Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Anybody use Winchester 748?

In a .223. I loaded some test bullets yesterday, 55 gr ballistic tips and the 2nd batch was hard bolt lift and eject. They were a grain and half under published max loads. I had the same happen with the 55 gr. hornady bullet that I could not get to shoot in my rifle with any powder. If I recall they were right at the beginning recommended load. I just shot 1 of those and pulled the rest. No problems with any other powder that I have used, which is several. The data was from several different sources as I always check more than one source when trying new loads. Just curious if it is common or just my rifle. miles

Miles,

I'd say it is your rifle....those bullets and that powder are pretty common bread and butter pieces for a 223...

W 748 was the darling powder years ago for the 223, with the Benchrest crowd....

I'd get the chamber checked out... is it short chambered?
A gunsmith can take that and square that away for ya....

Another suggestion is that if any factory ammo is shooting good for ya, disassemble one... see what the charge is...
cross reference it with a reload manual after chronographing a couple... and see what load will duplicate it.

Another thing is to pick up some factory ammo, with say the 55 grain bullet, pull them and then reseat the Hornaday or the Ballistic Tip on the case, and see how those shoot.

would eliminate if it is the powder or the bullet.

What John said....748 is a crackerjack powder in the .223 if you have a tight gun for any reason it could drive pressures up.

Have used 4 other powders with no problems getting to published max for those powders. 748 has done this with 2 different bullets. miles

I like it in the 308, never tried it in a 223.

As far as being a grain and a half under max, the max loads listed are max loads for the action they were tested in only! That's why you don't just pick out a max load and go for it.

Well Miles, I've always figured a barrel not liking a certain powder is like a kid not liking spinach.

IMR 4895 is never a wrong choice in the 223..neither is 4198 or RL 7

Neither is my 2 current favorites ( based on accuracy but also availability and temp insensitivity ) is AR Comp and H 322... the latter a real good old standby...

I do think your issues is with the powder vs the bullet...

you also could have picked up a batch that just ain't up to the usual specs, being faster than normal.

Brand new powder and I was just wondering if others were seeing a difference, than with the older lots of powder. miles

the problems you are experiencing Miles, is an anomaly for W 748 and the 223.

Agreed. I might or might not have more to say with specific information as to specific loads to include primer, case, OAL, bullet and powder charge and whether a .223 chamber or a 5.56 chamber or something else entirely as some of the match or hybrid chamberings.

From the description my first question would be maybe a 5.56 load in a .223 chamber?

748 was more or less made for the 5.56 and works well in the .223. I have superseded 748 with TAC and other newer powders in the 5.56 and .223 ( I have a pair of 5.56 and a single .223 and I agree there is a difference) so I cannot speak as to current lots and there may be a lot to lot variation that great but I doubt it.

I certainly would expect a 55 grain Hornady and the Hornady book load of 748 to perform well.

If most loads do well I'd be curious enough myself to work up again and so rule out mistakes on the scale or powder measure because the behavior described is indeed most uncommon.

This is a savage .223 and the loads from more that 1 source was looked at and they agreed. A mid range load with the 55 Hornady was sticky and the rest pulled after the first shot. I could not get the Hornadys to shoot with any powder and combination. I then loaded some 55 grain ballistic tips. They look like they will shoot very well as does the factory 55 grain Winchester varmint bullets. A low load using the 748 looked promising so I increased 2 batches of 3 increasing by .5 grain. The second batch were showing pressure with hard bolt lift. Still way under max load according to manuals and the internet. Other powders are not doing this and can be loaded to max without problems. That is the reason I was asking questions, feeling that maybe the powder had changed over the years and newer data might be needed. I am going to try with lesser amounts of powder and see how 748 does. I have not checked the speed on any loads. Right now IMR 4116 is doing the best job. miles

Mr. Patton:

Note that I reload W748 in a .223 w/12 twist barrel and have for some years; my lot of powder is relatively new as purchased 2 years ago (can changed from blue to black background label 2 years ago...).

The newer loads are at listed lower maximums than older (1970-80s loads) of 748 in the older loading manuals of that era. So, the newer lots of 748 may be a little hotter than the old days.

You don't mention in your original or subsequent posts what quantity of 748 you are using or what sources!

Try 26.5 grains w/ a 45-50 grain bullet per the Nosler #4 (1996) manual - this is a safe load in my bolt action with a 45 gr. Speer soft point - and work up to the listed 26.0 maximum with the 55 grain SB Ballistic Tip bullet.

PS You didn't mention cartridge OAL, perhaps neck thickness or poorly annealed brass without brass springback is causing the sticky extraction [giving a false headspace or overload indication when in fact that is not the actual problem]

748 is my go to powder for 223----same load will shoot in all my guns pretty well...I can get a a tad better groups in some rifles with dif powder but never the crossover 748 gives....
If I get a new 223 I load up 27 gr and a 40 gr vmax and it always goes under half inch....