223 load testing help? What's the next step?

[dastt]

Posted this in another forum, might get more response here, just looking for some input on where to go next

so I've been doing some load testing in my gun. i'll just get right to the data.

i'm working at the moment with sierra 60gr varmint tips, hornady brass, cci br4 primers and benchmark powder, COL of 2.260"

for my ladder I kinda messed up, I read on mystics website, but must have missed the part about trying it at 200 because its easier to see the variations at a further distance. so I shot the first 4 charges at 100 then the remaining at 200. here is the data: 2 shots loaded at each charge
21.5 - 0.831 (100yd)
21.7- 0.551 (100yd)
21.9- 0.377 (100yd)
22.1-0.678 (100yd)

now heres where I shot the remaining at 200, and no, theses aren't typos, refer to pictures

22.3- 0.110
22.5- 0.101
22.7- 2.058 (my error, I knew something got away from me here)
22.9- 0.947
23.1- 1.649
23.3- 2.098

so seeing this data, I loaded up 2x 3 shot groups in the following charges: 22.1, 22.3, 22.5, 22.7 (I KNOW THE PICTURE SAYS 21GR THAT WAS MY MISTAKE IT WAS CORRECTED IN MY LOG BOOK)

heres the results from that test at 200yds

22.1- 1.465 - 1.376
22.3- 0.733 - 1.351 (felt something on this one)
22.5- 1.545 - 1.818 (not the smallest but it had the least vertical spread)
22.7- 0.906 - 1.047

So now I'm going to load up some 5 shot groups of 22.3 and see how it does, or try 22.2 and 22.4 as well?



this is the same ladder test starting with sierra 53gr MKs and 53gr hornady match. same powder charges for each of them, again at 200yd

today the weather was dead calm, not even a slight breeze. here is my gun, you can see the target at 200yds in the treeline.
rifle is a rem700 varmint in 1-12 twist stock barrel. stock is custom by me, pillar bedded, bedded with devcon.

from today:

any imput would be greatly appreciated

 

[Jmiverson]

First off, nice setup and nice shooting. I think you're on to something with that 22.3 load. I would load some more of those up, and play with seating depth. I've found in my .223 that tweaking distance from the lands changed group size more than the difference between accuracy nodes. This was in a R700 1:9 twist, bullet weights from 50-70grs, and Varget.

 

[cbh560]

I would load up some 22.2,22.3 and 22.4 just to make sure you're really narrowing it down. A 0.1gr difference makes a big difference in my .223. I've been working on loads for 40's, 53's, 55's, and 69's using H335 and CCI 400's and 450's. But Jmiverson mentioned, seating depth plays a big part. Mine seems to like a 0.010" jump to the lands, and I've been able to make .3-.5MOA loads from a factory sps-tac.

If you haven't yet, pick up a bullet comparator and seating depth tool (hornady is good). measuring OAL is fairly inaccurate and not tuned to your chamber.

By the way, nice rifle and excellent work on the stock.

Happy shooting

 

[dastt]

Thanks for the input guys, I think maybe I'll load 3x 3 shot groups of 22.2, 22.3, 22.4 and see how they do, then once I figure which one seems to be the best ill mess with seating depth.

I'll also look into the depth tool, I've just been measuring with a digital caliper.

As far as velocity, I just started loading and I don't have a crony just yet, I'll see if I can borrow one for this next round.

 

[Great Crouton]

You lift weight while shooting?

Damn that's a nice spot you have to work on some load development. Looks like a beautiful area...kinda jealous

 

[dastt]

Ha I don't know who had that out...

I live in southern Ontario, it's pretty flat and lots of farm land, my buddy has 1000 yards at his house, we got a bill dozer and built a 15ft burm to shoot into. Usually I shoot there but having an issue with the neighbor thinking we are shooting unsafe and or "poaching animals" so now I'm limited to the 300 yards at my old mans.