were outside the white circle on the center bull.

I varmint hunt a lot so those groups need to be pretty tight. I haven't tried the v max bullets yet but just getting worried if either one of the powders don't work and I cant find anything else what to do.
savage axis 223 heavy barrel with accu trigger all the way down, front and rear rest. I can drill the corner bulls 5 times with factory ammo at 100yards.
 
How tight was the group?
Doesn't really matter if they were outside the bull when testing a load. You adjust POI later.

Did you measure the group?

Are you trying to work up a load that hits the same POI as a factory load?
 
I would research the manufacturer's description of the components. Most will tell what their powder, bullets were designed for and where they work best. Buy and try. Then stock up when you find your "perfect" load...
 
I have been going through some what the same thing. I don't know how much testing of loads you have done. But in some cases they combo you pick does not preform as you like. In this case you pick another powder/bullet/brass/primer combination to try.

I have loads for heavier bullets that shoots extremely good in my AR with the Wydle chamber. But I have problem getting it to shoot light bullets any where as close as the heavier ones.

Used mixed brass is against you unless you have matched the volume. For example: I test with LC 15 when I'm working up loads. Then test with the other years to see how they measure up. I have some years that produce 50+ faster velocity and the group opens up as well as some shooting slower.. Brass volume plays a large factor with chamber pressure.

Just keep working at it.
 
I dont have 1/4 the experience the pinky on the hand of some of these guys, but I see one major question missed..

How are you setup?

Are you setting up to book numbers, or are you setting up for your chamber? How far off the lands are you seating? How large of a group were you getting? Reloading isnt about accuracy, thats a mechanical function of sights, its about consistency, having the shot repeatedly hit the same spot. Once you get a consistent group, then worry about moving your groups position on the target.


How much variance are you seeing in OAL? How far back are you setting the shoulder? Was this brass from this gun or a different gun?
 
all brass is FL sized cause from 2 different rifles.

factory rounds can hit the corner bullseye each time. my reloads shot about baseball size.

Im sure I can tweek the rounds but the main thing im kinda worried about is what to do when I can find other things to try or what do I do when say h335 does work but I cant find it anymore.

my goal is to not have to drive 40min to purchase ammo and save some money while reloading and make better rounds. factory shoots anywhere from quarter size to half dollar.
 
Handloading is all about experimenting and trial and error. I don't mean to sound like a jerk but developing a load is going to cost some time, money and effort. If your budget is that tight and your time that limited that your fretting over a pound or two of powder then maybe you should stick to factory ammo.

As far as powder shortages are concerned, the bulk of the shortages have been and continue to be with pistol and shotgun powders. You might not find every rifle powder at every LGS but most rifle powders have been and continue to be fairly easy to find.

Some guns are simply difficult to handload for. I have a Glock 26 that is causing me pains in my neck but somewhere in the approx. 25 pistol powders and literally thousands of bullets is the ticket.

If you belong to a club perhaps you can ask around there may be others than handload and might be able to help by giving you their method or perhaps trading some different powder or other components for something else.

If you keep at it you will be rewarded. Keep looking experimenting and reading. It's there I promise.
 
What you need to do based on this and some of your other post is simply slow down, take a chill pill. I don't mean this in any sort of a bad way. I started reloading in 1972 when I came home from Vietnam because I wanted accuracy. Well, 44 years later I am still learning reloading and looking for that perfect load.

223 Remington? I can rattle off a dozen plus powders and won't even get started on the bullets available. All rifles are different so while a specific load may perform well across the board that does not mean your rifle will shoot golf ball size groups using it. There is also the shooter figured into the equation. The shooter is in there among the rest of the variables. Practice, practice and then practice more. Thomas 15 got it pretty much right, there are over a dozen powders suitable for 223 Remington not to even start with the bullet selection. There is no magic only trial and error. Eventually things will fall into place.

Nobody here is looking over your shoulder when you shoot and nobody here is loading for your rifle. That makes it difficult for anyone here to suggest how to take a baseball size group down to a sub MOA group. Time, patience and a mountain of powder and bullets. Figure it this way, a pound of powder is 7,000 grains. On average give or take and some spillage the average .223 Remington round is about 25 grains of powder. You will get upwards of 300 rounds (280 to 300) on a pound of powder. After a few thousand rounds start to worry about shrinking groups. :)

What you are seeing is normal and the subsequent frustration is normal.

Ron
 
You should be able to find an accurate load with either of those powders, or any one of the dozen or so powders that work in 223. I think it is more of a bullet issue, FMJ and SP are not know for their superior accuracy and your rifle may just not like that style of bullet. Give the V-max a try before you get too worked up, you may still have to try some different bullets. I would try different bullets before I would try different powder. I use H335 with 75 gr. bthp match and get sub 1/2 groups with a AR benchrest rifle.
 
H335 powder is fine and NOT causing you any problems so don't worry about that. Are you weighing your charges? Fluctuating powder weights will cause issues, but the biggest thing is concentricity of the loaded bullet. If you start and seat the bullet crooked in the case, it goes down the barrel crooked and comes out of the barrel and goes wherever it wants.

If you are concerned with loading precision ammo, I'd suggest getting a dial indicator stand where you can measure how straight your loads are coming out of the die. With an accurate rifle there is something not up to snuff with your loads...all you have to do is find it!:)
 
I understand the whole find the bullet, combo, etc. I guess I should have been more clear. I'm noticing that the shelves at the store are bare. If I have issues with one then find another that works great and cant find it then what?

Factory v max shoots awesome so I know my gun likes that bullet but could the powder make a difference is what im trying to get at? I shot some of the hornady superformance 53gr bullets and some other factory bullets and the gun hated them. I guess im scared that the powder wont work out right and I cant find any. shelves are stocked with every bullet for 223 imaginable but powder and primers are slim to none.
 
More and more powder is showing up on the shelves which beats the heck out of a few years ago. Matter of fact this weekend I am going to Columbus for my son's wedding and while I'll check out the Cabela's down in Columbus a few members suggested I stop at the Fin. Feather and Fur down on Sate Route 250. With luck I'll find some 8 lb jugs and maybe snag some bullets. So while I have no idea what store you are referring to with bare shelves there are plenty with well stocked shelves and then there is the Internet to order powder. When ordering online just buy enough to make it worth the shipping and HAZMAT fees.

Primers? Cabela's is showing about every CCI Primer made, so what did you want? You have not mentioned a powder or primer you are looking for? Cabela's CCI Primers. The stuff is out there and in abundance.

Ron
 
some rifles just wont shoot with a certain bullet.. I'd change projectiles if I was changing things. I had a rifle that would shoot right at 1 moa with smk's (break action, cva optima elite), and 2.5 moa with game kings. Only difference was the projectile..
 
I work in N. Canton, OH, and there are 3 or 4 stores within 20 minutes that are all well stocked. I haven't had trouble finding ANY components in at least a year, maybe more. The local Fin Feather Fur has at least half a dozen choices for .223 bullets including bulk.

Bullet choice will have the biggest impact on accuracy from your particular gun. Not only does everybody have them locally, but they are easy enough to mail order. The weight and style of the bullet being suited to your gun are more important than how expensive it is. You will find that more often, loads from the book will match factory accuracy than not, so there is no need to panic that only combination that will work in your gun is components that will not be available.
 
I was at fin on 250 last weekend or so and they didn't have any small rifle primers but the ones in the plastic sleeve, no h335 or benchmark unless its in the large jugs which I cant afford at the time. went to the middleburg heights store a few days ago and no h335 or benchmark. only had maybe 2-3 1lbs and a few 8lbs.

I try and buy from them cause they are local economy and I don't get hit with more money on shipping and such. bullets I can find its brass, powder and primers.
 
You're concerned that if you find a good load with the components you have now, that you may have problems later if you can't get those same components? Well, you'll use what components you can find and work up another load. I think it's rare that a particular powder will produce consistently bad results as long as the powder is in the "recommended range". So, you will "have to" (or as I see it "get to") start the process with a new component...:p
 
I stopped at Cabela's yesterday. They have plenty of H335. We return to Cleveland on Sunday. If you really want H335 I can pick up the H335 and anything else they have that you want but you will need to come and get it. I am in Bedford Heights just off I-480. H-335 was $23.70 lb. plus tax. They seemed to have a wide range of primers and IMR Powders also. Just let me know as I plan a stop on the return trip anyway.

Ron
 
ohihunter2014 said:
I loaded some 55gr sp last year with h335 and rem brass and couldn't get it to hold a tight group.
Click to expand...
In this case the Remington brass might be your problem. At times Rem brass might be thinner than other brass so neck tension might be lacking. That would cause loose groups.

You said your groups were out of the center of the bull but when asked how tight the groups were you didn't reply. You do realize you can change the POI by adjusting your scope, right? Please clarify.
 
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