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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 400
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 400 |
Centershot,
I have a TikaT3x lite, 1-8 twist in .223. Benchmark works great in the mid weight bullets. I load 25 grns with the Hornady 53vmax. You can always go with a heavier bullet with the 1-8 twist, which will help on the wind for those longer cross rocky canyon shots on rockchucks. Have fun with the new rifle.
Regards,
Manny
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,335 Likes: 12
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,335 Likes: 12 |
From what you listed you have to work with, go with the H335 - 25.0 gr. 55 gr bullets, CCI 450 primers (not the 400s). Load them with a crimp and be prepared to shoot tiny little groups.
If you can get some 75 gr bullets, they might do better in an 8 twist barrel. Look up Rocky Mountain reloading. They make a pretty good hp in that weight
Yours in Liberty,
BL
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 42,924 Likes: 13
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 42,924 Likes: 13 |
Nice thing about a 223, it'll run and give good accuracy with pretty much ANY powder.. even shotgun and pistol powder...
So why sweat it... Under Obama 2.0 ( aka dumbass biden).. use whatcha got...
Hell lately I've been ringing steel at 300 and 400 yds, on targets about the size of my hand to twice its size...
and the load is anywhere from 8.5 to 9.5 grains of Unique...with about a 90% + hit ratio... 50, 52, 53, 55 and 60 grain bullets...
even was doing so with a 75 grain BTHP...
only time I really miss its operator, when I pulled the trigger a little too quickly... a quick jerk...
"Minus the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the Country" Marion Barry, Mayor of Wash DC
“Owning guns is not a right. If it were a right, it would be in the Constitution.” ~Alexandria Ocasio Cortez
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,791 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,791 Likes: 2 |
Sounds like you are pretty well set for start up. I would echo the opinions on H335 seeing your location in Southern Idaho and it's temp sensitivity.
H4895 is great for 69gr and heavier based on my experience. Which opinions on H335? The ones that like it or the ones that don't? lol How much speed/pressure jump do you see in a 40degree swing? Can one just load it back .5gr and be ok? Keep some of those loaded up for hot days?
A true sportsman counts his achievements in proportion to the effort involved and fairness of the sport. - S. Pope
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,713 Likes: 5
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,713 Likes: 5 |
Sounds like you are pretty well set for start up. I would echo the opinions on H335 seeing your location in Southern Idaho and it's temp sensitivity.
H4895 is great for 69gr and heavier based on my experience. Which opinions on H335? The ones that like it or the ones that don't? lol How much speed/pressure jump do you see in a 40degree swing? Can one just load it back .5gr and be ok? Keep some of those loaded up for hot days?😆 exactly. Not a thing wrong with 335 just don’t run long strings of max loads on 95+ degree days. 335 has just as bad of a reputation as H380 but I shoot a lot of 380, always keep 3-4 pounds of 335 around as it performs just as well as Benchmark but a little dirtier. Ohh, and Benchmark being an extreme still gave me pressure issues at max on a 97 degree day just like 335. Other thing is since all you folks hate 335 and 380 I could always find it on the shelf during every shortage except this one.
Last edited by Swifty52; 03/10/23.
Swifty
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,265 Likes: 30
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,265 Likes: 30 |
Nice thing about a 223, it'll run and give good accuracy with pretty much ANY powder.. even shotgun and pistol powder...
So why sweat it... Under Obama 2.0 ( aka dumbass biden).. use whatcha got...
Hell lately I've been ringing steel at 300 and 400 yds, on targets about the size of my hand to twice its size...
and the load is anywhere from 8.5 to 9.5 grains of Unique...with about a 90% + hit ratio... 50, 52, 53, 55 and 60 grain bullets...
even was doing so with a 75 grain BTHP...
only time I really miss its operator, when I pulled the trigger a little too quickly... a quick jerk... You didn't tell the OP about your love for H335..
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,351
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,351 |
Centershot, I have had very good results with 25.0 grains of Benchmark and any thing in the 52-55 grain range of bullets. V-Max has been scary accurate. About out of those and am going to try the 55 Nosler BT.
GreggH
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,226 Likes: 27
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,226 Likes: 27 |
I have generally run TAC in our .223s ever since it appeared 20 years ago. The velocities are about the same as H335 with the same charges, but it's far cleaner-burning and less temperature sensitive.
Plus, like any spherical powder it runs far more accurately through a mechanical measure--which is by far the quickest way to load lots of ammo. And TAC has been far more available and less-expensive lately than most other .223 powders.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,488
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,488 |
TAC and Benchmark are great powders for .223. Another one not mentioned already is X-Terminator. There are lots of powders that will work well. The old standby H335 works too.
Starline brass is good stuff.
Don't be the darkness.
America will perish while those who should be standing guard are satisfying their lusts.
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 42,924 Likes: 13
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 42,924 Likes: 13 |
Nice thing about a 223, it'll run and give good accuracy with pretty much ANY powder.. even shotgun and pistol powder...
So why sweat it... Under Obama 2.0 ( aka dumbass biden).. use whatcha got...
Hell lately I've been ringing steel at 300 and 400 yds, on targets about the size of my hand to twice its size...
and the load is anywhere from 8.5 to 9.5 grains of Unique...with about a 90% + hit ratio... 50, 52, 53, 55 and 60 grain bullets...
even was doing so with a 75 grain BTHP...
only time I really miss its operator, when I pulled the trigger a little too quickly... a quick jerk... You didn't tell the OP about your love for H335.. only cause there ain't none...
"Minus the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the Country" Marion Barry, Mayor of Wash DC
“Owning guns is not a right. If it were a right, it would be in the Constitution.” ~Alexandria Ocasio Cortez
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 42
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 42 |
Back in the 90's I bought 4000 WW Brass and have 2000 left. Resized, trimmed, primer pockets trued, flashholes deburred, also 2000 LC brass from the 90's and some Barnes 40 Gr. Varminators. PM me if you are interested.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 7,988 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 7,988 Likes: 3 |
I've been using H335 for quite awhile and haven't had the temp problems some mention-maybe I've been lucky? With powder being so hard to find I haven't had much of a chance to try other powders now that I have a couple ARs in 1-8 barrels I would like to push heavies with. Not too unhappy with the 40 grain pills I have been shooting so far, though.
From what I'm seeing you guys are getting some great deals on components. Went to a gun show yesterday and components are starting to show up again, finally. But prices were stupid- Large rifle primers were $175/1000, Powder was around $59/lb, etc.... if the trend continues and components start hitting the shelves I assume prices will start to come down around here also. Crossing my fingers..
As far as 223 brass, I've used everything in my 223s including pick up brass and never had a problem with any of it. I simply separate it by brand and load accordingly and everything goes bang and hits the target I'm aiming at (most of the time)... I've even used Remington for fireforming in my 223AI at full house loads and never lost a single case yet out of several hundred I've formed...
I've been using the standard RCBS dies for years with my 223s and never had a complaint. When I had the 223AI barreled, somebody on this site had a Redding micrometer die set to sell for a very reasonable price so I picked it up along with a neck sizing die set. So far I've been pretty happy with it but I'm not sure a standard RCBS die set wouldn't have worked just as well to be honest.
Never underestimate your ability to overestimate your ability.
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,713 Likes: 5
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,713 Likes: 5 |
Again, what you are seeing on components is the new norm, primers are going to settle in about 70-90 bucks and powder is going to stay right at 50-60 bucks a pound. Hodgdons controls 95% of the powder distribution and when the military complex cools their heels you might see more primers. But seeings how the latest estimate on replenishment of munitions sent to Ukraine is pegged at ~10 years, don’t hold your breath.
Swifty
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,385 Likes: 5
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,385 Likes: 5 |
Just purchased a new to me Tikka T3 Varmint .223 Rem 1:8 Twist. I don't have anything to reload it currently and need to get stocked up. Here's what I have seen available locally.
RCBS Dies $38 Hornady Dies $50 Win Small Rifle Primers $110/1000 CCI Small Rifle Primer $96/1000 (maybe mag primers, have to look again) H335 - $38/lb Benchmark- $49/lb 8# keg for $349 Nosler Varmaggedon 55gr - $119/500 Hornady VMax 52 or 60gr - $28/100
Will buy a few boxes of Rem or Win loaded ammo to shoot a bit and get brass.
Leaning toward RCBS Dies, CCI Mag primers and H355 (good metering in powder measure) w/ Varmaggedon bullets and Rem Brass.
Will be used for informal target shooting to 4-500yards, rock chucks and an occasional coyote.
Am I on the right track or missing something? Get a set of the Lee dies with the full length resizer/neck sizer/seater, they are inexpensive and they make very low runout ammo and by neck-sizing the brass life will be extended. For brass I really like Lake City, it can be had as range pickup or found online for very few dollars, I sort them by year. There is a lot of powder that works well for the 223 so pick whatever is applicable to the bullet weight you settle on. Personally I prefer 40 gr projectiles for my 223's, V-Max and Nosler BT both give excellent accuracy and work great for gophers and the Noslers work well on coyotes. H335 powder works well but it is temp sensitive and prone to higher pressures in hot weather particuarily when left to cook in a hot chamber - yes, I am guilty of doing it a few times and getting some overpressures so this is first hand experience. Primers - whatever you can get at a reasonable price. drover coyote at 200 yds - one shot with 40 gr Nosler BT
223 Rem, my favorite cartridge - you can't argue with truckloads of dead PD's and gophers.
24hourcampfire.com - The site where there is a problem for every solution.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,385 Likes: 5
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,385 Likes: 5 |
Just purchased a new to me Tikka T3 Varmint .223 Rem 1:8 Twist. I don't have anything to reload it currently and need to get stocked up. Here's what I have seen available locally.
RCBS Dies $38 Hornady Dies $50 Win Small Rifle Primers $110/1000 CCI Small Rifle Primer $96/1000 (maybe mag primers, have to look again) H335 - $38/lb Benchmark- $49/lb 8# keg for $349 Nosler Varmaggedon 55gr - $119/500 Hornady VMax 52 or 60gr - $28/100
Will buy a few boxes of Rem or Win loaded ammo to shoot a bit and get brass.
Leaning toward RCBS Dies, CCI Mag primers and H355 (good metering in powder measure) w/ Varmaggedon bullets and Rem Brass.
Will be used for informal target shooting to 4-500yards, rock chucks and an occasional coyote.
Am I on the right track or missing something? Get a set of the Lee dies with the full length resizer/neck sizer/seater, they are inexpensive and they make very low runout ammo and by neck-sizing the brass life will be extended. For brass I really like Lake City, it can be had as range pickup or found online for very few dollars, I sort them by year. There is a lot of powder that works well for the 223 so pick whatever is applicable to the bullet weight you settle on. Personally I prefer 40 gr projectiles for my 223's, V-Max and Nosler BT both give excellent accuracy and work great for gophers and the Noslers work well on coyotes. H335 powder works well but it is temp sensitive and prone to higher pressures in hot weather particuarily when left to cook in a hot chamber - yes, I am guilty of doing it a few times and getting some overpressures so this is first hand experience. Primers - whatever you can get at a reasonable price. drover coyote at 200 yds - one shot with 40 gr Nosler BT using the recommended items
223 Rem, my favorite cartridge - you can't argue with truckloads of dead PD's and gophers.
24hourcampfire.com - The site where there is a problem for every solution.
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 75
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 75 |
Ive recently started reloading 223 for bolt action and I do like my 4895. I was talking with a shooter that has loaded a lot of Shooters World Precision in his 223's and loves it. Most people say its a pretty close match to Varget which has been very hard to get. Temp insensitive they say. My rifle is also a 8 twist and it shoots bullets in the 60's and up to 77's very well.
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,520
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,520 |
Based on my results and sucesses...my first choice for starting out making good .223 ammo and tiny holes would be...
I'd buy the Forster die set in the classifieds asap. The Redding micro seating die is top notch as well. Lapua brass Berger 73gr bullets for tiny holes, 50-60VMAX for varmints. Varget is an easy first choice, H4895 as a 2nd . R15 as a 3rd pick. CCI 450 primers, BR4 as a 2nd.
A decent neck turning setup is a plus as well.
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 8,740
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 8,740 |
Been using WW brass in 223 and everything else, for years. Don't be concerned about that component.
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Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 333
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 333 |
I use the Lee 4 die set and H335
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 8,472 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 8,472 Likes: 2 |
Just purchased a new to me Tikka T3 Varmint .223 Rem 1:8 Twist. I don't have anything to reload it currently and need to get stocked up. Here's what I have seen available locally.
RCBS Dies $38 Hornady Dies $50 Win Small Rifle Primers $110/1000 CCI Small Rifle Primer $96/1000 (maybe mag primers, have to look again) H335 - $38/lb Benchmark- $49/lb 8# keg for $349 Nosler Varmaggedon 55gr - $119/500 Hornady VMax 52 or 60gr - $28/100
Will buy a few boxes of Rem or Win loaded ammo to shoot a bit and get brass.
Leaning toward RCBS Dies, CCI Mag primers and H355 (good metering in powder measure) w/ Varmaggedon bullets and Rem Brass.
Will be used for informal target shooting to 4-500yards, rock chucks and an occasional coyote.
Am I on the right track or missing something? I think you're pretty well on target. I'd probably grab the RCBS X FL set rather than standard .. removing trimming is a useful time saver. With the 1-8" twist, I'd look for the 53 grain VMAX if you can find them. If those primers are CCI 450s use them, otherwise I'd choose WSRs over CCI 400s. H335 is my favorite .223 powder.
Anyone who thinks there's two sides to everything hasn't met a M�bius strip.
Here be dragons ...
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