Precision load for .223 using 69g BTHP or 75g Amax?

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roberti11

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I am having a hard time finding a powder to create a precision load using either 69 gr bthp or 75 gr Amax, to use in my Rem 700 .223 PS (1 in 9 twist)

I have tried H4895, and Varget, both leave the case full and the resulting pressure to seat the bullet leaves a damaged bullet head. I get good speed < 3000 fps. but random accuracy due to the scratched bullet heads. Anyone know a powder that will get good velocity without filling the case??
 
26gr of Varget for the 69gr SMK gets approx 2925fps
25gr of Varget for the 75gr HPBT gets approx 2725fps

I modified a Lee bullet seater to avoid damage to the bullets when compressing the powder. Using a drop tube also helps alot.
 
26 grs. of Varget + 69 gr. Sierra chronos 3125fps avgerage and under 1/2" groups @ 100mtrs out of my Rem 700 PS 1-9" 26" barrel.
No damaged bullet noses using Win. brass due to over compressing.
Damaged bullet noses don't really affect accuracy unless your turnin em into wadcutters. The last thing that touches the rifiling is critical to accuracy.

Just my 2 cents worth!
 
Try a long drop tube (6 inches) to get the powder in the case. 26 gr of Varget behind an 80 gr Sierra will work in my daughter's 1:9 twist .223
 
Full Case Loads

Thanks for you help guys,
I am loading 26g of varget and using Hornady cases (?Thicker?), I wind up with the powder about a mm from the top.
I am using a funnel as I hand load these and do not have a drop tube.
They chrono at 3000 fps but I have to compress the powder to get a 69 g bullet to the recomended OAL of 2.26. I use 25 g of H4895 for the 75 gr Amax bullets

I think I will try one of the granulated powders instead of an extruded one like Varget. When I pulled on of my IVI loads I found out it was granulated and packs much more easily. I think they use a varient of Win 748.

I do not crimp these, as they are for precision rifle
 
69 g bullet to the recomended OAL of 2.26.
Click to expand...

Seat them out longer. I don't think you will be able to get them seated out too far with a factory chamber, and still hold the bullet in the case.
 
HeadDamage said:
Get a drop tube... it makes a big difference!
Click to expand...

+2

I'm only slightly compressing 26 gr. Varget with 75gr. Hornadys. I don't believe I'm getting any with the Sierra 69s.
 
w748

I use 25.5gr w748 69gr sierra out of a lilja .223 22' ar15 and all 5 shots are one ragged hole at 100yrds. I'm still experiementing for 200yrds though. best so far is .55" with a flier, so actual .750. Wish Duncan area had a longer range, say 400yrds plus? cheers
 
I use about 24.5 grains of H-322 for the 69 grain bullet and 25-26 grains of VihtaVouri N-140 with my 80 gr bullets for a bit under MOA from Colt HBAR.

69 gr velocity is about 2900 and the 80 gr is about 2700.

A friend at Precision Shooting is experimenting with Vita N-550 and the 80 and 90 grain VLD bullets and reports greater velocities...but no pressure data, so I'm reluctant to post the loads.

Regards,
 
Range Results

Thanks to all who gave me helpful suggestions in develping this load. I had intended to use Winchester 748 but I could not get any in my area, instead I came accross WC-735, it is a military rifle powder that I obtained from Higginson powders, it turns out to be the powder used in 62r IVI (SS109). Using the preliminary loads from Higginson (the heaviest bullet listed was 62g), I worked up the loads below. Clearly I need ~ 3000 fps for 69g to stabilize and ~ 2700 fps for 75 g to stabilize.
Using WC-735 I had no problem with compressed loads as I had with Varget. Again, thanks to all for your suggestions.

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Yes, H335 was going to be my next choice, WC-735 us about 5% faster than H335, but I could not lay my hands on any H335, I will keep looking
 
.223 loads

http://www.nfa.ca/cfj-archive/ballistics/bullet-stability-calculator-ms-excel-.html

This link points to an excellent spread sheet on the National Firearms Website, the formulas in this are based on and equation derived by C.E.Harris. The formula of C.E.Harris is used by Sierrra and was recently quoted in an article in Handloader mag. This spread sheet allows you to calculate theoretical stability for a given twist, bullet length, wt, bullet dia. and velocity. I wish I had had this prior to trying to work up a load with 75gr amax's. I found out by making several loads that you cannot stablize these well with a 1-9 twist, this formula told me that without wasting any powder or time at the range.
 
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