H335 and .223 reloading?

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ginnz

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Hi guys! new reloader here! (2-days new!)

I have a couple questions regarding loads for my .223 (Weatherby Vanguard Varmint Special, 1-12 twist)

Anyways, I just picked up the Lee 25th anniversary re-loading kit, and some bullets, i had primers,brass,powder already.... I got a package deal from a guy and got the Lee RGB .223 dies, a jug of H335, couple hundred new winchester .223 brass, (1000) remington 6.5 small rifle primers, and a half box of Nosler 55 gn. spitzer's....

I picked up a box of Hornady V-Max 55 gn. bullets, and am loading them already, i made 3 different loads today, which ill try tommorow...

I would like some input on which would be my best bullet to use in windy conditions, for coyote hunting. for now ill be using the H335, so anyone have any suggestions? (ie:sierra 69 gn. HPBT Matchking's)?

where i coyote hunt, its quite often pretty breezy, and alot of my shots are 400+ yards, so i'm looking for a load that works best in these conditions. I found that the 50 grain noslers would drift about 6-7" with a 10-12 mph crosswind at 300 yards.... im wondering if i would use 60+ gn bullets in these conditions, what the drift would be?

also, what is the fastest load i can make with the H335, and the 55 gn v-max's? all the data i found so far is for loads around the 3200 fps mark, with 25.3 gn. of H335..... this is from the basic reloading manual in the Lee kit. I'd like to be able to make loads that shoot accurate, that are more in the 3600+ fps range.... maybe H335 isn't what i need for that? would Benchmark powder fare better? when i got my rifle, it came with 230 rounds of 50 gn/55 gn loads that the previous owner made up, and they were all in the 3200+ fps area, and where pretty good loads. all using benchmark, and hornady/nosler bullets....

i have alot to learn, and have to start somewhere.... in your opinions, if im going to Cabella's in the near future, what should i stock up on for load development? (Ie: powders/bullets).... i dont wanna just buy anything and waste my money!

thanks for now guys, and i appreciate any info! ive got alot of help here already, and if it wern't for you guys, i wouldnt be this far already!

ginnz.
 
Couple things. First of all your 1 in 12 twist barrel will not work well with the heavier bullets. I think you should be looking at 50 gr and less. Unfortunetly the heavier bullets buck the wind better. Secondly If you are getting 3200 fps with a 55 gr bullet that's pretty good. You may be able to eak out a bit more speed, but you aren't going to get much more. I would try to find the haviest bullet your gun will shooot accuratly and go with that. If the 55 gr are working well for you stick with that. I'm getting a little over 3200 with my 53 gr V max and 26 gr of benchmark. they shoot sub MOA and I'm a happy camper.

I had some 53 V max going over 3300 with an over max BLC2 load, but having to force the bolt open after every shot does not make for a great hunting round.

G
 
Every rifle is different and the 12 twist will be a limiting factor for sure, however you should be OK with the 60 vmax if you want to go that heavy. My 12 twist Tikka loves them with varget
 
stick with one bullet you can make work accurately. learn to read the wind. if you can drag a 4x8 sheet of plywood to a shooting spot learn to see how far bullets lean in the wind. stick with one bullet and get to know it! i don't care if you are shooting a 6.5x284 at 400, wind will affect that too. learn to rely less on the equipment and more on your skill. if it is a 40 grain or a 200 grain it doesn't matter
 
I would recommend against H335 if your going to be coyote hunting in the winter.

H335 is very temperature sensitive, and your load development now will mean nothing in the winter where the temperature will mean having to tweak loads quite a bit to get the same performance.
 
ginnz said:
what is the fastest load i can make with the H335, and the 55 gn v-max's? all the data i found so far is for loads around the 3200 fps mark, with 25.3 gn. of H335..... this is from the basic reloading manual in the Lee kit. I'd like to be able to make loads that shoot accurate, that are more in the 3600+ fps range.... maybe H335 isn't what i need for that?
Click to expand...


If you want a 55gr bullet at 3600fps you should have bought a 22-250, the 223 just won't get there. The max loads listed in your data are the upper limit for safe operation, heed them. You cannot reload and magically get 10-15% more velocity than SAAMI spec factory loads offer.


Mark
 
Benchmark or Varget (I prefer Benchmark for bullets under 60gr) would be a better powder choice for year round use.
 
My rifle with a 12 twist currently likes the 55 gr V-max over 22.1 gr of H335. I don't have velocities though and I haven't used it in winter yet, as I'm fairly new the the reloading game as well. But as others said, I don't think you'll be able to spin anything over a 60gr bullet fast enough.
 
I shoot my 223 with the 55 gr Vmax bullet over H335 all year round and it works great.

I load one grain under the max listed in the hogdon website. I have found no difference in the load between winter and summer.
 
H335 and .223 reloading?


The answer to your question is YES.

As for your specific recipe, every rifle is different. Don't go so much for speed as you should for accuracy in your rifle. That's what reloading is all about.

I can punch out 12 Guage primers at 100meters froim spent hullls with my Rem 600 in 223 with the Hornady V-Max 55 grain pills over my charge of H-335 (can't recall what the specific data is and my load book is about 1300 miles north at the moment). I am happy with that load and never had reason to experiment with other powders. Others shooters will swear with another powder.

Good luck, keep us posted on your results.

CS45
 
Wind drift is a real issue at 300 and 400 yards. Your want an accurate bullet and a longer one. The 68 Horn and 69 Sierra match bullet should staybalize ok in a 1;12. Your powder is OK but if you hunt summer and winter, Varget would be a better choice.

If it was me I would yty a box of 68//69 gr match bullets and develop a load with them.
 
Ganderite said:
Wind drift is a real issue at 300 and 400 yards. Your want an accurate bullet and a longer one. The 68 Horn and 69 Sierra match bullet should staybalize ok in a 1;12. Your powder is OK but if you hunt summer and winter, Varget would be a better choice.

If it was me I would yty a box of 68//69 gr match bullets and develop a load with them.
Click to expand...

Have you tried this? It's not going to work, I have tried it. Even though the 69gr is stumpy 1-12" is too slow unless the actual barrel measures 1-10"

I have shot just about every bullet weight suitable in my well worn and use rem with a 1-12" the heaviest bullets that will shoot are the 63 gr Sierra smp and 64gr win power point both are short and shot well. Benchmark is my go to powder but I am goin to try H-335 when my new barrel is put on.

It's hard to beat the 50gr vmax or 52amax for shooting long range with a 1-12" twist. The new 53 has yet to be shot by me but I'm sure it's in the same class.
 
The 68 and 69 do not work in my 12 twist .223 either, keyhole at 50 yards, just not enough oomph in the case.. However my 22 250 12 twist stabilizes them just fine. The max I have gotten to be accurate with a 12 twist in .223 is the 63 grain sierra.

I have to agree that the 52 Sierra match and the 52 Hornady match give the best results in my Tikka. I use the 335 powder for both and Sierra lists it as the most accurate powder tested for the 52 and 53 match...
 
thanks again for all your input, its invaluable to me, as its "real world" info, and not simply cooked up load data.... :)

and don't get me wrong, i'm not looking to make uber fast loads, thinking they'll be the most accurate, i was just wondering IF i could get a bullet to go that fast, and be reasonably accurate.if i can build a load that will shoot .25" but it only goes 3000 fps, i'm happy :)....And i've read that the H335 is temperature sensitive, and as my first loads from the previous owner were with benchmark, and i really liked them, I will pick up a jug of it next time im in the city, and "start over" with it. for now, i have half a can of powder, and its good to learn with non the less!

i also figure i'll pick up five different types of bullets as well.... i have some loads with black bullets with silver tips, that i just LOVE, but i can't find them anywhere, and don't know what make they are? i think they may be Nosler (50 grn Nosler Ballistic Tips?), but im not sure, anyone know what they may be? I will pick up some 60 gn. hornady v-max though.... or it would be nice if i could get 10 or so from somewhere to try out... ;-) oh yeah, ill try the 52 gn sierra stuff too!

anyways, thanks again! and im sure i'll really enjoy this aspect of the hobby.
 
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