Handloading a new to me, used 223 bolt

gwhunran · March 23, 2013, 10:14 AM

I just acquired a used Stevens 223 with 26" bull barrel.
My first 223. I have been handloading for more than 20 years for both rifle and pistol. But never 223. In the nineties I came into several thousand 223 once fired brass probably fired through military semi autos. I bet no one here gets brass or has dies for guns they don't own

This morning I decided to load up some. Well, I found that I had already cleaned, resized several hundred of them. Don't remember when I did this; )
The brass is a mix of LC 85, WCC 85, and FC 223 Rem. I think the latter is non military spec.
In looking through my load books, I don't have the most popular powders. I do have 4895, 4064, 4050, 760, and 4831. I also have bullets on the lighter end of 224, 40grfmj, 45grhp, and 50gr psp. I have had a 22 Hornet for long time.
Question: Any body have experience loading 223 using the above powder bullet combinations? Twist rate is supposed to be 1:9.

rg1 · March 23, 2013, 10:59 AM

Only powder you've listed that can be used in .223 Rem is 4895. It may be too slow for light bullets but you can find data for 50-55 grain bullets using it.

Boomer58cal · March 23, 2013, 11:14 AM

I load my .223's with IMR 4895. A "hot" load will be a slight compression load with the 50g though. I prefer the 53g V-max but that's just me. I also have a hornet. Sweet little thing. Load it with 40g'ers.

**Unclenick** · March 23, 2013, 11:22 AM

You can also use IMR4064 in .223, but its only recommended with heavier bullets than you have. Frankly, IMR4895 works best with heavier bullets, too. A lot will leave the muzzle unburned and it won't achieve best ballistic efficiency. For maximum performance with light bullets, Reloader 10X was designed for the purpose and works well. Burn rate not too different from IMR3031. If maximum velocity is not your objective, IMR4198 is an excellent accuracy powder with the lighter weights.

gwhunran · March 23, 2013, 03:39 PM

The reference books I have gives me loads with all the bullet weights I have (40,45,and 50gr) using 4064,4895, and 4350. The 45gr hp is a hornet bullet. My friends 222 likes the 50gr. My hornet does not.
I will probably try the 4064 because the 4895 works great in my 308 and 3006 whereas the 4064 has not been as good in my guns.
The reason I am not going for the most popular powders is because they are not available now. I am keeping my eyes open for some 60gr bullets too.
I'm just glad I was a component hoarder before being a hoarder was common

2ndtimer · March 23, 2013, 04:00 PM

In reviewing my old loading data for the .223, I used both IMR-4895 and IMR-4064 with good results with bullets as light as 50 grs. My data showed the 50 gr Nosler Expander (pre-Ballistic Tip), and the Sierra Blitz 50 gr bullet both loaded with 26.5 gr of IMR-4064 for around 3200 fps out of a 24" Savage. While it certainly wouldn't be the best powder for 40 gr bullets, velocity wise, it is very useful for 50 gr and heavier bullets. Particularly if you already have some. Good luck finding any Ramshot TAC or Exterminator, H-335, H-322, Varget or H-4895; or IMR-8208XBR, or Accurate 2015, 2200, 2230 or 2460 anywhere. They might give better velocity, especially with lighter bullets, but for 50 gr pills and up, the IMR-4895 and IMR-4064 will enable you to get an idea how your rifle shoots. Later, when supplies are back in stock, you can experiment with some other powders and fine tune your .223.

March 23, 2013, 10:14 AM	#1
gwhunran Member Join Date: January 31, 2013 Location: Southwest Virginia Posts: 30	Handloading a new to me, used 223 bolt I just acquired a used Stevens 223 with 26" bull barrel. My first 223. I have been handloading for more than 20 years for both rifle and pistol. But never 223. In the nineties I came into several thousand 223 once fired brass probably fired through military semi autos. I bet no one here gets brass or has dies for guns they don't own This morning I decided to load up some. Well, I found that I had already cleaned, resized several hundred of them. Don't remember when I did this; ) The brass is a mix of LC 85, WCC 85, and FC 223 Rem. I think the latter is non military spec. In looking through my load books, I don't have the most popular powders. I do have 4895, 4064, 4050, 760, and 4831. I also have bullets on the lighter end of 224, 40grfmj, 45grhp, and 50gr psp. I have had a 22 Hornet for long time. Question: Any body have experience loading 223 using the above powder bullet combinations? Twist rate is supposed to be 1:9.

March 23, 2013, 11:14 AM	#3
Boomer58cal Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2013 Location: closer than you think Posts: 967	I load my .223's with IMR 4895. A "hot" load will be a slight compression load with the 50g though. I prefer the 53g V-max but that's just me. I also have a hornet. Sweet little thing. Load it with 40g'ers. __________________ The number one cause of death in the 20th century. 290,000,000 citizens were first disarmed and then murdered by their own governments. This number does not include those killed in war. We're from the government, we're here to help

March 23, 2013, 11:22 AM	#4
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	You can also use IMR4064 in .223, but its only recommended with heavier bullets than you have. Frankly, IMR4895 works best with heavier bullets, too. A lot will leave the muzzle unburned and it won't achieve best ballistic efficiency. For maximum performance with light bullets, Reloader 10X was designed for the purpose and works well. Burn rate not too different from IMR3031. If maximum velocity is not your objective, IMR4198 is an excellent accuracy powder with the lighter weights. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

March 23, 2013, 04:00 PM	#6
2ndtimer Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2004 Location: Kennewick, WA Posts: 293	In reviewing my old loading data for the .223, I used both IMR-4895 and IMR-4064 with good results with bullets as light as 50 grs. My data showed the 50 gr Nosler Expander (pre-Ballistic Tip), and the Sierra Blitz 50 gr bullet both loaded with 26.5 gr of IMR-4064 for around 3200 fps out of a 24" Savage. While it certainly wouldn't be the best powder for 40 gr bullets, velocity wise, it is very useful for 50 gr and heavier bullets. Particularly if you already have some. Good luck finding any Ramshot TAC or Exterminator, H-335, H-322, Varget or H-4895; or IMR-8208XBR, or Accurate 2015, 2200, 2230 or 2460 anywhere. They might give better velocity, especially with lighter bullets, but for 50 gr pills and up, the IMR-4895 and IMR-4064 will enable you to get an idea how your rifle shoots. Later, when supplies are back in stock, you can experiment with some other powders and fine tune your .223. __________________ NRA Endowment Member

March 23, 2013, 10:59 AM	#2
rg1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Posts: 1,125	Only powder you've listed that can be used in .223 Rem is 4895. It may be too slow for light bullets but you can find data for 50-55 grain bullets using it.

March 23, 2013, 03:39 PM	#5
gwhunran Member Join Date: January 31, 2013 Location: Southwest Virginia Posts: 30	The reference books I have gives me loads with all the bullet weights I have (40,45,and 50gr) using 4064,4895, and 4350. The 45gr hp is a hornet bullet. My friends 222 likes the 50gr. My hornet does not. I will probably try the 4064 because the 4895 works great in my 308 and 3006 whereas the 4064 has not been as good in my guns. The reason I am not going for the most popular powders is because they are not available now. I am keeping my eyes open for some 60gr bullets too. I'm just glad I was a component hoarder before being a hoarder was common