Best Heavy 223 Bullet?
- Thread starter Maple57
- Start date
You are correct, Winchesters are the lightest and can get better speeds.
I'm running once fired IVI because they are cheap, but I buy them 3,000 at a time for the cost of 300 new.
I have to resize them twice, once in a standard FL die, then again in a small base die, then anneal.
Once I'm done processing I weight sort the whole lot and break into closest weight in 100 round groups.
That way they all weigh closer than premium brass within the 100 pc lot.
Since I tend to lose a lot in PRS, and it's not the precision game F Class is, I don't care so much if I lose some.
Here's a close up picture of some cases after firing 88 ELDs seated to 2.575" OAL running at around 2905 FPS with 25.5 grains of Varget.
Primers look fine to me. That one kind of low center left looks a bit interesting but the rest look great. What do you think?
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Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Oh my, that does look interesting. Any spec on the burning rate of this powder?
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Looking at how the load data is working, I would ball park a slow H4350
As a ball powder, you can stuff a heck of a lot more powder into the case and with the slow burn rate, maybe gain some speed??????
I can drop 27.5gr of a ball powder into my 223 cases and still have room for my heavies seated way out. Go 223 AI and you might even approach 29gr of capacity
NOT LOAD DATA OF COURSE.....
Powder is already in the hands of US reloaders so we should start to see some feedback on how it works.
Another option to consider....
Jerry
notsorichguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- The city that rhymes with fun
Jerry, are you stocking that powder? Readily available in Canada?
I’m Just starting load dev on a new 223 AI, and I have room in the storage locker for another powder.....
Cheers!
I’m Just starting load dev on a new 223 AI, and I have room in the storage locker for another powder.....
Cheers!
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Sorry, do not sell powders... I would assume this will be readily available from all places you can now find Win powder.
Jerry
Quotes on .223 from Bob Pitcairn:
"I use N-150 exclusively since 1998. N-150 gives lower SD's than Varget, not as dirty and best VV powder that temps don't affect. I avoid N-140 as temperatures raise hell with it. To use N-140, I would have a winter load and a summer load. I did an OCW test on the 85.5grHB. The best load was 24.5gr N-150, Lapua brass and CCI 450 primers. It was tested in a 30" Krieger, 1 in 6.5" twist. The speeds average 2800'/sec with SD's between 4 to 6.
To test, we ran a .164 free bore reamer in and then throated it forward to give 15 thou from top of boat tail to neck/shoulder and 15 thou jump in front. In the jump test from 10 to 30 thou jump, 15 thou was the best. Now that the test is done we will measure the chamber next week and order the reamer. I have two reamer drawings from US for the 85.5gr at the moment . One has .180" free bore and the other one shows .200" thou free bore. We are pretty sure the chamber in my .223 is between .180" to .200". We will know next week when my machinist measures the present free bore.
With new 85.5 free bore about 30 thou longer, I set the jump to 20 thou. Well surprise, it shot well. I use 24.0 g N-150 so a bit slower than 85.5g due to heavier bullet. I will test 95g Sierras in 85.5 chamber next week to see if I can find a load.
I recommend 1 in 7" or 1 in 6.5" twist. The 8 twist will not give the stability at sea level and colder temperatures.(See Ballistics chart attachment)."
Additionally, Nicole Rossignol is shooting heavy Bergers with success to 900m. She was the top Canadian at Bisley, making it the first time in history that a woman was top Canadian! Great stuff.
"I use N-150 exclusively since 1998. N-150 gives lower SD's than Varget, not as dirty and best VV powder that temps don't affect. I avoid N-140 as temperatures raise hell with it. To use N-140, I would have a winter load and a summer load. I did an OCW test on the 85.5grHB. The best load was 24.5gr N-150, Lapua brass and CCI 450 primers. It was tested in a 30" Krieger, 1 in 6.5" twist. The speeds average 2800'/sec with SD's between 4 to 6.
To test, we ran a .164 free bore reamer in and then throated it forward to give 15 thou from top of boat tail to neck/shoulder and 15 thou jump in front. In the jump test from 10 to 30 thou jump, 15 thou was the best. Now that the test is done we will measure the chamber next week and order the reamer. I have two reamer drawings from US for the 85.5gr at the moment . One has .180" free bore and the other one shows .200" thou free bore. We are pretty sure the chamber in my .223 is between .180" to .200". We will know next week when my machinist measures the present free bore.
With new 85.5 free bore about 30 thou longer, I set the jump to 20 thou. Well surprise, it shot well. I use 24.0 g N-150 so a bit slower than 85.5g due to heavier bullet. I will test 95g Sierras in 85.5 chamber next week to see if I can find a load.
I recommend 1 in 7" or 1 in 6.5" twist. The 8 twist will not give the stability at sea level and colder temperatures.(See Ballistics chart attachment)."
Additionally, Nicole Rossignol is shooting heavy Bergers with success to 900m. She was the top Canadian at Bisley, making it the first time in history that a woman was top Canadian! Great stuff.
The pockets are tight, but accept new primers no problem. I have just as much LC brass, but half of it is crimped primer...
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
What bullet is that? I’m hoping I can throat it for 69gr smk as well as the 88s. I bought 80gr as well. Will see if I can find a good length.
If you are shooting PRS, 77gr is max weight to stay in tactical. 223 is at a disadvantage in open, even with heavy bullets.
