.223 powder, primer and projectiles

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jon1985

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I am starting to put together everything I need to load some precision .223 loads for my rem 700 Varmint. It has a 1:12 twist on a 24" barrel so it likes the lighter projectiles for sure.

I want to load between 35 and 45g projectiles to start and see what it likes best. I have shot 3 different factory weights (45, 55, 62) and it likes the 45 best by a fairly big margin 3" groups with 62g, 3/4" groups with 45g. I am only shooting paper and steel so the tip of bullet isn't really important to me. Any suggestions?

I am using BLC-2 right now to load for my AR because it meters well, but it has been suggested that there are better powders for light projectiles. Thoughts?

I was going to use regular small rifle primers (brand undecided) but some reading suggests magnum primers may work better?
 
Waiting on some components, Lapua cases and Sierra HPBT Matchking 52g with some Federal match primers.
Powder I've always used is IMR 8208 XBR, a remake of an old Benchrest powder. Worked wonders in my 308, 30-30 and .223. Very fine stick powder.

I'm a little crazy, like to see what my rifles are capable of with top shelf hand loads, and this one is for my 1976 Colt SP1 with 1:12 twist, 20" barrel, iron sights.

Lol, will be interesting to see what the difference is, as long as I do my part.
 
1:14" loves 52 gr. so 1:12" should also be ok for that weight.

Lapua (or Norma or RWS) brass,
R-P (or Cascade Cartridge Industries) SR BR primers,
WC735 (or H322, or N322, or T-322) powder,
Berger (or Euber or Fowler, or SG) 52 gr. HPFB-V or HPFB-M bullets, set just off the rifling.

If you can't do under 0.500" without load development, check your gear for problems.
 
Hodgdon Benchmark is also a good powder for the lighter projectiles. No need for a mag primers but I would suggest using a Match primer like Fed match or CCI br primers. As far as projecdtiles goes if you want small groups then try 52 grain match either the Hornady or Sierra both have always shot very well for me.
 
Speer TNT 50gr with a full load of Benchmark works great in my 1/12 rifle, and 55gr Speer TNT and a full load of Benchmark for my 1/9 rifles. I use regular small rifle primers.
 
I have had good results with Sierra #1385 40 grain HPs in a 1:12 barrel. If you have lots of BL-C(2) on hand, I would try it first before buying some other powder; I don't see why you would not be able to develop a good load with it. Standard primers should be fine.
 
A 45gr bullet limits the capability of the 223. It is best in the small Hornet. Assuming equal groups at 100 yards, the wind drift of the 45 is a lot more than a 55 or 60 gr bullet.

A 1:12 twist will shoot the 60gr Sierra HP. I have a 1:12 and a 1:14 and found that of all weights, the 60 Sierra HP got the best groups. And it handles the wind best. The Hornady 60 HP was also very good.

The 60 HP also works well on deer.

BLC2 is an excellent choice for the 60 gr bullets. A bit slow for the lighter bullets. For them, H335 would be better. It is the same powder as BLC2, but slightly faster.

I suggest you buy a box of Sierra or Hornady 60HP bullets and load them with BLC2. Load 5 of each at 24.0, 24.3, 24.6, 24.9 and 25.2 and shoot them for group. Let the barrel cool between groups. You may be surprised at how much difference there is in group size. Suggest a loaded OAL of 2.260" Just make sure it does not touch the rifling.

By the way, those pointy things are called "bullets". Not projectiles. Bullets only become projectiles after being launched.

Don't be shy about using the correct nomenclature here. We all know the difference between a bullet and a cartridge.
 
Ganderite said:
A 45gr bullet limits the capability of the 223. It is best in the small Hornet. Assuming equal groups at 100 yards, the wind drift of the 45 is a lot more than a 55 or 60 gr bullet.

A 1:12 twist will shoot the 60gr Sierra HP. I have a 1:12 and a 1:14 and found that of all weights, the 60 Sierra HP got the best groups. And it handles the wind best. The Hornady 60 HP was also very good.

The 60 HP also works well on deer.

BLC2 is an excellent choice for the 60 gr bullets. A bit slow for the lighter bullets. For them, H335 would be better. It is the same powder as BLC2, but slightly faster.

I suggest you buy a box of Sierra or Hornady 60HP bullets and load them with BLC2. Load 5 of each at 24.0, 24.3, 24.6, 24.9 and 25.2 and shoot them for group. Let the barrel cool between groups. You may be surprised at how much difference there is in group size. Suggest a loaded OAL of 2.260" Just make sure it does not touch the rifling.

By the way, those pointy things are called "bullets". Not projectiles. Bullets only become projectiles after being launched.

Don't be shy about using the correct nomenclature here. We all know the difference between a bullet and a cartridge.
Click to expand...


Thanks, I should be able to track down bullets easier then powder locally. I will do some testing and see how it works out. Testing will be half the fun I suspect.

I am fairly new to all of this so any round I produce that give me sub MOA groups will be a good start. Once Im sure its the round limiting me and not my shooting ability I can try and fine tune a bit more.
 
I just checked my log book to see what my Rem 700 in 223 liked. It was a 1:14

I see 60 tests similar to what I suggested for you. The powder was almost always BLC2, because I have a lot of it and because it meters so well. A convenience when doing testing.

75% of all loads were 1 inch or better.

Almost all 52 and 55 gr bullets were under an inch. (these are soft point and HP, not FMJ). FMJ would not group as well.

55 gr bullets liked 25 to 26 gr. OAL was 2.32" (Remington uses a long throat chamber.)

Getting good groups form 55s was easy. The 60s I had to work at.
 
I'd also look at the 53gr vmax. Its got a good BC for a lightish bullet, which is kind of what it looks like your looking for. :)

Ive only really tried it with varget, so...
 
After a little bit of looking online it looks like Cabelas may have the best options for bullets locally. Lucky for me one just opened up in Ottawa. They dont have the best prices, but by the time I add in shipping they are even.
 
r204 said:
Hodgdon Benchmark is also a good powder for the lighter projectiles. No need for a mag primers but I would suggest using a Match primer like Fed match or CCI br primers. As far as projecdtiles goes if you want small groups then try 52 grain match either the Hornady or Sierra both have always shot very well for me.
Click to expand...
I did some load development for my 24 inch stainless bull barrel (1:10) target AR-15. Most accurate load was about 24 gr. of Benchmark with 52 gr. Sierra Match Kings & Federal Gold Medal cases. Best 5 shot group at 100 yards was .28".
 
My kids running Benchmark with 52 gr Speer HP's, in RP brass with WSR primers.
Rem 700 SPS Varmint.

This brass was range pick up stuff, so was Full Length sized, and he got results like this:
 
Avoid the Federal primers in semi-auto rifles with free floating firing pins.
(Such as the AR15-pattern rifles).

The potential for slam fires is there.

I like the CCI 450 and BR4 in such rifles.
 
I picked up some federal gold match primers for my 700, along with some 40g and 45g Vmax, and some 50 grain sierra match king bullets.

Hoping to get some loads made up with each this week and test them out over the weekend.

On a similar but different note, I took my wife out to the range on saturday and had her do some shooting with the 700. This is the first rifle shooting she has done outside of a .22 @ 50 yards. We started at 50, moved to 100 and then she wanted to try the steel at 200. By this point we only had 6 rounds left, but we moved down anyways. She missed her first shot on the 12" gong but then hit with her last 5 moving from the 12"-10"-6"-3"X2. This frustrated the big tough hunters sitting beside us who couldnt hit the 12". She was thrilled and insisted we come back again so she can get better. Now she wants her own rifle to use....
 
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