CZ 527 .223 Load Development. Need Help!

[JBM_DC]

I will start with the rifle.

CZ 527 Kevlar Varmint .223 1:9
Vortex PST 4-16x50
Warne Permanent High rings

Every shot was performed while resting on a bipod and rear bag. All shots were at 100m roughly 87deg and 3-7 mph breeze. I was shooting directly into the wind and it was a steady breeze. The OCW test was done round robin style.

I started off at 24.0 and worked my way up to 26.0 by increments of .2

Components used:

(new FL sized) Lapua Match Brass
CCI 41
Varget
69 SMK
COAL 2.26

Apparently this rifle does not like mild loads...

Here is where it gets interesting, but I still feel that it should be doing better.

The highest shot on 25.4 was the first of the group that was fired.

The lowest of the group was me shooting one of my 25.2 loads at the wrong target.

Farthest left hole on 25.8 was an ever so slight pull on my part. If it were not pulled I would guess the one next to it would have been 2 n 1.

So from what I can tell, the hotter the load the more it liked it. I have yet to see signs of pressure at 26.0gr of Varget with a COAL of 2.260. These groups all placed in the 0.8 MOA with the exception of 25.2 Is this the best I will see from this particular setup? I always thought these rifles were real shooters.

Next chance I get I may test with a few hotter loads to see if they tighten up at all. I just find it odd that I can't seem to get this rifle to shoot as well as I had hoped.

Any ideas? Should I play with seating depth with one of these loads to see if that helps? Maybe once I go through all my new brass the bump sized brass will perform better?

 

[Drifter™]

FWIW, I usually get better results with the 69gr SMK seating it relatively short, with COL ~2.225 to 2.230. Around 24 to 25 grains of Varget has worked well in a few different 8 and 9-twist barrels for me (but not tested in a CZ).

 

[SporterII]

I shoot the 69 @ 3000 w/h4895. .030 off.

 

[JBM_DC]

I am not sure if I quite understand bullet seating depth and pressures. From what I think I can understand is that a longer COAL yields higher pressures. While a shorter COAL should yield less?? Does this mean if I try to seat the bullet deeper for a shorter COAL that I will be fine with my current loads that have shown no over pressure signs? Does bullet seating depth make enough of a difference for me to bring these .8/.9 MOA groups down to a respectable .5-.7 MOA?

 

[crowsniper1]

25.5 varget works in every 223 i have tried it in. I use that load with 55 and 69 SMK and they all shoot great.

 

[JBM_DC]

COAL? What does shoot great mean? All information I can gain here would help.

 

[crowsniper1]

I usually load them at 2.260 but i have had good results at 2.225 OAL with the 55 grainers with 25.5 varget ,LC brass . I have tried hotter loads and slower loads but 25.5 seems to be a sweet spot with varget.

 

[JBM_DC]

I usually load them at 2.260 but i have had good results at 2.225 OAL with the 55 grainers with 25.5 varget ,LC brass . I have tried hotter loads and slower loads but 25.5 seems to be a sweet spot with varget.

If I could get on target to work then I would post my measured groups for you guys, but when I upload them to PB they show the writing so small that you can barely even tell its there. Also I am having a problem trying to install the paid version. When I try and open the setup it just opens and closes IE forever and it cannot be stopped without improperly shutting off my laptop.

 

[SporterII]

I am not sure if I quite understand bullet seating depth and pressures. From what I think I can understand is that a longer COAL yields higher pressures. While a shorter COAL should yield less?? Does this mean if I try to seat the bullet deeper for a shorter COAL that I will be fine with my current loads that have shown no over pressure signs? Does bullet seating depth make enough of a difference for me to bring these .8/.9 MOA groups down to a respectable .5-.7 MOA?

Read the stickies. First posts on the reload page.
2.26" factory federal dimension and a good place for you to stay until you get it figured out. 26 a good place to stop as well.
Your chamber in your rifle has specific dimensions. Knowing what they are and mean can help you with load development. Chances are better than good that that bullet seated to an oal of 2.26" will work fine . See if you can repeat a good target at 26.0. Work also at 25. See what you find there and abouts.

 

[JBM_DC]

Read the stickies. First posts on the reload page.
2.26" factory federal dimension and a good place for you to stay until you get it figured out. 26 a good place to stop as well.
Your chamber in your rifle has specific dimensions. Knowing what they are and mean can help you with load development. Chances are better than good that that bullet seated to an oal of 2.26" will work fine . See if you can repeat a good target at 26.0. Work also at 25. See what you find there and abouts.

Not sure if I mentioned this but fgmm and bh 69gr will not group in mu rifle.

 

[SporterII]

You might have a tight chamber. This is why I mentioned not seating longer not knowing.
Time to measure. Hornady guage with one of their cases and a bullet. Caliper. This will tell you a lot. Cheaper in the long run as well. I load for three and the tool has been invaluable.

 

[MoBoost]

Looking at your OCW: you have a nod at 24.8 and 25.5-6 (no surprise there LOL).

Sort your brass - I know, I know Lapua - you'll be surprised.
Load up some 25.6.

Shoot a fouler and a fast 5-shot string - see what it looks like.

 

[JBM_DC]

Looking at your OCW: you have a nod at 24.8 and 25.5-6 (no surprise there LOL).

Sort your brass - I know, I know Lapua - you'll be surprised.
Load up some 25.6.

Shoot a fouler and a fast 5-shot string - see what it looks like.

I may try and see what I can squeeze out of the 25.5 / .6 area. I guess I may even need to see if I can find a higher node?

 

[JBM_DC]

Was able to tighten things up when playing with different seating depths.

Load:
.223 Lapua Match Brass
CCI 41
25.5gr Varget
69gr SMK
COAL 2.265
This was 6 shots, one called flyer and 5 nicely placed shots.
Flyer was caused by a ported barrel .50 cal muzzle loader next to me. Nice guy, crazy loud concussive rifle.

I had a few other different COAL that seemed to perform nicely, but not quite as tight as this one. Seems now I will have to load up some rounds and see if I can duplicate the results.