new 223 handi-grip has arrived!!

[sureshot73]

 new handi-grip 223 has just arrived and now i need to work up some loads for it, i have several different powders on hand to try first, i've already loaded up some AA2460 with 3 different powder charges, the other powders i will be trying are IMR 3031, 4064, 4895, all loads at this time will be with 40gr. Nos BT, it will be primarily used for gophers, i have not had a chance to shoot it yet cause its been snowing here for days!!, does anyone out there have any succesful loads with this combination, or any input or advise would be appreciated!! Thanks in advance.

[Daman]

pick up some 55gr PSP from Midway and set over 25.4 grains of IMR3031.

Daman

[sureshot73]

i weighed out a 25gr. charge of 3031 dumped it in a winchester case and almost filled the case, all the manuals i looked at except a 1982 published Lyman book never stated a compressed load, and it showed compressed loads for 4064 & 4895 as well, so i just used AA2460 for the time being until i get some input from other people on compressed loads for a 223. All advice would be nice. Thanks.

[Daman]

All I use is the compressed 3031 in my 223. No pressure signs and great accuracy. Just what works for me!

Daman

[sureshot73]

Thanks for the info Daman! Have you tried 40gr. bullets with an success!

[necchi]

Good luck with the new gun,,I've had great results with Varget in the .223 in a wide range of bullet weight.

[Daman]

Thanks for the info Daman! Have you tried 40gr. bullets with an success!

Never shot anything butt 55's. I shoot deer and hogs with them so 40's just seem too light!

Daman

[sureshot73]

just got back from the range, first powder i tried was AA2460 24gr, 24.5gr & 25gr 10 rounds each, the 25gr charge shot the best groups approx 2.5", the next powder i tried was H322 24.5gr & 25grs 5 rounds each, 25gr charge out shot the 24.5gr by .5" at just under a 2" group, third powder i tried was IMR 3031 24gr & 24.5gr charges, the 24.5gr outshot all of them at just over 1", all groups were at 100yrds, all loads were topped with 40gr NOS BT and same COL for all. Groups were tighter with all 3 powders at the highest charges i had loaded, i had fired about 35 rounds of some FMJ's i had laying around, cleaning it after each shot for 10 rounds, then every 5 for the next 25 shots, then every 10 rounds with my handloads, very impressed with the rifle so far, and that handi-grip stock is awesome IMO!! I have high rings on there, cause it was the only set i had laying around and the cheekpiece is definately functional, thought it might be to low from the pics on the net, but with a set of medium rings it will be even better. Well its back to work up some more loads, any input or advice would be appreciated! thanks in advance!

[bikerbeans]

Necchi,

Good to hear positive info. on Varget.  It is looking like it is my new favorite powder for the 223, H&Rs and M4/AR15s.

BB

[necchi]

Good to hear positive info. on Varget.  It is looking like it is my new favorite powder for the 223,,,

beans,,
Me too, I'm kinda new too loading, but I've tried 3 different powders in the 223. AA2230, H4895 and the Varget. The Varget is the best preformer by far.

surshot,,
 This is a 10 shot target with varget and Hornady 40grn V-max,,basically the same as 40 Nos B-tip



Basically 8 in the same hole and 2 fliers (2nd poor shot is upper right). I get the same results with sierra 45 hornets, 50grn seirra spitzers and most recent 55 Nos Ballistic tips. I worked my way up in bullet weight to see what would shoot in the 1-12. I'm happy with the 55grn soI just got a bulk box of the 55 nos to load.
 This is after a trigger job and all the accurizing tips found in the faq's and of course advice from the fine members here.
Thanks everyone   now I'm moving on to the 308,,and the 45-70 and the,,,,,

[sureshot73]

necchi, nice shootin!! my rifle has a 1-9 twist, and the majority of people that i have talked to didnt think that a 40gr bullet was going to group good in a 1-9, but so far so good, with 1 load anyway!  I too tried the accurizing tips found here on the forum, and am very pleased, cause there definately some people having accuracy issues out there, havnt messed around with my trigger yet, mabey down the road, that new handi-grip stock fits me very well and to be honest didnt even notice the trigger being an issue, but some trigger work could only help i'm sure! I havnt found any handi-rifle handymen north of the border yet but i will be looking.

[pvtschultz]

3031 works very well in the 308 and 45-70 as well.  With the 308 and lighter bullets, you pretty much just fill the case to the rim and compress to length.  A max charge under a 125 gr Nosler will get things moving VERY quick but will do a good job of flattening the primers.  Nothing excessive, they don't fall out, and the accuracy is pretty good too.  With the 45-70, start closer to the max for trapdoor rifles as anything less leads to delayed ignition in my experience.