Reloading... finally popped my cherry !

[Powderburner]

Hi all,
I have just shot my first batch of development loads and am seeking some info, feedback and knowledge from you experts!
Had some issues with the recommended powder load and not great results... Below is a bit of a read but wanted to add as much info as possible to give you a better picture.

Rifle/load details are:
Tikka T3 .223 1/12 twist stainless in factory plastic stock,
Remington UMC once fired brass, Sierra Game King #1365K 55gr SBT, CCI primer #400 and ADI 2206H powder.

Started with the regular case prep process, cleaned, de-primed + full length sized, trimmed/chamfered, cleaned primer pocket and uniformed flash hole.
I then grabbed the Hornady O.A.L gauge and came up with a measurement of 1.845" So decided on a seating depth .015" off the lands at 1.830" set via the Hornady comparator.
Thought this was short compared to a Hornady factory load coming in at 1.856" however that round showed a clear mark on the projectile after being chambered and removed.

On to loading, with the primers seated I thought I would start from the maximum charge of 26gr and work back to the minimum (ADI calls for 25 - 26gr),
However there was not enough space in the case to seat the bullet with out compressing the powder!
The most I was able to fit in the case was 24.8gr so started there and worked back to 23.2gr just because I had the brass and wanted the practice!

The results...
At 24.4gr it scored an SD of 19 with an average of 3023fps and at 24.6gr an SD of 23.1 at 3049fps.
All strings are 5 shot groups and both has 2x rounds that if removed bring SD down to 9 and 11, there wasn't much to speak of either way of the charges EXCEPT at 23gr with SD 11.7 at 2840fps...

So onto the questions! After deciding the Hornady electric scale used is a complete PITA to use I have ordered an RCBS 505 from Ebay and will try again from 22.2gr up.
Should I look into seating out to .005" off the lands allowing more space for powder and continue to work up to a compressed load looking for the next plateau OR be happy with the low average of 3023fps and concentrate on reducing the SD at 24.4gr through a more precise loading regime?!

Cheers,
Roger.

 

[SporterII]

Before you re start compare the load on your old scale transferred to your new scale.
Make sure the new scale is well seated on a good surface. I use a wood block. Run several trial batches then transfer one from the old scale. Now you have your new baseline.

 

[supercorndogs]

For 223 55g plinking loads. I usually pick a charge that groups well at 100y. Your ES and SD are not going to make much difference for the distance the 55s are good for. My SD for these loads is usually 20+ but its still no problem to hit prairie dogs for 500y, unless its windy. Then the light bullets can be a real PIA. I used to use a compressed load ov Varget for 55s at 26.6g. I have switched to 8208 now. I have never used the powder you are.

 

[Steel head]

For 223 55g plinking loads. I usually pick a charge that groups well at 100y. Your ES and SD are not going to make much difference for the distance the 55s are good for. My SD for these loads is usually 20+ but its still no problem to hit prairie dogs for 500y, unless its windy. Then the light bullets can be a real PIA. I used to use a compressed load ov Varget for 55s at 26.6g. I have switched to 8208 now. I have never used the powder you are.

 

[Doom]

I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but I am going to critique several things in your post.

You chose to start your charges near maximum. That is not the way to start reloading. In this case your brass, primer, COL, and bullet are different than the load data you are using. As you discovered your brass has less capacity than what the ADI used. You actually had a significant difference but fortunately, 2206H is a slow powder in 223 with 55 gr bullets so its hard to get in trouble. Always start with minimum loads and work up.

You seem to be trying to achieve good statistics but what do your groups look like? As others noted for a 500 yd cartridge low sd is not a requirement for a good load. Good statistics and bad groups buy you bad groups. Also, 5 shots is not a large enough sample to be very meaningful.

I’m not familiar with you bullet or rifle but be careful trying to seat too close to the lands. The 223 is a fairly short necked cartridge. Chasing the lands may not leave you with enough bullet in the neck to get good neck tension on the bullet. A good rule of thumb is to make sure you have 1 caliber, .224”, in the the neck.

 

[McHaggis]

ADI 2206H is Hogdgon H4895.
With 55's I normally use BM2 (Hodgdon Benchmark) but I used to get great results with the old 2206.

 

[Powderburner]

I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but I am going to critique several things in your post.

You chose to start your charges near maximum. That is not the way to start reloading. In this case your brass, primer, COL, and bullet are different than the load data you are using. As you discovered your brass has less capacity than what the ADI used. You actually had a significant difference but fortunately, 2206H is a slow powder in 223 with 55 gr bullets so its hard to get in trouble. Always start with minimum loads and work up.

You seem to be trying to achieve good statistics but what do your groups look like? As others noted for a 500 yd cartridge low sd is not a requirement for a good load. Good statistics and bad groups buy you bad groups. Also, 5 shots is not a large enough sample to be very meaningful.

I’m not familiar with you bullet or rifle but be careful trying to seat too close to the lands. The 223 is a fairly short necked cartridge. Chasing the lands may not leave you with enough bullet in the neck to get good neck tension on the bullet. A good rule of thumb is to make sure you have 1 caliber, .224”, in the the neck.

Thanks Doom, all info taken on board.
When I fired these I shot from lowest to highest charge but will make sure the next batch of trials will be charged the same way.

As for the groups the best 3 groups happened to go hand in hand with the best 3 SD as posted in the stats above.
23gr @ 2840fps, 24.4gr @ 3032fps and 24.6 @ 3049fps there was one horrible flyer at 24.6 but think that may have been me.
They were roughly an inch group at 100m, the rifle is used for 300+ plinking.
Basically this is practice for when i get my .308 finished, figure start with what I have, if I end up with better ammo as an outcome brilliant!

Cheers.

 

[Powderburner]

For 223 55g plinking loads. I usually pick a charge that groups well at 100y. Your ES and SD are not going to make much difference for the distance the 55s are good for. My SD for these loads is usually 20+ but its still no problem to hit prairie dogs for 500y, unless its windy. Then the light bullets can be a real PIA. I used to use a compressed load ov Varget for 55s at 26.6g. I have switched to 8208 now. I have never used the powder you are.

Thanks mate, some results to compare against. Basically the guts to my long winded post is should I be happy with the velocity, SD and as others have mentioned groups. Seems like I'm in the ball park but i would like to get up to the 3100fps, hence questioning adjusting seating length out.

Cheers.

 

[supercorndogs]

Is another powder an option. A little bit faster powder might get you there. Whats your barrel length? 8208, win748,BL-C2, Varget and Tac show a little more velocity in the book than 4895.

 

[Powderburner]

Is another powder an option. A little bit faster powder might get you there. Whats your barrel length? 8208, win748,BL-C2, Varget and Tac show a little more velocity in the book than 4895.

Well I have 2 lbs of 2206H so have to burn it up some were! Want to stick with ADI as it's made in Australia like me
Might get some BM 8208 next trip to the store, looks like that will be good in .223 and .308 but that won't be for a month or so.

Barrel is 600mm from memory.

 

[supercorndogs]

XBR8208 is pretty good stuff, I think it is made down under also.

 

[Doom]

XBR8208 is pretty good stuff, I think it is made down under also.

ADI Benchmark 8208. I use 8208 XBR for 53 gr SMK.

 

[supercorndogs]

I use it for the 53 V-max and 77 SMK.