I have a r700 .223 , 20'' varmint barrel ,1/9 twist that shoots 1-2'' groups at 100yards. I am wanting to start hand loads and need suggestions on what load to start with. its seems to like the fed gold medal match 69gr factory loads. Should I try and duplicate those factory loads and if so does anyone have the recipe ? Or any recipe that should work well with that setup. I am all ears and open to try anything. My goal is to have the tightest groups possible shy of swapping out barrels and truing action. the rifle is sitting in a XRAY chassis and scope is VV HST which is awesome. Any advice would be appreciated. I don't i will shooting past 4-500 yards. thanks in advance
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.223 hand load suggestions for 1/9 bolt rifle ??? HELP
- Thread starter MarcoPolo
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.223 hand load suggestions for 1/9 bolt rifle ??? HELP
Are you new to reloading?
Is that a factory Remington 700 barrel? If so, I thought that all of their barrels were a 1 in 12 twist? Only reason I bring up that point is that a 69gr bullet wouldn't stabilize in that slow if a twist.
To answer your load question, I find Varget to be really accurate in my 223. It doesn't meter well though, so if you are wanting to run it on a progressive press, I have good results with H322 and H355.
I run stick powders in all my precision loads and use a RCBS charge master to weigh the powder.
Powder choices are somewhat limited where Im at. Haven't seen Varget in 6 months. Do you know what powders are available to you?
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Are you new to reloading?
Is that a factory Remington 700 barrel? If so, I thought that all of their barrels were a 1 in 12 twist? Only reason I bring up that point is that a 69gr bullet wouldn't stabilize in that slow if a twist.
To answer your load question, I find Varget to be really accurate in my 223. It doesn't meter well though, so if you are wanting to run it on a progressive press, I have good results with H322 and H355.
I run stick powders in all my precision loads and use a RCBS charge master to weigh the powder.
Powder choices are somewhat limited where Im at. Haven't seen Varget in 6 months. Do you know what powders are available to you?
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I had great luck with 52 grain sierras and noslers in my 9 twist AR. They flew fine to 400-500 yards as well. My best load was with IMR4320 but all of the popular powders will work. The 69 grain nosler is good the 75 grain hornady bthp worked for me too out of that same rifle.
75gr Hornady HPBT and 24.0gr Varget - shot sub-MOA at AR mag length in three different 1:9 223s for me, and around half-MOA once you find the sweet spot for seating depth.
I know someone who bought the cheapest Rem700 223 at Walmart, loaded it up with 40 gr Vmax and shot a 0.3" 5 shot group at 100 yards.
How did he do it?
In front of his picture window is huge American flag, and he drives 5 minutes to the range only at sun up when the flag hangs motionless.
How did he do it?
In front of his picture window is huge American flag, and he drives 5 minutes to the range only at sun up when the flag hangs motionless.
yes my R700 sps tactical is a 1/9 twist. i havent hit the stores yet to see what powders are available. I keep hearing good things about the Varget. I will check really soon, just was wondering what to keep an eye out for. thx a lot Kirkd
I've tried several powders. With Varget being the most accurate. If you can't find that, the look for Benchmark, BL-C(2), H322, H335, or CFE 223. I have has good results with these on 50 and 55 grain bullets, with Varget being the most accurate. No experience with 69 gr bullets though. If you want to have some fun on the side, I like loading IMR trail boss and shooing some subsonics. Thats pretty fun for short range stuff.
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22.9gn H322 69gn SMK 1.750 OL is very accurate in my 1/8 and 1/7 barrels.
Should be pretty good in 1/9.
Maybe start a little less than this and test it out.
Mine are shot in AR's
Sub MOA
Should be pretty good in 1/9.
Maybe start a little less than this and test it out.
Mine are shot in AR's
Sub MOA
69 SMK, H4895, keep them at least .035 off should not be a problem in yours. Bests FGMM in mine.
69g or 77g SMK in LC brass. 26.5g for the 69 and 26g for the 77 of Alliant Power Pro 2000MR. You will get over 2850fps with no pressure issues and be extremely accurate. 2000MR is a superb powder for the heavy .223 bullets. I ran 25g of 2000MR with the long 80g Hornady Amax in a LC case in my 20" DRM AR15. 2.65 COAL and single loaded. Speed was 2745 and I was banging an 6" steel plate at 600 with ease. I'm not sure you 1:9 will stabilize the 80g or even the 75g but it may so it would be worth the try.
Somewhat unrelated, but my 5R took a few hundred rounds to settle down, I shoot 69smk exclusively for this rifle and it is a lot less picky now than it was when I bought it. 25.3 grains R15 is my usual load, right off the lands.
26.2 grains of varget and a 50 gr V Max out of my 24" Mossberg with a 1/9 twist. A tack driver for sure.....
benchmark for the 55's and anything else you can find for the 69's. I hid my last pound of varget so well even I cant find it. If I remember correctly didnt Dan Newberry figure out the fgmm 69 smk load contained aa2520? Is that why I cant find any because no one else seems to like it.
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Savage FLV left hand with a 1/9 barrel.
One ragged hole at 100 yds with 24.5 grains of H 4895 and a Sierra 69 grained HPBTM bullet.
Same thing with 24.2 grains of H4895 and a Sierra 55 grain Blitzking bullet.
These two loads took all of the fun of working up "pet" loads for this rifle-I can't possibly do any better.
One ragged hole at 100 yds with 24.5 grains of H 4895 and a Sierra 69 grained HPBTM bullet.
Same thing with 24.2 grains of H4895 and a Sierra 55 grain Blitzking bullet.
These two loads took all of the fun of working up "pet" loads for this rifle-I can't possibly do any better.
if you are only shooting to 100 or 200 yards, shooting heavier bullets like the 69 is a waste. try something like a 52 or 55gn flat base bullet. it works great for even short range benchrest guys. my first 1:9 AR barrel would shoot the 55gn vmax like no tomorrow. dont bother with the 69s at 100 or 200 yards.
The wife has a Remington 700 5R with 1:9 and it likes 69 grain Sierra Match Kings over 24.8 grains of Varget in Lapua brass with .002 neck tension and a COAL of 2.260. If I want to take it up a notch, it also does well with 25.8 grains of Varget. Both of these loads easily shoot sub-MOA at 200yds in her gun.
