Making progress on my .223 reloads! Pics inside.

[Exposure]

I really liked duck911's post about the groups he got with his handloads. His pics were very interesting. So I am doing a copycat post.

I recently purchased a Remington 700 SPS Varmint rifle chambered in .223 and have begun working up handloads for it.

Today I got to the range with some of them. Here is the photographic evidence of that trip. I think it is kind of interesting.

All groups shot were 5 rounds at 100 yards using 52 grain Sierra Match Kings, a bi-pod and sandbag, and a cheap-o Tasco varmint scope that everyone says is garbage and won't shoot worth a darn.

Up first is the least impressive result of the day. IMR 4064, one of my favorite .308 powders didn't fare very well in the .223 Velocity was ok, but accuracy not so much.



Next up is IMR 3031. I did not expect this kind of accuracy or velocity! I was very, very pleased. I think the two flyers in this group were my fault. 3031 May be my new go to powder for .223!



The old reliable Win 748 didn't disappoint as usual. I think this is a GREAT powder for .223 I can't argue with these results.



And the winner is Hodgdon Benchmark. Just a hair over the coveted 1/2" MOA at 100 yards. Probably shooter error that I missed it today. But I am zeroing in a sub 1/2" at 100 with this gun, sooner or later it is gonna happen!



I actually think the 3031 may be the winning powder for this rifle. Like I said above, the large group in the 3031 loads is probably my fault, I think this rifle is capable of very tiny groups with 3031 and this bullet. But I blew it today!

It is interesting to note that the Benchmark powder is the only one that shoots to point of aim right now. I sighted the rifle in with Benchmark handloads. The other 3 obviously stray to the 7 o'clock position. Something peculiar to Benchmark? I don't know, but an interesting sidenote.

 

[Sport45]

Great shooting.

If you had declared the two outside shots with the 4064 to be "fliers" that would have been an excellent group too.

 

[ILikeLead]

You listed all these different powders in 5 shot groups... Had you worked them up individually for the best powder charge before this? You didn't list the amounts of powder...

Forgive the potentially dumb question from a newb to reloading(as in 1 week)

Just trying to learn a bit...

 

[Randy1911]

Great shooting. Were any of the powder compressed charges.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thanks for the range report. I'm a little surprised you didn't include H335 in your tests.

 

[skidooman603]

I would also test Varget as I have had excellent results. Seems to be the go to powder of many of my service rifle competition.

 

[BADUNAME37]

You might want to try over a chronograph to compare your results with those stated in the loading manuals.

If your primers aren't real flat, i.e., there is still a visible radius at the edge of the primer, you may have a bit of "wiggle room" to work up just a bit more.

You may find that the groups open up, or you may be surprised to find them tighten up just a bit more!

Every little bit helps, and since you have basically a varmint/predator rifle (that could also be used on larger spieces) the tighter you are at 100 yards, the tighter you will be out at 3, 4 and 500 yards!

If you do increase the powder and velocity, that will also help with the trajectory of the bullet -- shooting a bit flatter with faster loads over the slower ones!

 

[Exposure]

Sport45 said-

Great shooting.

If you had declared the two outside shots with the 4064 to be "fliers" that would have been an excellent group too.

Sadly I watched both the two outside holes appear when I pulled the trigger. And both times the crosshairs were still settled on the center of the target. But the first 3 had me pretty excited!

ILikeLead said-

You listed all these different powders in 5 shot groups... Had you worked them up individually for the best powder charge before this? You didn't list the amounts of powder...

Forgive the potentially dumb question from a newb to reloading(as in 1 week)

Just trying to learn a bit...

The only one worked up before was the Hodgdon Benchmark. I started out with 25.0 grains of it last week. Here are the powder quantities for the 4 loads shown above.

IMR 4064- 25 grains
IMR 3031- 25 grains
Win 748- 26 grains
Benchmark- 25.5 grains

No questions are dumb when you are new to reloading. Keep in mind that all the loads I listed here will produce 50,000 PSI, or more, just inches from your face. That is some serious pressure! The margin for error is very slim. Any questions you have are better asked now. Reloaders tend to be very open people who will give you all the advice you want. So ask away!

Randy1911 said-

Great shooting. Were any of the powder compressed charges.

Thanks! Both the IMR 4064 and 3031 were compressed. 25 Grains was the absolute max these Radway Green cases would hold. Getting anymore in there would be tough.

ArchAngelCD said-

Thanks for the range report. I'm a little surprised you didn't include H335 in your tests.

I may try H335 in the future. But for now I am thinking that seating depths and bullet choice may be my next avenue for sub 1/2 inch groups out of this rifle. The Benchmark and 3031 are very promising.

skidooman603 said-

I would also test Varget as I have had excellent results. Seems to be the go to powder of many of my service rifle competition.

I do have some Varget, just haven't made up any loads yet. Maybe in the future!

Inspector said-

You might want to try over a chronograph to compare your results with those stated in the loading manuals.

Thanks for the advice! I actually did chrono these loads. Notice I have my average velocities listed just below the powder type in the pics above. There is definitely wiggle room left on two of the powders above. None of the primers showed any flattening. A slight bit of cratering on the Benchmark and 3031 loads but still no overpressure signs according to the primers!

Stay tuned. More data to come!

 

[duck911]

Nice shooting!! You should try some TAC, too

--Duck911

 

[BNAllen]

Exposure ... I find your thread interesting. I've used 4064 in my hunting loads for a long while (30 calibers). I've had good luck provided I did my part.

Recently, I built a carbine length AR chambered for .223 as a coyote rifle. I've been using a 55gr Sierra GameKing bullets and 4064. I can not get the rifle to group worth a darn. I am not expecting the carbine to deliver consistent 100-10X scores, but, I would certainly like to find a powder/bullet combo that groups well enough to use as a reliable hunting load.

I just loaded up some (65gr) Sierra SBT bullets hoping a bit heavier bullet performs better out of the Chrome-Molly lined 1:7. Hope to shoot those in the next few days.

After reading this thread, I think I will work up some loads with 3031 ... I'll look forward to more posts ...

 

[X - Man]

BHAllen, You're on the right track. I have found that my 1 in 7 twist barrel demands a heavy bullet. A 62gr or less won't group worth a damn in my barrel. But I just tried some Sierra 69HPBT Matchking and my groups were cut in half, from about 3" to 1-1/2". 4895 @ 24.0 gr, 100 yards. Will be trying some 77gr soon.

Also, each rifle likes a specific COAL. Once you choose a bullet and charge, try making up several test batches, using the same bullet/charge, each with a different COAL.

 

[PT1911]

nice groups.... seriously zeroing in on a hell of a load for your rifle...


I must pose a question... what are the best bullet weights to twist ratios?

say best for 1:7 1:8 and 1:9?

 

[Chamacat]

WOW...One of these days..I hope I can get my .223 Ruger compact to shoot groups like yours..that is really great..