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I think we need a new sticky for good 223 rem loads. I know a lot of us use em. I know this is the varmint section, but if some of you load these for deer or hogs I'd like to see those loads too. Pictures of group size and animals taken with this dandy little cartridge are also a plus. Thanks, BSA.

Here are a few of my favorite recipes, bear in mind i've only been loading for the 223 for a little less than a year now.
All loaded in R-P cases w/cci small rifle primers:

50 gr. hornady V-max 25.5 gr. H335 OAL= 2.225"
55 gr. hornady fmj w/c 25 gr. H335 OAL= 2.225"
53 gr. hornady hp match 24.5 gr. BLC2 OAL= 2.195"
53 gr. Sierra hp match 24 gr. BLC2 OAL= 2.222"

All loads listed give excellent accuracy in OP's rifle.
Let me know what you think.


Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.

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I was in search of a all round load for my .223, and was suggested the 63gr sierra. I'm rather glad I gave it a try.

My favorite load:

63 gr. Sierra Semi-Point 26.5 gr. RL-15 CCI 400

Groups much under a inch in my rifle.

I really like this load, haven't shot anything with it yet but will not hesitate on anything in Oklahoma up to deer/hogs with this load.


Brett
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Originally Posted by Brett00Mac
I was in search of a all round load for my .223, and was suggested the 63gr sierra. I'm rather glad I gave it a try.

My favorite load:

63 gr. Sierra Semi-Point 26.5 gr. RL-15 CCI 400

Groups much under a inch in my rifle.

I really like this load, haven't shot anything with it yet but will not hesitate on anything in Oklahoma up to deer/hogs with this load.

What twist rate on your barrel? Mine is a 1 in 12". Wish it was more like 1 in 9 or 1 in 10.


Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.

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40gr Vmax
28gr H335
Win Brass
CCI primer

60gr Vmax
23.5gr Varget
Win Brass
Rem 9 1/2


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Benchmark, 10X, and Varget have all produced very good loads for me with bullets from 40 to 69 grains.


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bsa1917hunter:

Mine is a 1-12" twist. Like you I wish mine was a little tighter but what I have is good. I'm shooting a Vanguard Varmint Special. I wanna try a load with the 65 gr Gamekings but the recommended twist is tighter than 1-12" maybe I'll buy a box and if my gun doesn't like them I could always trade them. More and more I keep thinking I'd like a fast twist 22-250.


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24.3g IMR8208XBR with 52g Amax is OCW load in FIL's Rem 700 SPS. Very low SD in RP brass with Fed205 primers.

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Sorry, I thought this was the Varmint Rifles section, not the Big Game/Combat section.

Most .223 varmint rifles will thrive with 50-gr bullets. Good for every pest from cockroaches to coyotes. (Well all right, they do over penetrate on cockroaches, LOL!)

Either of Ramshot's suggested loads using TAC or XTerminator work well, as will 27.0 W748, 24.0 H322, or 25.5 A2230. You wouldn't be displeased with book loads using Benchmark, RL10X, A2015, RL-15, 3031, 4198, 4895, BLC2 or a half dozen other powders, for that matter. I do find Varget to be a wee bit too slow for bullets of that weight, though.


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Whole lot of good loads worked up for my three rifles in 223.
Best bullets:
Speer 50 gn TNT
Speer 52 gn HP
Speer 52 gn HPBT
Nosler 50 gn BT
Nolser 52 gn HPBT
Sierra 50 gn Blitz(Silver tip)
Berger 50 gn Varmint
Berger 50 gn Match
Berger 52 gn Varmint
Sierra 45 gn
Starke 45 gn
Starke 40 gn
Sierra 40 gn Blitz

Powders that work with bullets mentioned above:
TAC
IMR-4198
H-4895
H-335
H-322
RL-7
N-133

Primers:
Fed 205M
Rem 7 1/2
WSR


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With the caveat that I much prefer W748 or TAC over H335, and like RL-10X over RL-7, I second Don's list wholeheartedly.


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Check this site for some very good loads:

http://www.centerfirecentral.com/viewer.html

Always be check loads listed against a reloading manual.

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At the range yesterday, I fired a couple of 5 shot groups from the bench at 100 yards out of my Weatherby Vanguard Varmint Special with:
Fiocchi once fired neck sized brass
Nosler 40 gr Ballistic Tip
Winchester Small Rifle Primers
26.5 gr Accurate 2015
Even in fairly gusting winds, they average just over .5 of an inch. While the 2015 doesn't flow through the powder measure like Ramshot TAC or Accurate 2200, it does give very good performance especially with lighter bullets.
I also load a lot of rounds with 26.0 gr of TAC and 50 gr bullets. Both my .223's have 1 in 12" twist barrels and seem happiest with the 40 and 50 gr bullets. The 55 gr aren't too bad and I have never tried anything heavier.

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RockyRaab - wait until they add a M203 underneath the HB...then we'll have a true hybrid. Wonder what the B/C of the 40mm projectile is.... Regards, Homesteader.

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Originally Posted by RockyRaab
Well all right, they do over penetrate on cockroaches, LOL!


Have you seen TEXAS cockroaches? laugh laugh

26.5 grains of TAC under 50 grain NBT for 3300 fps from Rem ADL 22" barrell, Federal case , Federal 205M, goes into 6's.



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25 gr. of X-Terminator with a 50 gr. V-Max has given me the best accuracy so far out of a Ruger Hawkeye. A little over 3200fps. Tac's better with the 60 gr. V-Max.

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Just loaded up some 64 grain Federal fusion bullets for my ruger hawkeye .223 rem today. It has a 1 in 12" twist and I was surprised in the accuracy. Best group with hodgdon H335 powder was with 23 grains. Less than 1 (.90" average) moa with that load: Thinking this would make an excellent deer load in a pinch:

R-P Case
64 gr. federal fusion
23 gr. H335
cci 400 primer


Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.

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I tried using a .223 for ground hogs in OH this year. At best it was disappointing as I had a miserable time with the long shots. My rifle has the 1:9 twist so I'm stuck with 50 gr or higher. I tried 40 gr and was disappointed. I'm not a fan of the fast twist rifles because I believe in using light frangible bullets so there are no richoches.

This rifle is going to be sold in favor of a .22-250 with a 1:14 twist.

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26.6 gr Xterminator or TAC = 3400fps Dog-gone!


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BSA are you sure your Hawkeye has a 1-12? The Ruger website shows it with a 1-9.


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[Linked Image] [Linked Image] Taken with our 223 pet load.


Will Munny: It's a hell of a thing, killing a man. Take away all he's got and all he's ever gonna have.

The Schofield Kid: Yeah, well, I guess they had it coming.

Will Munny: We all got it coming, kid.
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