.223 Bolt Gun loads.

midnightSGT · Jan 4, 2017

I picked up a new to me 700 Remington 24 inch heavy fluted barrel with a flash suppersor. This rifle has a 1-12 twist barrel. I want to make up some loads. (first time loading .223)

I'm mostly looking for a Varmint load (Coyote) ground pigs out to 300'ish yards. Probably a hollow point.?

Anyone have a particular bullet/powder combo they like that they like to recommend.

Not looking for a particular loading as I will work up safely, just kinda looking for a known combos. I have Varget, H4350, H3831, Rl-15 on hand but not opposed to buy more powder.

Thanks
Rich

iH8DemLibz · Jan 4, 2017

A load that works in one firearm may not necessarily work in another firearm.

Best thing to do is work-up loads based on industry standards and figure out what works best in YOUR rifle.

There are no shortcuts in figuring out what a particular rifle likes. Try soft point bullets. Polymer tips too.

Good luck and have fun.

PS: H335 is a phenomenal .223 powder. And the 65 grain Sierra GameKing (#1395) is a great bullet.

jimbobborg · Jan 4, 2017

iH8DemLibz said:
And the 65 grain Sierra GameKing (#1395) is a great bullet.

That's not going to work with the twist rate of his barrel. I'm trying out some 55gr soft points I picked up a few weeks ago. They're flat based, but would actually work well with his rifle. https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....int224-diameter-55-grain-soft-point-500-count

iH8DemLibz · Jan 4, 2017

.08 each is one heck of a good price for a soft tip bullet.

John from MD · Jan 4, 2017

I suggest that you use Varmint Nightmare bullets sold by Midsouth Shooters Supply. They are designed with thin jackets that literally explode on contact. I would also suggest you work with the 40 - 50 grain bullets as the 1 in 12 can give you tumbling in the 55 grain range.

I had a SAVAGE 110 BVSS that was very accurate and hard on rodents. I could never get 55 grain bullets to work well with the 1 in 12 twist. 300 yards is about right for the .223. Make sure you get a mirage shield for your scope as you will need it with the higher power magnifications.

Speed3 · Jan 4, 2017

With the 1:12 twist, stay on the lighter side of the .223 bullets if you can. A flatbase bullet will be fine out to 300yards or so.

BUFF7MM · Jan 4, 2017

jimbobborg said:
That's not going to work with the twist rate of his barrel. I'm trying out some 55gr soft points I picked up a few weeks ago. They're flat based, but would actually work well with his rifle. https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....int224-diameter-55-grain-soft-point-500-count

I use IMR 8208 XBR for all my 55 grain pills, 23.4 grains is my working load. But as had been said before, it works for me but might not for your firearm.

jimbobborg · Jan 4, 2017

If MidnightSGT would like to try them out, I'll mail out 20 of them to him if he gives me his address. I got 1000 of them.

Uncle Duke · Jan 4, 2017

Your .223 Remington rifle in 12 twist will almost certainly shoot 40-55 grain bullets very well.

Heavier becomes a maybe/maybe not proposition. You don't need heavier for what you describe anyway.

Given the powders you list, and given the 12 twist bullet weights mentioned above, I'd pick up a pound of faster burning H335 and/or RL-10. Your rifle should love either or both.

Bullets....Hornady: V or Z Max are great bullets IMO in any of their available 40, 50 and 55 grain weights.

Sierra Blitz is another very good bullet in 55 grain at .223 velocities.

byf43 · Jan 4, 2017

You can't go wrong with either H-335 or W748, in the .223.
H-4595 is also a good powder.

As others have said, with the 1:12 twist, stay at 55 grains or lighter.
Personally, I've never loaded anything lighter than 55 grains in the .223/5.56x45mm.

Biggfoot44 · Jan 4, 2017

55Gr will work just fine in 1:12 .

Just to name check, Barnes 50gr Varmint Grenade with 748, 2.23 oal gave me sub MOA .

If I can ever break the cycle of back to back to back to back car repairs I intend to try some 52gr match HP for 1:12 .

midnightSGT · Jan 4, 2017

Thanks guys!

Thanks jimbob Pm inbound!

dist1646 · Jan 4, 2017

26gr. IMR 4895 with a 52gr. Berger used to be the load Remington used to accuracy test their custom shop Model 40X in .223. I have used 25.5gr with 52gr.- 55gr. Sierra's with excellent results. IMR 8208XBR is definitely worth testing, I use it with 69gr. match bullets in my Win. model 70 (1-9 twist) with outstanding accuracy. IMR 8208XBR meters exceptionally well!

ClutchyMcClutcherson · Jan 4, 2017

I also use IMR 8208. This works for me with 55 or 62 grain bullets. I like hornady v-max. Definitely worth looking into at least.

BradMacc82 · Jan 5, 2017

H335 was always my go-to, and it never disappointed. Now granted I had a 1:9 24" barrel, but 25.3gr (IIRC) H335 under 69gr and 75gr pills were an absolute winner in my rifle.

tdt91 · Jan 5, 2017

I'm having pretty good early success with 27.1 grn BL-c2 with 55g FMJ in a 20'' 1/9 twist bolt. Just need to drop some with the trickler for more accurate loads. Then take a better shooting position with a better rest. pretty sure I'll get sub moa / 100.

These loads are high 2900s to very low 3000s fps. What velocity is it when I need to start worry about burning the barrel out pre maturely?

mdflyer · Jan 5, 2017

I had a thread about my 700 with the 1 in 12 twist a while back, I was getting really frustrated that I thought it would only shoot 40-45 grain varmint rounds. I found that the hornady #80275 55gr FMJ/BT shot excellent through mine. I also had some luck with a friends reloads at 69gr sierra match kings, If I remember right..

If it helps??

John from MD · Jan 6, 2017

tdt91 said:
I'm having pretty good early success with 27.1 grn BL-c2 with 55g FMJ in a 20'' 1/9 twist bolt. Just need to drop some with the trickler for more accurate loads. Then take a better shooting position with a better rest. pretty sure I'll get sub moa / 100.

These loads are high 2900s to very low 3000s fps. What velocity is it when I need to start worry about burning the barrel out pre maturely?

Barrels are relatively inexpensive. Don't work up loads worrying about your barrel throat or you will degrade the performance of the rifle.

If you google up barrel wear or throat erosion or some such combination, you will find a test that shot 10,000 rounds through a AR15 barrel and the groups they maintained throughout the test. It might have been done on AR15.com but I don't remember.

Pinecone · Jan 6, 2017

iH8DemLibz said:
A load that works in one firearm may not necessarily work in another firearm.

Hmmm, so Federal Gold Medal Match does not shoot well in all rifles?

Pinecone · Jan 6, 2017

OCW method of working up a load.

Or a load that someone else worked up using the OCW method.

http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/

.223 Bolt Gun loads.

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