Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles More 223 AI shooting today.

After yesterdays lackluster velocities w/ TAC, I was thinking of trying Benchmark today. Looking at the load data, it didn't do as well as H4895, so I gave it a try instead.
Ya, I know I'm supposed to be trying H335, but I don't have any at the moment, and the nearest place that sells powder is over 100mi away.
Started with the Max 223 data, 26gr behind a 55 Sierra BK.
CCI BR primer
RP brass, formed (3 loadings)

26 - 3013fps (5shots)
26.5 - 3169
27 - 3294
27.5 - 3352
28 - 3471
28.3 - 3519
28.6 - 3530
28.9 - 3602

Pretty sure I'm maxed out w/ that last load, although the primers haven't begun to flatten. The last load was also by far the most consistant. 25 ES 11 SD 7.7 AD Grouped five in one ragged hole at 100yds. Anyone else using H4895 in the AI? Results/Loads? Thanks.

Using IMR 4895 55 grainer @ 3401 out of 22 in Bbl...


You look like you are getting there, for sure...

Benchmark is great stuff as well...

Thanks for posting the results...

Qhorse: I have as yet not owned a 223 Remington Ackley Improved - I have shot alongside several of them over the years and am interested in them - so I have been following this thread.
I am anxious to hear if you are DONE load testing having achieved 3,600 F.P.S. with a 55 grain bullet AND getting "ragged hole" accuracy AND just 25 F.P.S. in extreme velocity spread!
I personally would be VERY happy with that performance!
Best of luck if you try to improve upon that performance.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VG: I'm not sure I could do any better, but it doesn't mean I won't quit playing around. For one thing, the stick powder is a bit of a PIA to load. Each charge has to be "coaxed" into the case, as it's about to the top when you simply dump it in. W/ the ball powders, this hasn't been a problem. I'm just happy I have a good load that is finally giving me some speed and consistancy. Everything up to that point had ES of 50-90fps.
It shoots factory 223 like a house a fire, but it sure is slow. Everything I've ran over the chrony has been 200-300fps under factory listings. Guess that was the problem w/ my elevation numbers at 400yds..(=

Qhorse: Thank you for the reply and clarification.
And for the observation regarding the slower than expected velocities while using the factory 223 ammo!
I am contemplating that.
I only have ONE Varminter right now in an Ackley Improved caliber (6mm Remington Ackley Improved) and once I got the accuracy I was happy with using the bullet I wanted to Hunt with I simply QUIT load development - the main reason being the cost of that custom barrel and the costs of the Riflesmith had me of the mind that I was going to "guard over" that barrel in every manner possible.
Thus avoiding a return trip to the bank, barrel maker and Riflesmith.
I referred to my loading log and I never fired any factory ammo in my 6mm Remington Ackley Improved - so I can not compare notes with you there.
I am thrilled that you are doing so well already with your 223 Remington Ackley Improved.
Thanks again.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Varmint Guy....would that be a fast or slow twist 6 Rem AI?

Tom

I had a hard time getting more than 28.5gr of H4895 in the 223AI case.(no excessive pressure problems just case capacity) It does shoot 55gr bullets well around 28.0-28.2gr out of my rifle. I started messing with IMR 8208 XBR recently and it meeters much better and seems to have a simmilar burn rate as the H4895. I am waiting for my new chrono to get here before shooting more of it to see if it is worth a darn in the velocity department.

That's the problem. A 28.9gr charge of H4895 takes a little trickling, and a lot of "jiggling"..(= Not sure what the brass capacity differences are, but I'm using RP brass.

Ohlsen: I had Darrell Holland out in Brookings, Oregon build that Rifle for me back in 1994.
I told HIM that I wanted to shoot the 68 and 70 grain bullets kind of fast but NOT hot-loaded!
He chambered the barrel for the then newish 70 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet - and this Rifle shoots them VERY well indeed.
It shoots the 68 grain Euber custom bullets even a tad better!
I have never fired any weight of bullet in my Rifle except for the 68 and 70 grainers!
In other words I have forgotten the twist rate that Darrell Holland suggested and I agreed to.
It is twisted for the lighter bullets.
I will check it next time I drag it out of the gunvault and let you know for sure.
I do know it has a heavy Hart 26" stainless steel barrel on it.
I have killed an Antelope with it along with a few Coyotes and a bunch of LONG range Rock Chucks with this Rifle.
I probably have 650 rounds down the tube.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

In my 23" 223 AI, I am shooting N-135 with the 55g Noslers at 3600-3650 into three shot groups less than 1/4". IMI brass and 7 1/2 primers are the components. With the 50g ballistic tips, I am shooting 3800+ into groups just as small.

My twist on the 23" and the 27" are 14 and 12 and I am not full length sizing the brass, primers are a little flat and cratered, which reminds me that I need to send the bolt off to Greg Tannel an get the firing pin hole bushed.

I did not get the velocities that Qhorse got in his barrel with benchmark, mine topped out at 28.5g of Benchmark with the velocity in the 3500 fps area, really fantastic accuracy, but not quite as good as N 133 and N135. Considering the price of the N powders, I dont think that I will replenish it when this large bait that I have runs out.

H335 is my next try out with the 223 AI, slow twists with the 50-55g bullets.

PS. I did get 4200 fps out of the 27" 223 AI hart 14 twist barrel using N133, bug hole accuracy.

If your 55gr accuracy load with 4895 is over 3600, nothing wrong with that. My good 223AI barrel is 25"/14twist, same chamber as Keith and gets about identical performance using nearly identical vv133/135 loads. Those 2 powders are perfect for a 223 case. With AA2015 and 50's I get very good accuracy but maybe 75fps less velocity.......40's are very accurate at 4100-4200fps. IMI brass, 7-1/2 primer, bullets have a thin film of Lee Lube.

Thanks Ackman. I was starting to get a little twitchy when the chrony kept spitting out those numbers, but for the life of me I can't find a reason why it's not "okay". What really is stumping me is the turret adjustments...
Maybe I'm retarded, as I've never dialed turrets before, but the JBM calculator said I needed just over 20" of elevation to hit a 400yd target. I put out a 3x4 sheet of cardboard w/ a target in the center at 405yds, and proceeded to shoot a foot over the top of it w/ 22" dialed in. Call me a liar if you need to, but I currently have 6" dialed in, and I'm dead nuts on??????

FWIW I have seen this phenomena before, in another caliber, in one of my rifles.
I asked our very own JB about it ( my rifle should have had 44 inches of drop at 500 yds...it had 31"...)
His first question was " Is it really accurate with a bunch of different loads?"
Yep...
He went on to say " I don't really know, but sometimes it happens with a really good barrel..."
The unknown in ballistic gack......

Thank you sir....thought for a while I was just going Nutty..(=

Its nice to defy the laws of gravity AND physics once in awhile...

Without explanation.....

QHorse, are you sure you dialed 6"?

6 MOA, which is probably what your turret is marked in, is 24" at 400 yards...which would be dead on if you're expecting to need 22".

Edited to add...Even if you're marked in inches, and dialed 6",....same/same as 6 MOA.

Blue.. Turning turrets is new to me. Looking forward to getting it all figured out in time for a PD hunt next spring. Thanks for the input.