Need load suggestions for .223 heavy barrel Handi

[NMHNTR]

I have a new Handi with a .223 heavy barrel.  Could anyone suggest some loads I can try after breaking in the barrel?   

[bigjeepman]

My .223 Handi's (one bb and one standard) both like the Nosler BT and Hornady Vmax 50gr bullets best. I tested heavier bullets but they just didn't perform like the 50gr. I tested H-335, IMR 4198, and Varget. I finally settled on one load for both rifles. I must point out I am partial to Varget even though it doesn't meter well. The other powders performed well but I chose to stay with Varget. This load is the "maximum" charge for Varget in Nosler's 5th Edition manual so work your way up to it and check for pressure signs.

Brass - Winchester
Primer - CCI 400
Bullet - Nosler 50gr BT or Vmax 50gr
Powder - Varget
Charge - 26.0 gr
OAL - 2.261

Good luck and good shooting ...

[flitz]

NMHNTR
used jeepmans load in mine.shot excellant worth a try in yours.here is one to try.
21gr imr4198 40gr vmax cci400 2.16oal

flitz

[greyling]

how do they like the cheap military ammo?

[oneshotonekill]

The best load I have found in mine is a 55 gr V-max over 24 grains of AA2230C, CCI 400 primer, 2.230" OAL.  It has been consistantly producing 5 shot groups around .5-.6 at 100yrds.

The hornady 55sp (no cannalure) also did well over 23.8 gr AA2230C, CCI 400, 2.230" OAL with groups averaging around .7" at 100.

I just purchased a bunch of other bullets I've been wanting to try in the handi.  If the weather breaks I may eventually get to the range to see how they shoot.

Has anyone tried the Winchester 46 gr hollowpoint component bullet?  I bought some to try to see if they were anything like the 45gr white box stuff that these handis seem to like.  I never pulled one of the white box rounds so I don't know how much different the bullets are.  The white box stuff shoots around .7-.8 in my gun so I would love to be able to duplicate that with an inexpensive bullet like the winchester hp.

[oneshotonekill]

how do they like the cheap military ammo?

FYI, H&R puts a warning label in with each 223 rifle or accessory barrel stating not to use military ammo in the 223.  I'm sure this is a CYA deal but I just wanted to point it out since some military 5.56 ammo can produce high pressures in a 223 chamber.  If you choose not to heed H&R's warning do so at your own risk. 

Now with the legal stuff out of the way, I have tried some surplus in my 223 handi and the 62 grain stuff was hard to keep on paper at 100.  My rifle is a few years old and has the slower twist 1:12 the new version 1:9 twist may do better with the heavier/longer bullets.  55gr stuff did alright 2-3" on a good day opening up to 4" on a not so good day.  I tried a few 69 gr's and didn't hit the target so I don't know how they grouped.  After that I decided I would keep the surplus for the AR as it didn't seem like any of it was very accurate in my handi. 

[AZ223]

I've been using the same load as jeepman for years in my Ultra; the only difference is mine likes a shorter COL - 2.245 seems to work best for mine. Another I recently tried is 40gr V-Max and 26gr H335. It's not near the maximum load at all, but gave me near one-hole groups.

Good luck!

[greyling]

I'm a casual reloader so I don't know everything about pressures, but it seems to me that a bull barrel mounted on a receiver that can take  .270 and .308 pressures should be able to take anything a 223 could ever possibly dish out. or an I just way wrong on that?

[quickdtoo]

I'm a casual reloader so I don't know everything about pressures, but it seems to me that a bull barrel mounted on a receiver that can take  .270 and .308 pressures should be able to take anything a 223 could ever possibly dish out. or an I just way wrong on that?

Just depends on if you want to make it a true "single shot", since you may not get the spent case out of it after shooting milsurp, specially in an ejector barrel. Hot loads and gen one extractors don't mix well either, those have to be returned to H&R for a new barrel.

Tim

[greyling]

good point. I ruined an ancient spanish mauser we found in my grandfathers closet after he kicked off  that way. shady cheap gun+unmarked shady shoebox ammo = really stuck case. forcing bolt open resulted in about 1/3 of a stuck case. oops. it was a crappy gun anyway, but your point is well taken.

[georgeld]

My  only .223 is a Sako bolt gun.

But, after around 8 or 9,000 rounds thru it and on the second barrel.

I've settled on two loads.  Either 23gr AA2200 IF I can get it,  or 25gr 4895.
This is for all bullets 55gr and under. I never shoot the heavier one's at all.

The 2200 in my 26" will turn 3100 with the 55's and 3650 with 35 and 40gr.

The 4895 is so close to that it's not worth the hassle to look in the records for the
actual.

Main suggestion I've found is to gather up all the bullet varieties you can find and test them all
with the same load.  You'll discover groups from .250" all the way up to 1.5".  I'm not kidding.

These loads are safe, but, they are max.  So it might be good to cut a grain or two off at the
start to see how your gun reacts to them before jumping into max loads.

Wish you well with it,