If it doesn't function, it doesn't work.
I wouldn't be so in love with a load that I would tolerate a malfunctioning gun. You might as well trade it in for a bolt action.
A big +1 to Montanaman's observation. The .223 is such a forgiving cartridge that you hear lots of people say that load development didn't do a whole lot for them - they got many loads that shoot the same and the development was a waste of time.
If that 70RDF doesn't shoot with 24.5gr of Varget, I'd conclude that it doesn't shoot.
