Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Playing the Montana game...

Picked up the Montana 223 last night, mounted a VX2 2X7 in Talley Lightweights. Found the lands and loaded 75gr BTHP's over 2000-MR and headed to the range this morning.

Other than blowing down the barrel I didn't touch it, didn't bed it but the barrel is floating by a hair, didn't touch the trigger, didn't verify the mag box or front base screw but I took the swivel studs off.

Every load I shot, limited barrel cooling time, 100 yds on the bottom and 200 yds on the top. Time to bed it and make some room for Amax's.

Great start Dave!

Nice I got one of these yesterday too. Hope it shoots. Have a leupold 4x in talleys on it. Loaded up some 55grn nosler bt. Going to shoot it to tomorrow.

Bedded this morning and made some room for the mag box, will send some BTHP's and Amax's downrange in the morning.

Mine really likes 75gr btsp over TAC, loaded to SAAMI length.

Nice start Dave...

Are those 1/2gr increment powder charges or seating depth changes?

Josh, 2/10's so 25.0-26.6 for the nine shots. QL does not have 2000-MR and Alliant's data is for the Amax so I was guessing on the top end, may be able to push it to 27.0.

The barrel was only floating a single thickness of paper, a good business card after floating so I am betting it tightens up a bit with nothing more than bedding.

The Amax behind 26.2 gr MR2000 (2855 avg.) is the sweet spot in my Brux #3, easily MOA to 400, even the few groups at 600 were MOA.

I expected the groups to tighten with the bedding and also decided to push the loads to 26.8, based on previous trips that load probably tops at 3025, no cratered or flattened primers and no bolt lift resistance but the group opened quite a bit.

Needed 2 MOA to get back on center after bedding.

No hand picked targets.

If you can't read the scribble,

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3761/19633931855_f041d38d85_o.jpg

Double checked my work, barrel floating by a business card, scope rings tight, bases tight, front base screw clear of the barrel and the mag box wiggles. Although I could get another half turn on the action screws...

...damn, I guess this one is off to Gunbroker

So work on the 25.6-25.8 range with the BTHP and 26.0-26.2 with the Amax???

OR you gonna try another powder?

I am sticking with MR2000 for now, around 26.2 with the Amax and a bit more with the BTHP.

Moved the spacer in the mag box and made my own ejector saving the original. It feeds and ejects two each, BTHP and Amax alternating rounds good, I didn't modify the bolt stop.

Maybe I missed it but 200 yards?

200 yards, but the second set would not be good enough at 300.

I've got one coming too, keep us posted.

Better powder to be had. I'll never get rid of my Montana 223.

TAC was mentioned earlier, what powder is better for 75-80 grs?

The 75's, BTHP and Amax are still 2"-3" at 200 (shot today), I wanted to try something lighter than 75's but did not find any 60gr Amax or 53gr TSX locally. I will try some 55gr Vmax and 68gr BTHP's that I have on hand this morning.

I have BLC2, Benchmark, MR2000 and Varget so I loaded the 55's and 68's with BLC2.

Seems to prefer the sub-75gr bullets. Wind was switching fast between 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock, 2-11 mph so I didn't bother following the flags, range is 200 yards.

I thought this was interesting, the first 55gr Vmax in the white was my sighter before shooting the groups above. I shot the three Amax rounds from yesterday, shot the second 55gr Vmax and followed with the two 68gr BTHP's. I guess two shot groups are where it's at <grin>

As far as I am concerned there is nothing wrong with this Montana, eventually it will get an 8T barrel, for now I will have fun with 55-68's and look forward to trying some other bullets, maybe 53gr TSX or 60 Vmax.

It sure is fun to shoot!