Loads for .223 Rem

[scrumbag]

For what it's worth your small deer load of "just under 26gns" looks "hot" on paper - Ramshot Guide max is shown as 24.6gns for 60gns Sierra and 24.3 for 65gns Sierra. Are you seeing any pressure signs?

No, it's fine. If you look at the 5.56 NATO / CIP Commercial load TAC and the 65gr SBT go from 23.7-26.3gr

 

[Foxyboy43]

Hello folks,

I'm starting to enjoy the flexibility of reloading and finding out what a rifle can do when you can step away from factory offerings.

I've been playing around with the .223 (1:9 twist) quite a lot due to the sheer amount of load data and projectiles available

So, I have a couple of loads I like

1) Small deer load

For muntjac and Chinese Water Deer (and Scottish Roe if I get the chance) I quite like a heavier soft point bullet (this is after good experiences with the Federal Fusion 62gr bullet. Shoots well and good on game performancde but harder to get locally).

So my preferred load is a Sierra 65gr Gameking with just under 26gr of Ramshot TAC.

2) Plinking round

This if for 100yd multi-position and running target.

For this I use 55 gr Hornady FMJ BT (The "inexpensive" bullet that comes in the 500rd Bulk Pack) with just over 25gr of TAC. With a crimp it does a bit under 1.5" groups with a thrown charge which is certainly good enough for those purposes.

(Has anyone tried the 62gr Hornady FMJ BT? Looks interesting with the 1:9 twist).

3) Varmint Round

I reckon the 65gr GK load might be a bit hard for foxes and pencil through so I was wondering about "Varmint" load

Anyone have any suggestions? Is it worth going super light and super fast or is it worth going something like a 60gr V-Max or Berger to take advantage of the twist?

4) Longer Range Target Round

Was thinking one of the 68 / 69 / 70 gr bullets (Probably not ballistic tipped) so BTHP.
Any particular difference between the 68gr Hornady, 69gr Sierra / Lapua offerings or the Nosler 70gr RDF?

5) Non-lead Deer Load

So, it seems Non-lead is becoming more of a thing whether we like it or not.

Wondering if anyone has developed a small deer load they like for .223 Rem

I've loaded up some 55gr GMX and looking for a report (@Kalahari )'ll

Anyone had better luck with other things? I have a part box of 55gr Fox to try (If @Edinburgh Rifles ever gets back to me with load data). Would like to try the Nosler E-Tip but they seem to be like hens teeth. I have heard some worrying things about Barnes not expanding so well so perhaps not so keen on those. Anyone tried Peregrines?

Thoughts very welcome.

Powder

I started using Ramshot TAC as a couple of years ago when I started reloading a couple of years ago had data for pretty much anything I wanted to load.

It's a ball powder so some say it is difficult to get ignited (And in some lighter loads I have noticed a sooty case) but I will say it goes through a powder thrower nicely.
Also some say it's a bit temperature sensitive but given I would guess the vast majority of UK shooting occurs between 5 and 20C I'm not sure how relevant it is.

Has anyone noticed that N133 / 135 / 140 to be a better performer? (Sadly you'd give up the nice metering properties of course).

Primers

Currently I am using Magtech S&B small rifle primers. Would it be worth stepping up to a Magnum Small Rifle Primer?

Anyway, thoughts are much appreciated!

Scrummy

For what it's worth your small deer load of "just under 26gns" looks "hot" on paper - Ramshot Guide max is shown as 24.6gns for 60gns Sierra and 24.3 for 65gns Sierra. Are you seeing any pressure signs?

No, it's fine. If you look at the 5.56 NATO / CIP Commercial load TAC and the 65gr SBT go from 23.7-26.3gr

View attachment 187995

Not wishing to be awkward and I do not use a 223 but please see below:-
“223 rounds are virtually identical in size to 5.56mm rounds. ... However, the biggest difference between the two is that 5.56x45mm ammunition is loaded to a significantly higher pressure than . 223 Remington ammunition. Correspondingly, 5.56mm chambers are designed and built to withstand the increased pressure”
Soooo - You might want to make absolutely certain. No doubt other SD chaps will advise too.
Stay safe.

 

[Kalahari]

Not hot, just pleasantly toastie?

David.

CZ actually say the 527 in 223 is fine with the NATO round. They are even happy for you to use it with Swiss issue service round and that is warmish!

 

[scrumbag]

For what it's worth your small deer load of "just under 26gns" looks "hot" on paper - Ramshot Guide max is shown as 24.6gns for 60gns Sierra and 24.3 for 65gns Sierra. Are you seeing any pressure signs?


Not wishing to be awkward and I do not use a 223 but please see below:-
“223 rounds are virtually identical in size to 5.56mm rounds. ... However, the biggest difference between the two is that 5.56x45mm ammunition is loaded to a significantly higher pressure than . 223 Remington ammunition. Correspondingly, 5.56mm chambers are designed and built to withstand the increased pressure”
Soooo - You might want to make absolutely certain. No doubt other SD chaps will advise too.
Stay safe.

Thanks but it is fine. My rifle is a CZ527 and I have it from CZ themselve that 5.56 Ammo is fine as the Rifle is proofed to CIP specs. (CIP 223 Rem = 5.56 Nato, see image)

Also the rifle probably chewed at least 2,000 rounds of GP90 (63gr fairly hot loaded) Swiss millitary stuff between 2011 and 2014 and it keeps on trucking.

Scrummy

 

[Foxyboy43]

Good stuff!

 

[1st Pattern Paul]

24.1 grains viht n133. Howa 1500

Thank you, I'll try that tomorrow. I'm using a 1:8 twist, what's your Howa?