75 grn ELDM in .223 + Vit N140

[Boosh]

Hi guys, a good while ago I was curious about the longer heavier bullets to have a bit if a mess with in my Howa 1500 (24 inch 1/9), so bought on a whim a box of 75grn ELDM.
After doing the measuring I found they would be too long to load the mag well up and only allow single feed, so they sat on the shelf for the best part of two years.
Last week I had just fully resized some Sako cases fired once from a keeper mate and planned on fireforming them. Good opportunity to use some some of the bits and bobs up I will never use.
Did the reading up on the data with Vit, showing a max load of 26.2 grns of N140 powder, and the Lee manual showing a max load of 25 grns of N140 powder.
Sounded a long way apart on the top end, and after filling a case with 25 grns as a sighter, it was right up to the neck, I lost my bottle, put the gear away and thought I needed to look at it again the day after.
The number's were still the same the day after, no mistake made after double checking.
So proceeded to load 20 up close to the top end of Lee data.
(1.2 grns less than Vit data.)
10@ 24grn and 10@25 grn
It was evident at 25grn, that the case was full, deffo a compressed load, (not unusual with top end loads with certain powders, not sure how I'm supposed to fit an extra 1.2grns in here according to Vit ).
Anyhow, long story made short, they shot awful at 6 thou off and when I got to the 25 grns 4 out of the 10, the firing pin holed the cci primers pushing back, the carbon exiting up the pin even stopped it firing.

Start low guys, data and equipment varies a lot.
(or probs dont bother doing any 75 grn Eldm's in Sako cases with Vit N140 out of a Howa 1500).

 

[sir-slots-alot]

You will likely find the 75g ELDm wont stabilize in a 1 in 9 twist in a 223. or at least to give you an accurate load.

 

[Boosh]

I did find that!
I was not really expecting much, it was just fireforming with an outside chance of landing lucky whilst doing so.
More a warning about following Vit data on the load than anything else.

 

[Boosh]

 

[User00033]

As stated above, the 75gr requires 1:8” twist.

They shoot very well in the Howa Mini .223 with a full case of appropriate powder, 2206H, V140, etc. Various brass - ADI, Federal.

Have you measured the capacity of your brass? I would also be looking at loading a ladder and not 10 at one weight and 10 at another. You’ll find pressure soon enough, look for the flat spot on the velocity curve, find the accuracy node aroun that charge weight.

In a different rifle unfortunately.

 

[Boosh]

Measuring the capacity of the brass is something I have not done Dodgyknees. Being Sako no doubt it will have thickish walls!

Thanks for the input DK.
It's just a heads up really of my findings as I stated in the earlier posts, I have no interest in developing a load with it, or spend any time testing or using it.
I was just using up components fireforming. (No doubt I could have just used the minimum load for this), but on the off chance it produced anything, I was hoping for at least hmr speeds!
Just as a matter of interest, have you youself loaded with the N140? If so what amounts did you get good results at?
( Not that I am going to re-visit loading more of the 75's, but maybe somebody else reading might benefit from it!)

Ps, by the way, I found I could get 2 rounds pressed down into the mag well and chamber a third round over the top if I held the two down in the mag well with my finger in the Howa.
Seems the mag well at the top is longer with no contacting of the bullet points.

 

[scrumbag]

Boosh,

I suspect probably a couple of things going on here:

1) Viht will be working on CIP specs for .223 Rem which is the same as 5.56 Nato. Lee will be quoting SAAMI which operates at a lower pressure so lower powder charge than Nato / commercial CIP spec

2) You are not alone in finding that those long, slippery, tipped Hornady pills are a bugger to fit into magazines with any decent powder charge (I gave up on the 73gr Hornady bullets)

I reckon for a longer range plinking load you might be better with a the 70gr Nosler, 69 gr Sierra or 68gr Hornady with your 1:9 (That's what I am going next anyway)

Best wishes,

Scrummy

 

[MarinePMI]

Varget and 8208 are the go-to powders for 75gr bullets in 223, here in the states. Faster burning powders just get erratic accuracy results IME (CFE223, BL(C)-2, etc). Varget and 8208 also get decent velocities as well (2900 in my Tikka Varmint for example).

 

[scrumbag]

Varget sadly is banned.

I tried Ramshot TAC but didn't get good results.

Scrummy