School me on reloading for .223

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Duke878

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Lower Mainland, BC
I already reloaded for my .308 but i traded that in and will be selling the reloading stuff soon. Ive since switched to a Savage 10PC in .223 and will be reloading for that.

Anything I should be looking for or tips and tricks?

Also does anyone make Carbide dies for .223?

Thanks!
 
loading for accuracy, if you ladder test, or even shoot groups, remember its a tiny case, go up in .2gn increments, unlike larger calibers, going up in .5 is a good way to miss the sweet spot
 
It's a pain in the ass trying to load hollow points as I figured out yesterday while loading this cartridge for the first time. From what I've experienced so far it's a very finicky cartridge to reload being so small but I'm willing to be patient. Still though I may have to give up the hollow points possibly for vmax bullets since it would seem they should feed into the bullet seating die much more easily. Trying to work on a varmint load for my VZ58.
 
.223 is as easy to load for as .308, and maybe more so.
Get excellent quality match dies (I use redding competition) and you are away to the races.
 
what twist is the barrel on that rifle? might have better luck with heavier projectiles, (68gr+) I shoot a 1/7twist and use 75gr bullets.
 
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I shoot a 1:9 as well. Have used bullets form 36gr up to berger 77gr with great results. My go to load is 25.7gr varget, hornady 53gr vmax, cci primers and col of 2.244". Been playing with the 68gr hornady bthp recently though.
 
I have the same rifle as you and here is what I have learned so far. YMMV

Good powders to work with for the 223 Rem: H335, Varget, CFE223, Benchmark, BLC-2
Good bullets for paper(out of my rifle): 69&77gr HPBT Sierra match king, Hornady 52gr A-max
Good hunting bullets (out of my rifle): 40gr V-max, 55gr Nosler HPFB varmegeddon, and 55gr Bergers varmint/match

My go to paper punching load is 23.8gr of H335 with the 69gr match king at 2.240" OAL. (i would like to run more 77gr SMKs and do further load work, but I can never find them)
My go to varmint loads are 26.0gr H335 with the 40gr V-Max at 2.210" and 27.2gr of CFE223 with the 55gr HPFB Varmegeddon at 2.200".

My loads are pretty mild, but I have been loading for accuracy and this was where my rifle likes them.

And one final note, with my savage rifle, I can't seem to load the rounds long and still get reliable feeding from the magazine.
 
Mine is the same as the OP. Savage model 10 precision carbine in223, 1:9 twist, 20" varmint barrel. Mine is the newest version with the threaded muzzle. Center feed style mag. Accustock, accutrigger, bolt removal release in the trigger guard.
 
Duke878 said:
how long have you had it for? any mods to it? Post pics?
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I have had it for just over a year now. No real mods done to it. Farrel base from Mystic Precision, Vortex Viper scope and rings. Hoping to switch out the stock eventually. I tried a muzzle break but found it more annoying than anything else.

976g.jpg
 
mmattockx said:
What brand/type of hollowpoints were giving you trouble? I have not had any issues with PRVI 69gr BTHP and Sierra 69gr Matchkings so far.


Mark
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I'm using Sierra Gameking 55gn HPBT. The barrel has a 1in7 twist rate. The bullets are getting dinged pretty good while being seated if I'm not 100% centered. Oh and the dies are RCBS.Definitely will be looking into other bullets.
 
jongun said:
I'm using Sierra Gameking 55gn HPBT. The barrel has a 1in7 twist rate. The bullets are getting dinged pretty good while being seated if I'm not 100% centered. Oh and the dies are RCBS.Definitely will be looking into other bullets.
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yeah i have loaded thousands of 223 rounds over the years with RCBS small base dies, regular, and the only ones that give me trouble, is flat base style. the BT's dont give me grief at all, id try what beltfed suggested.
id suggest varget, and blc2 for your powders.
 
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