just got a 223

indybrad · January 21, 2006, 09:40 PM

I was wanting to know if any of you fellas have a Rem 700PSS in 223 and what hand loads work best for your rifle. I'm probably going to shoot a 55 grain bullet most of the time and would like to hear some of your recomindations on some hand loads.

somerled · January 22, 2006, 12:18 AM

I've had great luck using 52-grain Sierra BTHP MatchKings with 20.5 grains of IMR-4198 in a Remington 700VS. It also works well in my AR-15. I use Winchester factory brass, which has a greater case capacity than surplus stuff.

I've been using Hodgdon's Varget for bullets weighing 55 to 64 grains in 1-9" twist rifles. You can find data for it at www.hodgdon.com

Rivers · January 22, 2006, 11:50 AM

I have a .223 VS which doesn't have the same twist rate of your PSS. Nobody's loads are going to work in your rifle as well as loads that you work up yourself for your rifle.

dodge · January 22, 2006, 12:24 PM

In my Remington VLS I use 26 GR. w748, Hornady 50 gr V-Max and a CCI 400 primer for a velocity of 3400 fps. Very accurate and any woodchuck that I hit with this load is DRT and you can here the bullet smack when it hits.

snuffy · January 22, 2006, 12:45 PM

"I have a .223 VS which doesn't have the same twist rate of your PSS. Nobody's loads are going to work in your rifle as well as loads that you work up yourself for your rifle"

There are no shortcuts! You HAVE to work up your own loads for your rifle. Two rifles made side by side will not work the same with any given load.

That said, H-335 works well for me in my AR-15 AND my TC contender 16"

Swede · January 22, 2006, 01:51 PM

I like Blc-2 with 55gr bullets in my AR & Savage Tach both shoot under 1" with Sierra 55gr hp.

caz223 · January 22, 2006, 03:58 PM

Bullets around 55 grains are generic and will work well in almost any .223.....
To determing what bulllets work best, you will need to know the twist in your rifle.
My VS .223 has a 1:14 twist, and I've had the best luck at 150- 200 yards with 45 grain bullets. YMMV.
The first load I tried using H4198 and 45 grain spires shot tiny one hole groups at 100 yards. Yes, I was happy.

rn22723 · January 22, 2006, 05:30 PM

Rem factory VS is 1-12 twist rifling, whereas the Rem factory 22-250 and 220 Swift are 1-14 twist rifling.

Varget in a WW case will give you excellent results.
RP 7.5 primers work well.
Follow the Hodgdon web site for working up loads!
Stay away from Federal 223 brass, others offer much better case life!

The 50 gr Vmax, 40/50/55gr NBT, and the 69 OTM offerings all ought to be great bullets!

Load to magazine length, or roughly 2.26" COAL.

I whole heartedly agree, there are no short cuts! Do you your own leg work!

rcwpop · January 22, 2006, 08:37 PM

Im shooting a 55gr. Hornady V-max and I have 1/2 inch groups at a 100 yds. Also works well on Groundhogs. Have taken them beyond 270 yards. Thats out of a 24 inch bull barrel in a Savage 10FP. It works well.

Backstrap

rcwpop · January 22, 2006, 08:39 PM

Im shooting a 55gr. Hornady V-max and I have 1/2 inch groups at a 100 yds. Also works well on Groundhogs. Have taken them beyond 270 yards. Thats out of a 24 inch bull barrel in a Savage 10FP. It works well.

Forgot the powder. Im using 25 grains of IMR 4064.

Backstrap

Byron Adams · January 22, 2006, 11:48 PM

I have used Olin 748 for years in my 223 and 222. I use the Hornady 55 grain SP and get very good accuracy in my 222 at 200 yards from a rest.I have gotten 1/2" groups. The bullet shoots well in my Mini 14. Byron

PDshooter · January 24, 2006, 10:29 AM

No bullet has shot better then "Sierra" in my rifle. I like #1390 55gr HPBT for all my varmint shooting! But I just started using sierra #1455 they feed better.
Powder H335..26gr or W748
OAL...2.250
I can get 3/4in groups all day at a bench! The rifle can shoot better then me.My eyes are not what they used tobe.

MADISON · January 24, 2006, 11:59 AM

Have you confirmed the twist?

Start a tight patch; being sure the jag is tight on the rod.
Mark the rod with a felt tip to indicate Top Dead Center and a starting point.
Advance the rod until it comes back to Top Dead Center.
Measure the distance traveled from the start mark. That is the rifling twist, one turn in xx inches.
A lot easier than trying to estimate the amount of twist in a foot.

Rivers · January 24, 2006, 01:51 PM

The twist on a PSS .223 is 1-in-9.

caz223 · January 24, 2006, 02:30 PM

If that's true, you can start with bullets at 62 grains and work up, if need be.

January 22, 2006, 12:18 AM	#2
somerled Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2005 Location: eastern Kansas Posts: 603	I've had great luck using 52-grain Sierra BTHP MatchKings with 20.5 grains of IMR-4198 in a Remington 700VS. It also works well in my AR-15. I use Winchester factory brass, which has a greater case capacity than surplus stuff. I've been using Hodgdon's Varget for bullets weighing 55 to 64 grains in 1-9" twist rifles. You can find data for it at www.hodgdon.com Last edited by somerled; January 23, 2006 at 03:05 PM.

January 22, 2006, 12:45 PM	#5
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	"I have a .223 VS which doesn't have the same twist rate of your PSS. Nobody's loads are going to work in your rifle as well as loads that you work up yourself for your rifle" There are no shortcuts! You HAVE to work up your own loads for your rifle. Two rifles made side by side will not work the same with any given load. That said, H-335 works well for me in my AR-15 AND my TC contender 16" __________________ The more people I meet, the more I love my dog They're going to get their butts kicked over there this election. How come people can't spell and use words correctly?

January 22, 2006, 03:58 PM	#7
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	Bullets around 55 grains are generic and will work well in almost any .223..... To determing what bulllets work best, you will need to know the twist in your rifle. My VS .223 has a 1:14 twist, and I've had the best luck at 150- 200 yards with 45 grain bullets. YMMV. The first load I tried using H4198 and 45 grain spires shot tiny one hole groups at 100 yards. Yes, I was happy. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

January 22, 2006, 08:37 PM	#9
rcwpop Member Join Date: January 17, 2006 Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia Posts: 34	223 load Im shooting a 55gr. Hornady V-max and I have 1/2 inch groups at a 100 yds. Also works well on Groundhogs. Have taken them beyond 270 yards. Thats out of a 24 inch bull barrel in a Savage 10FP. It works well. Backstrap

January 22, 2006, 08:39 PM	#10
rcwpop Member Join Date: January 17, 2006 Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia Posts: 34	223 load Im shooting a 55gr. Hornady V-max and I have 1/2 inch groups at a 100 yds. Also works well on Groundhogs. Have taken them beyond 270 yards. Thats out of a 24 inch bull barrel in a Savage 10FP. It works well. Forgot the powder. Im using 25 grains of IMR 4064. Backstrap

January 21, 2006, 09:40 PM	#1
indybrad Senior Member Join Date: October 27, 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 229	just got a 223 I was wanting to know if any of you fellas have a Rem 700PSS in 223 and what hand loads work best for your rifle. I'm probably going to shoot a 55 grain bullet most of the time and would like to hear some of your recomindations on some hand loads.

January 22, 2006, 11:50 AM	#3
Rivers Junior member Join Date: November 5, 2005 Posts: 670	I have a .223 VS which doesn't have the same twist rate of your PSS. Nobody's loads are going to work in your rifle as well as loads that you work up yourself for your rifle.

January 22, 2006, 12:24 PM	#4
dodge Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2001 Location: ridgerunner from Northern PA Posts: 291	In my Remington VLS I use 26 GR. w748, Hornady 50 gr V-Max and a CCI 400 primer for a velocity of 3400 fps. Very accurate and any woodchuck that I hit with this load is DRT and you can here the bullet smack when it hits.

January 22, 2006, 01:51 PM	#6
Swede Member Join Date: June 17, 2001 Location: Mpls MN Posts: 32	I like Blc-2 with 55gr bullets in my AR & Savage Tach both shoot under 1" with Sierra 55gr hp.

January 22, 2006, 05:30 PM	#8
rn22723 Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2001 Location: Burbs of Minneapolis Posts: 676	Rem factory VS is 1-12 twist rifling, whereas the Rem factory 22-250 and 220 Swift are 1-14 twist rifling. Varget in a WW case will give you excellent results. RP 7.5 primers work well. Follow the Hodgdon web site for working up loads! Stay away from Federal 223 brass, others offer much better case life! The 50 gr Vmax, 40/50/55gr NBT, and the 69 OTM offerings all ought to be great bullets! Load to magazine length, or roughly 2.26" COAL. I whole heartedly agree, there are no short cuts! Do you your own leg work!

January 22, 2006, 11:48 PM	#11
Byron Adams Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2001 Location: Ellijay, GA Posts: 176	I have used Olin 748 for years in my 223 and 222. I use the Hornady 55 grain SP and get very good accuracy in my 222 at 200 yards from a rest.I have gotten 1/2" groups. The bullet shoots well in my Mini 14. Byron __________________ Georgia

January 24, 2006, 10:29 AM	#12
PDshooter Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2000 Location: Indiana Posts: 607	No bullet has shot better then "Sierra" in my rifle. I like #1390 55gr HPBT for all my varmint shooting! But I just started using sierra #1455 they feed better. Powder H335..26gr or W748 OAL...2.250 I can get 3/4in groups all day at a bench! The rifle can shoot better then me.My eyes are not what they used tobe. __________________ Life member NRA 20yrs guard . MOS 63H 11B 43E Shoot Shovel Shut-up!

January 24, 2006, 11:59 AM	#13
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	Have you confirmed the twist Have you confirmed the twist? Start a tight patch; being sure the jag is tight on the rod. Mark the rod with a felt tip to indicate Top Dead Center and a starting point. Advance the rod until it comes back to Top Dead Center. Measure the distance traveled from the start mark. That is the rifling twist, one turn in xx inches. A lot easier than trying to estimate the amount of twist in a foot.

January 24, 2006, 01:51 PM	#14
Rivers Junior member Join Date: November 5, 2005 Posts: 670	The twist on a PSS .223 is 1-in-9.

January 24, 2006, 02:30 PM	#15
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	If that's true, you can start with bullets at 62 grains and work up, if need be. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)