Rem 700 .223 loading to Lands question

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snooze98k

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Distance to lands is 2.21 (which is super short?) with a 52gr hpBT
I've loaded everything sofar between 2.260 OAL to 2.238 and 2.238 was my best with 18grains of 4198 pushing a 52gr BT. approx 2550fps

Anything hotter than 18gr at 2.238+ opens the groups up Considerably . (Even 18.5 hurts it)
I'm wary about dropping powder weight more as i am currently 1grain below minimum now.
I'm currently getting 1.25MOA, which a 700 should be doing better.



If i shrink the OAL to a 2.206 or 2.200 to bring the bullet off the lands, Does the deeper seating increase my pressure?
I'd like to test an OAL .005/.010" off lands and if that shows promise bring my velocity closer to the 2800/2900fps. (coming up to 19.5/20 grains of powder) But am unsure if pushing the bullet so far into the case is a desirable thing with added powder.
 
Being under minimum can be as dangerous as being over max. One grain won't hurt, but you need to work up the load using proper data, then fiddle with the OAL.
2.260" is the max OAL. That's about the heaviest bullet, not every bullet. 2.200" is the normal OAL for a 53(one grain won't matter here either.)
Oh and there's absolutely no guarantee any M700 will shoot MOA. Certainly not with under minimum loads. .223's need the speed.
 
Agreed. i know under load can be dangerous as well and loads can vary so much between books, i knew i was safe with 18grain. But a .223 that Only likes minimum loads is almost counter intuitive.
I'll drop my OAL to kiss the lands and start over again with charge weights.
have been reloading heavily for 9mm and 8mm for a year but there is so much to learn when you actually have to really test the loads and don't luck out on your first tries.
 
Hi. You have to work up the load for every firearm anyway, but it's highly unlikely your rifle will shoot only starting loads well.
Forget the lands until you have a group. Fiddling with the OAL is a load tweaking technique. The 'to the lands' OAL is also different for every rifle. Chambers are always slightly different. Five or 10 thou off the lands is kind of unusual too. Usually more like 20. Plus the cartridge still has to fit in the mag.
 
I've tried h335, imr 4320, 4198, varget with near everything between min and max powder weights in 1gr increments, for 60gr sp, 52gr bt, 62gr hp, 55gr fmj, 55gr sp using hornady, sierra and Remington bullets
each bullet has been forced into the lands atleast .040" making it hard to close the bolt. this is simply because i was loading within .030" of maximum OAL listed between 3 different books.
My understanding of how OAL really impacts the bullet is limited. But i'm understanding it can play a large part in making your load better. I know 4198 is the best powder so far in the remington without spending more on powders that i have no use for if they don't work.

I've just run out of idea's to keep velocity and maintain MOA
19grain is near 2moa :|
Another grain ontop of that and i was near 2 1/2" 100yard groups.
 
Seat your bullet so you have a gap to the lands and start at the starting charge for that bullet and powder. I typically aim for .020 or .015" jump. Starting with a .040 jam isn't a good idea. That much jam will increase pressures badly.
 
I just finished loading exactly that .15off lands with 52bt/60sp/62hp bullets with starting charge and starting +1gr.
Will post up results when weather clears up.
Thanks for clearing up my question.
 
I have a similar issue with my Vanguard. I think the manufactures put short throat in their 1:12 twist barrels. Stops guys from trying to throw heavy bullets out that barrel when there is no point anyways. Too bad 223 wasn't like 308 where you can shoot 110 vmax one day, then 208 amax the next!
 
I think you've made a mistake in your numbers.
1- 52gr BTHP should be flying 3000fps. 3300 would be better.
2- min load for any jacketed 52gr bullet, with IMR4198 is 19.2gr -Hornady 7th
max is 22.4gr -Sierra V
3- if you can touch the lands, in a Remington, with a 52gr BTHP, you've got a defective rifle.
4- 1gr increments is futile. Most manuals are only 3gr between min and max, with your recipe. You want a .223 load, try .02gr increments, otherwise buy a .308 :)
 
9x19p said:
I think you've made a mistake in your numbers.
1- 52gr BTHP should be flying 3000fps. 3300 would be better.
2- min load for any jacketed 52gr bullet, with IMR4198 is 19.2gr -Hornady 7th
max is 22.4gr -Sierra V
3- if you can touch the lands, in a Remington, with a 52gr BTHP, you've got a defective rifle.
4- 1gr increments is futile. Most manuals are only 3gr between min and max, with your recipe. You want a .223 load, try .02gr increments, otherwise buy a .308 :)
Click to expand...

I agree with you on 1 and 2, but my 700 tactical .223 is short throated as well. I'm loading 75gr BTHPs and most of is still in the case. My 700 in 30-06 on the other hand, I can barely keep the bullet in the cartridge and touch the lands with a 168gr.

On you point 4, I think you meant 0.2 grains.
 
1gr increments is futile. Most manuals are only 3gr between min and max, with your recipe. You want a .223 load, try .02gr increments, otherwise buy a .308
Click to expand...

You would need an extremely precise scale to accurately weigh to .02grains, not that a .02grain change in powder charge would make a significant difference in accuracy. Not only that, you would burn up pounds of powder , and hundreds of bullets while working up your loads.
 
My bad, yes I meant .2 gr increments.

To successfully load precision .223, you need a scale that will accurately measure .02, and you need to weigh every charge. It will make a significant difference over the long run.

I weigh every charge, to the single kernel of powder. If you want results, it's the price you pay :).
 
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