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Thread: 223 loads

  1. #1
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    223 loads

    So I'm new to 223. I've been loading for the 22 hornet for 18 months with success. I've bought all the dies. And n130 powder. I don't want to be buying loads of different powders. They are well expensive just to try!
    Rifle is a howa short action 1500 12 twist 24inch barrel. May get this chopped to 18. Stock is a grs and overall rifle is massively heavy. Currently I have these heads to use
    Hornady 40gn vmax
    Hornady 50gn spx
    Hornady 52gn amax
    Nosler 40gn varmageden
    Serria blitzking 55gn
    IMI brass
    Cci 400 primers.
    I loaded some nosler with 21.5gn to use for sighting in. I then had 10 50gn spx with 23gn in to test and finally 4 55gn with 23gn in to see how they are.
    After having to pack the scope out on the rear. I got a zero with the nosler. About 30mm group. But every thing else was crap. Disappointed that the blitz kings didn't group. I was hoping to use these.
    Any advise with these heads and powder chose.
    Ian
    beretta dt10 ,kofs 20b, ESCORT 12g semi-CAMO, 1022 ruger Volquartsen. Cz512 tactical Barton custom. 223 howa 1500 GRS stock

  2. #2
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    you had to pack the scope to get a zero? theres something wrong with your rings or rail! for the 55's you can also try N140 if you can get hold of some, but N130 should work for the others.
    You Cannot Reason People Out of Something They Were Not Reasoned Into
    "Politicians like to panic, they need activity. It is their substitute for achievement" Sir Humphry Appleby

  3. #3
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    .223

    im'e just about to start reloading for my .223 and would like some advise, powder bullet heads etc, any info most welcome, atb ray

  4. #4
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    Just double checked. And I asked for 130. But actually have n133, 😧

    Actually. Probably the better powder for 50gn!
    beretta dt10 ,kofs 20b, ESCORT 12g semi-CAMO, 1022 ruger Volquartsen. Cz512 tactical Barton custom. 223 howa 1500 GRS stock

  5. #5
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    Yes. Had to pack out the rear. Not alot. Bit it was maxed out and was still 4inch low..
    Hawke mounts. New.,!
    Atholn argos scope. New.
    Zero moa mount on rifle..
    beretta dt10 ,kofs 20b, ESCORT 12g semi-CAMO, 1022 ruger Volquartsen. Cz512 tactical Barton custom. 223 howa 1500 GRS stock

  6. #6
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    Well I'm using virtually the same as you component wise....imi brass, cci primers, n133

    SBK = 24.5gn n133 and good for sub 1/2" MOA

    53gn V Max = 25.5gn n133 good for sub 1/2" MOA (should be same for A Max)

    all from a remmy 700 SPS tactical 1 in 9

    hope that gives some help....please build up to these charges as they are quite near pressure threshold in my rifle...im also seating my bullets quite long (2.290") to be close to lands ...
    Without curiosity, evolution would have been greatly flawed.....

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by g60bv View Post
    Yes. Had to pack out the rear. Not alot. Bit it was maxed out and was still 4inch low..
    Hawke mounts. New.,!
    Atholn argos scope. New.
    Zero moa mount on rifle..
    swap the mounts front to back the scope shouldn't be maxed out at .223 ranges, you are using the Howa rail? is it fully seated?
    You Cannot Reason People Out of Something They Were Not Reasoned Into
    "Politicians like to panic, they need activity. It is their substitute for achievement" Sir Humphry Appleby

  8. #8
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    Planning to do some load testing using N130 with 40 gr vmax and 53gr amax next week..

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by g60bv View Post
    Just double checked. And I asked for 130. But actually have n133, 😧

    Actually. Probably the better powder for 50gn!
    N133 is great for 50+gn bullets.
    Your loads sound a little low perhaps, I use 24.5gn under a 52/53gn bullet to give 3300fps (@ 30c) from thick Lapua brass. Lower temps and more skimpy brass (with greater capacity), such as the US brands will give much lower velocities. A buddy uses a full grain more with Federal brass to give the same velocity.
    I have no experience of IMI though.
    N133 is a bit slow for 40gn bullets, but it should work OK until you run out of case capacity.
    Packing out scope mounts works, but a neater solution is to use Burris Signature rings. They will allow you to align your scope with the bore without stressing the scope tube.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Guesty View Post
    N133 is great for 50+gn bullets.
    Your loads sound a little low perhaps, I use 24.5gn under a 52/53gn bullet to give 3300fps (@ 30c) from thick Lapua brass. Lower temps and more skimpy brass (with greater capacity), such as the US brands will give much lower velocities. A buddy uses a full grain more with Federal brass to give the same velocity.
    I have no experience of IMI though.
    N133 is a bit slow for 40gn bullets, but it should work OK until you run out of case capacity.
    Packing out scope mounts works, but a neater solution is to use Burris Signature rings. They will allow you to align your scope with the bore without stressing the scope tube.
    I have great results with n133 and 40 gr vmax/ blitzkings.... Mostly all I shoot now. .5" groups @100yds are the norm.

    Rich

  11. #11
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    Always go to the book for load references.
    One book One Cal is your friend there, and well worth the outlay.

    I used to use 23-23.5Grn N130 with 40grn VMax COL of 2.1-2.2 and they all touch at 100yds. This is a mid point load.
    I also ran N133 from 23-25 Grn with similar results. The only reason not to use the 40grn is they run fast but also run out of steam quite quickly.

    A better load is the 52/53 Grn bullets with around 23Grn N133. Again a mid point load but very accurate, and longer legs than the 40Grn.

    Anything in 55Grn is ideal for the .223. It was pretty much designed to shoot that weight of bullet.
    I found the Hornady 2265 with a mid point charge of N133 would group 0.5 MOA all day @ 100yds.

    N133 is also very good with 60Grn bullets. Mine produced very small holes @ 100yds with 60Grn VMax or Nosler so long as I did my bit.
    Just in the process of working up a new load with Sierra 1375 at the moment (cos it's fun ).

    Load carefully, and always work up.

  12. #12
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    .223

    not heard much about h4895 is this not suitable ?

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by pigeonbasher1 View Post
    not heard much about h4895 is this not suitable ?
    I tried H4895 and the results were ok. I thought it could do
    Better so switched to N140 powder. Still
    Load testing with that.


    My barrel is a 1-8 looking for a bullet for the foxes out to 300yards.
    Any suggestions? (If you don't mms me asking on this post?)

  14. #14
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    I find 40g Vmax shoot best in my CZ527. My powder of choice is 26g of Benchmark. Local RFD is currently out of the 40g Vmax, so I took a box of Scierra Blitzkings in 40g to try....it'll be interesting to see how they go compared to the Vmax. Only real visible difference is the flat base on the Scierra as opposed to the slight boat tail of the Vmax.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by pigeonbasher1 View Post
    not heard much about h4895 is this not suitable ?
    I tried H4895 and it produced some excellent flame thrower effects from the mod. It shot OK but I found it far better suited to the .308.

    If you really want a good powder for .223 (and if you can find it) try H322 or Benchmark. But far better to stick with Vhit N130, N133 or N140 as these are less likely to become unavailable.

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