Bolt Gun .223 loads

[aqualung]

Mornin' Boys n Girls,

I'm looking to load up some .223Rem for the first day of the season at the range tomorrow.

I have a Howa 1500, with the dreaded 1:12 twist barrel, so light bullets only.

I plan to load up some 52grn A-max and some 55grn Berger Match.

Primers are Federal GMM in Winchester brass (it was cheap! that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it).

Powder wise I have a fair selection, but I wanted to use Vhit 120 or 133. I have a Kg of both (2.2lb ea) and I have been assured that ONE of these is optimum for the .223Rem (can't remember which one)

Other powders are the usual suspects, Varget; IMR 4064/4007ssc; RL15/17/19; Plus some others.

Haven't done any real load development with the .223, so I'm just looking for some decent recommendations.

Should I jam the A-max? and if so, by how much.

The Bergers are not VLD, so I guess I can get away without jamming them, but how much jump will they take and what's a good starting point?

I also have some 50grn Barnes Varminator boolits to load up too, does anybody have any ideas on a load for them? I don't really need them this weekend, just the target stuff.

My Search-Fu is weak, so my apologies if this is old news to most of you.

Very many thanks,

Neil

 

[trilogymac]

Re: Bolt Gun .223 loads

24.0 VV133 with 55gr Hornady SP, Fed 205 and Win brass. This is my lightweight GOTO load. Shoots in most of my rifles.

Hope this helps.
Trilogymac

 

[aqualung]

Re: Bolt Gun .223 loads

Thanks for that, I'll give it a go with the Bergers and see how it works.

It's 100/200 yds in the morning, 300 in the afternoon, so I guess I'll just shoot the morning and try to develop some loads.

N

 

[Landon Tucker]

Re: Bolt Gun .223 loads

The 50gr Varminter bullets would not stabilize in my 1X12 twist rifle. Shots went all over the place also had some keyholes. I had better results with 1X9 twist.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Bolt Gun .223 loads

50 gr bullets wouldn't stabilize in a 1-12? sounds like you might have bigger problems.

 

[pacomdiver]

Re: Bolt Gun .223 loads

i agree if its not stabilizing a 50g bullet, something majorly wrong.

can you get benchmark powder over there?i have a rem 700 sps 223 with 1/12 twist. i use 55 or 60g vmax bullets with 24.5g benchmark powder, cci primers, and Rem or hornady brass. the 60g vmax hit a 6" steel plate at 600 yards everytime

 

[aqualung]

Re: Bolt Gun .223 loads

Hi Pacom,

Yeah, we can get benchmark over here, I just don't have any. What I got is 2.2lb of Vhit 133 I was given for free, so I kind of want to use that, but I am open to ideas.

No way I can get any Benchmark before my range day tomorrow.

I tried the 60g V-max last time out. Worked well, stable, reasonable groups, just wanted to try something different.

Tried some NATO spec 5.56 in my Howa 62g stuff, now that <span style="font-style: italic">WASN'T</span> stable!!! So I guess that 60g is going to be the highest weight that I can use in this rifle, until I shoot the barrel out and get a new one

Thanks for the ideas everyone.

N

 

[aqualung]

Re: Bolt Gun .223 loads

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuck2001</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The 50gr Varminter bullets would not stabilize in my 1X12 twist rifle. Shots went all over the place also had some keyholes. I had better results with 1X9 twist. </div></div>

If you were using Barnes copper homogenous bullets, then I suspect that barrel cleanliness may be the issue. I've heard, though not experienced it myself, that if the barrel is not absolutely clear of gilding metal deposits, then accuracy suffers.

Just a thought.

N

 

[5R Milspec]

Re: Bolt Gun .223 loads

do not forget about the 55gn NBT's.they fly great from my 1:12 remmy.and I am pushing them with 27.5gn of varget.look out thats a compressed load.even the 60gn NBT's fly OK.but have not tested enough for them yet.

 

[taracer]

Re: Bolt Gun .223 loads

I have a weatherby vangaurd basicly same gun as the howa 1500 mine will not shoot a 50 grain bullet at all. but switch to a 55gr in any bullet v-max,hp,sp whatever and will shoot great. I have tried benchmark,IMR 4895,IMR 3031 and the 50 grain pills will not do any better than 1 inch groups at 100 yards. Not bad but not the 1/4 inch group it will do with a 55 grain. Gary

 

[Landon Tucker]

Re: Bolt Gun .223 loads

I have a Ruger Varmint in 1X12 best load I have found is 50gr Vmax with 26 grains BL-C2. Usually get 1/2 groups at 100.

The 50gr Barnes Varmint grenade is a lead free bullet which makes it longer requiring at least a 1X9 twist to stabilize.