help with 223 load, 26"bbl, 1 in 9

flying pig

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Looking for help choosing components and a start load for my 223 with a 26" 1in9 twist barrel, especially powder. I have a good idea of what to try for bullets, I'm going to try either 69SMKs or 70 A-max's I think. Maybe 70 VLDs.

I've been shooting Ramshot Tac pushing 65gr Sierra Gamekings but I can't get my velocity to stabalize, I think. My elevation is all over the map, I don't have a chrony just yet. I'd like to know what you guys have gotten consistent results from in these little rifles.

Thanks!
 
Way too many variables to mention, but I'll offer my two bits as I'm playing with load testing a Savage 12FV 223 at the moment. Yours is a Savage tube I recon? Currenly running some 75gr Hornady BTSPs...and am having fun with my new found toy. If you are getting too many fliers then one or more of the variables here are causing you grief.

If you have stress free bedded the rifle and tuned the trigger, placed some good optics on and are shooting off a solid rest, and have confirmed everything to ensure scope bases, mounts, action screws are snug then......

I would try varget and mag primers in cold weather. Measure twice and within 0.1 gr around a suspected node. Stick to a mid range node. Ive found the hot one is erratic...but appealing and it will cost you in brass life. I'll bet you will find the mid range node within 1gr from max on the hodgdon site. Even try a weight or volume sort after match prepping your brass....or just buy lapua and go shooting. Currently culled 10 of 60 pieces of Win brass with +/-0.5gr on a weight sort. Keep and eye on runout. CCIBR4 and 450mag have stronger primer cups, I found out the hard way on 400s lately and some pierced primers when playing on the wild side. Try for at least half MOA if you can muster it.

Elky....
 
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Elky its been bedded with devcon titanium and floated ahead of the knox. I have a 5-15x40 Elite tactical on it. Been using nosler brass and CCI400's in it. Trigger is turned down low as it will go. Horizontal string is usually 1/2 MOA when its calm and I'm shooting well. Savage tube, round count is about 400 now.

Have you tried 77's in yours?
 
Was very happy with results in a Savage 1:9" using Win brass, 68gr Hornady HPBT and or 62gr Nosler BT both with Varget and Win Small Rifle primers.
 
Some good reads on vertical strining on the 6BR site. Google it. Veritical strining can be caused by a host of variables outlined in that read.

Havn't tried the 77s. But 60gr SP and the 75 show good promise for the cost.
 
Some good reads on vertical strining on the 6BR site. Google it. Veritical strining can be caused by a host of variables outlined in that read.

Havn't tried the 77s. But 60gr SP and the 75 show good promise for the cost.
Vertical Stringing ....

Varget223.JPG
 
Sweet node between 23.8 and 24. Now run it out to 200m on a calm day with 23.9, 24.0 and 24.1.....go get em! Target 2 is what v-stringing would look like. Great shooting BTW:)
 
I use varget for all my 223 loads(axis with timney trigger, also 1:9 twist) couldn't get 69smk to shoot that good. Still have some 68gr hornady hp match to try out. Berger 77gr tactical shoots reall good for me with 24gr of varget behind it. If you do try that work up to it as its a bit over max on the Hodgdon site and way over max according to Berger but I found all the Berger data for 233 and varget to be a tad low
 
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