Looking for .223 Loads

[Hawkster]

          I am looking for some loads to work with in Contender in 10". Right now I have been shooting whatever factory ammo I pick up. The twist rate is 1 in 12" I beleive. Was thinking of 55gr FMJ for bulletts. Mainly for putting holes in paper maybe some varmit hunting too.

                                     Ken

[SD Handgunner]

I have had a couple 10" .223 Contender Barrels over the years. I gave up on the first one I had as I never did find a load I was happy with. The Muzzle Blast with conventional loads in the 10" .223's is something to behold in my opinion.

The last 10" .223 Contender Barrel I had I used a different approach. I concentrated on 40gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips with a few different powders, IMR-4198, H-322, W-748, AA 1680 as well as some others. In the end I obtained the best accuracy, velocity and shooting comfort (least amount of muzzle blast) with 40gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips pushed by IMR-4198.

This load was fun to shoot and quite accurate. Most 5 shot 100 yard groups from the bench were in the 1" range with some groups going under that. If I remember correctly muzzle velocity was 2900 FPS.

I guess if I were to have a go at another 10" .223 Contender that would be the combination I would try first.

Larry

[Curtis]

40 gr. bullets over IMR-4198 is my favorite 10" barrel load for .223 as well, although I've been using Hornady V max.  I haven't had a chance to chrono them since I recently got a chronograph, but I would imagine they're approaching 2800 fps.

Curtis 

[Hawkster]

     Thanx for giving me a place to start from.

                                                  Ken

[Davemuzz]

If your going to shoot varmits, look at using the Hornady V-max bullet or the Nosler ballistic tip and not a full metal jacket bullet. The full metal jacket bullet will just poke a hole through the animal, where the V-max or ballistic tip will "explode" upon impact (shatter and not exit, thus expelling all of it's energy in the varmit) and causing instant death to the varmit. The FMJ bullets will cause death, but it may take some time for that to happen.

BTW, you may not have success with the first powder\bullet combo you try. So....keep trying. If you have some "reloading buddies" who have some powders that you may want to try, it's "cheaper" to get a small amount from them than it is to buy a pound only to find out that powder doesn't work for your gun.

Of course, the best thing to do is find out what other calibers that powder will work with, then buy those other calibers and load 'em up for that. .....You see?? That's why you should always have at least 25 or 30 different calibers in your gun cabinet. Then it's just a lot less expensive to buy powder that way!!!!

Dave

[Graybeard]

I've messed around with several factory barrels all 14" long tho and one custom barrel also 14" long. So far I've never managed to get one to shoot to my satisfaction tho the custom barrel did out shine the factory barrels by a good deal it never met my personal standards for a .223 which are five shots under an inch or less at 100 yards most all of the time with loads worked up for the barrel and at least half of them in the one half to three quarters inch range again with loads worked up specifically for the barrel.

A 10" barrel is just too short for this round in my opinion. Muzzle blast is horrific it's bad even from M15/M16 standard length barrels and not exactly pleasant even from 26" barrels.

The FMJ are fine to punch holes in paper but once you decide to punch holes in the hides of critters you need to switch to varmint bullets not FMJ.

[Hawkster]

                 I have shot my little 10'' with others shooting the .22lr's. The blast is awesome thats for sure. Many times I have people ask what in the world I am shooting.

                               Ken