The difference between 53gr and 52gr bullets

[KDX]

I had 1 box of 53gr Hornady Match HP bullets for my .223 and went back to WSSP to buy 200 more and could only get 2 boxes of 52gr Hornady Match HPBT. Will there be much of a difference loading and shooting them with 1gr difference?

 

[Gibbs505]

Sounds like they are also different bullets. One is a boattail and the other isn't so you will have to try them and see.
Let us know thanks!

 

[todbartell]

powder charges will be near interchangable, but it would be wise to start a grain or so below your previous load, maybe 2 grains if you were close to max with the 53 grain load

 

[KDX]

25.5gr of Benchmark seemed to be pretty close to the limit for the 53gr bullet as it looked to me that the primers were starting to flatten out a bit. Maybe I'm just paranoid and I'm seeing things though.

 

[Levi Garrett]

One grain is the correct answer . Your doing fine, you may want to play around some more with different powder, and amounts of powder, and you seem to be taking no chances by huge jumps and thats great to see.
I always stay with book values , and over the years , have not had any problems. Keep at her, you seem to be having fun, the whole plan behind this loading stuff anyway .

 

[Boomer]

The golden rule of handloading is that any time you make a change of component, primer, powder, case or bullet, you drop the powder weight and work back up to maximum. Having said that, both the Sierra and Hornady manuals lump 52 and 53 gr data into the same chart. If it was my rifle I would not drop the powder charge in this case. When I shot .222 and .22-250 the most accurate 52 gr bullet loads in my rifle were a grain or so below maximum. If you load your rounds to maximum pressure, then you should back off a bit for the heavier bullet.

 

[SuperCub]

could only get 2 boxes of 52gr Hornady Match HPBT.

Try the 52s....... I've had very accurate results with this bullet in my 22/250.






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[Levi Garrett]

They work fantastic in my .223 700 classic also. Put 3 in the same place, first load tested.

 

[SuperCub]

52gr and 32/3031 is one of Water's pet target loads in 22/250. I've used it for 15yrs now.





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[Levi Garrett]

Never ever tried 3031, but I will get an 8 lb jug some day, cause its an awesome 30-30 powder also.

 

[ssgp2]

My AR did not like the 53, but 52 where going in the same hole.

 

[Levi Garrett]

My AR did not like the 53, but 52 where going in the same hole.

So did you get in trouble for being on the pistol range?