I ran some tests this weekend in my NEF single shot 1:12 twist 223. I could only get my hands on the 53gr version as I am looking for a deer killer not the prairie dog version. I loaded several different powder charges of H335 and was not real impressed at the range. Following the book I have, shows max load at 25 grains so that is were I stopped. But velocity was fairly sedate compared to the 60 grain Nosler partitions I had loaded. Accuracy was ho hum for me as well. Granted the gun only has a 2x7 scope on it so that is part of the group thing, but I could do no better than 2" and those were the lower end loads at 2800-2900 fps. The max load I only got one reading of three on the chrony, and that was 2989 fps with 25 gr charge, where the 24.5 grain charge was 3067, so not sure what was going on there. I was able to get 1.5" groups with the Nosler bullets clocking an average 3144fps over a dozen shots. I may try the 50 or 45 grain bullets to see what I can make happen there. Looking for accuracy and speed for 80-120# whitetails for my daughter to shoot. She is small and 8 years old. Will be 9 before next season. So far the Nosler wins.
