Need help in duplicating Hornady 75 grain .223 match cartridges

[KansasPaul]

Hello friends,

I am wanting to duplicate the Hornady .223 match 75 grain BTHP cartridges.  These have an advertised velocity of 2790 fps.  I do not have any load data for a Hornady, or any other, 75 grain bullet.  My Bushmaster REALLY likes this Hornady round but I just can't bring myself to spend $15 for a box of 20 rounds when I can reload .223 rounds for about .25 cents each (but I digress). 

I will gladly accept any input from my friends out there.

Paul

PS: Does anyone know what powder Hornady uses in its cartridges?  Is is proprietary or does Hornady use powder manufactured by other companies?

[darkgael]

The load that I use - though I use the Sierra 77 grain bullet - is 24.1 grains of Reloader 15 for 2700fps. (Winchester factory primed brass.)
You are right about it being a good shooting combo.
Pete

[necchi]

PS: Does anyone know what powder Hornady uses in its cartridges?  Is is proprietary

That's a good question. I wanted to replicate some winchester rounds,,I pulled a bullet and the powder was a duplex mix. It had Ball and Flake powders in the mix.

Hornady must be using their "Match" bullet, so that's easy enough too get,,Then it's kinda just a matter of funding a hot burning powder to get the velocity YOUR rifle likes. You already have an OAL that works so it's just the powder. My 223 likes varget,, but I don't think it'll give you that velocity.
Maybe someone out there has a Hornady book that can look it up for ya,,,

[darkgael]

That 24.1 grain load of RE15 is from the Hornady manual as a Service rifle load. It is for the 75 grain bullet, the max load.
Other powders giving the same velocity are BL-C2, W748, H4895. Varget is listed  with a 2650 max velocity.
Pete

[DANNY-L]

my mini 14 likes varget with the heavier bullets 69gr and up,and the oal is to where it will just work in the magazine

[beerbelly]

I have never been able to  duplicate factory loads. At least with my crony. I normally am getting worried about pressure before I reach their speeds.
    But my accurate rounds are always lower than the hardest I am willing to push them, so I just don't go there.
                                          Beerbelly

[shot1]

I would be willing to bet that the advertised velocity of that load is not what your rifle is shooting at. The ammo companies do there velocity work up in a pressure barrel that has a tight chamber and most of the time the barrels are very long. You need to chrno this load in your rifle. If that bullet shoots really well in your rifle then you can reload the same bullet and find a load that will shoot just as good. I have never tried the 77 gr, in my Bushmaster 9 twist I shoot the 69 Sierra MK and 25.3 grs. Varget for a little over 2700 fps. I have not tried it but many say that Viht N140 does really well with the 77 and 80 gr bullets in the AR's. It is the powder that Sierra gives as their accuracy load with their 77 and 80 gr bullets.  The Sierra accuracy load for their 77 gr bullet is 24.1 grs Viht N140 for 2600 fps out of a Colt 7 twist 20" barrel AR. They use Fed. cases and Rem 7 1/2 primers.

I have found that Varget shoots really well with about every bullet from 52 to 69 grs I have tried.

[Larry Gibson]

I use AA2460 under the 69 gr MK in my Colt AR Comp with 20" barrel I am running right at 2900 fps (refer to Lyman 48th for load).  It is an excellent 600 yard load.  I use the 52 gr HPBT Match bullets for 200/300 yards.  I load them over H335 for 3100 fps.

Larry Gibson

[84Jim]

Does anyone know what powder Hornady uses in its cartridges?  Is is proprietary or does Hornady use powder manufactured by other companies?

Based on several sources, I've come to the conclusion that Hornady loads the 168 AMax Garand ammo using Varget.  We've chrono'd some, and it doesn't live up to the advertised 2700 fps, more like 2550 in our guns.  That being said, I'd bet the .223 is loaded with Varget also.  As several other posters have said, it's hard to find a better choice.  I guess the only way to find out for sure is to pull one and compare the powder.

[beerbelly]

I have been told, true or not I do not know, But I was told you can not buy factory powder. The powder the ammo companies use to make their ammo. It is said they buy it under contract, not to be sold else where, only to the manufacturer.
   The same companies make powder for sale to the public, you and I.  But my understanding is it not the same power the ammo companies use.
   If anyone knows the truth of this , please post it.
                                   Beerbelly

[KansasPaul]

I appreciate all the input so far!

I've noticed that a lot of handloaders like Varget but I have never tried it.  I have W748, H335, BL(c)-2 and RE15 on hand.  I will try to pick up some Varget this weekend and I'll start doing some comparisons.  I have almost always been able to dial in my guns so that they shoot better than factory loads - this Hornady Match is the exception.

[bullmoose]

What's the twist in your rifle,I shoot 1in 8,75vld bergers on top of varget powder.half moa all the way out there.If you have at least same twist try some 80gr sierra's.Dispatched three deer chas'in ,grouse eat'in mangy yotes last week with the bergers as well.



                                       SHOOT OFTEN ,SHOOT STRAIGHT

[blpenn66502]

Here's a place to start: http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

Varget seems to have potential for the velocity you seek from their data as well as BL(c)-2 and H335.

[MZ5]

You've probably already gone and bought your Varget, but if not, save your money.  748 works brilliantly under Hornady's 75 AMAX.  Do you need to stay within magazine length constraints with your AR?  If so, I can't help with specific load data.  I load my bolt gun to 2.5" COAL.

[KansasPaul]

No Varget or 75 grain bullets available locally so it looks like I'll have to place an online order.  I'll likely try the heavier bullets with the powder I already have.  I do not currently own a chronograph so that's one more item for my current wish list.  Heck, a chrony would probably pay for itself in powder and bullet savings - except that it is still fun to shoot when developing loads.

Paul

[moorepower]

H4895 is what is used.

[sphingta]

when i pulled a bullet and weighed the charge it matched up with one of the accurate powders and looked nothing like varget. it was either 23 or 2520. small spherical powder. Never got a chance to reproduce the charges because i was on vacation at my relatives and the powder got there after i left. wasn't worried about it because my guns shot the hornady stuff great but also shoots varget just as well and that's what i have on hand.

[KansasPaul]

My rifle has a 1-9 twist and is a 16" stainless barrel. I have tried different bullet weights, bullet styles and powders but I just haven't been able to find the sweet spot with the exception of the Hornady factory 75 grn loads which shoot sub-MOA. I have been so frustrated with the results that I had almost got to the point where I wasn't even going to mess with .223 at all anymore - I was going to get rid of the rifle and buy something in .243, .260 or .308. When I stumbled on the 75 grain Hornady I had a renewed interest. It is just driving me nuts - hence the need to duplicate the factory load.

I do appreciate everyone's input!!  I hope to get out tomorrow and try some loads that I just put together.

Paul