Thread: ADI book max’s

How lenient are book Max loads ? How longs a piece of string I guess. So I’m trying to get as much speed as possible out of my .223. I’m using the 69gn targex and have just switched powder to 2208 for more speed.
Book max states 26.0 which is a compressed load. I’ve gone to 26.5 with slightly flattened primers but no marks. I’m using new Norma brass. The rifle is a T3x with a 16”5 inch barrel. Looking at the load data 2208 should be the fastest. Worth trying anything else ?
Any ideas or input appreciated.

If you have it you could try cfe223 for possibly more velocity?
Why pushing so hard in a short barrel? ( I'm not one to throw stones in glass houses tho)
If going to the trouble and expense of getting new norma brass I wouldn't want to be hurting it unduly, find preasure signs and back off tilll just gone is your max.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

If you have it you could try cfe223 for possibly more velocity?
Why pushing so hard in a short barrel? ( I'm not one to throw stones in glass houses tho)
If going to the trouble and expense of getting new norma brass I wouldn't want to be hurting it unduly, find preasure signs and back off tilll just gone is your max.

I’m pushing hard to get maximum foot pounds of energy downrange. What would be considered unacceptable pressure signs ? Ejector marks on the brass ?

its a 223......
please take this as kindly as its intended....... you just getting over a flinch,so your using a .223 which is mild to shoot..DO NOT try and make it a .243 if you want to push an 80 grn pill reasonably fast buy a .243 and load it mildly......
as for your question...if book max has you nearly compressing load....you can treally go much further so why bother trying??? get a stinking hot day,blow primers and throw soot and grit in your face and that wee flinch problem suddenly will become a whole lot worse,cause now your mind KNOWS that bang thing can hurt.....

stick to load thats a little below max ,,,everything will be under less strain,brass will last longer too.
I dont load heavier than 55grn in .223 and still kill animals out to 150 yards no fuss or bother.... and thats no hot load either...

Originally Posted by Nathan F

I’m pushing hard to get maximum foot pounds of energy downrange. What would be considered unacceptable pressure signs ? Ejector marks on the brass ?

Yup...if you want case life that is.
Any case head extrusion into bolt recesses or stiff bolt lift or opening...if you are getting that you are over pressure and may only get 5 or less reloads before the primer pocket is loose or other chambering issues surface.

I am running ADI Benchmark 2 with the 69 grain Sierra BTHP Match in my Tikka 20" 8" twist .223 at the maximum listed load of 23.5 grains. There are no pressure signs but it is very accurate at 0.5 MOA and certainly hits hard (you can hear the 'wop' when it hits an animal) and has had a one shot kill on a goat at 509 metres. Being a faster powder, it should be better in your short barrel than 2208. The slower powders need barrel length to develop velocity. I haven't put my loads over my chronograph but the ADI data shows 2960 fps in a 24" barrel so I guess I would be getting about 2800 fps.

I doubt you could stuff enough 2208 in to get over pressure. Hodgdon load data has 26gn at only 50,200 psi

https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center

When needing max internal volume in the .223 consider not FL resizing and only size half the neck, also tap the brass once filled and the powder will settle

Sizing only half the neck has the added benefit of centring the projectile to the bore, as centring from a shoulder is erratic.

With long throated Sakos and fluted Tikka ultralights ( Sako finnlight barrels) 5 thou off the lands ammo lengths are very very long which also increases powder capacity

Another trick is go on 6mmbr.com .223 page and they have a chart with different brass manufacturers showing the internal volumes.

With the .223 and 2206 it’s very possible to run into pressure issues, much more difficult with 2208 as often you just can’t fit enough in

There are always exceptions so work up to full loads watching for the usual pressure signs

I use Lapua brass which has lasted well

Originally Posted by gundoc

I am running ADI Benchmark 2 with the 69 grain Sierra BTHP Match in my Tikka 20" 8" twist .223 at the maximum listed load of 23.5 grains. There are no pressure signs but it is very accurate at 0.5 MOA and certainly hits hard (you can hear the 'wop' when it hits an animal) and has had a one shot kill on a goat at 509 metres. Being a faster powder, it should be better in your short barrel than 2208. The slower powders need barrel length to develop velocity. I haven't put my loads over my chronograph but the ADI data shows 2960 fps in a 24" barrel so I guess I would be getting about 2800 fps.

I’m 100 fps slower with the bm2 loading 24gns.

Originally Posted by Dusty Fog

i have lots of small toys and they are heaps of fun,, but when theres work to be done i get the 300 wsm into action, big holes let out lots of blood, also i can stretch it out for a decent range on bull tahr

Yeah I’ve got two bigger 7mm’s for that. I just want more speed to have a reliable 250-300 yd killer if needed

I found couldn't get what I wanted with 2208 and bm2 was my best. 2206h is the only one I hit pressure with at book max, rest of adi have been able to go over quite easily

26-26.5 gns of 2208 is where it’s at with a 69 gn in the .223. It’s about max on velocity and is normally a sweet spot for accuracy. Compressed load also. 25 gns with the 77-80.5 gn pills seated out and individually loaded.


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22-250 and call it done?

No, 6BR. Far less fuss, less powder and less wind drift.

2208 probably isn't the best choice for top speeds in 223. It's relatively slow burning and there's not enough case capacity to get as much as you'd like in there.

How lenient are max loads? Interesting. Well, the moment you change so much as one thing from the published recipe, whether that's the primer, the brand of brass, the seating depth, chamber dimensions, powder lot... anything... you will have changed the pressure a bit. So the "true" max charge will be a bit different.

So yeah there is some leniency but it's impossible to say how much in your scenario. Working up and watching for pressure signs is all you can do.