1:9 223 cal Load

[phishroy]

Hi.
Im looking for a starting load for my Rem LTR with a 20” barrel, twist 1:9. 223 cal.
Any advice on bullet weight for that twist, and im probably going to start off with varget as the first powder of choice.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you

 

[stevesummit]

i use 24.5 gr varget with a 77gr smk in my savage and it does a very good job

 

[maynard]

My 1:9 does shoot 80 gr bullets, some won't, my barrel is also 28". Varget is my powder of choice and 26 gr seems to be the load with moly coated bullets.
Try 75 gr Amax bullets, a bunch of guys are having success with them.

 

[M77]

My Savage BTVSS 223, 1 in 9, performs nicely with the 69 gr Sierra Matchkings. CCI BR primers and 25.8 gr Varget.

 

[phishroy]

I came back from the range tried 80 grain V-max in my 223 with horrendous results.
My tightest group was 6 inch at 100 yards.
Was using varget powder from 19grain to 24 with 0.5 grain increments.

I Am shooting a rem’ 700P LTR 20 inch barrel 9:1 twist.
Anyone have any recommendations as too what bullets work nicely with this rifle? Anyone have one of these that shoot nicely?
Help needed.
Thank you.

 

[kf123]

I have a Winchester Stealth in 223 with a 1:9 twist. I shoot 60 grain VMAX and the 63 grain Sierra in it with 25 grains of varget. It is very accurate. I have also shot the 75 AMAX with 25 gr of varget with good rsults.

 

[crazy critter]

I was told that a 1:9 twist will work with 55gr, right up to 77gr. bullets, maybe some even heavier. I use 55's, 62's, and have started with 68's.

 

[svt-40]

80 gr Vmax is way too long for 1:9, won't stabilize.
Stick with 55-70 gr.

 

[manitou210]

Phishroy
Take into account that these groups and different bullets where all shot out of 26" barrel and your 20" may not shoot these loads the same.
There are 5 of us that shoot every Sun and some Wed, 3 Savages model 12 2,1/9 twist and a 1/7 twist
and 2 Rem 700 one sps and the other XCR LRT 3 are using Leupold 8x25x and One Nightforce 8xby32 and a Bushnell 4200
Powder of choice for most was Varget, VT 540 & my favorite RL 15 and 69 gr Sierras three savages where using Amax's and all went to Sierra way better groups.
The only other bullet that was better was 75VLD Bergers they must be into lans or they don't work, Sierras where all kissing lans. If your stuck on Hornadys use there 75gr HPBT Match
VT 540 at 300

Berger 75gr at 100, the nut behind bolt was problem for 5th shot.

This Wed with RL15 at 300 again the nut behind bolt couldn't stand the pressure

 

[smak_daddy]

69 smks
start at 24 grains varget and work up. watch for pressure signs.

 

[phishroy]

thank you all for all the info.
i have some good idea as to what to work with now now.

 

[2bad4u2]

I shot my .223 LTR using 50 gr. V-MAX's with 25 gr. of Higginson's OEM H335 data powder. Winchester cases and primers. With the lawyer prrof trigger and 10x Bushnell 3200, I was getting 0.5 moa and under at 100 yds.

Muzzle flash kept the blackflies and musquitos down to a minimum...