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

I've had some 75 grain Hornady HPBT for 20 years, waiting for a rifle to shoot it. I bought them early on in my reloading career and tried them out in my existing rifles and both of them keyholed the bullets.

I tried some last time out using TAC in my Ruger RAR Predator. They didn't keyhole, but . . . I'm sure I can do better.

Anyone have a pet load for this bullet?

H4895?
CFE 223?
BL(C)2?

Benchmark would be another good one. You'll likely get a bunch of replies


Your early rifles probably had too slow a twist.

I'm running 75grn ELD with around 23grains -23.5grains of H4895, COAL 2.45". Ruger RAR 1-8 twist.

Will not fit standard mag length.

This is going from memory so double check.

You could drop back to 20-21 grains to start and work up.

What charge levels of TAC did you try?

23 grains and 24. 24 gave me a pierced primer, so I went down to 23 grains. It gave me this:




I chrono’d the rounds at an average of 2735 fps with a Standard Deviation of 27.6.

Assuming 100 yards and 1/2" squares I believe something is amiss, even if TAC doesn't turn out to be the best powder for your rifle.

While I am using the 77gr TMK at AR-mag length, I am using H4895 and having good accuracy results from an 18" AR. I'm not at bolt-gun pressure and am running in the mid 2600fps range.

What`s the twist rate in your rifle barrel?
I`ve shot that bullet in my Savage bolt gun with 9 twist and the AR with 7.7, both for compitition and fun. I`ve also shot the bullet in the Savage with it seated to run through the AR mag... so seated deep, and it shoots fine, and just like the .308, with about any sutable powder you may have.

Something`s not right.

I know the rifle can shoot better than that with 55 grainers that I shot earlier in the year.

One thing I left out was that I pulled the bullets from the 24 grain load and used them again in the 23 grain load after necksizing the brass. I wasn't expecting exceptional accuracy. I was just looking to see if the rifle would take 75 grainers and get a rough idea what it was doing with the Chrono.

Also remember that I'm still just a year past Chemo. I'm not expecting spectacular groups yet, but I'm steadily improving. I go next week for my 1 year CT Scan and bloodwork. I've got neuropathy in my hands and still have stamina issues.

Now that I'm back in the saddle (give or take), I'm going to start having more quiet sessions at the bench. I have the means to load at the bench from primed brass to tune loads.



I was already further along with load development with my 7mm-08 and got a 1-inch group from that session with StaBall 6.5-- better than my pre-Chemo attempts. It could very well be I wore myself out with this before attempting the 223 load.

1in 8" if I'm not mistaken.

That should be fine with the 75 Hornady.

That does take its toll.

Take it easy. Try a few more when you're rested and fresh.

26 grains of TAC will pierce a primer, too (cue BSA in 3, 2, 1…)

I’m using Benchmark with 75 ELDM in my 1-8” Tikka. Does not exceed max recommended charge.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...benchmark-range-day-results#Post18501702




P

After resisting for a few years, I finally tried leverevolution with 75 BTHPs and 25 -25.5 works pretty darn well and is one of the powders that is normally available.

Varget gave me my best accuracy in them.

Accurate 2520 works well with the 75 HPBT also

Thanks all. I'll let y'all know how this turns out.

I cannot remember the charge, but I used H4895 with the 75 HPBTs in my Ruger like yours. It was real accurate and ran around 2875 in my gun. Pretty sure I used standard CCI400’s for the load as well in Lapua brass. It’s a great bullet when it shoots.

I had really good luck with H4895 & 75gr Hornady BTHP's out of a Savage 10FP....boringly sub MOA out of a 1/9 barrel, but I never shot it past 300 yards.

I highly doubt that that patterns is from a less than ideal powder for your gun.

TAC may never be THE best, but it's almost always decent, & I doubt, very rarely that bad.

Won't hurt to try something different, but I don't see that as your main issue.

Of the 3 powders that you have, I'd try the CFE 223...............I've never seen it to be great but always decent, TAC usually does better from an accuracy grouping standpoint.

JMMV

MM