Powders and bullets for a 223 with a 1 in 7.7 twist 24" long barrel

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1oldgoat

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I've been a member here for a few months and have been reading the reloading forum for about a year.


This is my first post so, please be gentle.


I have a 24" Krieger 1 in 7.7" twist 223 varmatch barrel that they chambered and fitted to a Midwest Industries upper and a Midwest Industries nickel boron bolt/ bolt carrier. Krieger also fitted their forend.


I have new Lapua 223 match cases and I have been shooting 24.6 grains Varget, with 55 grain Berger bullets and CCI BR4 primers to break the gun in. I think that I want to try heavier bullets.


I'm currently getting .600" groups at 100 yards on average. I will be shooting mostly 100 yards.


I have 1 pound each of TAC, 322, RE15 and 748. I'm going to Scheels this Sunday and would like some recommendations on additional powders and bullets to try from guys that are shooting a similar setup as mine.


Thanks.
 
80 gr. SMK's and Re15 can make an accurate load for long distance. I can't remember the charge wt., but you probably should work out your own load anyway. 80 gr. might be overkill for 100 yds, though. 77 SMK's and Varget go together well also. Can't remember that load either.

I use 55 gr. Vmax with IMR 4895 or Varget for shorter ranges. 24.5 gr.

Just curious, what chamber do you have? Kreiger gives you several options.
 
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You're as good as it gets now if that's as big as they get. I suggest you stop developing loads then wear the barrel out with that load putting smiles on your face. Heavier bullets may shoot better if you want to experiment.
 
Looks like you have a good load right there.
Personally my do all .223 bullet is the 65grn sgk, but i use it for everything from dusting rocks and fliping shotgun shells, to shooting sheep and deer. Ive shot the hornady 68grn bthp match bullets and they have shot well, i havent tried any of the heavier bullets. My favorite powder for the .223 right now is 748, accuracy and velocity are both good.
 
For my 1:7 I like 62gr Hornady FMJ-BT for plinking and Barnes 69gr BTHP "matchburners" or Nosler 77gr Custom Competition for longer range work. (Essentially Noslers 77 SMK) The Barnes 69 I load most of because it's accurate and affordable. In NATO brass (LC/TAA/WCC) with CCI Small rifle primers and 23.5gr TAC I get sub MOA (usually .7xx") from a 1:7 16" AR. Varget also works well for the 69gr pill and gives .8xx" groups from the same carbine. I imagine these loads could be developed to run much better from a rig like yours. With the 77gr Nosler, I cooked up a load using commercial .223 from Federal/Speer/Hornady using Varget that does 3/4 MOA from my carbines. Reloader 15 is another good powder for these type of loads as well. For my 62gr FMJ plinking load I use 24.4gr H335 and a standArd CCI small rifle in NATO brass. That is only a 1-1.1" load from my AR but could tighten up from a bolt gun.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, are there any more out there?

The barrel is chambered 223 match not Wilde (sp) or 5.56.
 
I use 77gr bullets... that 24.5gr charge of varget under that 77gr is great. I also use 23.6gr charge of tac under the 77gr. Nosler cc or Sierra smk doesn't matter. All loaded to mag length. I get about 2700-2750 from my 20" WOA upper with a 1-8"
 
Thanks OG. The Kreiger site lists .223, .223 wylde, and .556 Match as chamber options. Their site states that the .223 chamber is recommended for bullets up to 77 gr.

Reason I was asking is that I sprung for a Kreiger heavy barrel, 24" to replace the barrel on my RRA varmiter. I got the plain .223 chamber. To be honest, my old Wilson Wylde shot better (before the throat eroded). I've kind of put the rifle aside for awhile, I need to dig it out and experiment with some different bullets and loads.

Mine has a super short throat, to the point that mag length is only 0.020" from the lands.
 
With that twist rate you will do better with 60gr + than the lighter bullets. Start with 65-69 gr and go up to 77 gr. 77 gr will be the max that fits the magazine. My 223R 1:8 Wylde chamber will not shoot light bullets accurately. But once you get to the 65gr it really shines. I use Varget for my loads with Lapula brass and LC-15.
 
I don't know about heavier bullets but have had good results with 55gn v max and w748 with a standard 16" barrel
 
I have been using this for checking various bullet gyroscopic stability factors (SG) http://www.bergerbullets.com/twist-rate-calculator/

I also found this for gaining a general idea for bullet weight.

Determining twist rate vs. bullet weight

Bullet length divided by caliber = X
Bullet specific gravity divided by X = Y (specific gravity for jacketed bullets with lead core = 150)
Multiply Y by caliber = turn in inches

Example: (.223 cal .897" long)
.897 / .223 = 4.0 (X)
150 / 4.0 = 37.5 (Y)
37.5 X .223 = 8.3 or 1 turn in 8 inches
 
Unless you are shooting matches out to distances where you need a heavier bullet to buck the wind I would stick with what you have. Those are very good results IMO.

My favorite target load is a 55gr Sierra GameKing bullet #1390 over 25.0gr Varget.
 
For both hunting and targets I like the 75 grain BTHP match bullet with cannelure from Hornady. Works fine in my 1-7 twist barrel. I use BLC(2) powder.
 
I
1oldgoat said:
I've been a member here for a few months and have been reading the reloading forum for about a year.


This is my first post so, please be gentle.


I have a 24" Krieger 1 in 7.7" twist 223 varmatch barrel that they chambered and fitted to a Midwest Industries upper and a Midwest Industries nickel boron bolt/ bolt carrier. Krieger also fitted their forend.


I have new Lapua 223 match cases and I have been shooting 24.6 grains Varget, with 55 grain Berger bullets and CCI BR4 primers to break the gun in. I think that I want to try heavier bullets.


I'm currently getting .600" groups at 100 yards on average. I will be shooting mostly 100 yards.


I have 1 pound each of TAC, 322, RE15 and 748. I'm going to Scheels this Sunday and would like some recommendations on additional powders and bullets to try from guys that are shooting a similar setup as mine.




1oldgoat said:
I've been a member here for a few months and have been reading the reloading forum for about a year.


This is my first post so, please be gentle.

I'm a Highpower Shooter, using a 1/7, and 1/8 fully Matched AR's having 20" barrels.
I use 80gr Sierra's and use 24.0gr of RL15, and single feed them chasing the lands 10 thous., going at 2720 FPS
I have used Varget with the same bullet and with 24.0 grains, but I have to use 1 more minute of Elev compared with RL15, like RL15 Better.
Have been told not to go past 24.0 with RL15, may cause pressure problems, being a single Base Powder.
I use Black Hills Brass, with Rem BR Small Rifle Primers.

Barman54
Out
I have a 24" Krieger 1 in 7.7" twist 223 varmatch barrel that they chambered and fitted to a Midwest Industries upper and a Midwest Industries nickel boron bolt/ bolt carrier. Krieger also fitted their forend.


I have new Lapua 223 match cases and I have been shooting 24.6 grains Varget, with 55 grain Berger bullets and CCI BR4 primers to break the gun in. I think that I want to try heavier bullets.


I'm currently getting .600" groups at 100 yards on average. I will be shooting mostly 100 yards.


I have 1 pound each of TAC, 322, RE15 and 748. I'm going to Scheels this Sunday and would like some recommendations on additional powders and bullets to try from guys that are shooting a similar setup as mine.


Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Lots of powders do well in 223, Varget, 8208, 748, 335, BL-C2...

I largely run Varget and 8208. Load for a friend who kills it with 335 and 77smk's.
 
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