First, the coal of the loaded rounds is 2.204.
The length of the 45 grain jhp is .624. It is a flat based bullet, no boattail. Actual weight of the bullet was 45.5 grains.
Some other bullets compared in size; Speer 52 gr HP (#1035) .705 long. Rem 50 gr HP .638 long. Horn 55g JSP .708 long.
The case (unfired, bullet pulled) measures 1.755
The bullet has no crimp cannelure, but it is defintely crimped with a smooth almost invisible crimp. It took three hard raps with a quinetics puller to free the bullet.
Given the above measurements, the bullet is seated .175 deep in the case mouth.
The powder was a typical win ball powder and weighed 25.9 grains. This could be 748 or maybe a similar bulk powder manufactured by/for winchester. I'm quite certain that winchester manufactures Hodgdons H335 and BLC-2. The winchester manual does not list a 45 grain bullet in .224. Neither could i find one listed for sale on either midway or graf's web sites. There was a Win 46 grain Hornet bullet listed on Midway's site.
I was a little surprised to find a ball powder charge under such a light bullet in .223. Especially one that burns slow enough to call for nearly 26 grains of powder. For my own reloading regimen, I had picked H322 as my powder of choice to try under 40 to 45 grain bullets, but that's just my own preference.
Maybe a bullet exam is in order! Pull the 45gr JHP from one of the win white box bullets and examine the powder and weigh the charge....maybe a starting place?
See above. I did that and wrote that report. It was posted on a different thread. Mighta been on the old NEF board.
I don't think that is an issue with the Ultra Varmint bull barrel. H&R makes some lightweight barrels but I don't think any of us in this particular thread have that to deal with. Their lightweights are not shooters from what I've read.
My grand son has the light weight 223 with synthetic stock and tapered barrel. I have never benched his but I sure have loaded a ton of ammo for it
It's my guess looking at the few targets he has shot with it and with my NEF .223 that they shoot about the same.
He likes to blast clay birds on the dirt bank and does not concern himself much with accuracy. Just looking for the satisfaction of the disintegrating bird
Maybe we could all benefit from revisiting that outlook on life! :grin: He has a 4x scope on it and when I offered to put a 3-9X on it for him he politely declined saying he didn't want to complicate things. Pretty bright boy for ten years. Makes his grampa proud :-)