Powder for 40gr V-Max 223

[Elliott]

Hi chaps, I'm thinking of picking up some powder to develop a load for the 40gr V-Max that I've got on the shelf at home.

If possible I'd like to also use the powder for bullets upto 53gr so it's a bit more versatile and not limited to the 40gr pills.

I'm currently loading 53gr V-Max with Vhit 133. I can use 133 bit it's not ideal for the lighter bullets.

What would you recommend?

[sir-slots-alot]

Hi buddy
I find Vit 133 is fine for 40 grn Vmax - zips them out a tad below 3800 fps and under 0.5 moa.
I have also used BCL2 and vit 120 - All give good results.

[Elliott]

Hi buddy
I find Vit 133 is fine for 40 grn Vmax - zips them out a tad below 3800 fps and under 0.5 moa.
I have also used BCL2 and vit 120 - All give good results.

Cheers Alan, I'll give it a whirl then. I figured 133 would be too slow but obviously not going by your results. Presumably this will be over max book charge weight? My 53gr V-Max load is the same so it would come as no surprise

[Kernel Gadaffi]

N120/133/140, Ramshot TAC.

[BigGun1]

Hodgson CFE.223 seems to group well in lighter loads and is clean burning

[223AI]

Ramshot Exterminator or Tac if you can get them locally

[Ka-Boom!]

Hi buddy
I find Vit 133 is fine for 40 grn Vmax - zips them out a tad below 3800 fps and under 0.5 moa.
I have also used BCL2 and vit 120 - All give good results.

That's interesting info. I had always assumed that top velocities couldn't be achieved with 40gners with N133 as it was a tad slow. I have used N133 for the 50-55 range, but assumed something faster like N120/N130 might be better with anything lighter.

[Elliott]

There's BLC2, CFE223 and Benchmark in stock at my local RFD. Think I'll try a tub and also experiment with the 50 and 55gr Sierra BLK's that I've got too.

Didn't have much success with those using Vhit133 and looking at the Hodgdon reloading page it looks like the powder would be suitable for those too.

[223AI]

There's BLC2, CFE223 and Benchmark in stock at my local RFD. Think I'll try a tub and also experiment with the 50 and 55gr Sierra BLK's that I've got too.

Didn't have much success with those using Vhit133 and looking at the Hodgdon reloading page it looks like the powder would be suitable for those too.

Which are you going for?

Have some BLC2 to try under some 95 gr v-max through the swede

[Elliott]

Which are you going for?

Have some BLC2 to try under some 95 gr v-max through the swede

Think I'll have a bash with the CFE223. Not much between that and the BLC2 but it's supposed to be a very clean powder