Help with some load data?

[mattbroj]

Ok, so this is my first post on here and it's due to frustration I suppose. I'm working up some loads for my .223. I just picked up some new bullets and powder which I coincidentally have no load data for and can find no load data for. I've been loading for a few years and know how to do things safely. That being said recently I've been playing with the OCW method and have been having good luck. If you're familiar with the OCW method you must know that I need an established maximum load the work backwards from.

Now onto my bullets and powder. I have both a sierra 55gr bthp gameking and a 52gr bthp match from hornady. Right now I'm very limited on varget and imr4895 so I picked up some h335, cfe223, and reloader15. I can find decent data for the h335 but can't seem to find enough data for the cfe223 or the rx15. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Again I'm less concerned about minimum loads and more concerned with max loads with velocities and CUP if you have them. Thank you much!

[steve4102]

Varget, IMR 4895, H-335 and CFE223 are all distributed by Hodgdon and data can be found here.
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

Use 55gr SPR SP and 53gr SIE HP.

[Metal god]

From my Sierra book page 227

Fed case
Rem 7-1/2 primer
1-14 twist

H335 - Low 24.1gr ,2900fps / Max 27.6gr , 3400fps . going up in .7gr increments

From my Hornady book page 151

Win case
Win SR primer
1-12 twist

CFE223 - low26.6gr , 2900fps / Max 28.0gr , 3300fps going up in .6gr increments

These are for the 223 Remington bolt action only .

[mattbroj]

Yeah I tried using the hogdon load data but using their 52gr load and my lyman manual loads it listed h335 at a max load of 27.1 while hornady lists the max load of 25.3. I tries the 52gr Indy match with 26.4 of h335 and was beginning to see pressure signs. I know some of these bullets may be the same weight but in my experience sierras have always had a smaller bearing surface than the hornady so I'm a bit skeptical using load data intended for sierra while using a hornady bullet.

On a side note has anyone seen any load data for wither bullet using reloader 15?

[steve4102]

Yeah I tried using the hogdon load data but using their 52gr load and my lyman manual loads it listed h335 at a max load of 27.1 while hornady lists the max load of 25.3. I tries the 52gr Indy match with 26.4 of h335 and was beginning to see pressure signs.

Hodgdon lists a Max of 26.0gr with 335 and 53gr Sierra bullet.

Hornady's 25.4gr is very comparable to Hodgdon's 26.0gr considering the two completely different test media and lot niumbers.

What type of rifle are you using?

What were these pressure signs you saw?

[mattbroj]

I'm using a Remington 700 bye with a 1:9 twist. I'm using LC brass and cci 400 primers. O have read that if you look at cci400s wrong they tend to crater. I was seeing festering and early signs of flattening. Nothing completely flat but definitely some reduction in the radius.

[Metal god]

I've seen pressure signs well before getting to max load many times . There are other reasons you may be having pressure signs . It's a non issue to me . High pressure is high pressure , DON'T go past the pressure signs . I'm always looking for accuracy so I rarely get to max load before I find a accurate charge .

The fact it appears your trying to get as much velocity as possible tells me your loading a hunting round and want maximum energy ? If so and you need the max a 223 will do for the job at hand . That may suggest you need a bigger caliber cartridge .

Is there a reason your not happy with let say 26gr of h335 wth no pressure issues ? Are you seing pressure signs and also low velocity ? Is it that you can't get to the max load the book says ? What is it your unhappy with ?

[steve4102]

Reading primers is a kin to reading tea leaves, it tells you almost nothing.

Flattened primers are often caused by excess headspace, not excess pressure.

[mattbroj]

I'm actually not loading for hunting at all. I'm loading for best accuracy. Becaude of the method I'm using to work up these loads I need to start at Tue max load and work backwards by percentages. I also don't usually shoot at max load, in fact almost never. It is just ansimple matter that my testing goes up to and includes the max load that I'm looking to use it.

[mattbroj]

And Steve, if that were true wouldn't I be experiencing flattened primers in every load I fire?

[Metal god]

Sorry forgot the method you were using .

Edit: as for my experience with primers . I use Win LR primers in my 308 loads . When working up loads I've got flat-ish primers with them . I believe I've learned with those primers . They can be flat as long as I have a little curve at the edge of the primer I'm GTG . If they're flat and squared off at the primer pocket thats my pressure sign .