Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Nosler 64 BSB in the .223AI

Whats the sizzling Uber accurate load guys?

64 BSB and "sizzling accurate" may not fit in the same sentence.

I'm still working with them in an 8 twist .22-250 and a 7.5 twist .22-204.

So far, other bullets out perform them at the range.

Reportedly, the BSB performs pretty well on critters.

I guess anything under an inch is gonna be Kosher with those.

Will await your report.

DF

Not an AI but a .223 normal. This was my starting load data and target (should have shot five shot groups). Could not resist the urge to try another bullet and find nirvana so I moved on. After I finish shooting the last of my Hornady 68 gr. HPBT's, going to revisit the 64 BSB. Would like to verify the accuracy potential out to 300 yards which is about the practical limit for the area I would hunt this rifle.

Looking forward to seeing what loads folks are using.

You couldn't have shot those groups with a Kimber!


Kimbers don't shoot!



You musta not got the memo on that......

Guess I got lucky :-) They sure are a nice carry for a walkabout.

I've seen this as well. I'm going to grab a few to try in my 8 twist RAR and 9 twist Montucky...neither are AI but accuracy should be representative.

A friend my brother and myself also got lucky with them. Great little rifles

\


DF: here it is!

I tried TAC, IMR 4064, and IMR4895...


TAC was disappointing...I expected better from it cause it sure puts 55 TTSXs into tiny little groups.


IMR4064 showed some promise.....but.....



IMR4895....26.5 grains and a COAL of 56mm was the shizzle in two different rifles, a 1 in 12 twist and a 1 in 8 twist. Both .223AIs...


Didn't chrono it as I have no chrono but the bullets were going so fast I couldn't even see them!

Thanks for sharing, ingwe and the time you spent determining the best combo.

I like the BSB, was just getting a bit disgusted about the way it shot. Will take your advice.

DF

I picked up a large amount of Nosler's 63 grain SP in their Varmaggeddon line from their Pro Shop...Factory Seconds..

I haven't seen them cataloged anywhere... but have their 62 grain HP version...

They work fine in a one in 14 twist, no less... and are match grade accurate... ( at least by my low level standards)...

As far as powder choices, those have been real accurate on regardless what powder I have tested them with...

been using a reduced charge of 4198 for my off season, screwing around loads...plinking with the Howa and the RAR/P...

for accuracy tho, they are not real picky... if any of that helps at all...

IMR 4895 your old stand by... Now you've got to love it when a plan comes together.

You are tempting me to add one of the 4895's to my powder inventory that I have been trying forever to streamline.

Streamlining powder is a mental exercise, never works very well in the real world.

As soon as you eliminate one, someone comes up with a great load using that powder.

Just make room...

That's what I resigned myself to doing...

DF

There was a time when I thought the supply of Varget was endless and now that is not the case so variety could well be a better solution than that of being a minimalist.

Thank you for enabling me...

Streamlining a powder shelf is not easy....

but if I had to rely of two powders for all my rifle needs.. it would IMR 4198 and IMR 4895....if I could make it three then either AR Comp or H 322....

Why do you prefer IMR (4198/4895) versus the H brand?

Ahhh...

Now, you know you couldn't make it without 4064...

DF

I'll answer 2 posted questions here at once...

4064 sucks at reduced loads... that not withstanding of course I love it...

I'll use H4198 without issues, but I've never been impressed with H 4895....its finicky on accuracy out of any cartridge I've tried it in...

eg: Ruger 22.250... 32.5 grains of H4895 with a 55 grain bullet is the MOST accurate load out of that rifle...however you go up to 32.6 or down to 32.4, groups start opening quickly....

use IMR 4895 and it doesn't matter what the charge is, its accuracy is consistent across the board...

in reduced loads, which Hodgdon pushes using H 4895, is done strictly because ADI gave them the load data that they tested... Hodgdon never has tested any of it...

I can see ADI's motivation as H 4895 is used a lot for military loads down their way....at least I am told..so take that with however many grains of salt ya care to..

I've also noticed reduced loads with H 4895 are very loud, compared with IMR 4895 and the same charges... plus I don't consider Hodgdon's very accurate period... I've had much better accuracy out of IMR's version....

and finally, for reduced loads, H4198 is a thousand times better choice in my book.. its accurate, not unnecessarily noisy, and consistent regardless of charge...

just my observations and reasons for using IMRs versions vs Hodgdon's ( ADIs)....

on the flip side, I'm a VERY BIG fan of H 322...in a lot of cartridges, even that you don't see H 322 used in also...

I could see 4198 with reduced loads even though Hodgdon pushes 4895.

I wasn't looking for reduced loads, looking for the best full house 64 BSB loads, knew you liked 4064.

It's been a challenge getting BSB's to shoot decent groups. So, that's my current objective.

I'd like to have good BSB loads for .223, 22-204 and/or fast twist .22-250. If they shot well in just one of those rifles, I'd be pleased.

Will keep on keeping on...

DF

2 things: I think they push 4895 for reduced loads cause it takes more of it...about 16.5 grains vs. 12.5 grains of 4198...they are, after all, in the business to sell stuff.

Second:I gotta tell you I was frankly amazed at the difference powder made behind these 64 BSBs...

My experience has always been that bullets are the #1 variable, followed by powder as a distant second, and primers an even more distant third.

But the powders in this case were radically different in accuracy. TAC pretty much sprayed them all over, 4064 showed definite promise, especially in the 1 in 8 gun,and IMR4895 just plain shot well....two different charges in two different guns.



Never have honestly seen powder make that much of a difference.

Dirtfarmer I am going to try to use RL15 when I start working with 64\s in my 22-250. I like 4064 with the lighter pills but feel that a 60+ grain bullet warrants slower powder. If you want to try 1 powder in the 3 cartridges you mentioned 4064 would be a good starting point.