After 400 rounds........

[De41mag]

Went to the range yesterday and today;

After shooting different brands of factory ammo, mostly the Remington or UMC 45gr.HP's, I believe that this 223 bull barrel is starting to come around.
Bought some Win. 45gr.Hp in the 40 round value pack like Big Blue suggested. I tried these when I first bought the rifle and they did not group well at all.
So after trying Rem, Federal, Win, Hornady and PMC, I figured it up that I had shot 400 rnds. even, before trying the Win. Value Pack again.
Now my groups have shrunk from 5"+ down to about 2 to 2-1/2. And the first shot almost always goes dead center. Probably would help if I went to a higher magnifacation scope. Only using a Leupold M8-4X Fixed Power.
With a Shoot-n-See 3" target the cross hairs just about cover the circle
Just wanted to say thanks to all you fellas on H&R/NEF forum for having me not to give up on my rifle. Just needed to wear these rifles out a little before they start to shoot I guess.
Again THANKS to you all for the support.  
Dennis  :wink:

[James B]

My 223 NEF shot abiout 3/4 inch with the 45 grain economy loads. I got it used so I don't know how many rounds were through it. I lost it though as someone lifted it from my truck. :cry: I quess I fill send in one of my others for a new 223 barrel.

[Big Blue]

De41mag,
  Actually you helped me on this one. After your posts, it encouraged me to go back and try handloading for the .223 again. I sort of gave up trying to find a load it liked when it was shooting best with the Winchester white box ammo. Now I think I found a handload this rifle likes. A couple of months ago, I had tried a few batches of Hornady 40 gr. V-Max moly coated bullets and Benchrest and Varget powders, with really bad results. I went back and tried that same bullet again yesterday, but this time with some BL-C(2) I just bought. Now it's shooting them like a champ. Did the powder make a difference, did the barrel wear in to the point it shoots them better, I don't know, but they're shooting great now. I'm not quite ready to challenge Jeff title yet, but things are looking much better.
Don

[De41mag]

Don;

I'm starting to think about reloading for the 223 myself.
I've got plenty of once-fired brass and 200 small benchrest rifle primers and some AA#2230 and AA#2015 when I used to load for the 7mmTCU out of a Contender I uesd to have. So all I need is the Dies and some bullets.
Keep me posted of your results and again Thanks for your help.  :grin:

James B;

Sorry to hear about your rifle getting stolen, hope you get a replacement soon.   :x

Dennis

[safetysheriff]

BigBlue,

My .223 Handi' loves wc-846 which is a bl-c(2) surplus powder.    It shoots well with Winchester and Remington primers.   I think you'll find with many rifles that bl-c is a good way to go, and that's why Hodgdon can state that it was so popular with the benchresters when it first came out.

Bullet seating depth is another part in the equation that you should investigate as part of your accuracy quest.    

Incidentally, bl-c(2) is shown as applicable in the .22-250 for whatever that's worth.    I loaded some for a friend of mine recently.    If he shoots a monster this Fall I'll be able to tell you about it.     He's one heck of a hunter from Mercer County in West Virginia.

Take care.

[Big Blue]

I've also found the BL-C(2) to work well in my 30/30. Max. published loads for the 30/30 using BL-C(2) are below pressure levels for that caliber.
Don

[safetysheriff]

Big Blue,

I don't work with a .30-30.....but those loads in the Hodgdon booklet are very good for velocity vs pressure.     That is just one heck of a propellant!     It's surprisingly useful for good velocities and  pressures in the .30-06!    I buy it in bulk at the gun shows, and it's very reasonably priced in the wc-846 labelling.    I've actually gotten 4lbs for $35 dollars here in n.e. Ohio at a gun show in the last 6 mos.    

Aint life grand?  :wink:

Good shooting to you.

[Mitch in MI]

When you say you buy BL-C(2) in WC-846 labeling, are you talking about surplus Winchester 846 from disassembled 7.62 NATO ammo? Pat's Reloading near Cleveland sells it for $64/8lb, but if you can get it at a show without paying shipping or hazmat you're getting it cheaper than I can buy it. If you got it at a show in NE Ohio, you probably bought it from Pat & Brian.  

http://www.Patsreloading.com/patsrel/prices.htm

[JPH45]

Mitch check out www.gibrass.com Jeff sells it at $56/8 pounds. I'm using it in both 30-30 and 45-70 with great results. He aslo shares the hazmat cost once you purchase a case or more.

[Mitch in MI]

Bartlett lists 846 & 844 pulldown for $64 on his website now, but he's got 680 and 820 virgin for $56. Too bad he's the high cost vendor for 872, other places have it for as little as $32. I've been meaning to stock up on milsurp poweder and projectiles while they are readily available, I don't know how much longer we'll be able to buy it.
Governments are afraid to sell gun stuff because they think the buyers are all criminals, and there isn't any surplus going stale these days,  our military is burning up ammo faster than Lake City can make it.

[safetysheriff]

Mitch,

All I can tell you is that I speak to one or both of the young vendors that sell the wc-846 almost every time I'm at a show.    

Some of it has been pulled I would guess.    But they do get surplus that comes in a crate I believe, that they then weigh out into 'bleach bottles'.    Either way, Ball or spherical powder is very stable as long as it has been properly stored.....so I don't worry about how old it is.

One of the young vendors shoots a lot of it himself.    

Take care.

SS'