Thread: The “you can’t go wrong” .223 load

Originally Posted by Ted6. 5

I was told 24gr of BM2.

Settled on 23.7gr being a 65gr sierra GK. Exceptional accuracy and killing power.

24gr 65gr GMK is the mother load. Supremely accurate.

bump

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

bump

OK.

26.5 grns BM2 and 52grn Targex.

Rabbit, wallaby and bigger things if you come across them.

^^^^

Same but v-maxes.

Stuff goes splat.

I'm a great fan of BM2 in my 223.

Just for giggles I developed a load using 40gr V-Max (projectiles I use in my Hornets, along with the 35gr).
It absolutely hums along and is deadly accurate. Probably not a great choice for larger beasties though.
Just checked my load data and I'm right on max in the ADI charts. No preesure signs in my CZ at all.

Must get some more Targex.

Originally Posted by Proudkiwi

^^^^

Same but v-maxes.

Stuff goes splat.

I use the same load with 52 ELDM's too. They work ok. When the shortage hit I bought up all sorts of random stuff.

The sika stag raised its head just before 8pm. 260m. His left ear got reamed out. Nothing wrong with 53gr Barnes. Fat as mud. Long long slog to truck.

Originally Posted by Sakoswarosorted

I noticed on a lot of rifles throughout the years that there seems to be particular loads with various calibers that you simply can’t go wrong with, for example 92- 94gr of 2225 in a 338 edge with a 300gr or 72/74gr of 2217 in a sako 7 rem mag with the 162sl and so on. These such loads seem to always be bang on with various rifles. Is there such a holy grail load in a 223 that you just can’t go wrong with? Am a confident reloader

Components are :

Sako 85 varmint 1/12 twist
Lapua brass unfired
Redding bushing dies

Want to shoot deer so am thinking 55gr non match bullets

Greetings @Sakoswarosorted,
After many years of loading the .223 I have settled on 25.5 grains of AR2206H behind the 55 grain Hornady in US cases. This produces 3,130 fps in my T3X and excellent accuracy in all the rifles I have tried it in. Your Lapua cases are a lot heavier than the cases I have been using and capacity may become an issue so for them perhaps 25 grains would be the Magic load for projectiles in the 50 to 55 grain range suited to you 1 in 12" twist.
Regards Grandpamac.

My go-to is 60gn Vmax in front of 23.8gn BM2. But I notice you have a 1:12 twist, so it may not work for you.

Originally Posted by USAGuns

My go-to is 60gn Vmax in front of 23.8gn BM2. But I notice you have a 1:12 twist, so it may not work for you.

Thats a mild load.

Originally Posted by Tahr

OK.

26.5 grns BM2 and 52grn Targex.

Rabbit, wallaby and bigger things if you come across them.

Hi Tahr,

Got some 69 grn HPBT targex to try in my Howa action.

I have BM2 and 2208 powder. No adverse to getting some 2206H either though.

What do you think?

Don’t now about ideal load but two that work for me are: 25.5gr ar2206h under Hornady 55gr SP, or 24gr 2219 under Hornady 55gr SP.
To be fair Speer 55 or Remington Corelok 55 with either powder work pretty well in my two rifles ( goats,pigs,deer ).

Originally Posted by tac a1

Hi Tahr,

Got some 69 grn HPBT targex to try in my Howa action.

I have BM2 and 2208 powder. No adverse to getting some 2206H either though.

What do you think?

I use 2206H with them but there is nothing wrong with 2208 either. I haven't used BM2 with them. With 2208 or 2206H you should get 2.9k easily enough with a 20" barrel. Work up carefully and you will be ok. If you have a chrono use that to track pressure. High speed compared to the manuals means high pressure regardless of what your primer or case looks like.

Yeah, I dont have a chrono unfortunately. I will have to borrow one I think. The rifle isnt up and running yet as I havent had time to mount the scope yet.

Working on it though!!

Knew we had this thread buried in forum somewhere. Good of time as any to update it as a lot of folks now using heavier loads.