Let's talk 40gr & lighter loads in 223

[Another_Kelley]

Rodents are out over here in my neck of the woods which has helped me work through the remaining stock of H4198 I've had on hand for over 10 years... at which point I went to acquire more and essentially realized I was all done using H4198 given it's 'new' asking price. Close to a quarter per cartridge loaded in powder ALONE is literally insane after adding in the cost of a bullet & primer for a 223. Time to move on to something else. I was amazed to see several Vihtavuori options are now cheaper than a lot of suitable Hodgdon powders?? I still have plenty of CFE223, TAC, Varget, R10x, N133 and N120 so I just didn't worry about acquiring anything new for now. I have several 223 rifles of various twists, but the two I gravitate towards that seem to like light bullets are an older Ruger M77 and an earlier model Savage SS Varmint. Both of which seem to love Nosler 40gr HPs. In my first attempt at loading the little 'varmageddon' hps with a different powder I chose TAC with a Rem 7 1/2BR primer. The second load in was 27gr and strangely enough it had an identical POI as my previous favorite load with H4198. I was able to shoot several clusters between a half and 3/4 of an inch. Done, I guess But not really. I have a pile of 40gr Vmax, and some 34gr Dogtown HPs that are going to get the same treatment.

So let's hear bout your favorite rodent getter loads using 40gr or less bullets in the 223. I'm extra curious if anyone is shooting them with any accuracy out of a 1-7 to 1-9 twist.

 

[N555]

My favorite 223rem 40gr load was over a max load of 748.
Gun was a 1:10 twist, 18 inche bbl. That's probably too hot for a 1:7 twist barrel and might be to hot for a 1:9 and spin the bullet apart.

 

[MarshallDodge]

CFE223, TAC, Varget, R10x, N133 and N120

CFE223, TAC, and Varget are probably too slow. 10x might be good. VihtaVuori shows loads for 30-40 grain bullets with N120 and 133.

 

[horsey300]

Rodents are out over here in my neck of the woods which has helped me work through the remaining stock of H4198 I've had on hand for over 10 years... at which point I went to acquire more and essentially realized I was all done using H4198 given it's 'new' asking price. Close to a quarter per cartridge loaded in powder ALONE is literally insane after adding in the cost of a bullet & primer for a 223. Time to move on to something else. I was amazed to see several Vihtavuori options are now cheaper than a lot of suitable Hodgdon powders?? I still have plenty of CFE223, TAC, Varget, R10x, N133 and N120 so I just didn't worry about acquiring anything new for now. I have several 223 rifles of various twists, but the two I gravitate towards that seem to like light bullets are an older Ruger M77 and an earlier model Savage SS Varmint. Both of which seem to love Nosler 40gr HPs. In my first attempt at loading the little 'varmageddon' hps with a different powder I chose TAC with a Rem 7 1/2BR primer. The second load in was 27gr and strangely enough it had an identical POI as my previous favorite load with H4198. I was able to shoot several clusters between a half and 3/4 of an inch. Done, I guess But not really. I have a pile of 40gr Vmax, and some 34gr Dogtown HPs that are going to get the same treatment.

So let's hear bout your favorite rodent getter loads using 40gr or less bullets in the 223. I'm extra curious if anyone is shooting them with any accuracy out of a 1-7 to 1-9 twist.

I've been running benchmark for a good long while now, been eyeballing a few others, just haven't gotten around to pulling the trigger yet.

 

[AJC1]

Of the choices listed I'd be on thar n120. Been looking for a pound of that and 130 for testing in the 6x45

 

[IALoder]

Out of those choices I'd lean on N120 and N133. N120 is close to H4198 on the burn rate chart, and I had very good luck with 52gr and N133 in a 1/7 twist .223. Only problem I can see with N133 is running out of case capacity. Re10x is definitely worth a try as well.

 

[Anchorite]

I really like a 222/223, but I draw a line at 40gr pills. I have a 22 Hornet for that weight and I’m in the process of building a 20Tac to use all the 223 brass I have.

 

[Kingcreek]

Agree with Anchorite. I never had any luck with 40s unless I slowed them down. My favorite is 53gr sierra blitz king with H335 or A2230

 

[Another_Kelley]

One of the main reasons for even messing with such light projectiles in a 223 case... if we're engaged in rodent work, it allows you to actually witness the impact. Not arguing that a 223, with any bullet has much recoil, but with 40s there's a significant and notable lack in scope jump compaired to heavier loads. Also the flatter trajectory of a 40gr bullet at 3600fps is nice when using a standard duplex or Trijicon accupoint triangular target dot scope.

 

[Palladan44]

I'd use H335 or Benchmark, but these are the 2 fastest powders I have for the caliber. But I'll bet they would do just fine.
The lightest bullets I have are 50gr

 

[Anchorite]

One of the main reasons for even messing with such light projectiles in a 223 case... if we're engaged in rodent work, it allows you to actually witness the impact. Not arguing that a 223, with any bullet has much recoil, but with 40s there's a significant and notable lack in scope jump compaired to heavier loads. Also the flatter trajectory of a 40gr bullet at 3600fps is nice when using a standard duplex or Trijicon accupoint triangular target dot scope.

And one of the reasons I’m building a 20 Tac. I just don’t get a ballistic advantage to my way of thinking in a .224 at 40grains (and lower) in a 222/223 case. But a .204…..now you’ve piqued my interest.

 

[2ndtimer]

CFE223, TAC, and Varget are probably too slow. 10x might be good. VihtaVuori shows loads for 30-40 grain bullets with N120 and 133.

I agree that CFE223 and Varget are too slow for maximum performance with 40 gr bullets in the .223. But TAC has given fine accuracy and velocity for me. Maybe the 26” 1 in 12” twist barrel helps in my case. Benchmark also works well, and is far less temperature sensitive than TAC (or other ball powders).

 

[AJC1]

And one of the reasons I’m building a 20 Tac. I just don’t get a ballistic advantage to my way of thinking in a .224 at 40grains (and lower) in a 222/223 case. But a .204…..now you’ve piqued my interest.

Why the tactical vs the practical.... the motivations for one vs the other intrests me

 

[Anchorite]

Why the tactical vs the practical.... the motivations for one vs the other intrests me

No real empirical reason, as performance wise in the field they should be indistinguishable. The Tactical holds maybe a grain less in powder than the Practical, and is the same case length as the Practical and standard .223.

I have a ton of 223 brass on hand, and it’s just easier to source than, say, 204.

Dies might be a little more, I honestly don’t know. But the real reason I’m going Tactical instead of Practical is so I don’t goof up and somehow mix brass or loaded rounds in my reloading and accidentally drop a 20 Tac into an AR magazine. Shouldn’t chamber, but no one wants reloading goofs. And I dig the 30 degree shoulder on the Tactical. It’s just got the cool factor.

 

[AJC1]

No real empirical reason, as performance wise in the field they should be indistinguishable. The Tactical holds maybe a grain less in powder than the Practical, and is the same case length as the Practical and standard .223.

I have a ton of 223 brass on hand, and it’s just easier to source than, say, 204.

Dies might be a little more, I honestly don’t know. But the real reason I’m going Tactical instead of Practical is so I don’t goof up and somehow mix brass or loaded rounds in my reloading and accidentally drop a 20 Tac into an AR magazine. Shouldn’t chamber, but no one wants reloading goofs. And I dig the 30 degree shoulder on the Tactical. It’s just got the cool factor.

Makes sense, I share that fear dropping a 6x45 in 223. That would be ugly. Thanks for sharing your thought process....

 

[HowardC]

Not exactly what you're shooting, but I've been doing 27.3 grains of AA2230 under Calhoon 42 gn bullets for a Win heavy varmint std 223 /10 twist. Same load in 223 Ackley/14 twist with Hornady 40 VMaxes.
BUT, remember to work up and YMMV.
-West out

 

[Another_Kelley]

Not exactly what you're shooting, but I've been doing 27.3 grains of AA2230 under Calhoon 42 gn bullets for a Win heavy varmint std 223 /10 twist. Same load in 223 Ackley/14 twist with Hornady 40 VMaxes.
BUT, remember to work up and YMMV.
-West out

A friend and coworker of mine was always buying Calhoon's bullets for his 19-Badger when we came and went through Havre, Montana for work. Miss that area and the endless fields full of nothing but short grass and prarie dogs as far as the eye can see. We were splicing a huge rural fiber optic network the local telephone co-op put in and most of the landowners loved and encouraged us to thin their rodent population. That was tuff 'work' but someone had to do it

 

[chevrofreak]

My BCM SAM-R barrel loves the 40gr Nosler ballistic tip over 28.0gr of Benchmark at 2.260" OAL in Nammo Tactical brass with a Federal AR Match primer; 3,594 FPS average and it was putting every bullet through a 1" Birchwood Casey target sticker.

(EDIT: typo, corrected powder charge to 28.0)

 

[Another_Kelley]

My BCM SAM-R barrel loves the 40gr Nosler ballistic tip over 27.0gr of Benchmark at 2.260" OAL in Nammo Tactical brass with a Federal AR Match primer; 3,594 FPS average and it was putting every bullet through a 1" Birchwood Casey target sticker.

Is this their 20" 1 in 8 twist?

 

[chevrofreak]

Is this their 20" 1 in 8 twist?

Indeed. It is a pretty accurate barrel, even with inexpensive Hornady 55gr soft points.