Best Heavy 223 Bullet?

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Maple57

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I've been working up a load for my long throated 1:7 twist 223 and have gained an interest in the 88 grain Hornady ELD Match, but I'm just not getting the accuracy out of it that I was hoping for.

Mostly I'm around 1/2 MOA at 100 yards, which isn't terrible, but it's more like 1/4 MOA with 80 grain SMKs, but the 80s just don't have the BC to compete with the 88s.

I heard Berger has a new 85.5 grainer and then there's the 90 SMK, but neither of these have quite the BC of the 88 either.

Just wondering if any of you guys could recommend some other bullets to try that could compete ballistically with the 88s with a G1 BC advertised around 0.545?

I haven't tried them, but I'd bet the 90 SMK would be accurate and probably the Berger 85.5 would as well... but I would like a better BC.
 
The best heavy .223 bullet is the one that shoots best in your gun. Maybe try shooting further out and see if anything changes. Results at 100 may not indicate or imply the same results at 200 or 300 etc.
 
If long range is the goal, I’d take a bullet that groups 1/2 moa with a higher BC over a bullet that groups better but has a worse BC any day of the week...
 
There's a very interesting blog on the precisionrifleblog website that discusses the effect of group sizes on actual hits at long ranges. It can be found here: https://precisionrifleblog.com/2015/04/15/how-much-does-group-size-matter/

As mentioned before, I'd pick a bullet with a higher BC over one with a lower BC any time, even if it is slightly less accurate. The aforementioned blog was a real eye opener for me. It is based on research by Bryan Litz, a well known precision champion in the US.
 
Can’t beat the science behind a higher bc. After the first couple of short 100 yard,1/2 min groups, I’d have stretched it out a bit. Try 4-500 yards. Good at 100 is exactly that.
 
Mike112288 said:
What velocity are you getting with the 88’s out of a 223?
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With fire formed IVI cases... Neck resize only.

Bullets seated to 2.575" OAL

27.2 grains of 2000MR runs 2933 FPS
25.0 grains of 8208 XBR runs 2920 FPS
25.5 grains of Varget runs 2902 FPS (Compressed load)
26.5 grains VV550 runs 2903 FPS

Based on primers, none of these loads seem hot in my rifle... Primer edges are still rounded.
 
1/2” moa with those 88’s and 2900 FPS?? Yeah I’d be sticking with that load. Use your 1/4” moa loads for other stuff but the 88’s at distance will kick butt!
 
Mike112288 said:
Wooow dude that’s crazy for a 223!! Is that a 223 ai ?
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No, just a standard 223 body, but a little longer in the throat.

I'll start shooting out to 750 yards next time out, (and farther once the corn comes off) but I did take a few shot on Sunday at 670 yards with 13.75 MOA drop... so for you MIL guys that's like 3.999 MILs.

I was shooting side by side with a 6 Creed running 3100 FPS and impacts on steel at 670 were just as easy to see. Drops were almost the same, but my recoil was a lot less and I could see my bullets in the air from the bench.

This rifle is going to be a lot of fun.

PRS guys always refer to 223 as a trainer rifle, but I don't think in this configuration that it is. From what I have seen so far, it is just as ballistically competitive as a 6BR. In my hands I still wont win, but I'd bet a guy like Dave Preston or Arron Hipp would do just as well with my rig as he would with his own.

If I can squeeze out 1/4 minute accuracy somehow, (maybe a tight neck and turned brass) I think I'll have nailed it. If I was 30 years younger I might even be able to compete.
 
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madashell said:
Impressive stuff Maple57.

Maybe I missed it, but can you detail your rig ? Would love to build a .223 bolt action with some muscle behind it.
Thanks.
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You could do this with any action that can feed from an AI mag. Most 223 actions are designed with actions that are just too short for this.

It's a Defiance Deviant Tactical Action, 26 inch Bartlien 1:7 twist barrel, (Fluted like a Cadex) Cadex Chassis, Cadex MX1 brake, Trigger Tech Diamond Trigger.

The Accurate Mags have been tweaked to feed rounds of up to 2.630" long. I filled the gap between the ribs on the back of the inserts with JB weld, then milled away the inside rib. I also removed the little lip at the front of the mag.

Basically from the mag I can now feed rounds up to 2.630" long and the throat is long too.

So that's the trick really just throat it long enough to seat the bullets out and keep your pressures down with the 88s instead of stuffing them deep into the case and displacing your powder charge.

BigRobb said:
Wow. That’s chugging along for sure! How’s brass life?
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Brass life is fine.

I'm running once fired IVI brass that I resized and processed, plus fired all my test cases at least 3 times more and still no loose primers. Even after hitting 2960 FPS with a few during load development.
 
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I have found that IVI 223 brass tends to be some of the heaviest I have ever measured, and I weight all my 223 brass. I have a theory that the high case weight indicates reduced powder capacity. So you might be able to go even higher charge weight if you switch to a lighter / more voluminous case.
 
adamg said:
I have found that IVI 223 brass tends to be some of the heaviest I have ever measured, and I weight all my 223 brass. I have a theory that the high case weight indicates reduced powder capacity. So you might be able to go even higher charge weight if you switch to a lighter / more voluminous case.
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I would stick with the IVI brass. You're talking about some heavy, high pressure loads. IVI, like Lake City brass is tougher and has a thicker web giving you many more reloads before the primer pocket opens up or the case splits. I would weight sort the brass though and prep it properly, ie deburr flash hole, maybe neck turn if warranted to squeeze the maximum accuracy out of the load.
 
View attachment 315954
5 shots at 100y,
88gr ELD Hornadys / 23.4 gr Varget, LC neck turned , Gold match primers did not chronograph est 2740 fps
In my gun a Barnard s action 30.5' 1/7 twist Bartlien, Robertson stock. using Lapua brass and 25.5gr varget with 90gr VLD Bergers
the primer pocket will be to loose to load again or primers would fall out
For me 25.5 varget you would be way north of 65000 psi
 
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