Newb looking for .223 varmint load.
- Thread starter Patt08
- Start date
- Location
- Western Manitoba
OP - take this one to heart - you do not know if others have tried multiple combinations, or just one combo that goes bang, and therefore is the "best". Learn to "work up a load" for your rifle - those manuals will tell you how, in the first part of the books. Is not as simple as copying what someone from Internet says - although is possible that might work?? And for a complete recipe to duplicate, you need to know the brand of brass used, the brand of primers and size used, besides the amount of what kind of powder and what bullet. Also helps to establish what depth to seat your bullet - refer to those manuals - what fits with .025" clearance in my rifle, could be anywhere, in yours. You may as well consider substituting brand of brass, type of primer or seating depth as equivalent to adding or subtracting 2 or 3 grains of powder. It matters.
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The experts have told you the best way.
As a causal shooter you can drive yourself nuts and poor searching for THE LOAD!
I started with quality bullet suited for the twist, Hornady V-max 55 grain and Benchmark powder. Savage 1 in 9 twist. Went half blind reading all I could.
Worked up to a acceptable load and went shooting. Just me, too dam old and spent too many hours at the bench instead of shooting.
As a causal shooter you can drive yourself nuts and poor searching for THE LOAD!
I started with quality bullet suited for the twist, Hornady V-max 55 grain and Benchmark powder. Savage 1 in 9 twist. Went half blind reading all I could.
Worked up to a acceptable load and went shooting. Just me, too dam old and spent too many hours at the bench instead of shooting.
Patt08
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Bit of a necro reply here but I’ve managed to get my hands on a decent amount of the following powders:
Imr 3031
Imr 4895
Win 748
Cfe 223
H335
Have loaded up some 52 gr bergers, 50 and 53gr vmax so far. Going to load up some 50gr nosler BT varmint and 53 gr varmageddon and see how they perform. Also some 40gr vmax.
Shooting from 24” barrel 1/12 twist. Using all hornady brass with cci primers. When I started this journey I was under the impression my rifle was a 1/9 twist (what the seller told me) but turns out it’s actually a 1/12 (confirmed by Weatherby).
Imr 3031
Imr 4895
Win 748
Cfe 223
H335
Have loaded up some 52 gr bergers, 50 and 53gr vmax so far. Going to load up some 50gr nosler BT varmint and 53 gr varmageddon and see how they perform. Also some 40gr vmax.
Shooting from 24” barrel 1/12 twist. Using all hornady brass with cci primers. When I started this journey I was under the impression my rifle was a 1/9 twist (what the seller told me) but turns out it’s actually a 1/12 (confirmed by Weatherby).
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Read several reloading books - sometimes maximum velocities are not aways the more accurate one - in my experience I start my loads at the mid point of the published powder charge so if there are five load weights I start off at the third weight. I follow dilligently the published COAL for it as well - I get outstanding accuracy out of my Savage Axis XP no need to search or waste time chasing a quarter inch here or there. It makes NO difference to a coyote that has a 6 - 8 inch vital zone area.
Hope this helps and saves you time, money and frustrations
Hope this helps and saves you time, money and frustrations
Patt08
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
This. I feel like I've started to head towards the rabbit hole a bit, trying too many different combinations of bullet weight, charges, bullet type, powder brand etc lol. Just looking to find something that will shoot an inch or less with a 50-53gr and just stick with it. I have been sticking with the COAL's listed in my manuals as well. Haven't been deviating from the data I have. I also know the limitations of the rifle as its not high end. I have been happy with the performance thus far!
- Location
- Western Manitoba
OP - for just one rifle, is worth your while to learn how to measure COAL for a particular bullet and your rifle's throat / leade - can be done with two lengths of wood dowel, or short piece of dowel with a cleaning rod. Do not have to spend money on a gizmo to do so, although I suspect such a device is sold. I have a number of 30-06 rifles here - two are virtually identical COAL and the Hornady listed COAL for that bullet will work fine - leaves me like nearly .030" of jump. On a third one, the same Hornady listed COAL will be JAMMED .030" into the leade. One rifle was chambered 1918, I think, one during WWII and one in 1930's - I do not know if "more modern" has less variation or not - is too easy to do, takes about 3 minutes, and then YOU know about YOUR chamber - only really matters if COAL, bullet "jam" or bullet "jump" are important to you.
Go here to read my post about that discovery and the various comments about that - https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/2230590-A-cautionary-tale
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Patt08
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Very interesting. I am going to look into this for sure, thanks!
Patt08
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Been trying to get my hands on some 50 gr BK’s but they are impossible to find!
Just picked up a box of these Speer’s to try.
