1:9 twist 223 and 68gr Hornady doesn't group

[bluebayou]

So I got a Savage with 1:9 twist.  It will shoot the fool out of 55gr bullets.  I bought a box of 68 gr BTHP bullets and loaded with BLC-2.  It was horrible.  Most bullets didn't hit the page.  One string was 4 inches or so however.  My question is should I just chuck the 68 Hornadys?  I hate to give up on something but it was ugly.  Try a different primer?  Looking online, some others shoot this bullet just fine in 1:9.  H4895 is the powder that has shown the best results with the other 223 loads.  Was thinking of that too.  I asked a local guy and he voted for dropping it, that it isn't worth the effort.  His reasoning was that I laddered up the charge on the BLC-2 so different speeds were tried.  I am not convinced by that logic, but I can't see wasting a lot of time/powder either.  The 55 NBT and 60 VMAX shoot great.  I know bearing surface is more important than weight.  I need a chrono.  Any suggestions?

[PaulS]

I would star by loading a few with H335 and H380 as these powders are better suited to the heavier bullets in the 223. You might try some H414 as it gives good velocity with the heavier bullets too.
This cartridge was developed to use double base powders. It doesn't surprise me at all that it doesn't do well with single base powders. The twist is fast enough for the heavy bullets so they should shoot well with the right powder. The best part of reloading is the workup of a new load. Not all powders work in all cartridges and just because it gives good velocity doesn't mean that it will give accuracy. If it was easy anybody could do it. When it is hard we get a better sense of accomplishment.

[Jerry Lester]

I'm shooting the 65g Sierra BT SP's in my 223 with a 1 in 12 twist, and they're shooting great at around 2900 fps(muzzle), so those Hornady 68g bullets should be just fine in your barrel unless the velocity is just terribly slow.

Try Varget, and Rel-7, and the powders PaulS suggested. I'd say you'll be OK if you can get the velocity in the right range.

A bullet stabilizing really isn't %100 dependant on twist rate. I know that's what the common thoughts are on it, but it has as much or more actually to do with velocity. Bullets stabilize at a certain RPM range. This can be acheived with a fast twist at lower velocities, or a slower twist at higher velocities. That's a very simplified way of putting it, but that's the basics of how it works.

[babe915]

 I shoot a savage fp10  and the 68 grainer boattail are my best loads for long range varmint hunting. I use accurate # 2230  powder

        try it

[Harold50]

My Savage Model 11 shoots the 68 Grain Hornady extremely well with 27 Grains if IMR-4895. Twenty-seven grains of IMR-4895 also works very well on 64 grain WWPP and 63 grain Sierras. These are not extremely fast loads I guess (no chronometer). I found them using the ladder system.
Harold

[Gregory]

My Savage Model 11 shoots the 68 Grain Hornady extremely well with 27 Grains if IMR-4895. Twenty-seven grains of IMR-4895 also works very well on 64 grain WWPP and 63 grain Sierras. These are not extremely fast loads I guess (no chronometer). I found them using the ladder system.
Harold

That load is way over max!!!

http://www.imrpowder.com/data/rifle/223rem-2005mar28.php

[acloco]

My Savage model 12 (1:9 twist) prefers the Sierra 69 grain HPBT's over the 68 grain Hornadys'.

I believe the Sierra's have a little longer surface that grab the lands.

[bluebayou]

Does anyone use CCI 450 Small Rifle Magnum primers?  I bought a box (figured what the heck) this weekend. 

Harold50, that does seem high for IMR4895.  I don't think that I could get 27 grains of H4895 in the case without some work.  I do have high hopes for 4895 over Varget.  That would make the load consistent with my other 223 loads if nothing else. 

Part of my problem is the money.  I don't have any Accurate 2230 or H335, but if the next batch doesn't work out then I will try one of these next. 

Thanks for the info everybody.

[Gregory]

Does anyone use CCI 450 Small Rifle Magnum primers?  I bought a box (figured what the heck) this weekend. 

I've used CCI 450 primers and H-335 in some accurate loads.

[OR-E-Gun Bill]

bluebayou,
I've been loading 223 using CCI 450 for years, as it was the selected primer listed in my Lyman's 47th.
For my Ruger Mini 14 - 1:9 twist I've found 64 gr Winchester PP works best for me.

Bill

[bluebayou]

Just an update if anyone is interested.  I loaded 68gr Hornady BTHP over 25.0 of BLC-2 with Winchester SR Magnum primer and got 1" three shot groups.  The bolt is stiff to open, but it worked well.

[Catfish]

25 gr is abt 6 1/5 % over max. in my manual. I would definately recomand that you DO NOT shoot those load in warm weather. 

[ARSHUTR]

Try this:
68 gr Hornady BTHP
24.0 Win 748
Rem 7.5 SRP
Win cases with primer pockets uniformed, flash hole deburred, and trimmed to length

If it doesn't shoot with that load, something else is wrong.  Every .223 I own or have owned (many) shoots this load under an inch and most shoot it 1/2 MOA.  I have shot this load thousands of times with excellent luck from Prairie Dogs to Highpower Rifle competition.  It just works.  Good luck.   

[bluebayou]

Catfish, my faxed pages from Hornady (6th manual, I am guessing) show 25.6 grains are good for 2800 fps at max load.  I worked up from 23.5 if I remember right.  What manual are you looking at?  Maybe this Hornady page is an older one than I thought. 

[OR-E-Gun Bill]

 "25.6 grains are good for 2800 fps at max load"

That's how it is written in my Hornady 6th Edition, printed in 2003 -- BL-C2 for the  Hornady 68 gr. BTHP with C.O.L.: 2.250"

[bluebayou]

Thanks