Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 223 REM/75 gr Hornady HPBT

Thanks. As I mentioned to Mathman, that TAC load had a lot of things contributing to the resulting group. I was just trying it out to see if it'd keyhole. I'm just wondering what other folks favorites are.

I've shot a lot of 77gr SMK's with 23.6gr TAC in a PMC case and Wolf primers....they were never as accurate as Varget or H4895 loads, but at the time, TAC was $112/8lbs.

20 year old bullets hmmmm. They shoot great out of my 1-9 twisted model Seven Predator. Loaded on top of AA2520 and Levrolution.

I have an update for you.

First off, it's been a busy month. Sorry I haven't gotten any work done on this project. I spent two weeks getting probed and poked for my regular oncology checkup. Everything is clean and green. The doc cut me loose.

I told my mother the good news, and . . . well,the short of it is that she was dead within the week. I think she was hanging on to hear the good news.

I finally made it out of town Wednesday and today (Friday) was the first chance I'd had to shoot. I loaded from the bench with primed brass, and shot at 100 yards.

I was using TAC and the aforementioned Hornady 75 grain HPBT in my Ruger American 223 Rem. I started loading in .5 grain increments from the minimum up and when I hit 23.5 grains, this happened:


Nothing +/- .1 grains to either side was as good. Velocities were 2882 fps +/- 3fps. That's remarkably tight.

Thanks all for the help.

If true, then that's too sensitive. How many rounds at each charge level did you shoot to come to your conclusion?

Just 3. I was running out of time today, What would you suggest I try next?

I haven't worked with your combination of components, so I'm afraid I can't guide you there.

What I'm getting at is one good three shot group, with others not so good just a tenth grain away, is likely one of those chance occurrences.

I’d shoot 10 and see what happens. That’ll paint you a clear picture.

I just loaded some 75 grain BTHP's with CFE223. I got the bullets from Midway in a bulk pack so I'm not sure if they're Hornady but they look pretty similar.

Out of a 1/8 twist AR-15 they shoot pretty well, close to MOA for 5 shot groups. I used 25 grains of CFE223. That's a max load for .223 but my rifle has a Wylde chamber and the 5.56 chamber max is 26.5 grains I think, so should be plenty safe in my rifle.

I shoot a lot of them powdered by 8208..

What I figure is that I'll try working with the 23.5 grain loads for a bit and see where it gets me. It's certainly better than the last trip.

That group, small though it is, is the single best group I've ever shot.

Yeah, I know. But you have to understand I've only recently escaped from Planet 4 MOA. This is a step in the right direction.

Other people clearly have better luck with the hornady 75 than I do, but I tried quite a few powders with it and the best I could do accuracy-wise in an AR was Reloder 15, at about 2,550 fps.

Your mileage can obviously vary.

AR Comp loaded data is pretty interchangeable with 8208, and does well in my rifles in 223 and a 1 in 8 or 9 twist.
Bolt actions...faster twist, and heavier bullets.

The same with my 6 x 45 ( bolt actions ), with Benchmark doing the same, but with one less grain for max charge.

Sometimes in some rifles, that bullet shoots best at less than top velocity.

I love 8208 but it's unobtanium.

For pure accuracy in 223/5.56, it's really hard to beat Varget, but it's not capable of absolute top velocity & it does not flow really well through a powder measure

VV-N540 is very accurate in every gun I've tried ot in the 69, 75 & 77 grain bullets & VV-133 is top shelf with bullets of 60 gr or less.

Both are available as is Varget & both flow well.

MM

VV N140 has worked well for me on the heavier bullets.

I noticed a Lee hand press in your picture.
Are you loading your 223 ammo with it?

140 is a good powder too, but it's also unobtanium too& 540 gives higher velocity.

MM

Yeah, I am saving my last 1 1/2 pound for 65 and 64 gr Sierras.

I am loading at the bench for this project. I prep and prime the brass at home and then add powder and the bullet at the bench using the hand press.