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Author Topic: What shoots well in your #3 .223?  (Read 876 times)

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Offline tacotime

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What shoots well in your #3 .223?
« on: July 03, 2012, 04:32:03 AM »
Had this little Ruger for a while but only tried bulk Federal 55gr FMJ. The gun does not care for these. Groups about 1.75 to 2 inches at 100.

What works better for target?

Thinking a box of Fed Gold Medal Match 55 or 69 grain SMKBTHP?

Thanks.
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Offline DEACONLLB

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Re: What shoots well in your #3 .223?
« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2012, 05:35:41 AM »
Dont know what the twist is on the number 3 but the 1 in 12 on the encores and contenders dont handle the 69 grn bullets, much better with a 1 in 9 that is what my mossberg ssi one is and they work fine in it I had a contende barrel and they would tail drag almost like a keyhole but not as bad.
 
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Offline tacotime

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Re: What shoots well in your #3 .223?
« Reply #2 on: July 13, 2012, 07:16:21 AM »
I'll try the 55 Varminter and 53 Match King with Varget.  I did note that it shoots Win. white box 5.56 better than bulk or hunting 55 gr. rounds, with no apparent bullet contact with the rifling as chambered.  The 55 Tactical Tru shot like the 5.56, but neither impressive, still maybe 1.25 at 100y.  Looking for a little better.  Thanks.
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Offline 30calflash

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Re: What shoots well in your #3 .223?
« Reply #3 on: September 12, 2012, 07:59:19 AM »
 If it's a 12" twist anything lighter than 60 grains, solid base. No open base like an FMJ. 50 to 55 gr should be worth trying, Nosler BT's are highly regarded.
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Offline OldSchoolRanger

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Re: What shoots well in your #3 .223?
« Reply #4 on: September 18, 2012, 03:42:51 PM »
It's been a while since I shot my #3, but I was getting decent groups using Lake City (military) brass and 52 grain heads (Sierra HPBT's and Speer HP's), over 24.5 grains of IMR 4320 powder, and Federal SR primers.

30calflash & DEACONLLB are correct in regards to the twist and bullet weights.  The #3 doesn't like bullets heavier than 55 grains.
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Offline Jeff H

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Re: What shoots well in your #3 .223?
« Reply #5 on: October 21, 2012, 06:37:51 AM »
Mine was 1:10 twist.
I shot it for about ten years using LC brass of mixed date, all prep'd meticulously, Sierra 60 grain HPs, and Hornady 60 grain HPs over 25 grains of H335 and a CCI SRP.  My No. 3 shot three of these into 3/8" consistently, without long barrel cool-downs between shots, meaning that I shot each next round as soon as I was loaded, settled in and back "on."  This was by no means "rapid fire" but I didn't let the barrel cool for ten minutes either.  I don't remember the COAL but it was longer than would fit into either a Mini-14 or CZ 527 magazine and was not touching the rifling in the No. 3.
 
I had tried other lighter weight bullets and IMR 3031 and 4198 powders, but the above load was best.  I used LEE full-length dies at the time and for that rifle.  I have acquired their collet sizer since but never tried it in the No. 3.
 
I saw no different between the Sierra and Hornady 60 grain HPs and I seated both to the same COAL.  No change in POI and no difference in group size.  Since it was shooting under half an inch, I didn't work on load development any further. 
 
Side Note:
Oddly, my 6.5x55 shoots the Hornady and Sierra 160 RNs exactly the same as well and the .257" Sierra 75 grain HPs and Hornady 75 grain V-max's do the same thing in my .257 Roberts.  It's not that all my rifles have exhibited this, but that these are the ones that stuck around because they just seemed to shoot so well all the time and with most every load I tried.  All shoot under half an inch but (even more oddly) the 6.5x55 shoots the 160s tighter than either of the other two varmint loads in more "varmint-appropriate" rifles.
 
 
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