reloading for .223

[ThudThumper]

hey guys, a friend and i will start reloading sometime in the near future and before we dive into the reloading manuals i've got a couple questions.

1)  he's using a survivor model, and i have the fluted ultra varmint;  are the barrels similar enough that they will both like 45 grain bullets?

2)  have any of you had any luck using any 40 grain bullets?

3)  are there any h&r barrels that shoot 55 grain bullets well?

[myarmor]

I reload for both my 223's one standard 22" and one 24" Bull Barrel Ultra. They are both the older style with ejectors and are a 1-12 twist.  So far I have found most my loads developed for one barrel will have a very simuliar results with the other. Of course all rifles are just a little different, but if both of your barrels are the same twist I believe you will both find good starting points together, and from then fine tune accordingly. I haven't loaded any 40gr for my 223's, mostly 45 - 55gr. I like the 50 and 52gr medium.. And I have mostly been using Varget with very good results, and BlueDot for my reduced loads for smaller delicate game, though you can load respectable velocities with it as well.
The newer extractor barrels ( with a 1-9 twist ) from all that I have read shoot pretty good with the light stuf up to 60gr. Anything over that seem to not stabilize very well...though I can't speak from experiance with this rate of twist.
Thats just what I have seen and used, hope it helps.

-Aaron

[ThudThumper]

thanks!  it does help.  my rifle has the newer 1-9 twist rate, and loves the winchester white box 45 gr, but it doesn't do worth a darn with 55 gr and is even worse with 62 gr bullets.  i've had days where i couldn't even get the 62 gr american eagle stuff to hit a 6" target at 100 yards.

since i'm currently getting sub moa groupings with the 45 gr bullets, i'm curious as to how a 40 gr (or even a 30 gr) bullet will perform.

[243tom]

I've gotten decent groups...no cloverleafs mind you,, with 40 gr. vmax and 26 grs. Varget and a col of 2.28 out of my little stainless handi. It's the old twist rate.
I've also found that the longer col you can get away with the better the handi shoots and sometimes shy away from the highest velocity load.

[dw06]

I'm shooting the 50gr v-max with 24.5grs imr 3031,oal 2.31 and am covering 3 shot groups with a dime.Tried the 40gr v-max and got between 1/2 to 3/4' groups,but haven't really tried to much with them as I'm happy with the 50gr load.

[stimpylu32]

TT

I have a 04 bull barrel that has the 1 in 12 twist , it hates the 45 and lower bullets but just loves the 53 and 55 grain stuff . i have had very good results with IMR 4895 as a powder .

Most groups are under 1 in. at 200 yards and the 100 yard groups look more like one big hole .

stimpy

[quickdtoo]

As has been said before, each barrel is different, my 24" Ultra Varmint shoots the 45gr JHP WWB too well to even handload for it, the 40gr Nosler Ballistic tip in the Ultramax reman ammo shoots almost as well, FWIW.

Tim

[ThudThumper]

cool.  thanks all.

is it possible to find any of those 1 in 12 twist barrels any more?  i might be interested in developing a bit heavier load for longer range shooting.  the 45 gr hp are great within a couple hundred yards, but i've noticed that crosswinds are not very forgiving with them.  also, their bc is pretty low.

[quickdtoo]

Most barrels made up until mid 2005 were 1:12", for the most part any .223 made this year is 1:9", although there are exceptions, the fluted barrels were changed sooner than the other barrels. Neither twist rate shoots the longer bullets very well, the 60gr Vmax, 64gr Win PP and 63gr Sierra may shoot well in both twists with the right load.

Tim

[sbhooper]

I went through lots of frustrating loading and shooting with my .223.  I finally settled on a plain old 50 grain Hornady pushed by Varget powder at around 3200 fps.  It also liked the 53 grain Sierras real well.  This gun is the touchiest gun that I ever have seen for holding it on the sand bags.  A tight hold on the fore-end can completely change the groups.  It has to be laid on the bag so that it rests on the hinge and no had pressure up front.  I did everything to it that I could and this is the only way that it will give good groups.  At one point I even sent it back to the company thinking it was bad.  I really like this little gun, but I will never buy another another one. 

Has anyone tried one of the new Simms vibration dampeners that fits over the barrel?  I think I will buy one one of these days just to see what happens.

[Fazak]

Add me to the list of people who are having a frustrating time getting their .223 Handi to shoot.

I've put 300 rounds through it so far (6 different loads),.. I've experimented with various manners of holding it on the bags, and I just can't seem to make it stop throwing the (more than) occasional flyer.

It's fitted with a 6-18X40 scope (checked and passed stability test) and it acts as if it's just a step away from consistent accuracy,.... but be durned if I can discover what that step is.

I'm heading back to the range tomorrow with 50 rounds of meticulously prepared ammo constructed with premium components. (Remington cases formed to the Handi's chamber, Sierra 53 grain match HP,s, CCI BR primers, over 22.5 grains of H322, 2.290 OAL)

Every other load that I've tried has been close to maximum, but this one is loaded down to the bottom of the spectrum for the chambering with a 53 grain bullet,.... about 2850 fps,... maby a bit less intensity is what's called for.

The barrel has been thoroughly cleaned with copper solvent between every session and should now be broken in. The forearm is set away from the barrel with the "O" ring treatment.

I'd really like a Handi in .223 that worked, but from what I've read and experienced, it appears that .223 is difficult to get a handle on in a Handi.

[myarmor]

From all that I have experimented with the 223 in a Handi, I have used 3.... 2 are the Ultra Models with 24" Bull Barrels, and my last one a 22" Standard. Originally my NIB 24" Ultra was very hard to get tamed down. Turns out the bore was rough. And with now over 700-1000 rds it shoot's excellent. I'm not saying that anyone that owns a 223 in this config will have to shoot 1000 rds through it to be ready to hunt with it. But I wish I had polished the bore to speed this up. Now it is my go to gun.. always reliable , always on point. So much relies on the fit of the barrel to receiver with the forearm playing a important part.
I am a Rokkie here, with being here only a year or so, but still I have played with many barrels, be they factory fit or bought second hand. My 223 had a rough bore and took awhile to break in, as do many rifles. But it shoots true as any that I have and I am most proud of the little girl.
Make sure there is no side to side play when the barrel is closed up.
I personally haven't had any Handi shoot it's best if it closes up marginaly...with no effort. The tighter the better in my opinion. The O-Ring has always worked for me IF no part of the barrel touches. A small bit of sanding might be needed to insure this.
My best shooters are with wood or Laminated stocks. There are many differences and tolerances. But wood is easy to work with in a 2 piece break open stock..rules change from 1pc to 2 pc. here. I actually like synthetic, and it might work for you. I have 2 barrels that shoot well wearing them.

Have fun, play around. If your are a no nonsense kind of guy then buy the wood or Laminated version and you will most likely have a more accurate OTB . But there are so may varibles out there. Enjoy them

-Aaron

[223Shooter]

I will admit that my .223 was a shooter right out of the box. All I did was to put the O ring on and start shooting. The Win white box 45grs shoot great as well as my 55gr handloads AND most everything I put in the chamber. I bought this rifle back in October of 2003. I love my NEF.

[Fazak]

Put 50 rounds of the Sierra 53 grain match load through my Handi yesterday. (22.5 grains H322, commercial cases, BR primers, 2.280 OAL)

This is a very good load in my rifle and I discovered how my particular Handi needs to be held.

First, it will not tolerate any weight on the forearm whatsoever. By resting the buttstock on a rear bag, placing the front bag under the hinge, then pulling the rifle very tightly against my shoulder by wrapping my off hand index finger around the front of the trigger guard, I was able to achieve several sub MOA 3 shot groups.

These little rifles will indeed shoot,... but MAN!,.. are they finicky about how they're held!

[McLernon]

Two good loads --55 gr. Nosler Ballistic tip over 25.5 gr. IMR4895 and 40 gr. Vmax over 27.5 gr. of H335. my $.02

McLernon

[ThudThumper]

i've never had a problem with fliers...i always shoot off a bipod mounted to the forearm.  it's synthetic, btw...maybe i'm just lucky.

and i really appreciate all of you sharing your hand loads, but i wish you would tell us what twist rate you're shooting them with!   

[Dave Allen]

thud...i understand your concern on rate of twist..."however" i think you should pick a bullet that you think would best suit your need's...& look at load's with your bullet & whatever powder you choose to use & play around a bit & see what happen's...to be honest i don't have a handi in 223 or yet anyway..."however" imr 4895..benchmark..varget..w-748 using 50-52-55 grain bullet's in my bolt gun have all served me well...i really don't have a favorite powder...

[lucky guy]

I can't say mine is too picky, or else I just lucked into a great load on the first try.  I'm getting 7/16 - 5/8" at 100 yds with the nosler 40 bt over 27 gr of 748.   First load I tried out of the Nosler reloading book.   

I'm resting the foregrip on a bag behind the foregrip screw and the stock in a second bag.  I hold the stock fairly tight to the shoulder with my left hand holding the bottom of the receiver.

I noticed some of the col's you guys are talking about are alot longer than mine at 2.0", sounds like I should try some a little longer.  I guess you can measure the length to the lands by closing a long dummy round in the chamber like with a bolt action?