o'l fart
Member
I was trying to find some good info on cheap Dog town bullets by midway but some swear at them, and some swear by them. So, thought I'd do my own research. I bought a box of .224 in 55gr and started with an unknown (to me) powder. I heard that Hodgden CFE223 was a good powder so I tried some. The results were great!!!
I normally use 25.2 of H335 behind a 55gr Nosler Ballistic Tip BT. I get approx 3150 fps and am under 1/2" groups @ 100 yds. My over all length is 2.28". This load "smokes" ground squirrels.
I worked up a load starting at 25.5gr of CFE223 behind the 55gr Dog Towns, and ended at 27.5gr. Overall length for these is 2.20". These were fired in a 1 in 9 twist barrel. All groups were under 3/4" @ 100 yds but the 27.5gr measured 5/16" so I thought "good enough" for whistle pigs. All of the holes in the paper were clean with crisp edges showing no tumbling or jacket separation as had been rumored. Not sure of the velocity, but it must be close to 3000 fps.(Last time I used my chrono, I shot it,DUH.) I hit a squirrel this AM and it looked like it blew up from the inside!!! I did NOT have to change my scope setting as these zeroed in the same place as my Noslers with H335. I am writing this more for beginners, so if it sounds a little "Simple", it was meant to be. Most of you reading this forgot more about reloading that I ever knew. But just thought someone could use this info. Good Luck.
PS. I use commercial grade brass (Hornady) not military.
I normally use 25.2 of H335 behind a 55gr Nosler Ballistic Tip BT. I get approx 3150 fps and am under 1/2" groups @ 100 yds. My over all length is 2.28". This load "smokes" ground squirrels.
I worked up a load starting at 25.5gr of CFE223 behind the 55gr Dog Towns, and ended at 27.5gr. Overall length for these is 2.20". These were fired in a 1 in 9 twist barrel. All groups were under 3/4" @ 100 yds but the 27.5gr measured 5/16" so I thought "good enough" for whistle pigs. All of the holes in the paper were clean with crisp edges showing no tumbling or jacket separation as had been rumored. Not sure of the velocity, but it must be close to 3000 fps.(Last time I used my chrono, I shot it,DUH.) I hit a squirrel this AM and it looked like it blew up from the inside!!! I did NOT have to change my scope setting as these zeroed in the same place as my Noslers with H335. I am writing this more for beginners, so if it sounds a little "Simple", it was meant to be. Most of you reading this forgot more about reloading that I ever knew. But just thought someone could use this info. Good Luck.
PS. I use commercial grade brass (Hornady) not military.