Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Who wants to speculate

The twist of the rifle and throat will affect accuracy of the rifle.
My go to powders in .223 are H335, Win748, and Varget. It is also tough to reload for more than one rifle at a time. I like to do just one at a time, as comparing one rifle to another is like apples to oranges.
Good luck and above all keep good records.
SScott

Fred: Are the 50's and 55's Flat Base bullets?

I have a CZ 527 and it's best and most consistent accuracy comes with boattail bullets. AA2015 and H4895 work best also.

The seating depth, at least in my rifle, is very flexible. The 40gr V-max and BT cant be seated to touch and still be in the case, yet they shoot very well. The 50gr BT jumps .118 and is one of the best bullets in this rifle. My favorite 55gr bullet, the Sierra BTHP seated .010 from touching shoots well also.

Try the 50gr Nosler BT seated at book length, 25.2grs of AA2015, Fed match primers.

The 50gr V-Max shoot terrible in my rifle, but the 40 and 55gr shoot great. Go figure.....

Have you tried setting the COL shorter to get the heavier bullets to shoot? Some barrels like the bullet to have a running start.

i think you need a sako barreled sako, or a krieger barreled remington.

The trek for accuracy, is always a challenge. Haven't tried any new loads for the 223's. The rain and wind have been terrible and very little time for testing under the conditions.

I have shot only flat based bullets, Speer and Sierra. Will be trying some in the coming weeks, weather permitting. I hope to hit upon a combination that will shoot in the .300's.

Haven't changed the seating depth, with the 55's just off the lands. Might try seating them deeper. I will report back with my report as soon as I can shoot some.

FredWillis: I just spent some time reviewing my Handloaders Log for the particulars on the many 223's I currently own and shoot.
It seems I have not had a "hard time" finding accurate handloads for any of them!
I also noted that I only tried the heavier 55 grain bullets in a couple of my 223's.
For instance my Remington 700 VLSS (stainless steel Varminter) shot the 55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips rather well - the last four groups (5 shots at 100 yards) measured .581", .630", .693" and .708".
This Rifle only has a Leupold 4x12 variable scope on it and is all stock.
This Rifle shoots the Nosler 50 grain Ballistic Tips even better though, so I settled on that bullet. The last two groups (5 shots at 100 yards) I fired with this bullet measured .511" and .405"!
I have NOT tried 40 grain bullets in this 223 as yet.
For accuracy in a 223 Remington with a "heavier bullet" I would highly recommend you try the 52 grain Berger bullets!
Several of my 223's prefer this bullet to all others and it is a wonderful performer on Varmints.
I also have a custom heavy Varminter built by Darrell Holland in caliber 223 Remington. It prefers 40 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips for accuracy. I tried 50 grain, 52 grain and 53 grain bullets in this Rifle before settling on the 40 grainers.
My loading log notes show that the various "heavier" bullets shot well (in the .500" to .700" range) but the 40 grain Noslers have produced many groups in the .250" to .400" range.
Indeed the trek for accuracy in a particular Rifle is sometimes a challenge - but over the years I have NOT noticed the difference in accuracy that you have, between the lighter and "heavier" bullets in the 223.
If you are getting "the job done" with the 40 grainers then I suggest you try again to ignore the gnawing feeling that many of us get when a Rifle shoots one bullet well but fails to shoot another bullet up to par.
Have a good Ground Squirrel season.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I'm telling you, come over to the dark side, buy some Sierra Blitzkings. I have used the 40's and 55's and had good results in multiple guns. Still not a Vmax fan...

Varmint Guy
Since I am less than a month away from shooting Rockchucks, the 40's will have to do. Both the Vmax and Sierra 40's have shown excellent accuracy. Since the weather has not played into my testing, I am going to put all my efforts into the 40's in the 223 and my 20 TAC with 32 Vmax. I will keep you posted on my findings when the weather breaks.

I live in Western Oregon and the rains started around the first of november. What a heck of a dreary period of time. When one likes to shoot, it really gets bad.

Sounds to me like your barrel may prefer boat tails over flat base bullets. Try some Nosler 50g BT's.

Try the 50 v-max. They shoot great for me under 26.5g of Benchmark.

I should have mentioned, the 50's were speer and the 55's were Sierras. I suppose it is no big deal, as I will just shoot the 40 vmax as they shoot so well. Kind of frustrating though.

I have also had really good luck using 8208XBR in my 223, using Hornady 50 gr spire points(SPSX) and also 50 gr VMax. Rem 7/12 primers, and WW brass, it is a CZ Laminate Varmint, 9 tw.

Larry

Had a few minutes this morning and got out with the cz. I bought some 50 gr. SX Hornadys and got a couple groups before the wind picked up. Managed a 3/8" three shot group with 24.6 grs. of 2200. That was the basic starting load. That was my starter load with the speers, but the Hornadys group better. Will be out again in the next couple days and see how it shoots with increased charges. Will post results.