Looking for a accurate .223 Groundhog load.

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crazy_train04

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Hey guys. Spring is around the corner and I have purchased a Stevens 200 in .223 for my new Groundhog gun. I have been using a Savage .17hmr for that last 3 years. Looking forward to trying my new .223. Can you guys give me a few options to try with this gun for a accurate varmint load.
I haven't purchased any components yet so let me know what bullets, powder, primers you guys like. The only thing is I shoot where its very flat so I like bullets with fast expansion to avoid ricochet as much as possible.
Speer TNTs seem like they get good reviews.

Thanks
 
My Stevens 200 .223 likes 26.5gr of Win 748 behind the remington 55gr HP. It also likes the same powder behind a Win 55gr psp. No complaints from me because these are these are some of the cheapest bullets available. It really seems to like Win 748.

Good luck.
 
FWIW my Nosler book indicates that the H335 powder was the most accurate of all the powders tested for 55gr BT on the whole page and that was the only time for all of the calibres I checked out that they ever mentioned that
anywhere else in the book.
 
I'll add my 2 cents. Your Stevens should be a 1 in 9 twist so your covered up to 69 gr bullets (maybe 75gr but my Savage doesn't care for them).

An excellent load I found was the 52 gr A-max with 26 gr of Varget powder.
Another favorite is 69 gr Sierra matchkings with 25.8 gr Varget. Both bullets don't explode like some others do but the wound channel is enough to turn critters inside out.
 
Thanks. I will do some testing I think on 40 & 50 grain V-max's and I also want to try some Speer TNTs. Your right that my gun has a 1:9 twist so I didn't know how well I could get light bullets to group. I guess I will find out and hopefully a few groundhogs will find out too!
 
Since I am bran new to reloading like alot of others on here. I have spent a ton of money on equipment in the last 2 months getting ready. I think my wife has had about enough and I haven't even loaded my first round yet! :D
Is there anyone out there that would be so kind as to scan some load data for Rem .223 out of thier reloading manual and shoot it off to me in a n e-mail??? I want to buy a Speer/Hornady/Nosler book but my finances are running out and I want some money left to buy catridge components..
If anyone is nice enough to do that I would gladly send the info myself to anyone else that is just starting out and could use this info. One day I will slowly collect these books and maybe I can repay the favour to someone else.. What do you think guys?

dlouzon@yahoo.com
I don't think its illegal to copy pages from a book and give it to someone.
 
Check out the Hodgdon site. They make most of the available powders so the info they have on the site is going to cover most of what you will ever need.
For what grain and type of bullet?
 
Even with 2 reloading books I have, I use Hodgsons data on their website as well. It is very handy, and you can print it out for later use.
 
I am looking for load data for 50grain V-max's. Thier website starts with 60 grain V-Max. Can I use data from other 50grain bullets?
Looks like benchmark and H335 should be my first picks for powder but I thought I would explore different rounds.
 
50gr Barnes Varminator over 25.5gr of Varget in Win cases and Win primers
gets 3/8" at 100 yds with my 1:9 twist Remington 700 LTR.
This loading does short work of even the skinny gophers.KD
 
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