Loads for .223 REM

[NMHNTR]

Hi, y'all!

I took my .223 Ultra to the range yesterday and tried it for the first time since it's return from the factory for "fixing an accuracy problem."  The customer service folks told me that they re-crowned the barrel.  I shot both the 55 gr. Remington (box of 40) and the Winchester 45 gr. hotrod with wonderful results.  The Remington shells averaged 0.75 inches for 4 of 5 shots with a called flier.  The Winchester had 4 shots that I covered with a dime.  YIPPIE!  

Now comes the rub.  I tried some of my home brew cartridges with terrible results.  One load was a Barnes 50 gr Varminter in front of 24.5 to 26.0 gr. of Benchmark.  The other was 50 gr. V-Max in front of the same loads.  The resulting pattern was all over the place.  The only thing positive I saw was some vertical stringing on three of the V-Max shots.

Does anyone have any pet loads they use?  BTW  I was very suprized at the depth of the chamber.  When I used my trusty Stoney Point OAL gauge I found that I couldn't seat the bullet.  The factory ammunition was regular spec OAL dimension.  My stuff was seated .020 off the lands.  Is there a clue there?

[quickdtoo]

If you use the easy search tips sticky to help you with the search function, you'll find a multitude of previous posts that mirror your experience and provide you with some of the handloads that have worked, although few find any that beat or equal the win white box accuracy. Long throats is the norm for Handis, it's the way they make em. :wink:

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=78769

[NMHNTR]

Thank you.  I suspected there are many others who have suffered as I have with this.  I'll keep the WIN 45 grainers in my back pocket in case the handloads don't work.

[warf73]

I use H335 with 55gr pills. If you buy a bottle of H335 you will see the load I use, as this load is printed on the lable.

Sub 1" groups with 55gr. Remington Bulk bullets and sub 3/4" groups with Hornady Spire Point Super Explosive bullets.

Hope this helps.

Warf

[NMHNTR]

Thanks, Warf!  

[AZ223]

I've had excellent results using 26.0gr Varget under 50gr Nosler BT's, and tentatively (still narrowing down this load) 25.5gr Varget under a 55gr Sierra SBT; CCI primers for both. One issue I did notice is that my Ultra prefers loads at or slightly under 2.245" COL. The Winchester white box & Ultramax factory loads are shorter than this, and when I loaded longer than the above, I noticed my groups opening up somewhat. So far, both of these handloads shoot .6" - .8" at 100yds pretty consistently.

One other note, the Handi's will start to stick cases sometimes when you shoot hot loads; the good thing is, as with most loads, the fastest isn't always the most accurate.

Good luck!  :grin:

[Swift One]

NMHNTR,


I too had the exact same problems with the 55gr Vmax bullets.  I found that Sierra bullets shot best out of my Handi Rifle 223BBl.  I for the most part was getting .5-.75 inch groups with the 55gr Blitz and Blitzking bullets.

I was having stuck case problems witht eh Hodgdon H335 when the weather started to warm up.  I found that the H322 was doing very well in all temeratures.  A few months ago I experiemented with some 50gr Blitz bullets.  Here was the load:

Winchester brass
CCI 400 small rifle primers
Sierra 50gr Blitz Bullets
24.0gr of Hodgdon H322

The results were absolutely amazing.  I was averaging 1/2" groups and and was pulling off an occasional 3/8" group.  I started testing these loads around Sept.  When the temp started to drop. I was getting the same results.   I put the load over a chronograph and it was averaging 3032FPS at 10 ft from the barrel.

The load was performing great on the critters too.  I have taken Coyotes with this load at distances ranging from 50yds to 120yds and have had no fur damage other than the .224 entrance wound and an occasional exit that would be the size of a dime.  These have been neck and behind the shoulder shots too.  I have also had no run offs.  A couple of them were soul snatching, bang flop, dead in there tracks shots.

They have proven to be a little messy on the coons though.  Feral cats have been strung all over the ground too.  I will be using this load on fox in Southern Indiana this coming Feb and I suspect that they may be a little on the non-fur friendly side but we will see.

Nevertheless, I have been very impressed with this load's performance and it has become my new pet load.  I am lkooking foward to doing some G-Hog sniping in the spring with this load.

[safetysheriff]

Hi, y'all!

Now comes the rub.  I tried some of my home brew cartridges with terrible results.  One load was a Barnes 50 gr Varminter in front of 24.5 to 26.0 gr. of Benchmark.  The other was 50 gr. V-Max in front of the same loads.  The resulting pattern was all over the place.  The only thing positive I saw was some vertical stringing on three of the V-Max shots.

hello,

i'm wondering if your load density is too low to allow good ignition, possibly along with your c.o.l. being too long.   i'd recommend you use Rem' cases or military brass with those lighter bullets.   with the military cases being heavier you may be able to load the cartridge down like your starting load of 24.5 gr's, but i doubt they'll shoot very well 'til you get more powder even into the military brass.  

with the Rem' brass i'd recommend you work up to good load densities as well.   i'd work up loads heavier than 26.0 gr's of Benchmark if your pressures are OK in that Rem' brass.  

another sign of poor load density/poor ignition is your vertical stringing.  

one other problem you could be having -- is a chamber that is cut relatively loose so that the brass expands 'significantly' and that, in effect, lowers the load density.   some may argue that, but i'll stick by it.

my opinions,

ss'

[Ditchdigger]

I use 26.5 grs. of H 335 and the moly 40 gr. Vmax. Its the only load I can come up with that shoots .5" and I've tried 7 different powder's and just about every bullet made and it will only do this with a bipod and the forend floated with bussiness cards in front of the mounting lug. It takes about 20 rds. of the moly bullets before it starts shooting good.If I clean the bore I have to start all over again. Digger

[Kentucky Shooter]

My favorite loads for the .223Rem are 26 grains of H335 with a 50 grain jacketed soft point bullet (a bulk pack bullet from remington). This is a very good load for everyday field use. My accuracy or target load is 24 grains of H322 with a 52 grain Hornady A-Max bullet. This is a highly accurate load----These are all I shoot in the .223Rem.

[NMHNTR]

Thanks to everyone who has responded with your recipes.  It's nice to know there's a light at the end of this tunnel that's not the oncoming train. :wink: