.223 newbie questions

[tinbum]

I have ordered 500g of TU3000, a few hundred amorces and 100 62 grain bullets. Testing will commence soon!

Speaking of which...... Is testing at 200m ok? I'm worried that as I'm the weakest link in the chain, this might skew the results? The other option is 50m, but that seems far to close to actually tell me anything.

Also, the span of powder loads is quite wide. Should I test 5 loads from bottom to top, find the best and then try five loads closer together based on that?

And I've just remembered I meant to order ammo boxes........

[JB101]

I have ordered 500g of TU3000, a few hundred amorces and 100 62 grain bullets. Testing will commence soon!

Speaking of which...... Is testing at 200m ok? I'm worried that as I'm the weakest link in the chain, this might skew the results? The other option is 50m, but that seems far to close to actually tell me anything.

Also, the span of powder loads is quite wide. Should I test 5 loads from bottom to top, find the best and then try five loads closer together based on that?

And I've just remembered I meant to order ammo boxes........

Testing at 200m should be ok , use a rear rest and front rest / bipod, shoot for groups (don’t bother adjust scope until groups form - presuming you are hitting the target use a small aiming mark as well
For a 1:8 twist try some smk 69grain and possible PPU 69’s & 75’s
As you’ve said initially load say 5 -10 rounds of each weight (powder) from bottom to top and then fine tune from what appears to be the best groups .
You should be getting groups (ideally)of 1moa or less so less than 2 inches at 200m ��

[Nick-StA]

The US military changed to a 1:7 twist while still using vast quantities of 55gr, so I don't think you'll have any issues!

[tinbum]

I'm getting ready to load my first round. I have set everything out, the four hole turret is ready on the press, I look up the load data and....... Vectan's website is down!

No problem, I'll look up the equivalent to tu3000. There it is! Or rather there they are. Each equivalent gives a different start and finish weight, AND a different minimum OAL.

Far too complicated for me today. I'll wait to see if they fix the website

[JB101]

The link from Arris is working so you could use that one

[tinbum]

The link from Arris is working so you could use that one

I tried. Unfortunately it doesn't include data on 50 or 62gr bullets. Oh, and the case is full to the brim at 23.5gr of tubular powder.

And my powder measure has just committed Hari Kari!

[JB101]

Try this one
https://www.grafs.com/uploads/techni...df-file/20.pdf

[sarge4318]

The bullet has to match the rifling twist. The faster the twist the longer the bullet has to be.

I think that is a generalisation. You don't buy the bullets and match the rifle. You use the bullets that are most suited to the gun. It likes saying get a shotgun with a 3 inch chamber and you can shoot anything through it from 2" to 3".
On that basis why not just buy a 1:6 twist and you can shoot anything through it.

I'm sorry. Yes, you buy the bullets that will work in your barrel, but your first post seemed to imply that the bullet length is dictated by the twist, not limited by it - it read as a fast twist needed a longer bullet when actually a fast twist can take a longer bullet, just doesn't need to be a longer bullet.

My .223" was 1:8 I could get clover leaf groups at 100 yards, (prone unrested with a scope) with 68 gr Sierra Match Kings and 68gr Hornady.
I tried the military bullet and it was on target but would have need developing to be accurate, maybe!

Military bullets (FMJs) are inherently less stable than match bullets like the SMK. A small error in finishing the jacket point on a HP bullet is a much smaller turning moment than the same error on an FMJ which is finished at the bullet base. This leads to slightly greater instability in the FMJ and which is why SMKs cost double or more than a similar military FMJ.

I have found that some particular faster .223 loads give me a very similar group when I test them at 100yds as at 200yds. I was told this could be because the bullet needs time to settle down into its flight and being fast it may travel more than 100yds before it achieves this. I don't know how true the explanation is but it still works out on paper.

[tinbum]

I have made up some rounds for testing, I have followed the minimum COL in each case, but they are all catching on the lands?

Do I just reduce the length until they don't?

[aris]

You need an oal gauge

https://www.hornady.com/modified-cases#!/

And a .223 modified case.

And a comparator.. and a caliper to measure.

Start at 30 thou off the lands.

Reloading is fun!

[Born Again]

I have made up some rounds for testing, I have followed the minimum COL in each case, but they are all catching on the lands?

Do I just reduce the length until they don't?

I'm not qualified to advise you, but for what it's worth I have read that pressures can climb rapidly if the bullet can't gain at least some momentum before encountering the rifling. Please don't simply experiment with this, good advice is available in reloading manuals.