Need advice on H-335 reloading

[RM]

I would appreciate advice on my .223 reloading. Bullet velocities are not up to those listed on the Hodgdon website: 2582 to 2738 fps. I'm wondering if the difference is completely due to using a 16" barrel instead of a 24" barrel, or I am a making reloading errors? My barrel has 1:7 twist. I'm also wondering if I had the correct distance from muzzle the chronograph, about 2-3 yards. Perhaps that is an issue. Thanks.

5-18-15 Hornady 75g BTHP FMJ bullets Hornady LNL CCI SR primers
Hodgdon H335 powder

21.0g H335 7 shots Hi- 2415 Lo- 2263 Av- 2326 ES- 152 SD- 60
21.5g H335 7 shots Hi- 2433 Lo- 2322 Av- 2373 ES- 111 SD- 39
22.0g H335 7 shots Hi- 2473 Lo- 2380 Av- 2431 ES- 93 SD- 35
22.5g H335 7 shots Hi- 2520 Lo- 2460 Av- 2491 ES- 60 SD- 21

 

[JimKirk]

For a 22" verses 16" ... in .223 Remington .... you will see "about" 230 fps less with the 16" with the same loads ...

So ...your results fall in line with with that thinking...

 

[Rule3]

Yes barrel length will make a difference. You will never duplicate exactly a test in a manual or online data. Lots of variables come into play so you will never be exact. Humidity, temp, elevation etc etc.

10 feet is a standard distance from the muzzle, so you distance is fine.

Heck look at Hornady data for H335 It is way lower than Hodgdon.

I use H335 but with lighter bullets so I can not compare my data to yours.

If your 22.5 gr load was accurate than that looks like a winner (based on the numbers)

 

[winchester1886]

Varget is the one !!!!!!

 

[RM]

I bought some Varget to try. I have read that it does not meter particularly well. Other than that, it's supposed to be like Christmas, income tax refund, and your team in the Super Bowl all rolled into one.

 

[JustAGuy2020]

RM, 22.5 grains of H335 under the Hornady 75 gr HPBT match is my go-to load for accuracy in my 24 inch barrel AR target rifle. I've owned a number of bolt action and AR rifles in this caliber and H335 has been the best in every one of them.

I'm getting 2724 fps out of my 24 so, it's possible. I did extensive OCW testing with Varget, H335 and 8208 XBR and H335 was consistently best.

I know a lot of guys have great luck with Varget but I just never could get it to shoot in any of my 223s....or at least not as well as H335. This load shoots very consistent 0.6 MOA out of my rifle and at least for now, that's fine with me.

S