1:14 twist for 223

nad1967 · November 28, 2009, 09:22 AM

I just picked up another cooper, have messed around primarily with a 22-250 shooting the light bullets.

What loads have you had success with for the 40grainers and the slow twist?

**Unclenick** · November 28, 2009, 12:07 PM

You should be able to shoot up to 55 grain bullets with that twist in most instances. Longer bullets may not be stable enough, depending on atmospheric conditions. At higher altitude you may be able to go heavier.

For the light bullets, use a relatively fast powder to avoid secondary pressure spikes. IMR or H 4198 with that light bullet should work well. Hodgdon gives 19.5 grains to start and 22.2 grains maximum. That seems about right. Alliant Reloader 10X is designed for light bullet loads. It is a little slower than the 4198's, but fill the case well and is fine with 40 grain bullets. Alliant shows 24.5 grains as a recipe. A friend of mine says he can go higher in his gun, which has his cases extract with 30.5 grains of fireformed water capacity (the thing that matters to pressure), but I haven't tried it myself, so be cautious there.

My only gun with that 14" twist rate is a .222 Rem. I've had many a cloverleaf from it shooting the 53 grain flat base Sierra MatchKings. Never ran the 40's though. With the short bullets you want to be careful to get good seating alignment of the bullet and minimize runout of the loaded cartridge.

Clark · November 29, 2009, 04:27 PM

Try 14 gr Blue Dot 40 gr and seat the bullet long enough for the lands to make a mark on the bullet, if you have a 223Rem chamber and not a 5.56 Nato chamber. This is not a full case of powder, so the charge must be verified. Blue Dot can hang up on a Uniflow powder measure. This is advanced handload with extra risk from undercharges and overcharges, but benefits in accuracy, cool barrel, and clean barrel.

I use 15 gr Blue Dot in 33 gr Vmax 3500 fps and 13 gr in 60 gr TAP 2500 fps.

The TAP can cut a ground squirrel in half, but the Vmax blows it into smaller pieces.

My 14" twist Ruger#1V 223 has shot a 0.46" 5 shot group at 100 yards with 15 gr Blue Dot 33 gr Vmax.
I can sustain 100 rounds per hour with that load.

nad1967 · December 5, 2009, 11:39 AM

I've been having pretty good luck w/benchmark

nver tried blue dot

mconfluence · December 5, 2009, 05:29 PM

my stevens 223 has a 1:9 twist and I use sierrs 63 gr psp.Powder is Hogdon varget.

November 28, 2009, 12:07 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	You should be able to shoot up to 55 grain bullets with that twist in most instances. Longer bullets may not be stable enough, depending on atmospheric conditions. At higher altitude you may be able to go heavier. For the light bullets, use a relatively fast powder to avoid secondary pressure spikes. IMR or H 4198 with that light bullet should work well. Hodgdon gives 19.5 grains to start and 22.2 grains maximum. That seems about right. Alliant Reloader 10X is designed for light bullet loads. It is a little slower than the 4198's, but fill the case well and is fine with 40 grain bullets. Alliant shows 24.5 grains as a recipe. A friend of mine says he can go higher in his gun, which has his cases extract with 30.5 grains of fireformed water capacity (the thing that matters to pressure), but I haven't tried it myself, so be cautious there. My only gun with that 14" twist rate is a .222 Rem. I've had many a cloverleaf from it shooting the 53 grain flat base Sierra MatchKings. Never ran the 40's though. With the short bullets you want to be careful to get good seating alignment of the bullet and minimize runout of the loaded cartridge. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 28, 2009, 09:22 AM	#1
nad1967 Member Join Date: December 13, 2005 Posts: 28	1:14 twist for 223 I just picked up another cooper, have messed around primarily with a 22-250 shooting the light bullets. What loads have you had success with for the 40grainers and the slow twist?

November 29, 2009, 04:27 PM	#3
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	Try 14 gr Blue Dot 40 gr and seat the bullet long enough for the lands to make a mark on the bullet, if you have a 223Rem chamber and not a 5.56 Nato chamber. This is not a full case of powder, so the charge must be verified. Blue Dot can hang up on a Uniflow powder measure. This is advanced handload with extra risk from undercharges and overcharges, but benefits in accuracy, cool barrel, and clean barrel. I use 15 gr Blue Dot in 33 gr Vmax 3500 fps and 13 gr in 60 gr TAP 2500 fps. The TAP can cut a ground squirrel in half, but the Vmax blows it into smaller pieces. My 14" twist Ruger#1V 223 has shot a 0.46" 5 shot group at 100 yards with 15 gr Blue Dot 33 gr Vmax. I can sustain 100 rounds per hour with that load.

December 5, 2009, 11:39 AM	#4
nad1967 Member Join Date: December 13, 2005 Posts: 28	I've been having pretty good luck w/benchmark nver tried blue dot

December 5, 2009, 05:29 PM	#5
mconfluence Member Join Date: November 7, 2009 Posts: 63	my stevens 223 has a 1:9 twist and I use sierrs 63 gr psp.Powder is Hogdon varget.