.223 loads?

[seafox]

 What is the best powder and load for .223 caliber? I just shoot targets from a bench. I currently am loading 55g Winchester FMJ bullets. Are lighter loads more accurate?

[BCB]

H-335 is hard to beat...BCB

[PaulS]

I agree with BCB but AA2230 and WW748 are also good choices.

[bigjeepman]

I have had very good success with H-335 and 55 gr Nosler BT. I then wanted to give the 55 gr V-MAX bullet a try and my groups opened up. I then tried Varget with the V-MAX Hornady's and the group's got real tight.

[Gregory]

Nothing wrong with any of the powders mentioned already, I'll add H4895 to the mix.

Lots of powders work well in the 223.

[The Sodbuster]

I've shot Sierra 55 grain blitzkings, 50 gr spitzers, 55 gr hollow points, Nosler 50 gr ballistic tips, and Hornady 50 gr V-maxes and 52 gr A-max.  The 50 gr. V-max shoots best in my gun.  BL-(C)2 is my powder of choice for them.  Benchmark also works well, but produces lower velocities.  I'd like to pick up some H335 one of these days to try out.

Lately, for practice, I've been shooting 50 grain spitzers ahead of AA2520.  It shoots inside 1.5" at 100 yards.  Not my best load, but hey, I've got to use up that powder and those bullets in something!

Just curious how many others load what's far from their pet load, but do it for practice with components you bought but haven't worked out so well.  Or do you let those components just gather dust?  I've tried the AA2520 in my .308 as well and it's been equally disappointing.  Probably have at least 75 of the Blitzkings too.  They didn't do so great in either .223 Rem or .22-250 rem.

[mries]

They didn't do so great in either .223 Rem or .22-250 rem.

While it's nice having the baseline loading data, it would also help to know what barrel twist these "accurate" (or non-accurate) loads are being used in.

[Davemuzz]

BL-C2 max load with Nosler 40 grain balistic tips. OAL set 40 thousands off of the chamber total OAL.  I know you were asking about the 55 grain bullet, but this load will shoot a group that can be covered by a quarter at 100 yards from my factory T\C barrel.

It may not work that well for you, but after many attempts with many different powder\bullet combos, when I hit this one it was like hitting the lottery!

Dave.

[bigjeepman]

seafox ...

What kind of rifle do you have? Just curious .....

For my load information, I was referring to my Savage FP10 that has a 1:9 twist in a 24" barrel.

[De41mag]

jeepman;

I also shoot a Savage Model 10FP in .223 and it shoots just about anything. Factory Winchester 45gr Varmit packs and in handloads it likes 52gr. A-Max w/ Varget or I even used the Sierra 77gr. Matchking HPBT on a prairie dog shoot this year with TAC powder.
One thing I've noticed is the dirtier the barrel the better it shoots.
Oh yea, another load is the 55gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip and H-335 powder.
It's a good rifle, just sit back and enjoy it.

Dennis 

[Jerry Lester]

I like Rel-7 better than anything else for 223 loads using bullets from 50g-65g. It gives great velocity, and awsome accuracy over a very wide range of combinations.

[bigjeepman]

De41mag ....

I don't intend to steal this thread from seafox but I will say that the .223 caliber has been a joy for me especially since I bought my first Savage in Feb 2005. I am looking at my records and I see the "worst" group I have shot with any load was a 1.05" 4 shot group with 69gr Sierra HPBT in a near-max load using H-335. I almost never have to go near max loads to find my best groups. The best groups I have with this rifle/caliber setup are as follows:

55 gr Hornady V-Max / Varget ......  .176"  3 rounds @ 100 yds
                                                    .193"  3 rounds @ 100 yds  (both groups fired by my brother)

55 gr Nosler Bal Tip / H-335 ......   .201"   3 rounds @ 100 yds
                                                  .288"   5 rounds @ 100 yds

The V-Max rounds I listed above were the very "first" rounds that I neck-sized only. We were shooting in the .400" to .500" on a pretty regular basis before that. I need to mention these groups (and any other real good groups I shoot) are measured by a third party who happens to own/operate the gunshop/range that I use. I work very long and hard at fine tuning loads like many others at Graybeards. I consider myself an average shooter but I practice a lot when I am looking for a load for a certain bullet/powder combination. I also need to mention that I didn't like the factory stock on the Savage and replaced it with a  $95.00 B & C Desert Tan stock from Midway before I even took the first shot.

seafox ... all the powders/bullets everyone suggests to you have all worked for these guys. You need to keep searching until you find what your rifle likes. This is my most accurate setup. My goal is to first consistently shoot sub-moa. If a rifle does that consistently ..... then I believe it will do much better with a little work and patience. If you are like me, you can't afford to go out and buy 5 different powders and 10 different bullets to start off with. Pay attention to all suggestions and go from there.

Good shooting to you ... you too De41mag!

[The Sodbuster]

Mries commented:

it would also help to know what barrel twist these "accurate" (or non-accurate) loads are being used in.

The .22-250 is a stainless, heavyweight Savage barrel (model 12) with a 1-12 twist.  The .223 Rem is a sporter weight, stainless, Savage barrel (model 16) with a 1-9 twist.

[MnMike]

Loads are good if they work in your gun. I have seen a load that works in my gun that does not work for a friend with the same gun.

This is why we have so much powder, primers, and bullets on the shelf.

That said, my best load is Varget with Winchester primers and 50 grain Sierra bullets.

mike

[rks1949]

My best load to date in a Ruger M77 .223 is/ Win 748 with a Speer 50gr. TNT. Shoots sub MOA,and really is hard on the Varmints!