Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles ER Shaw Barrel, 223 Blue Dot load potential

per an email request, I am posting this..
there was a question on the luck with an ER Shaw barrel
and also about potential accuracy with 223 Blue Dot loads..

This is my standard blue dot economy load for sage rats and prairie dogs..

13.5 grains of Blue Dot, 55 grain Hornady SP, SP or SR primer...( usually depends on what is available locally) MV on this load is about 2950 fps out of this barrel..

This represents a target with 9 smaller targets on it and 2 shots per target... at 100 yds with the scope on 6 power.. Scope is a Weaver 6 x 24 with a target dot..

large image so the results can be seen easier...



while not representing a benchrest barrel, it is plenty good enough for sage rats < 250 yds...

I'm still in shock at your putting 13.5 grains in a 223 under a 55. Amazing. Are you loading to 2.26 or are you at the lands?
My usual mix is cheap 40s over 13.8, loaded to the lands or a hair short...

Heck Dave,

I am not that scientific about it..

I have a couple of sets of 223 dies..

one seater die, is set up for 55 grain Hornady bulk bullets with the cannelure..

anohter one is set up for non cannelured 55s, which get seated out further.. the rounds will chamber length wise in ALL of my 223s...use it for about everything else in 50 to 60 grain..

then I have a seater that is set up for shorter and lighter bullets like the 40 grainers....

I originally bought an RCBS die set, for like $20.00, then later picked up a Lee set with the seater, neck sizer and F/L die... then have picked up 2 sets of the Lee RGB ( really great buy) die sets, that were like $10.00 per set...

having the back up and the ability to not have to adjust the seater all the time as a bonus, it was worth it to me in the long run... especially since the extra RGB dies sets ran the cost of one box of bullets...

I just added a $21.00 Redding Body Die....I HIGHLY recommend one of those also!

If I ever load something 'scientifically' to a certain rifle, I use old "hillbilly mechanics".. load a dummy round, ram it home.. let the chamber seat it... pull it out, adjust the die to it that, back it off just about a 1/16th of a turn.. and lock her down...

my load with 40 grainers is 14.5 grains...

and with 50 grainers is 14 grains..

have been getting as high as 20 reloads now, by changing my brass resizing techniques.... so the brass is not evidently getting over pressurized..primer pockets look great...

only problems I have ever experienced has been with old ball foreign brass or WCC headstamp...