Need an accurate .223 light load.

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7mmpoppy

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Have read all i could find on .223 loads, here and elsewhere.
Need a load for 35gr. v-max out of a ruger m77 compact for my 8 yr old
girl to shoot. I know my regular 50gr loads wont hurt her, but she is still
a bit recoil shy and think it would be a boost for her confidence if she "helps"
me reload rounds just for her, and have them light enough that she can feel
that they are her loads.
I have tried varget, and rl-15, (40gr data). Accuracy was poor.
The gun is normally shooting right at m.o.a with my "normal" 50gr loads.
Is it the bullet? Or the short barrel? Have heard they wont shoot slow???
Any/all info would be greatly appreciated.
 
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Varget is better with the heavier bullets, but a starting load of H335 would be pretty easy on the youngster:)
 
IMO for such a light bullet I would use IMR4198, IMR3031, H322, H335 or give the new IMR8208 XBR a try. Go with the starting load of any of those powders and you will probably find what you are looking for.

Hodgdon also has a Youth Loads Page they provide for building light loads. Even though they don't specifically mention the .223 they supply a formula for use with their H4895 powder. (and only H4895) Check out the explanation on the top of the page and you will see what I mean. The data provided does work and the loads are much lighter than normal hunting loads. The loads provided are only 60% of the full power loads. Use the data on the Hodgdon Load Data Site and apply the formula. From my calculations the pressures in a .223 using a 35gr bullet will be just under 30,000 psi.

Welcome to the forum...
 
7mm,

Lee has this for 35 gr jacketed bullet Accurate Arms 2230 26.5 grs @3587 fpsto start and 29.5c MAX @3945 fps. or AA 1680 19.3 grs start @3342 fps and 21.5 Max @3675 fps
 
Lyman #49 lists data for the 36 grain Varmint Grenade.

Starting loads using 25.2 grains of either IMR-4895 or Varget give under 3,000 FPS, and should do what you want safely.

rc
 
IMR4198 is perfect for lighter loads. I let my 8 year old shoot my AR with these and she fired it just fine on a benchrest. The recoil was light enough that she could rapid fire two shots and group to 2" at 25 yds.

Bass
 
No Go!

I guess my little ruger just won't shoot 35 gr. bullets!
16.4gr of H4895 as per hodgden data for kids, velocity was all over.
1866 fps - 1950 fps. and group was , well not a group....
5 shots at 100 yds 4 rounds 11 in. spread don't know about the 5th.
recoil and report was right were i wanted, but she wouldn't shoot it even once.
OH WELL! guess we'll try again later.
Again thanks for the info.
 
I'm using 26.5 of BLC-2 under a 40 grain V-Max and have had great results. Nice light, fast and no recoil!
 
55 GR. HDY FMJ IMR Trail Boss .224" 2.200" 4.0 1074
55 GR. HDY FMJ Hodgdon Titegroup .224" 2.200" 3.1 1064 4,000 CUP
55 GR. HDY FMJ Hodgdon Clays .224" 2.200" 3.2 1060 3,700 CUP

Do not reduce these loads (source: hodgdon.com)
 
I load subsonics using 80gr a max and 2.5 gr of 2400. But I I've loaded 19gr of reloader 10x with a 50 gr v max for my 7 and 8 year old niece and nephew. They love it so long as they can hit the can
 
Be careful assembling the short bullets. Some do not have enough body section length to give a good "neck tension" development in the short neck of the .223. This may not matter in a bolt gun.
 
The Blue Dot loads might be good for beginning shooters, but not for beginning hand loaders.

The Blue Dot can hang up in the powder measure and make a light load followed by a still load. The Blue Dot load will not fill the 223 case. So hot loads can get really hot.
You need to come up with a charge verification system.

I have fired thousands of Blue Dot 223 loads with no problems.
I keep the loads down below 35 kpsi.
The .223 case is good for 75kpsi, but not with Blue Dot.
Blue Dot varies in pressure from shot to shot with hot loads.

I like 33 gr Vmax 15 gr Blue Dot or 60 gr TAP 13 gr Blue Dot, or any 223 load in between. I like the bullet lightly jammed into the lands, so it can be pulled unfired, without getting stuck.
 
Like Clark, I have fired lots of Blue Dot loads but you need to be extra careful when loading them. Great light loads that are accurate and do not heat the barrel up.
 
26 grains of h322 with a Hornady 35 grain vmax. Its a plenty good plinking round and zero recoil. Only problem is getting the bullets in the case necks. The flat bottoms cause seating issues.
 
Blue dot has proven to be verry accurate for me in bolt guns in all loading from 10 to 14 gr.
Note.It may be reduced velocity loadings but its not really a reduced preasure loading.use caution and work up slow.Will not cycle well in an AR platform.
Bob.
 
+1 on being careful reloading Blue Dot.

In regard to velocity, not much is being given up. Some of the upper end loads some reach 3,000 f/s.

The big thing I notice is that the report is reduced, which should be a benefit for novice shooters.
 
A 35gr bullet is a little light for almost any .223 rifle. Just like some rifles can't correctly stabilize too heavy a bullet, sometimes too light a bullet won't work well either. Reports are the Hornady V-Max bullet is difficult to stabilize under normal loading, with a light load it may be even harder. (but that's a guess)

May I suggest trying these loads next, try 16.5gr H4895 under both a 40gr and 45gr bullet. A 45gr Sierra SP should shoot well even at the lower velocities generated from the Youth Load.
 
>> Need a load for 35gr. v-max out of a ruger m77 compact for my 8 yr old
girl to shoot. I know my regular 50gr loads wont hurt her, but she is still
a bit recoil shy and think it would be a boost for her confidence if she "helps" <<

I'm not familiar withthe m77 but two things come to mind.

1) If the rifle is too long/short she may not be getting a good 'shoulder pocket' which could make felt recoil worse than the mild 223 is

2) Shorter barrels normally mean more muzzle blast/flash which can be offset by too hearing protection and position. Are you shooting indoors/outdoors?

If she is truly recoil-sensative have you considered buying/building her a .22lr rifle of her own? Take a look over at rimfirecentral for lots of mods such as a 10/22 which is a breeze to find parts for and work on....

Cheers
Chris
 
ArchAngelCD
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Join Date: November 25, 2006
Location: PA, USA
Posts: 6,662

A 35gr bullet is a little light for almost any .223 rifle. Just like some rifles can't correctly stabilize too heavy a bullet, sometimes too light a bullet won't work well either. Reports are the Hornady V-Max bullet is difficult to stabilize under normal loading, with a light load it may be even harder. (but that's a guess)

May I suggest trying these loads next, try 16.5gr H4895 under both a 40gr and 45gr bullet. A 45gr Sierra SP should shoot well even at the lower velocities generated from the Youth Load.
Click to expand...

I got a huge quantity for very cheap of blemished of 35 gr Vmax that turned out to weigh 33 gr.

The first day my Ruger #1V went to the range it shot (8) 5 shot groups that were all under 1".
It ONLY shot (8) groups that day.
That was preloaded for some other gun: 15 gr Blue Dot 33 gr Vmax moly 2.170" OAL.... 3500 fps

My experience with rodents is that the 33 gr is dead on to 180 yards.
At 230 yards I have to make big adjustments for windage and elevation.

As another poster put it on another forum, "The 35 gr Vmax has the ballistics of a ping-pong ball."
 
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