Looking for a new .233 load

SmokeyBravo307 · April 12, 2018, 11:40 AM

I have a few different loads I really enjoy anywhere from a 40- 55gr. bullet mostly but would like to know what works best for some of you I like to try new loads as I'm still a rookie to reloading. I do have a few different manuals and have tried lots of different powders and bullets I just would like to know what some of you veteran reloads like I will range test any load first and then do some well needed varmint hunting with whatever my gun likes!!!!

Tallest · April 12, 2018, 12:25 PM

Good afternoon!

Couple questions: What barrel length and ROT? What distances?

I really like 60 grn Nosler Ballistic Tips Varmint over top a medium-high dose of Varget. They are sub MOA from 1-8" twist, 22" Ruger. I'm soon going to work up a load with the same bullet trying out the IMR 8208 XBR.

I also used to have an AR that loved the Hornady 55 grn Soft points over a stout amount of H335.

I usually use whatever brass is lying around and in good enough condition to clean up. I'm not to picky about brass yet. And CCI 400 small rifle primers have worked well for me.

I have a friend who gets insane accuracy out of a bolt action Savage (not confident I remember the model well enough to make a statement) with 40 grn Hornady VMax with TAC. The last time he changed the scope and zeroed it, he had a 5 shot group you could cover with a dime (he is an incredible marksman, which helps). It destroys groundhogs with magnificent results!

T. O'Heir · April 12, 2018, 01:23 PM

Every rifle shoots every load differently. What works well in one rifle won't necessarily shoot we4ll in your's. You must work up the load for your rifle.
I've always found that picking a bullet weight and using the powder given for the 'Accuracy Load" in my Lyman manual works well.
"...picky about brass..." The brand of brass really makes no difference. American brands are made to SAAMI spec. The only difference with .223 might be if you use milsurp.

SmokeyBravo307 · April 12, 2018, 02:13 PM

Tallest. I have a Savage V12 with a 24" bull barrel and have pretty much everything you have named as components to reload for this rifle minus the TAC powder and my brass is a big mix. I do like the Varget it's quite the all around powder but haven't tried the TAC yet but it is in the manuals I have. I appreciate the time you took to answer my question sir!!!

SmokeyBravo307 · April 12, 2018, 02:19 PM

T.O'Heir. I understand that every rifle likes a different load which is why I'm asking what works best for guys like you to help me find the best for me and my rifle and I don't have a Lyman manual but several others I guess I will compare what I have to Lyman's and work on up from there!!!! Thank you sir!!!!

Tallest · April 12, 2018, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokeyBravo307

Tallest. I have a Savage V12 with a 24" bull barrel and have pretty much everything you have named as components to reload for this rifle minus the TAC powder and my brass is a big mix. I do like the Varget it's quite the all around powder but haven't tried the TAC yet but it is in the manuals I have. I appreciate the time you took to answer my question sir!!!

Certainly Sir!

I going off of T. O'Heir - I would recommend getting a Lyman manual. I find that it's a good "second opinion" that helps even out the proprietary information from each bullet manufactures specific manual. It's a super useful point of reference. It may be coincidence, but my most accurate loads were inspired by Lyman information.

Chainsaw. · April 12, 2018, 04:00 PM

Benchmark, 8208xbr and ARcomp have all worked very well for me. I stick with plain ol 55 grain bullets, serves my purposes quite well.

ms6852 · April 12, 2018, 04:09 PM

Hey Smokey you mentioned that you have a lot of mixed brass. If possible I would separate the mix brass into batches of the same brand brass. Sometimes depending on manufacturer the internal dimensions of a said casing will be smaller than that of a different manufacturer giving you different pressures which will affect the point of impact even though both cases have the same powder measurements.

On my AR I only load Hornady 75gr bthp bullets using 23.5 grain of RL 15. This gives me sub Moa 5 shot groups at 200 yards. My rifle twist is a 1:8 so it does not like the lighter bullets.

Wendyj · April 12, 2018, 04:28 PM

I'm with Chainsaw on the Benchmark powder. All I use in 5.56 or 223. Meters great too.

SmokeyBravo307 · April 12, 2018, 04:32 PM

Thanks guys I'll get to work making some loads up I actually haven't tried many reloads in my AR but that is on my list of many rifles to develop my own load for I'm going one by one but if I'm loading for my .223 there is no reason not to develop one for my AR at the same time!!!!

std7mag · April 12, 2018, 05:41 PM

With my wife's Savage 110 FP (24" heavy barrel 1:9 twist ) i have been using either Varmint or Win 748.
For the 69gr. Matchkings i'm using Power Pro 2000.

SmokeyBravo307 · April 12, 2018, 06:04 PM

I was just going to ask if anyone had been using the win.748 because I have a few pounds of it!!! Different rifle but one of my personal favorites is a 22-250 and I really want to find a nice load for it because the rifle itself means a lot to me that probably the next on my list besides my .300 weatherby but that's a whole different ballgame there!!!!

603Country · April 12, 2018, 06:45 PM

I get great accuracy with 40 and 55 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips over H335. Also use that powder behind the Nosler 60 gr Partition. With the 65 gr Sierra GK, i got best accuracy with Varget and AA2230.

For a 22-250 I’d use the same powder as i shoot in the 220 Swift, and that’s IMR4064. R15 should do real well also.

Mike38 · April 12, 2018, 07:38 PM

I have excellent results for .223 with the following. Hornady A-Max 52 gr BT #22492. Remington No.7 1/2 small rifle bench rest primers. Winchester brass. 27.5 grs Hodgdon CFE223 powder. ~3250fps. Twist rate of 12:1. Best 100 yard group 0.44 inches, very consistently around 0.6 inches.

SmokeyBravo307 · April 12, 2018, 08:13 PM

Thanks again for everyone's help I really enjoy this forum most people are very helpful and I try to share when I have good, positive input as well!!!!

Mobuck · April 13, 2018, 06:46 AM

CCI primers (#41 for the AR), WCC844/H335/AA Xterminator, Hornady bulk pack 55 grain SP W/cannelure.

Hunter Customs · April 14, 2018, 11:52 AM

I shoot three different 223 rifles, two are AR's an 18 and 20 inch barrels with 1-8 twist. I also have a heavy barrel Savage model 10/110 with a 20 inch barrel 1-9 twist. I've loaded several different loads for these rifles but the load I've settled on for all three is 26.7 grs of BLC2 topped off with Sierra 55 Blitzkings bullet#1455, ignited with Remington 7.5 primers. All three rifles are very accurate with this load, the Savage bolt gun being the most accurate shooting five shot 5/16 inch groups consistently as long as I do my part.....................Caution I've heard it claimed that BLC2 will ring a barrel in longer barreled rifles, I've not found this to be true in my rifles but all mine are 20 inch or shorter.

RedLeg105 · April 15, 2018, 09:04 AM

26.5gr. of CFE223, under a 55gr. Nosler Varmaggedon shoots sub 1" groups out of my CZ527 bolt gun, and 1.25" groups out of my 18" barrelled (home built) AR15, at 100 yards. Both are 1:9 twists.

Rimfire5 · April 16, 2018, 04:07 PM

I know that everyone knows that every rifle likes a different load, but I have data on 6 .223 rifles that seems disprove that maxim:
a) a 1:9 twist bolt action CZ 527 Varmints with a 24 inch barrel
b) a 1:9 twist bolt action CZ 527 Varmint with a 25.4 inch barrel,
c & d) two 1:9 twist bolt action model 10 Savages with 24 inch barrels,
e) a 1:9 twist bolt action model 12 Savage with a 26 inch barrel,
f) a 1:8 twist Les Baer Super Varmint with an 18 inch barrel length.

All of them shoot 52 grain Sierra SMK #1410 HPBTs, 53 grain Sierra SMK #1400 Flat Base and 52 grain Berger #22408 Flat Base bullets better than any other bullets using H335, N133 or CLE223 powders.

Most of them have great results at 2.260 to 2.270 O.A.L even though all of the bolt action chambers are deep enough to seat them out further.

April 12, 2018, 01:23 PM	#3
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Every rifle shoots every load differently. What works well in one rifle won't necessarily shoot we4ll in your's. You must work up the load for your rifle. I've always found that picking a bullet weight and using the powder given for the 'Accuracy Load" in my Lyman manual works well. "...picky about brass..." The brand of brass really makes no difference. American brands are made to SAAMI spec. The only difference with .223 might be if you use milsurp. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

April 12, 2018, 04:00 PM	#7
Chainsaw. Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2015 Location: Issaquah WA. Its a dry rain. Posts: 1,774	Benchmark, 8208xbr and ARcomp have all worked very well for me. I stick with plain ol 55 grain bullets, serves my purposes quite well. __________________ Just shoot the damn thing.

April 12, 2018, 04:09 PM	#8
ms6852 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,394	Hey Smokey you mentioned that you have a lot of mixed brass. If possible I would separate the mix brass into batches of the same brand brass. Sometimes depending on manufacturer the internal dimensions of a said casing will be smaller than that of a different manufacturer giving you different pressures which will affect the point of impact even though both cases have the same powder measurements. On my AR I only load Hornady 75gr bthp bullets using 23.5 grain of RL 15. This gives me sub Moa 5 shot groups at 200 yards. My rifle twist is a 1:8 so it does not like the lighter bullets. __________________ ONLY TWO DEFINING FORCES HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR LIVES FOR YOU. ONE IS JESUS CHRIST FOR YOUR SOUL AND THE OTHER IS THE AMERICAN SOLDIER FOR YOUR FREEDOM.

April 12, 2018, 04:28 PM	#9
Wendyj Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2015 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,372	I'm with Chainsaw on the Benchmark powder. All I use in 5.56 or 223. Meters great too. __________________ God is NOT dead!!!! Last edited by Wendyj; April 14, 2018 at 07:41 PM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

April 12, 2018, 11:40 AM	#1
SmokeyBravo307 Member Join Date: March 31, 2018 Posts: 32	Looking for a new .233 load I have a few different loads I really enjoy anywhere from a 40- 55gr. bullet mostly but would like to know what works best for some of you I like to try new loads as I'm still a rookie to reloading. I do have a few different manuals and have tried lots of different powders and bullets I just would like to know what some of you veteran reloads like I will range test any load first and then do some well needed varmint hunting with whatever my gun likes!!!!

April 12, 2018, 12:25 PM	#2
Tallest Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2016 Location: West of the Atlantic Posts: 418	Assuming we're talking .223 ;) Good afternoon! Couple questions: What barrel length and ROT? What distances? I really like 60 grn Nosler Ballistic Tips Varmint over top a medium-high dose of Varget. They are sub MOA from 1-8" twist, 22" Ruger. I'm soon going to work up a load with the same bullet trying out the IMR 8208 XBR. I also used to have an AR that loved the Hornady 55 grn Soft points over a stout amount of H335. I usually use whatever brass is lying around and in good enough condition to clean up. I'm not to picky about brass yet. And CCI 400 small rifle primers have worked well for me. I have a friend who gets insane accuracy out of a bolt action Savage (not confident I remember the model well enough to make a statement) with 40 grn Hornady VMax with TAC. The last time he changed the scope and zeroed it, he had a 5 shot group you could cover with a dime (he is an incredible marksman, which helps). It destroys groundhogs with magnificent results! __________________ Matthew "All men are ignorant. The topics of our ignorance may vary, but the nature of the world is that no man may know everything." ~ R Jordan

April 12, 2018, 02:13 PM	#4
SmokeyBravo307 Member Join Date: March 31, 2018 Posts: 32	Tallest. I have a Savage V12 with a 24" bull barrel and have pretty much everything you have named as components to reload for this rifle minus the TAC powder and my brass is a big mix. I do like the Varget it's quite the all around powder but haven't tried the TAC yet but it is in the manuals I have. I appreciate the time you took to answer my question sir!!!

April 12, 2018, 02:19 PM	#5
SmokeyBravo307 Member Join Date: March 31, 2018 Posts: 32	T.O'Heir. I understand that every rifle likes a different load which is why I'm asking what works best for guys like you to help me find the best for me and my rifle and I don't have a Lyman manual but several others I guess I will compare what I have to Lyman's and work on up from there!!!! Thank you sir!!!!

April 12, 2018, 04:32 PM	#10
SmokeyBravo307 Member Join Date: March 31, 2018 Posts: 32	Thanks guys I'll get to work making some loads up I actually haven't tried many reloads in my AR but that is on my list of many rifles to develop my own load for I'm going one by one but if I'm loading for my .223 there is no reason not to develop one for my AR at the same time!!!!

April 12, 2018, 05:41 PM	#11
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	With my wife's Savage 110 FP (24" heavy barrel 1:9 twist ) i have been using either Varmint or Win 748. For the 69gr. Matchkings i'm using Power Pro 2000.

April 12, 2018, 06:04 PM	#12
SmokeyBravo307 Member Join Date: March 31, 2018 Posts: 32	I was just going to ask if anyone had been using the win.748 because I have a few pounds of it!!! Different rifle but one of my personal favorites is a 22-250 and I really want to find a nice load for it because the rifle itself means a lot to me that probably the next on my list besides my .300 weatherby but that's a whole different ballgame there!!!!

April 12, 2018, 06:45 PM	#13
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	I get great accuracy with 40 and 55 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips over H335. Also use that powder behind the Nosler 60 gr Partition. With the 65 gr Sierra GK, i got best accuracy with Varget and AA2230. For a 22-250 I’d use the same powder as i shoot in the 220 Swift, and that’s IMR4064. R15 should do real well also.

April 12, 2018, 07:38 PM	#14
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	I have excellent results for .223 with the following. Hornady A-Max 52 gr BT #22492. Remington No.7 1/2 small rifle bench rest primers. Winchester brass. 27.5 grs Hodgdon CFE223 powder. ~3250fps. Twist rate of 12:1. Best 100 yard group 0.44 inches, very consistently around 0.6 inches.

April 12, 2018, 08:13 PM	#15
SmokeyBravo307 Member Join Date: March 31, 2018 Posts: 32	Thanks again for everyone's help I really enjoy this forum most people are very helpful and I try to share when I have good, positive input as well!!!!

April 13, 2018, 06:46 AM	#16
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	CCI primers (#41 for the AR), WCC844/H335/AA Xterminator, Hornady bulk pack 55 grain SP W/cannelure.

April 14, 2018, 11:52 AM	#17
Hunter Customs Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2005 Location: Osborn, Missouri Posts: 2,697	I shoot three different 223 rifles, two are AR's an 18 and 20 inch barrels with 1-8 twist. I also have a heavy barrel Savage model 10/110 with a 20 inch barrel 1-9 twist. I've loaded several different loads for these rifles but the load I've settled on for all three is 26.7 grs of BLC2 topped off with Sierra 55 Blitzkings bullet#1455, ignited with Remington 7.5 primers. All three rifles are very accurate with this load, the Savage bolt gun being the most accurate shooting five shot 5/16 inch groups consistently as long as I do my part.....................Caution I've heard it claimed that BLC2 will ring a barrel in longer barreled rifles, I've not found this to be true in my rifles but all mine are 20 inch or shorter.

April 15, 2018, 09:04 AM	#18
RedLeg105 Junior Member Join Date: November 18, 2017 Posts: 6	26.5gr. of CFE223, under a 55gr. Nosler Varmaggedon shoots sub 1" groups out of my CZ527 bolt gun, and 1.25" groups out of my 18" barrelled (home built) AR15, at 100 yards. Both are 1:9 twists.

April 16, 2018, 04:07 PM	#19
Rimfire5 Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 922	I know that everyone knows that every rifle likes a different load, but I have data on 6 .223 rifles that seems disprove that maxim: a) a 1:9 twist bolt action CZ 527 Varmints with a 24 inch barrel b) a 1:9 twist bolt action CZ 527 Varmint with a 25.4 inch barrel, c & d) two 1:9 twist bolt action model 10 Savages with 24 inch barrels, e) a 1:9 twist bolt action model 12 Savage with a 26 inch barrel, f) a 1:8 twist Les Baer Super Varmint with an 18 inch barrel length. All of them shoot 52 grain Sierra SMK #1410 HPBTs, 53 grain Sierra SMK #1400 Flat Base and 52 grain Berger #22408 Flat Base bullets better than any other bullets using H335, N133 or CLE223 powders. Most of them have great results at 2.260 to 2.270 O.A.L even though all of the bolt action chambers are deep enough to seat them out further.