.223 load range update - 03/18/13
I had a chance to shoot my 50 gr loads this afternoon and I was less than impressed. I was looking for 1/2" or better and got over twice that.
Until I shot the 40 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips that I brought along as an afterthought!
My goal has been to find one load that shoots lights out in three different rifles. One bullet, one charge, one seating depth. My brother's Tikka (1 in 8" twist) loved 26.5 gr of Benchmark and a 50 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip loaded at 2.262". His Tikka, unlike my 1 in 12" twist Weatherby, is limited to magazine length.
I got a bunch of 50 gr VMax so I loaded them with the same charge at the same OAL, even though my mag is 2.335" and the NBT just kisses the lands at 2.318". I didn't measure the distance to the lands with the VMax because I'm limited by my brother's Tikka.
The groups weren't spectacular. While I let the barrel cool I looked at some other loads I brought. Among them was a box of 40 gr NBT over 27 grains of Benchmark, loaded just off the lands at 2.318". The target at 100 yards was pretty shot up so I used the upper circle as my aiming point. Five rounds later and I was looking at a 0.410" group.
I shot the rest of the box and got consistent half-inch or slightly better groups. Recoil was like shooting a .22.
I'm going to load a bunch more of these, and then load the 50 gr VMax just off the lands and see if they shoot better seated farther out. My dream of one load for 3 guns is gone, but if I can get 0.410" groups I won't complain.
P
Until I shot the 40 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips that I brought along as an afterthought!
My goal has been to find one load that shoots lights out in three different rifles. One bullet, one charge, one seating depth. My brother's Tikka (1 in 8" twist) loved 26.5 gr of Benchmark and a 50 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip loaded at 2.262". His Tikka, unlike my 1 in 12" twist Weatherby, is limited to magazine length.
I got a bunch of 50 gr VMax so I loaded them with the same charge at the same OAL, even though my mag is 2.335" and the NBT just kisses the lands at 2.318". I didn't measure the distance to the lands with the VMax because I'm limited by my brother's Tikka.
The groups weren't spectacular. While I let the barrel cool I looked at some other loads I brought. Among them was a box of 40 gr NBT over 27 grains of Benchmark, loaded just off the lands at 2.318". The target at 100 yards was pretty shot up so I used the upper circle as my aiming point. Five rounds later and I was looking at a 0.410" group.
I shot the rest of the box and got consistent half-inch or slightly better groups. Recoil was like shooting a .22.
I'm going to load a bunch more of these, and then load the 50 gr VMax just off the lands and see if they shoot better seated farther out. My dream of one load for 3 guns is gone, but if I can get 0.410" groups I won't complain.
P