.223 load rl17

skep_tic1

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 17, 2007
192
0
46
NC
My manual show just over 26 gr of rl15 to be max load for a 75 gr AMAX @ 2.39 oal. Seemed hot to me so I loaded up some at 25.2 gr rl15 with an oal of 2.5". After reading other loads on the net for this bullet and this powder, I'm worried I may still be a little hot. I will be running thru a win 70 bolt with a 26" barrel and 1-7 twist. Does my load sound hot to you guys? Can anyone run a program for me. Has anyone tried rl17 with the .223 heavys and a long barrelled bolt gun?
 
Re: .223 load

I worked up to 24.7 gr with 80 amax and was just starting to get pressure signs. This is why I initially thought the 25.2 gr with the 75's would be ok. It wasn't until reading other people's load that I began to question it.
 
Re: .223 load

The 223 is SAAMI registered at 55kpsi but can get long brass life at 75kspi, making for a large safety margin to potentially exploit in a work up.

Contrast that with the 270Win, 6mmRem, and 22-250 with SAAMI registration at 65kpsi, but can get long brass life at 67kpsi, making a small safety margin with no room to exploit in a work up.

Published loads are beyond SAAMI registration for some guns in 257 Roberts, 32-20, 45Colt, and others. But I have not seen any 223 Rem +P published loads. Maybe next year all the load books with have 223 hotter loads for non gas guns. It could happen.
 
Re: .223 load

My 75gr load for the Savage 10FP 24" 1:9" was (gun no longer in inventory) 26.5gr of Ramshot Big Game in Milspec brass with a match primer; 75gr HDY BTHP Match (Moly) at 2.400" OAL. The BTHP is shorter than the A-Max, which wouldn't stabilize in the 1:9" teist.

Very accurate, never shot it beyond 300yd, and never clocked it. Compressed charge, but only moderate pressure signs.

Greg
 
Re: .223 load

It seems hot to me. I shoot all my match 223 out of PacNor 1:6.5 barrels with a Wylde chamber so my experience is based on that.

At 25.0 with the 80 gr. Amax I get pierced primers when the temps are over 90 degrees so I limit it to 24.5. RL-15 seems a lot more temperature sensitive than Varget and N140. I used to get my best 75 grain Amax accuracy with that same 24.5 load and it was also the same charge for 77 SMK's and 75 HPBT bullets so I didn't have to change the powder throw.(it is a little hot for the bare 77 SMKs but works well for Moly bullets.)

All that aside, I don't see a need to go over 25 grains with the 75 Amax if you are shooting them .010 - .020 off the lands. I don't shoot them anymore (80 Amax now) but that is what my data book says happened when i did.

 
Re: .223 load

At 25.2 gr of rl15 and 75gr AMAX bullets loaded at 2.5" oal I see no pressure signs. My average velocity was 2960fps. I'm going to try to creep up to 3000fps at maybe 25.4 gr of rl15 as I'm not even close to a compressed charge yet. If I can get 3000fps with the 75's I'll stop right there. I see no benefit in going with the 80 gr AMAX, when the most velocity I got before pressure sign with them was 2850 fps. I do plan to try to work some 90 vld's up to 2600 fps. We will see.
 
Re: .223 load

While it does sound hot to me the quickload showed 61k psi and about 3030fps in a 26" tube. nice to see you built the rifle around the bullet seating you wanted. many people here see something in a book and load to it without a second thought. load books can be dangerous in the wrong hands.
in my rifle the Amax bullets shot better seated .020 off the lands but every rifle is different.
 
Re: .223 load

Thanks xcount! I love the .223 round so when they started making heavies for it I knew I had to give it a go. My goal is to be semi competitive in ft/r out to 1k. It's more exciting to experiment and learn for myself than to just load a 7.62 and do the same thing everyone else is doing. Ever run any rl17 with the heavy .223 bullets thru a longish barrelled bolt gun?

I do the 7.62 as well tho.......
 
Re: .223 load

I"ll tell you THE SECRET! Alliant 2000mr is the only powder you need to play with in a bolt gun for .223, 6br, .308 using the heavier bullets for mid to long range shooting.

F;ing Rocket Fuel with accuracy on par of any of the well known powders. It is THE ONE to use.

r17 is definitely too slow for .223 plus the temp sensitivity is lousy.