Im a noob to reloading. I have a few manuals, and use the hodgon and other sites as well. I shot my 223 today, and finally found an accurate load right near the lands (don't have Gages, just used the marker and bullet in a fired case). The load was
75 hornady hpbt with 23gr varget, loaded to 2.330". 5 shot group was .450".
I shot 5 shot groups in .015 increments from 2.250" to 2.330, and they only jumped under 1" at the longest. I may try chasing them out a bit more.
Everything I loaded to book length was all over the map. Now that I'm close to the lands, I have read that pressure increases and now the loads are less compressed. I want to increase my loads incrementally and see if they stay the same or improve. I am .5 grain away from the hornady max, but miles away from hodgon max load. Seating to longer length, will I have pressure problems below peak loads? If the pressure is higher loading longer, will my load be faster due to increased pressure? I don't have a chrono, but at mag length, this load should only be ~2500 fps. Is it faster at .080" out? The loads showed no signs of pressure today. I tried some 60gr vmax also, but at mag length they are already much closer to the lands. I went out .025 to 2.275 and groups were worse than mag length. I also tried 75 amax without any good groups, but wonder if I chase the lands if they will tighten up.
Any help is appreciated!
75 hornady hpbt with 23gr varget, loaded to 2.330". 5 shot group was .450".
I shot 5 shot groups in .015 increments from 2.250" to 2.330, and they only jumped under 1" at the longest. I may try chasing them out a bit more.
Everything I loaded to book length was all over the map. Now that I'm close to the lands, I have read that pressure increases and now the loads are less compressed. I want to increase my loads incrementally and see if they stay the same or improve. I am .5 grain away from the hornady max, but miles away from hodgon max load. Seating to longer length, will I have pressure problems below peak loads? If the pressure is higher loading longer, will my load be faster due to increased pressure? I don't have a chrono, but at mag length, this load should only be ~2500 fps. Is it faster at .080" out? The loads showed no signs of pressure today. I tried some 60gr vmax also, but at mag length they are already much closer to the lands. I went out .025 to 2.275 and groups were worse than mag length. I also tried 75 amax without any good groups, but wonder if I chase the lands if they will tighten up.
Any help is appreciated!
