Thread: Reloading for .223

Discretion is the better part of valour, so with the words of the wise still ringing in my ears I went and tried a few things.

In consideration of the following data, I'm using a Ballistics Advantage 16" Stainless Steel barrel (Wylde) with a suppressor fitted. Altitude is around 600m ASL.

First I put some PPU 55gr factory loads over the Chrono. These provided an average speed of 2935 fps with an ES of 52 fps.

Then I put some Belmont 55gr factory loads through the rifle and these gave me an average speed of 3001 fps with and ES of 65 fps.

Yesterday I loaded up some ADI Brass (ex-Belmont, previously fired in the rifle) using their 747 powder, CCI 400 primers and the same Hornady 55gr SP pills used by Belmont. These were the results:

Load AVG ES
25.6 gr 2874 46
25.8 gr 2913 16
26.0 gr 2918 24
26.2 gr 2924 51
26.4 gr 2981 41
26.6 gr 3006 28
26.8 gr 3005 16
27.0 gr 3048 96

The 27.0 gr load seems to me to be a little too much but I don't know how to calculate pressures from that info so I'll just avoid it. While the 28.8 gr load looks good my fear is it's also a little close to the top end for a 16" barrel and it might be too easy to accidently overcharge a case. The 26.6 gr loads all sat between 2996 and 3024 fps which were very similar to the Belmont factory rounds. If the pressures were within limits I'd be keen to load to this, but overall it seems the 26.4gr load would probably be the most acceptable load as this sat between 2958 fps and 2999 fps.

Interested to hear peoples thoughts.
@300_BLK - Interesting that Belmont indicated they use 26.3 gr of 747 in their factory loads. That doesn't seem to stack up. When I pulled one of their loads it had 27.0 grains of 747 inside and I would imagine their factory SD would be within 0.2 grains, but surely not 0.7 grains? Given their rounds averaged 3001 fps it would seem more likely they're loading to between 26.5 - 26.7 grains. Their website recommends a maximum of 26.8 gr in a 22" barrel giving 3154 fps and with 26.6 gr a speed of 3092 fps.

Any pressure signs on the cases ?

@planenutz spoke with them this morning, they confirmed they have moved to 26.5 grains.

Wouldn’t tell me when they made that change but i suspect it was when they changed Ops management.

Nice data and some good velocities there.

Did you shoot groups or just ladder?

I just took a couple of minutes to look over the cases with a magnifying glass at lunchtime and there are no signs of excessive pressure. I noted that the primers in the 27.0 grain cases were starting to look a little flat but all the others were good.
@300_BLK Thanks for taking the time to talk with Belmont and feeding the info back so fast. That's really great to know and it makes me feel a lot happier going for something around the 26.4 gr mark. I might bump it up to 26.5 if that's their goal too. I didn't shoot for accuracy, I just did the ladder testing.

The reasons for only checking the speed were several - partly time, partly location issues, but mostly because it really doesn't seem to matter what you run through these things they always seem to go well. My end-goal is to have a rifle that I can use on light game out to 200m but 98% of what I will be doing with it is under 100m. I've been using the factory ammo to shoot rabbits lately (getting used to the rifle, having a bit of fun and just because I can!) and its been taking no prisoners. If I can get it to shoot nicely at 1 MOR (Minute Of Rabbit) then it will certainly be good enough for goats and wallabies. For big game at longer ranges I have a different rig that's set up for that kind of work.

it surprises me the PPU was that fast....... personally 50grn pills get the not over the 55s....just a personal thing as I figgured the trebly had such a good reputation over the .223 could have a lot to do with the projectiles used and 50s seem to have been made softer than 55s..... thats my stuffed up logic anyway.
found the PPU was very hohum on wallabies..yes it killed but not as well as most other loads Ive tried.

I would take a punt that your best accuracy is around your couple of nodes of lower ES. Others might be able to provide more information there.

You're the first person I've come across not too worried about particular accuracy and reloads, if you can get .5" groups why wouldn't you take?
Is same amount of work when reloading or may as well just buy factory for 223. A rabbit is a small target, I'd take every bit could squeeze out or you may as well just use a .22

An adjustable gas block will also help if you are loading them up hot, combined with the suppressor also increasing pressure. Just that bit nicer to shoot.
Guessing its a mid-length gas system on that barrel will help a bit as opposed to carbine.

Originally Posted by jackson21

You're the first person I've come across not too worried about particular accuracy and reloads, if you can get .5" groups why wouldn't you take?
Is same amount of work when reloading or may as well just buy factory for 223. A rabbit is a small target, I'd take every bit could squeeze out or you may as well just use a .22

Haha. Yes, I understand your point of view. The truth is I'm a closet perfectionist and for the .243 and 7mm08 loads I assemble you would not believe the lengths I go to in order to get the best outcome possible. So much so I still haven't got my own 7mm08 shooting as well as I would like... there's always room for improvement. But when it comes to the .223 I've tried to be a little more realistic. First of I'm using a semi-auto, secondly its only a 16" barrel. Third, I'm not using it as a target rifle. If I can hit a rabbit at 100m with a 90% success rate - with the other 10% being blamed on the nut behind the trigger - then I'm happy. I've been trying to convince myself for years now that perfectionism is a waste of time.

The 100m groups I did with the Belmont and PPU factory ammo had all 7 shots inside 45mm without much concentration on my aim. With a proper rest etc. I'm sure I could have gotten that down a little lower... maybe 30 mm? Could I get it better than that by reloading? Yep, probably. I certainly will if I load for my son's T3x. But for now I'm happy to have the equivalent of factory loads for 49 cents each. For now.

If I miss too many rabbits tomorrow night I'll let you know and you can laugh and say "I told you so...!"

Originally Posted by jackson21

An adjustable gas block will also help if you are loading them up hot, combined with the suppressor also increasing pressure. Just that bit nicer to shoot.
Guessing its a mid-length gas system on that barrel will help a bit as opposed to carbine.

Yes, I have an adjustable gas block and a mid-length gas tube and don't ever anticipate running it without a suppressor. I'm really enjoying it.

After quite a bit of faffing around I ended up with 26 grains of ar 2206h behind the sierra 55 gr gameking as the best in my bolt action. Speed 3073 fps, es over 10 rounds 14.1 fps which really surprised me, and .46 moa at 100 yds.
Cost to reload is creeping up as the bullet is not cheap but its not a volume shooter. For volume the belmont bulk wins hands down.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

After quite a bit of faffing around I ended up with 26 grains of ar 2206h behind the sierra 55 gr gameking as the best in my bolt action. Speed 3073 fps, es over 10 rounds 14.1 fps which really surprised me, and .46 moa at 100 yds.
Cost to reload is creeping up as the bullet is not cheap but its not a volume shooter. For volume the belmont bulk wins hands down.

Marty, I'm using the same load of 26 gr AR2206H with a 55 gr Sierra in my T3 .223

Another load which also works wonders is 24 gr BM2 with a Hornady SP which you can buy in bulk for ALOT less than the Sierras and they kill wonderfully on Goats, Sika & Fallow

@jackson21 One of two things is now clear after rabbit shooting last night - either:

1. I need to concentrate on increasing the accuracy of the rounds I'm loading, or;
2. I need to up my game.

My son shot 16 with his .223 T3x using Belmont ammo. I shot just 10 with the AR15 and my reloads. And my daughter shot 18 using a 10/22 and subsonic CCI ammo. Judging by the stupid grin on her face she clearly enjoyed the walk - and beating her brother.

Ran my 26.5 gr loads over the choro again last night. These were from the first "batch" I've assembled after ladder testing. I used PPU and Belmont as a reference.

PPU 3033 fps
Belmont 3023 fps
26.5 gr reloads 2987 fps.

It was warm - 31 degrees at 8 pm, Altitude of 634 m.

Happy with the speed. The rabbits weren't. Did miss a couple that I felt should have been in the bag but was having too much fun to care.

I'm loading with Belmont Rifle Powder and the 55grn Hornady SP it's an awesome combination shot a few fallow with it and 1 big Sika hind at 200M through the shoulder

It just bolded it and it never moved.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

And what is your preferred powder load @25/08IMP ?

Rifles sure can be different. I use the 69grn Sierra Tipped Match for bunnies and the odd deer. I pour in more 2206H than people on this thread do for 55grn and I get no pressure signs, little groups and 3040 fps. 20" barrel. They are a damned good bullet but a bit spendy.