.223 loads extremely slow

[lennyo3034]

Do these velocities look right?

23.4gr 8208
77gr TMK

2605 fps out of an 18” barrel
Same barrel fires 77 IMI razor core at 2810.

23.4 might already be over book max so I’m hesitant to increase powder charge.

 

[TonyTheTiger]

That seems a bit slow to me but I've seen a lot of guys post identical data to yours. I was just loading 23.4gr of 8208 behind a 77gr RDF today and getting 2650fps out of a 16" barrel.

 

[Eoddave27]

That does seem pretty slow. I’m using 22.9 of 8208 with a 75gr and getting a little over 2700fps out of an 18” barrel. When I did my load development I went up to 23.4 but the accuracy just wasn’t there. I never checked the velocity but my guess is it would have been pretty close to 2800 FPS based on the velocity jumps from the various charge weights I did chronograph.

 

[DellaDog]

Interestingly, I just got back from load development for a 24” Mullerworks barreled 223.
All with 75 ELD-Ms.
I already found my load with Varget & H4895, but wanted to try XBR for its metering reputation.

Varget and 4895 group at .25”
24.1 H4895 = ~3000
24.0 Varget = ~2900

XBR at 23.6 grouped close to .25”, 23.2 & 23.4 were more like 3/8 - 1/2”
23.2 XBR = ~2890
23.4 XBR = ~2900
23.6 XBR = ~2925

I think I’ll just stick with 24.1 H4895.

 

[jackinfl]

DELLADOG,
is that a bolt gun? Any specific chamber?

 

[DellaDog]

Yes, Defiance Deviant. Match chamber. (Not sure which reamer.)
Alamo Precision Rifles.

 

[TonyTheTiger]

Interestingly, I just got back from load development for a 24” Mullerworks barreled 223.
All with 75 ELD-Ms.
I already found my load with Varget & H4895, but wanted to try XBR for its metering reputation.

Varget and 4895 group at .25”
24.1 H4895 = ~3000
24.0 Varget = ~2900

XBR at 23.6 grouped close to .25”, 23.2 & 23.4 were more like 3/8 - 1/2”
23.2 XBR = ~2890
23.4 XBR = ~2900
23.6 XBR = ~2925

I think I’ll just stick with 24.1 H4895.

You can go a good bit higher loading longer with a bolt gun.

 

[jackinfl]

Delladog,
One more question. What is COAL? Are you seating the bullet super long?
Thanks for responding

 

[lennyo3034]

Yeah these were out of an AR. 2.250” OAL. Load was not compressed.

My previous barrel was a 20” that pushed 2750 with 22.6 grains.

 

[quick1911]

Interestingly, I just got back from load development for a 24” Mullerworks barreled 223.
All with 75 ELD-Ms.
I already found my load with Varget & H4895, but wanted to try XBR for its metering reputation.

Varget and 4895 group at .25”
24.1 H4895 = ~3000
24.0 Varget = ~2900

XBR at 23.6 grouped close to .25”, 23.2 & 23.4 were more like 3/8 - 1/2”
23.2 XBR = ~2890
23.4 XBR = ~2900
23.6 XBR = ~2925

I think I’ll just stick with 24.1 H4895.

@DellaDog what twist on your Mullerworks barrel?

 

[DellaDog]

Delladog,
One more question. What is COAL? Are you seating the bullet super long?
Thanks for responding

-.010 off the lands
CBTO - 1.875
COAL - 2.415

7.5 twist

 

[DellaDog]

You can go a good bit higher loading longer with a bolt gun.

I might work 23.6 to 23.8 but I’m pretty happy with the 4895 load.

Shot 1000 yards a few days ago for the first time with a 223, it was a blast. I was hitting the 2 minute plate pretty consistently even with unpredictable winds. I was actually on more regularly than the 308 next to me.

They just don’t “splash” quite as impressively.

 

[DIBBS]

They just don’t “splash” quite as impressively

THAT is an understatement. Having spent time as a RO at a PRS shoot with targets out to 1100, and having done a fair amount of shooting recently with both a .223 and .223 AI, the splash or signature at distance is Negligible. My velocity in the standard .223 with a 22" barrel with sane loads is in the 2750- 2800 range, I am still working on fine tuning the load for the AI with 8208, thought I had it narrowed down and blew some primers when the cases got wet on a recent trip to the range.

 

[702lineman]

What freebore is everyone running on these loads?