powder in .223

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bad_primer
Posts: 92
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2017 9:58 am
Location: ACT

powder in .223

#1 Postby bad_primer » Thu Oct 12, 2017 6:48 am

G'day everyone

I'm planning on picking up a .223, nothing fancy just a T3x Varmint, to play with in the short to medium ranges and occasionally knocking over ferals.

Being new to the caliber (I already load and shoot .308 in TR and .260Rem in FO), what sort of powder are people using with 75-80gn pills to reach the 300m-600m targets?

thanks in advance :D

williada
Posts: 969
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:37 am

Re: powder in .223

#2 Postby williada » Thu Oct 12, 2017 8:07 am

Depends on barrel length - circa 25 grains of 2208 +- .4 grn. Or 2206h for shorter barrel less than 25 inches. Naturally all barrels have different personalities but these two powders with magnum primers work fine (CCI 450). Work loads up.

MR.Sako
Posts: 49
Joined: Mon May 23, 2016 7:19 am
Location: Grafton Rifle Club

Re: powder in .223

#3 Postby MR.Sako » Thu Oct 12, 2017 10:44 am

I use 23 grains of benchmark 2 behind a 77 grain sierra matchking in adi brass loaded to oal of 2.260 with good results in field class, unsure how well it goes in f class.
I have found that compressed loads never shot well when using a lee collet die to size the necks because it didnt offer enough neck tension to stop the bullet being forced out by the powder.

Brad Y
Posts: 2181
Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:21 pm

Re: powder in .223

#4 Postby Brad Y » Sun Oct 15, 2017 11:58 pm

Will be trying bm8208 in my t3 varmint 8 twist 223 in a couple of weeks. Had good results with 2208 but being factory rifle can't get enough in the case with the shorter throat. See how it goes I guess.

Southern700
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2014 6:24 pm
Location: Tasmania

Re: powder in .223

#5 Postby Southern700 » Tue Oct 17, 2017 3:39 pm

I've settled on 2208 - so I can use the same powder for loading 308 & 6mm - always had consistent results out to 800+. The 1 in 8 twist should be OK for the 80 grain projectiles as long as your velocity is up there.
I agree with williada, on the load, though I only use standard primers - PMC/CCI/Federal - never saw a benefit with magnum primers.
Have prevoiusly done well against the 308s with my 'pop gun' (a 59.7 at 800 yards at a Vic Queens)

pjifl
Posts: 883
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2005 12:15 pm
Location: Innisfail, Far North QLD.

Re: powder in .223

#6 Postby pjifl » Tue Oct 17, 2017 5:48 pm

Have not shot 223 now for ages but when I did settled on 2208 powder. Used the same powder in a 6BR and also occasionally I load 308s with 2208. So the only powders I keep these days are 2208 and 2209.

One thing I found was that running hot loads sometimes pierced primers. Moved over to the small CCI BR primers because they seem a touch thicker and tougher and that allowed hotter loads.
I used to be fairly competitive against 308. That was when I shot TR. But the loads needed to be hot at 1000y to compete.

There is no problem with a good 223 at 900y and 1000y performance is achievable. But 308 projectiles for TR have progressed more than 223 projectiles since then and I do not normally recommend 223 these days. But it can be good fun - especially when one beats 308 shooters.

This was of course with 80 grain projectiles in a 28 inch 1 in 8 inch twist buttoned barrel.

Peter Smith

bad_primer
Posts: 92
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2017 9:58 am
Location: ACT

Re: powder in .223

#7 Postby bad_primer » Thu Oct 19, 2017 9:20 pm

Thanks eveyone

I’m thinking I might play with 2208 and 06H as I do have a bit of it on hand.
The intent is to keep the rifle completely stock for a while just a bipod and a rear bag and just see what I can get it to do. I’m thinking the 70-73gn Berger projectiles are where I’ll start.


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