.223 - 5.56

#1,151
Its what I had on hand an it meters really well. Between 24.4 and 24.46 on my FX120i. I am using the double alpha upgraded powder bar but for a dillion powder throw, I cant be mad at those numbers. I am hoping I can hit right around 2809-2830 with this. Should be low enough pressure to not run into issues.

Tonight we will find out if it shoots. These are strickly for PRS practice rounds. Need to save the 109s and barrel life for matches.
 
#1,153
Hornady .224 FMJ-BT 55gr. How bad can it be?

Has anyone used the FMJ-BT 55gr bullets in their bolt guns? I know the store bought ammo gives around >1 MOA. What sort of grouping/precision do you get when fired from a 1:8" twist barrel? What does the grouping look like when proper load development has been done?

I'm trying to figure out if it is worth it to buy.
 
#1,154
My personal opinion is you are wasting powder, primers and time trying to get 55g Hornady bullets to preform.

Many better choices.

I get them as gifts sometimes.
I will use them to expand some pre conditioned brass I have that is below my shoulder requirements.
 
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#1,156
SW match rifle? WN 748 maybe hit and miss. You gotta try them all. I have 3 identical AR 15 with 16 inch barrels and with ball powders they all have different preferences. Hope that helps.
 
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#1,157
JerkyFreak said:
Hornady .224 FMJ-BT 55gr. How bad can it be?

Has anyone used the FMJ-BT 55gr bullets in their bolt guns? I know the store bought ammo gives around >1 MOA. What sort of grouping/precision do you get when fired from a 1:8" twist barrel? What does the grouping look like when proper load development has been done?

I'm trying to figure out if it is worth it to buy.
Click to expand...
Get 100 and see what you can do. I had a gun with a Bartlien shoot 55gr winchester xm195 really well.
 
#1,158
jLorenzo said:
Best currently available powder choice for 62gr loads in gas guns? Preferably ball to use in a thrower.
Would like to get some accuracy tuned in if possible.
Click to expand...
H335 has produced .5 moa and occasionally 3/8 moa with 52g, and 55g but when I tried 69g bullets groups hovered around 1 moa.

That's in a heavy 20 inch 1/8 t barrel.
Just a reference point.

If it doesn't like the 62g you can use it on the lighter bullets, has been a standard for years that took me a while to realise.

It just doesn't get much hype these days . Meters very well.
 
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#1,166
Cool, I have a spare action ( would need a 223 bolt), trigger, scope, manners stock, will just need to get a barrel. I shoot lots of 223/556 ammo in my ARs so I have brass. Thinking it would be a great lite rifle. Thanks
 
#1,170
oldrifleman said:
Thinking about a bolt action 26” 223 wylde chamber and Berger 85.5gr hybrids, anyone played with this bullet on a 223?
Click to expand...
I have shot a lot of 85.5s. 2900 will be the ragged edge of pressure with Varget, 2850 is realistic with 26+" barrel. Make sure you throat the chamber long enough to get the boat tail above the neck shoulder junction. A chamber for 90gr bullets should be fine. It's a fine bullet and you can shoot it a long way. Still a 223.
 
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#1,171
jLorenzo said:
I have shot a lot of 85.5s. 2900 will be the ragged edge of pressure with Varget, 2850 is realistic with 26+" barrel. Make sure you throat the chamber long enough to get the boat tail above the neck shoulder junction. A chamber for 90gr bullets should be fine. It's a fine bullet and you can shoot it a long way. Still a 223.
Click to expand...

2900 with a 85.5 in a 223 Wylde chamber with Varget is hot and down in the case.

2900 is max speed in 10+ 223 Wylde barrels of mine with an 80 VLD or 80 SMK or 80 ELD with Varget. More than that and I have pressure signs. Also running into max case capacity issues with no more room for varget in the case at 2900 without compressed loads which is why pressure shows.

Now, with a much longer freebore you could probably get there, but not with a 223 Wylde....
 
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#1,172
padom said:
2900 with a 85.5 in a 223 Wylde chamber with Varget is hot and down in the case.

2900 is max speed in 10+ 223 Wylde barrels of mine with an 80 VLD or 80 SMK or 80 ELD with Varget. More than that and I have pressure signs. Also running into max case capacity issues with no more room for varget in the case at 2900 without compressed loads which is why pressure shows.

Now, with a much longer freebore you could probably get there, but not with a 223 Wylde....
Click to expand...
With a Wylde chamber I'd agree but he specifically say "Make sure you throat the chamber long enough to get the boat tail above the neck shoulder junction." If the OP is looking to run only 80gr+ bullets I'd recommend a chamber with the Manson 223 T15 fullbore reamer.
 
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#1,175
Yeah, the barrel is a 26 HV and will have a .080FB. In all honesty not sure what the Wylde FB is. I asked the him for a wylde he asked what bullets and I told him and he put this in( I know stupid).
 
#1,176
oldrifleman said:
Yeah, the barrel is a 26 HV and will have a .080FB. In all honesty not sure what the Wylde FB is. I asked the him for a wylde he asked what bullets and I told him and he put this in( I know stupid).
Click to expand...

Nice ! Wylde is 0.62" FB. 0.080 is what my 223 custom match reamer is and it's perfect for 80 smk, and other 80gr pills
 
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#1,177
padom said:
2900 with a 85.5 in a 223 Wylde chamber with Varget is hot and down in the case.

2900 is max speed in 10+ 223 Wylde barrels of mine with an 80 VLD or 80 SMK or 80 ELD with Varget. More than that and I have pressure signs. Also running into max case capacity issues with no more room for varget in the case at 2900 without compressed loads which is why pressure shows.

Now, with a much longer freebore you could probably get there, but not with a 223 Wylde....
Click to expand...
Sorry definitely not a wylde shouldve clarified. Think it's .169 freebore.
 
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#1,180
New lot of varget gave me a 40-50 fps bump at the same charge weight. 24.5g varget with an 80g smk in a 24" barrel.
 

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#1,183
Is N540 roughly the varget equivalent ? I'm about out of varget and my recent experience with Vihtavouri powder in a 300winmag has me wanting to try it in my 223/308, and I'm thinking about adding a 6bra to the mix. One powder for all of them would be nice.
 
#1,185
N140 & N150 are very close to Varget depending on the cartridge its used in. I've had good luck with N150 and 85.5 & 88 grain bullets but you'll likely run out of room if you are looking for max velocity, N140 may be the better fit for speed. I haven't used any of the N5xx series high energy powders.
 
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#1,186
N540 is quite a bit slower than varget actually, and it's a high energy double base powder. Like was mentioned, N140/150 are close to Varget.

I've never played with any Vihta powders in my 25 years of handloading until a few months ago. And that's only because for some odd reason, it's been readily available, and cheaper than anything else.

I was going to shoot H4895 in the 223, but you can't find it for years now. I also didn't entertain the idea of Varget, since that's what everyone uses in the 223/6 BR/308s. So that's what led me to N540 after looking at Vihtas data and QL data. It gets me 3050-3075fps at the top end from the 28" Bartlein. But I did drop down to 2975-3000fps just to be safe, since we have triple digit summer's, and be a little easier on the Lapua brass.

Here it is with the new to me S&B PMII 12-50x56 p4f-moa
Snapchat-297255461.jpg
 
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