Nice .223 Rem Handload

Picher · October 8, 2012, 06:12 PM

I was very lucky to find this great-shooting load for my Tikka 595. It also works well in a buddy's Rem 700 rifle:

50 grain Hornady SP SX
25 grains of Accurate 2230
CCI Small Rifle Primer
Mixed batch of cases, but primer holes uniformed.

Velocity measured: 3,175fps out of my Tikka 595, 22" sporter-barreled, home-pillar-bedded rifle with Mueller 4-14x.
Bullets seated just off the lands about .003"

Consecutive 3-shot groups at 100 yards, shot on separate days: 1/4". Not bad for a used sporter that cost me $300, plus a $148 scope.

(Pictures Attached) Note: If there's any question, the Tikka is the top one.

coyota1 · October 8, 2012, 08:06 PM

Sweet! Are your mixed brass military?

Picher · October 8, 2012, 09:41 PM

Not military; Rem, Win, Federal commercial, varied number of loadings.

This was supposed to be a plinking load, but turned out better than expected. I didn't even try different seating depths. Some of the bullets were from a deceased relative and some new. Sometimes you just get lucky.

davery25 · October 8, 2012, 10:32 PM

ill remember that one, you've probably stumbled upon an excellent OCW load.

i'll give it a whirl.

Picher · October 9, 2012, 06:43 AM

Thanks Davery25.

One of the best things about the load is that those bullets are only about $13 per 100 (at Natchez), compared with the cost of some of the fancy plastic-tipped and match bullets. It's an "explosive" varmint bullet and those aren't usually known for match accuracy.

I hope the newer boxes bought recently work as well as the older batches I inherited.

October 8, 2012, 08:06 PM	#2
coyota1 Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2008 Location: West Michigan Posts: 663	Sweet! Are your mixed brass military?

October 8, 2012, 09:41 PM	#3
Picher Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Maine Posts: 3,694	Not military; Rem, Win, Federal commercial, varied number of loadings. This was supposed to be a plinking load, but turned out better than expected. I didn't even try different seating depths. Some of the bullets were from a deceased relative and some new. Sometimes you just get lucky.

October 8, 2012, 10:32 PM	#4
davery25 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 318	ill remember that one, you've probably stumbled upon an excellent OCW load. i'll give it a whirl.

October 9, 2012, 06:43 AM	#5
Picher Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Maine Posts: 3,694	Thanks Davery25. One of the best things about the load is that those bullets are only about $13 per 100 (at Natchez), compared with the cost of some of the fancy plastic-tipped and match bullets. It's an "explosive" varmint bullet and those aren't usually known for match accuracy. I hope the newer boxes bought recently work as well as the older batches I inherited.