Just getting into handloading

[KyleWoods35]

Hello,

I have recently gotten into handloading after finding out my dad had a Lee single stage press. I've had good luck with the Hornady 50 gr v-max superformance factory ammo this summer but wanted to get my feet wet with handloading. I'm using a Lee collet neck sizing die and Lee bullet seater. I just loaded 50 rounds and did some experimenting today at the range. I'm loading a .222 and used IMR 4198 and H322, 5 different grains of powder for each, giving me 10 different loads. Using 50 gr Sierra spitzers. My order of shooting was this:
Starting with 4198, 1 shot with 18.5 gr at corresponding target, 1 with 19 gr at corresponding target and so on, repeated 5 times, letting barrel cool between each 5 shot group.
Repeated the same exact way with 322
My question to you guys is, what load looks best to you? I thought 19.5 gr of 4198 and 22.5 gr of 322 looked best to me but just wanted your opinion. I plan on setting up targets at 200 and 300 yards with those two loads to see the bullet drop. I'm hunting groundhogs and 300 yards will probably be my farthest shot. I'm probably putting too much thought into this, especially because 8 of the 10 groups shot today are probably good enough for groundhogs.

Forgot to mention, the 19.5 gr of 4198 has 3 bullet in the bullseye, 2 went through the same hole (the right hole)

 

[KyleWoods35]

 

[KyleWoods35]

 

[ArchAngelCD]

There are several things to consider than one target alone. It's hard to tell which load is best because you didn't use a fixed rest, the human factor comes into play. You also have to be concerned with bullet drop at the lower velocities when shooting past 200 yards.

Back when the .222 was the darling of the target shooters H322 won more matches than any other powder. I would stick with it.

Which 50gr bullet did you use? Maybe a different bullet would do better in your rifle. How about OAL? You can usually improve accuracy with changes in distance from the lands. I would consider those things instead of worrying about powders only.

In my bolt action. 223 a 55gr HPBT Sierra GameKing shoots better than any other bulletin tried. Try some different 50gr bullets in your .222 with H322 is my suggestion.

 

[WestKentucky]

4198 at 20.5 looks really good. I would think putting that load in the rifle off of a good rest will confirm that it's a dandy.

Since your new to loading, and your starting with rifle please take some time to study how to read pressure signs on cases. The short version is you want enough pressure to leave clean necks, but not so much you blow primers. Flat primers are good, smooshed primers are bad. Watch for lines around the bases of the cases, and anything on the back end of the case that wasn't there to begin with. The long version of pressure sign discussion could fill a book. There are good discussions around here with pictures which help tremendously.

 

[KyleWoods35]

Thank you guys, I was using Sierra soft points. I wanted to get some Nosler ballistic tips but my local gun store didn't have any 50 grain, so I went with Sierra's.

I was looking for pressure signs and didn't find any that I'm aware of. I've been doing some research the past couple weeks and have seen pictures of high pressure signs. When you say a clean neck do you mean on the outside? So the pressure expands the neck to the chamber wall and doesn't let powder residue to get to the outside? A lot of my cases had dirty necks, I'll look tonight and see if the higher loads had dirty necks or not.

 

[Blue68f100]

Like earlier said you need to be using bags or some kind of rest to help eliminate the human factor. As for as your loads several look promising. One thing I would suggest is to reduce your powder steps. 0.5 gr is ok for large capacity rounds but with the 222 you probably jumped over the most accurate nodes. I normally jump in 0.2 gr increments when I get within 1 gr of max. Then I go back and fill in the gaps where I have my best accuracy.

Enjoy the new found hobby, it's very addicting.

For powders you listed the H322 will probably be the best but there is nothing wrong with the 4198 if your weighing each charge.

As far as what your gun like there is only one way to find out, Shoot them. I like the Sierra GameKings for my varmint loads. They shoot almost as good as the match bullets.

 

[KyleWoods35]

Like earlier said you need to be using bags or some kind of rest to help eliminate the human factor. As for as your loads several look promising. One thing I would suggest is to reduce your powder steps. 0.5 gr is ok for large capacity rounds but with the 222 you probably jumped over the most accurate nodes. I normally jump in 0.2 gr increments when I get within 1 gr of max. Then I go back and fill in the gaps where I have my best accuracy.

Enjoy the new found hobby, it's very addicting.

For powders you listed the H322 will probably be the best but there is nothing wrong with the 4198 if your weighing each charge.

As far as what your gun like there is only one way to find out, Shoot them. I like the Sierra GameKings for my varmint loads. They shoot almost as good as the match bullets.

Could you elaborate on which loads you think are promising and maybe explain why? Just trying to learn what to look for. I should have mentioned that I was using bags under the stock and a bipod.

 

[Blue68f100]

20.5gr H4198 has very little vertical deviation. Wind can cause the horz string.

You basically have the same patter with 20.5-21.0 H322. Like I said earlier jumping 0.5gr is huge jump on a small case. Now load some up shifting 0.2gr on both sides of these. Like 20.1, 20.3, 20.5, 20.7 I will load on 3 rounds each. If one or a pair is real close fill in the gaps. You really want to find the center of the node for consistency. Once you find the sweet spot I adj the OAL by 0.005" either side to see if things tighten up more. But in order to do this you need a micrometer head seating die so you can change the length easily.

 

[KyleWoods35]

Ok these are my loads for the next go around:

4198 - 19.1 19.3 19.5 19.7 19.9 20.1 20.3 20.5

322 - 20.1 20.3 20.5 20.7 20.9 21.0

3 rounds each

COAL 2.125

I don't have a micrometer bullet seater and I really don't feel like shelling the money out for one. I'll just stick to measuring every load.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Ok these are my loads for the next go around:

4198 - 19.1 19.3 19.5 19.7 19.9 20.1 20.3 20.5

322 - 20.1 20.3 20.5 20.7 20.9 21.0

3 rounds each

COAL 2.125

I don't have a micrometer bullet seater and I really don't feel like shelling the money out for one. I'll just stick to measuring every load.

It's my opinion you are wasting bullets testing both powders especially since H322 is time tested and a winner in the .222 but it's your money.

You don't need a competition bullet seating die to make good Varmint ammo.

 

[KyleWoods35]

It's my opinion you are wasting bullets testing both powders especially since H322 is time tested and a winner in the .222 but it's your money.

You don't need a competition bullet seating die to make good Varmint ammo.

Well I've already got a quarter pound of each powder do I might as well try 4198 also.
Which of my 322 targets do you think looks best?

 

[Dudedog]

Welcome to THR,
lots of great people here.

Hard to say on the H322 but maybe 20.5.
You really need a good rest and a retest to take the shooter out of it as much as possible.

 

[spitballer]

I'd stay on the low end with the H322, maybe even closer to 20.2 for lasting groups. The IMR 4198 looks like you could go closer to the high end for hunting, but IMO it's too fast for target shooting. Those last bullets that flew higher were probably actually travelling slower, from fouling.

 

[Bart B.]

I don't think you're shooting enough shots per load to get significant data for each. Benchrest winners and record setters get a 3X to 4X spread in their 5-shot groups in good conditions. So, there's no way for me to tell if a given load's group is the average, largest or smallest it will shoot consistently. I'd shoot at least 10 per group and 20's near twice as good.

Seems to be a lot of horizontal spread; typical with most folks shouldering their rifle as it rests atop bags on a bench top. Do some dry firing and keep your aiming eye open and see if the scope crosshair jumps to one side as the firing pin falls. Reposition the rifle in your shoulder as well as your finger on the trigger lever; if not perfect, the rifle will jump to one side while the bullet's going through the barrel

One grain increments is plenty fine enough for load workup with most rifles. Most 22 caliber ones shoot very nice with a 2-grain spread of power charges; each may need a half minute sight correction but group size changes insignificantly.

So with 10 shots per load and 1 grain increments, you'll get much better data with the same number of shots used 5 shots per load in half-grain increments.

If your powder measure can throw 322 powder with a 2/10ths grain spread, forget weighing charges. That's good enough for 1/2 MOA groups through 300 yards in good rifles for all 22 caliber rifles

 

[spitballer]

with 10 shots per load and 1 grain increments, you'll get much better data...

...and it's not easy staying tight that long with thin-jacketed bullets, I found that out. I guess clearances are tighter and there's less margin for error when choosing components. Not like FMJ's that can rattle all day long under the most adverse of conditions...