I just worked up a load for mine with 8208XBR.my load is 24gn in a Lapua case useing 450 CCI primers.had no pressure signs at all.but I would work up to this as I did.the Hodgdon web site shows 23.7 as a max load.and that my rifel is a 24 inch barrel 1:9 twist.
and it makes one little ragged hole at 100 and shoots really great at 300.the best so fare is 1.5 inch at 300 with 15 shoots.
IMR 4895 23grs Win Brass Win primer 2.260 oal
20" 1-8 twist AR-15
velocity was 2608-2630
Shot this at 600 the green lines connect the 69 smk load and the red lines connect a 168gr AMax load also with IMR 4895. I just put this rifle together and haven't tweaked the load at all not bad for the little 223. BTW these are Sierra seconds bought at the factory in Sedalia Missouri. If I wouldn't have tossed that one out to the left side it would have shot inside the .308. I'm happy with the 5 shots for now. Mostly I wanted to get my come ups from 100-300-600. I Also used 3-12 Burris XTR scope. Glass was GREAT at 600 very clear.. Fired a 3 shot group to get on paper then adjusted and shot this 5 shot group.
The taped up shots were from 300 yrd line off to the right was a ladder test I was working on. My buddy pointed out how close a couple of the shots were to the 308's Just proof that the 223 and 308 are near identical in ballistics except of course for retained energy. (69, 68 compared to 168gr bullets) Sorry about my chicken scratch in pencil doesn't have anything to do witht the 69 SMK info.
69 smk + accurate 2520 no else seems to be using it tho, savage 1-9 twist. i really couldnt get 1/2 groups with benchmark but didnt spent much time trying only a simple ladder test
KClark what's your coal on that? 25.5 of H4895 is a very hot load and wayyy over max pressure you must seat the bullet wayyyy out there just to get that much in the case.
It may work for you and that's all good but not one anyone should start with.
26.4 grains of VV N140 works extremely well for me (20" 1:9). Its a pretty stout load so work up. Have produced some great results with it out to 800 yards.
Varget and I've had good luck with AA2230. My 2230 load was 24.6gr according to my lyman ans sierra manual it is not over max. According to nosler and lee manual its is. Load at your own risk.
Give around 24g of TAC for a 69. I like TAC, RE15 and Varget in that order. I think I may give Benchmark a try since it works so well with 60g Vmax and BT.
Thanks for the info guys,had a chance to hit the range my rifle likes varget and Imr 8208xbr the best,ball powders just plain sucked tac and aa2230,the 69s shot almost as good as 55s
Glad it worked out for you. Benchmark does quite well too and is just a few fps slower than Varget in the 69 and 75 hpbt's using about 1 to 1.5 grains less powder.
I expect when you get the load tuned that you shoot better groups with the 69's than you can with 55's. My 1x9 Savage and Stag both shoot up to 75 bthp very tight. Might work in yours too, but you'll just have to shoot them to see.
I shoot 25.3 grains varget with 69 grain smk out of a bushmaster varminter (24 in barrel). Velocity is right around 3130 fps if my friends chrony was right. And JBM calculator data matches up pretty good with that assumed muzzle velocity
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bigwheeler</div><div class="ubbcode-body">25.3 grains of varget. Sierra got it right on that one. </div></div>
Since you have varget I would try using that first. Although this load was accurate, I would have to say 20.0 gr IMR 4198 was more accurate out of my 20" 1-9 twist Remington. Not the fastest load, but very accurate.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bigwheeler</div><div class="ubbcode-body">25.3 grains of varget. Sierra got it right on that one. </div></div>
Brass varies but yes to the above.
I am running them a little longer OAL in my Remington 20" tactical and found accuracy nodes at (varget) 24.3, 25.5 and another that was higher than max listed but no pressure signs in my rifle. This was with brand new LC-09 brass, Winchester primers.
Now off to try it again with newly made once fired brass to see if things change.
I just loaded up some of these with 25.3 of Varget. Can't wait to see how they shoot. Anyone else get a reading on the speed of this load out of a 20" 1 : 9 ?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Niles Coyote</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bigwheeler</div><div class="ubbcode-body">25.3 grains of varget. Sierra got it right on that one. </div></div>
Brass varies but yes to the above.
I am running them a little longer OAL in my Remington 20" tactical and found accuracy nodes at (varget) 24.3, 25.5 and another that was higher than max listed but no pressure signs in my rifle. This was with brand new LC-09 brass, Winchester primers.
Now off to try it again with newly made once fired brass to see if things change. </div></div>
25.3g varget @ 2.250" OAL ended up as THE load in my remington tactical, lower most group of 5 .33" ctc.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: samson</div><div class="ubbcode-body">KClark what's your coal on that? 25.5 of H4895 is a very hot load and wayyy over max pressure you must seat the bullet wayyyy out there just to get that much in the case.
It may work for you and that's all good but not one anyone should start with. </div></div>
From Hodgdon's web site:
26.0gr. (C) 3069fps 49,700 CUP
Sierra Book shows max as 25.5gr.
While it is near max, what are you basing the way over comment on? Have you shot this with signs of pressure or?