Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Requested: 223 and Blue Dot Full Range Report

per request:

Dot Range Report: 223 Caliber ( Full )

Bullet Weights Tested:
1. 35 grain Hornady V Max
2. 40 grain Hornady Vmax
3. 45 grain Sierra SP
4. 50 grain Sierra SMP
5. 52 grain Sierra Boat Tail Match
6. 55 grain Winchester FMJ

Rifle Used: Ruger 77 Mk 2, VT 26 inch Barrel, Stainless Steel First yr Model

Case: Lake City Surplus, previously fired

Primer: Remington 6 ½

Powder: Blue Dot

Charge Weight Tested: 4 grains to 14 grains.


Weather: Sunny, NO clouds, 80 degrees, NO wind,

Altitude: 2000 ft

Humidity: Very Low


Field Results:


35 grain Hornady V Max:

4 grs: 1284 fps
5 grs: 1488 fps
6 grs: 1862 fps
7 grs: 2163 fps
8 grs: 2392 fps

9 grs: 2636 fps
10 grs: 2722 fps
11 grs: 3076 fps
12 grs: 3205 fps
13 grs: NO Reading
14 grs: 3518 fps



Hornady 40 grain Vmax:

4 grs: 1161 fps
5 grs: 1538 fps
6 grs: 1798 fps
7 grs: 2148 fps

8 grs: 2243 fps
9 grs: 2539 fps
10 grs: 2771 fps
11 grs: 2956 fps

12 grs: 3013 fps
13 grs: 3218 fps
14 grs: 3375 fps


Sierra 45 grain SP

4 grs: 1239 fps
5 grs: 1447 fps
6 grs: 1688 fps
7 grs: 1880 fps

8 grs: 2118 fps
9 grs: 2363 fps
10 grs: 2553 fps
11 grs: 2811 fps

12 grs: 2875 fps
13 grs: 3008 fps
14 grs: 3164 fps


Sierra 50 grains SMP

4 grs: 1064 fps
5 grs: 1345 fps
6 grs: 1624 fps
7 grs: 1788 fps

8 grs: 2033 fps
9 grs: 2257 fps
10 grs: 2466 fps
11 grs: 2655 fps
12 grs: 2779 fps

13 grs: 2882 fps
14 grs: 3038 fps


Sierra 52 grain Boattail Hollow Point Match

4 grs: 1061 fps
5grs: 1460 fps
6 grs: 1632 fps
7 grs: 1916 fps

8 grs: 2142 fps
9 grs: 2225 fps
10 gr: NO Reading
11 grs: 2673 fps

12 grs: 2782 fps
13 grs: 2879 fps
14 grs: 3012 fps


Winchester 55 grain FMJ

4 grs: 896 fps
5 grs: 1264 fps
6 grs: 1568 fps
7 grs: 1825 fps
8 grs: 1994 fps

9 grs: 2201 fps
10 grs: 2328 fps
11 grs: 2453 fps

12 grs: 2677 fps
13 grs: 2821 fps
14 grs: 2915 fps



Notes:

1. IN the evaluation of the 223, I came further to the conclusion of the versatility of the 223 in the use of training new shooters, and for a very versatile varmint caliber.
2. Essentially the 223 can be loaded to the specs of a 22 Long rifle, a 218 Bee, a 221 Fireball, a 222 Remington, a 22 Hornet, and a 22 Win Mag., while allowing the shooter to be able to pick the type of bullet that he prefers.
3. Bullets were limited to use of 35 grains to 55 grains. Heavier bullets will not serve any purpose unless a 223 is to be used for deer hunting. I do not believe that their would be a significant difference in the use of a 55 grain bullet vs a 60 grain bullet.
4. The recoil on the lighter loads using 4 to 6 grains of powder had minimal recoil if any at all. These would be ideal for young shooters being trained.
5. Noise level on the lighter loads ( 4 to 6 grains) were on par with a rim fire. An increase in noise level was very noticeable above 7 grains, but still very acceptable. ( No sounding like a rim fire any more)

Noted Observations:

1. It was noted but not considered part of the testing, with a tree used as a back stop for some of the testing, that all bullets ( 45 to 55 grains)penetrated thru the tree at a distance of 20 yds.
2. The diameter of the tree was measured at 5 inches.
3. The 40 grain Vmax loads failed to penetrate the tree at loads above 10 grs, above 2771 fps. However at 10 grains and less, the bullets penetrated thru the tree and did a large amount of damage ( like turning the wood into tooth picks) on the exit side of the tree. The penetration stopped at the 5 grain load.


Some of the Author’s Conclusions:

1. I learned some significant items beyond the versatility of the 223 with the bullets tested, but focusing on its use in the field, got some ideas.
2. A light rifle such as a Winchester Featherweight or Rugers Compact model with a 16.5 inch barrel or the Ultra Light with a 20 inch barrel would make a good combo with the use of Blue Dot.
3. Since the powder is burned cleanly in the first 10 to 12 inches of barrel, the shorter barrels are not handicappiing velocity in the lighter shorter rifles.
4. The penetration of the 40 grain Vmax into the tree did make me ponder the use of those plastic tip varmint rounds as potential loads for small deer for youth shooters. Just like my observations in the larger calibers, the plastic tipped bullet seem to do a lot more damage, at velocities under 2700 fps. The Vmax surprised me. This is a decision any shooter will have to test on his own and make their own decisions. I am just passing on that I saw potential merit in the application.
5. Although one has to weigh out the potential of Plastic Tipped Varmint bullets on bigger game like deer and antelope, some of these loads in real life use, utilizing Barnes’s X bullets in 22 caliber I can recommend. They make a 45 grain, 50 grain and 53 grain bullet. The way I saw much better penetration and more damage in wood, at the lower range velocities, 2200 to 2700 fps, this would make a good deer load in many parts of the USA, and recoil is minimal.


I did not test any bigger bullets as I feel that those tested would be represent the best potential with the powder. 60, 63, 64, 65 grain bullets and then the larger match bullets did not give what I considered useful velocity when I have shot them before with Blue Dot, in respect to their field design uses.

Updated Feb 2008

cheers
seafire

Thank you, Seafire. Interesting stuff. Always appreciate your contributions.

One question Seafire. I notice the capacity of a 221 Fireball is about 76% of the capacity of the 223. I am wondering if the top load of 14 grains could be multiplied by 76% and be the top load for the Fireball. Which would put it about 10.6 grains.

I 100% understand that a person does not start there. That I would have to start around 4 grains and work up to the top load.

Thank you.

Thanks Seafire I will trying some of those loads out.

Seafire,
Possible to throw up your 243Win loads? Just grabbed a Stevens 200 and T3 Varmint in 243Win and interested in using some Blue Dot.
Cheers...
Con

Just a note that the blue dot loads I've used in the .223 and the .308 have been extermely accurate. The 35 gr v-max in the .223 is as close to recoiless as any load I've shot.

I might have to work up some blue dot loads for my 11 y/o, he doesn't seem to mind the full power 223 loads, but the mild reloil and report of the blue dot loads make for incredibly fun range loads.

458Lott,
When at the range, I'll usually have some Blue Dot loads tucked away for my 358Win using a 158gr projectile. Kids just love the bang and minimal recoil ... plus the bragging rights at shooting a 'big gun'.
Cheers...
Con

Wyojoe,
Seafire, Rocky R and I discussed that precise point on the Fireball.
They'll clear things up, but BD maximums are usual about 60 percent of what the case can hold.
In my Fireball, that came out to what I settled on, somewhere around 10.6 to 10.8 grains under 40 VMs. I was running considerably more than that, the brass was LYING to me. Then the brass STOPPED lying to me and it was scary.
For another point of reference, I have been doing 13.8 grains of BD under 40s in a 1-8 Douglas by Sharp barrel on a Savage.
Blue Dot is not very forgiving, you need to pay attention, but loaded carefully, it's terrific stuff.

+1 Dave!

I'll also throw in that different lot# of Blue Dot vary in buring rate, so start low and work up.

Blue dot bridges in my Redding BR30 powder measure, I weigh every one.

My top end load with the 40's is 14.3 with a MAX load of 14.6. At 14.3g my load is 1 1/2" at 200 yds with a muzzle velocity of 3300 fps.

In my buddy's rifle, 13.5 is his safe working max with the 40's.

Our rifles are 1-14 twists, speed the twist up and the pressure will spike quicker.

Interesting data, did you use the Rem 6 1/2 to accelerate pressure indications or some other reason? What are the pressue estimates toward the top end of the data? It sounds like a very useful load set for what I've been tinkering with, sub sonics and low signature report.

thanks, good food for thought.


DAVE,
In reference to the LYING brass, were you reading primers or case head measurements? just curious, my anticipated loads will be in the lower end.

Both. Completely fooled me. I was looking at shoulder fill, case head and primers. The load worked GREAT for fireforming, shot very nice, and shot the same the second time around. About halfway through the batch, I got gas and extraction, and a real ugly case. Thought I'd bridged some powder.
Cleaned the barrel, laid it back down, ANOTHER faceful of gas. Blown primer, not nearly as bad as the first. So I pulled the whole batch and started poking primers, had a bunch of loose ones, came to the forum for help as there isn't any load data.
Lost a bunch of spendy brass, but that beats the alternative.

Since then, I tippy toe around my Fireball.

I just don't see the advantage of downloading the fireball. It's such a small case your not burning much powder with fullpatch loads, and have a bit more lee way with rising pressures.

I sort of agree, Lott. In fact, my preferred load now is Lil Gun. And yep, Lil Gun is a little softer on the power curve than BD in the Fireball.
Nonetheless, the BD load isn't that "reduced" -- yet it is burning 50 percent less powder. I have noticed that things run cooler with the BD versus the LG load.
But that Furball is a nifty little devil, ain't it? And...I'm thinking of stuffing a 223 AI reamer in to Fireball headspace.

These are NOT reduced pressure loads, they are only reduced velocity and reduced recoil loads...

load data I personally use, run pressures around the equiv of the old Mauser pressure levels for the Model 93 and 95 models...