Favorite loads for .223 Contender rifle 1-12"

Mike / Tx · February 8, 2017, 02:32 PM

I have a decent supply of powders that are listed, and a good assortment of bullets ranging from 45 to 60grs.

I've been loading going on around 45'ish years and cover a wide assortment of standard and wildcat calibers in both handgun and rifles. Thing is I've never loaded anything smaller than .243.

If you have a good or great load for a Contender rifle please jump in with the powder type and bullet weight. I don't mind a work up, but if you look through any manual there are about a dozen or more powders for each weight, especially in the 55gr range.

Also if you feel up to listing the exact loads, do so. Again I dont mind a work up for anything that shows promise and is within load specs.

Thanks

Damon555 · February 8, 2017, 07:04 PM

I saw your post and had to go check my data....My Encore Pro Hunter has a 12 twist, 28" barrel. Your velocity may vary but the twist is correct....

My favorite load is a 53 grain Amax pushed by 27.0 grains of W748 which is 1 grain over max on Hodgdon's web site but 1.9 grains below max in the Hornady manual.

(Unsorted LC brass with CCI 450 primers and a COL of 2.340"!)

That load was chrono'd @ 3445 fps.....It is a darn laser.

By the way my 223 AI 9 twist hated the 53 grain Amax....go figure

I've got a good bit of data on my 223 barrel but have mostly concentrated on the light bullets because that long barrel really gets them moving.

rg1 · February 9, 2017, 12:18 AM

I would advise trying Hornady 50 gr. V-Max bullets. They seem to shoot extremely well in many 1/12 rifles including mine. I worked up a load using Win 748 powder as that was what I used at the time in .223. Worked so well that I haven't experimented further. Depends on your game or target distance too.

Mike / Tx · February 9, 2017, 05:52 AM

Well looks like 748 might get things going. I do not have the Amax or Vmax, but do have Sierra's, some Nolser's, and several others in the 50-55gr range to start off with.

I'm not looking to break any speeds just something accurate to play with and get trigger time.

Damon555 · February 9, 2017, 05:18 PM

H335 is my main powder for the .223's though.....748 shot well in that particular load so I stuck with it for the Pro Hunter. But almost all my other ammo is loaded with H335 or more accurately WC844 (which uses the same data as H335 according to the label on the powder container) and 40-60 grain bullets depending on the rifle.

I'm also a V/A-Max lover....They can't be beat for the price in my opinion especially for accuracy and explosiveness. But it sounds like you already have a pretty good selection of top notch bullets....I'm sure most will shoot just fine.

huntinaz · February 9, 2017, 05:56 PM

Imr 4895 and a 55gr Hornady soft point was my best combo when I had my 1-12 twist AR. Don't recall the charge but it shot well in other rifles too

HiBC · February 13, 2017, 07:50 AM

I recall loading some 52 gr Sierra matchkings with H335 for a XP-100 that had been rechambered .223.I think that was 1 in 14. It shot good.
If you can stabilize 60 gr Varmint Ballistic Tips ,Benchmark works well.

February 8, 2017, 02:32 PM	#1
Mike / Tx Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2000 Posts: 2,139	Favorite loads for .223 Contender rifle 1-12" I have a decent supply of powders that are listed, and a good assortment of bullets ranging from 45 to 60grs. I've been loading going on around 45'ish years and cover a wide assortment of standard and wildcat calibers in both handgun and rifles. Thing is I've never loaded anything smaller than .243. If you have a good or great load for a Contender rifle please jump in with the powder type and bullet weight. I don't mind a work up, but if you look through any manual there are about a dozen or more powders for each weight, especially in the 55gr range. Also if you feel up to listing the exact loads, do so. Again I dont mind a work up for anything that shows promise and is within load specs. Thanks __________________ LAter, Mike / TX

February 9, 2017, 05:52 AM	#4
Mike / Tx Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2000 Posts: 2,139	Well looks like 748 might get things going. I do not have the Amax or Vmax, but do have Sierra's, some Nolser's, and several others in the 50-55gr range to start off with. I'm not looking to break any speeds just something accurate to play with and get trigger time. __________________ LAter, Mike / TX

February 9, 2017, 05:56 PM	#6
huntinaz Senior Member Join Date: September 21, 2010 Location: az Posts: 1,332	Imr 4895 and a 55gr Hornady soft point was my best combo when I had my 1-12 twist AR. Don't recall the charge but it shot well in other rifles too __________________ "When there’s lead in the air, there’s hope in the heart”- Hunter’s Proverb "Feed me, or feed me to something. I just want to be part of the food chain." -Al Bundy

February 8, 2017, 07:04 PM	#2
Damon555 Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2012 Posts: 384	I saw your post and had to go check my data....My Encore Pro Hunter has a 12 twist, 28" barrel. Your velocity may vary but the twist is correct.... My favorite load is a 53 grain Amax pushed by 27.0 grains of W748 which is 1 grain over max on Hodgdon's web site but 1.9 grains below max in the Hornady manual. (Unsorted LC brass with CCI 450 primers and a COL of 2.340"!) That load was chrono'd @ 3445 fps.....It is a darn laser. By the way my 223 AI 9 twist hated the 53 grain Amax....go figure I've got a good bit of data on my 223 barrel but have mostly concentrated on the light bullets because that long barrel really gets them moving.

February 9, 2017, 12:18 AM	#3
rg1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Posts: 1,131	I would advise trying Hornady 50 gr. V-Max bullets. They seem to shoot extremely well in many 1/12 rifles including mine. I worked up a load using Win 748 powder as that was what I used at the time in .223. Worked so well that I haven't experimented further. Depends on your game or target distance too.

February 9, 2017, 05:18 PM	#5
Damon555 Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2012 Posts: 384	H335 is my main powder for the .223's though.....748 shot well in that particular load so I stuck with it for the Pro Hunter. But almost all my other ammo is loaded with H335 or more accurately WC844 (which uses the same data as H335 according to the label on the powder container) and 40-60 grain bullets depending on the rifle. I'm also a V/A-Max lover....They can't be beat for the price in my opinion especially for accuracy and explosiveness. But it sounds like you already have a pretty good selection of top notch bullets....I'm sure most will shoot just fine.

February 13, 2017, 07:50 AM	#7
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,350	I recall loading some 52 gr Sierra matchkings with H335 for a XP-100 that had been rechambered .223.I think that was 1 in 14. It shot good. If you can stabilize 60 gr Varmint Ballistic Tips ,Benchmark works well.