I'm looking for some starting loads for a 223 with the 75 amax. I hope the 1 in 9 twist will stabilize them. If not, I'll go to the 69 matchking. Does anybody have any powder recommendations? I've got some H4895 on hand and Hodgdon recommends that powder. I would like to stick to Hodgdon, IMR, or Alliant powders since that is all that is available locally. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

75 gr. 24gr 2230-C 2777 to 2872 fps. 10 shots you could cover with a dime at 50 yds.

75gr. 26.5 gr. wcc846, 3036 to 3084 fps. 4 shot 1/4" group.

69gr HpBT nosler, 24gr. 2230-C 2856 to 2915 fps, 5 shot 1/8" group. 10 shots you could cover with a dime.

69gr. HpBT. nosler, 26.5gr. wcc846, 3025 to 3134. Not great but OK.

I haven't tested these heavy bullets with other powders yet. roger

25.3 g varget consistantly gives me .125 groups with sierra 69s set to magazine length. 20 in Bushmaster.
75 amax didnt group nearly as well for me

69 grain:
http://stevespages.com/224_8_70.html

75 grain:
http://stevespages.com/224_8_75.html

I use 24.5 grs of Varget behind the Sierra 69 gr MK.

Shoots wonderfully.

Ricciardelli,

Are the cells highlighted in white your best load? I noticed that you had H4895 highlighted in white.

Anybody else got anything to add?

Have more for you wed. night or thur. morning roger

Justin, 23.5 of IMR 4895 siting in WW or R-P brass, lit up by F205's and Sierra's 77 gr is my best magazine length load in a Colt 24" 1 in 9 twist. Inside a dime at 100 yards is easy as it gets.

I'm going to try some H4895 next weekend if my signature zee rings and dies come in. Got this new toy and can't even use it yet, I was tempted to rob the rings off another rifle, but I'm trying to stop the whole scope swap thing.

quote:

Originally posted by Justin B:
Ricciardelli,

Are the cells highlighted in white your best load? I noticed that you had H4895 highlighted in white.

Yup, that is the powder that worked best in the firearm I was using.

Lake city brass. Winchester small rifle primer. 23.6 gr. of Ramshot "TAC"

I was out at the range just yesterday checking out accuracy loads with the 75 grain Hornady HPs and the 75 grain A Max....

Actually I tested about 10 different powders... and I couldn't reject the results of anyone of them....

I worked with Benchmark, Varget, H4895, IMR 4895, IMR 4064, IMR 3031, H 380, Rl 15, W 748....

Benchmark and IMR 3031 seemed to like the loads at 23.5 grains...

The rest I used 24.5 grains.....except H 380 which I used 26.5 grains....

All were tack drivers!

I couldn't name a best, but If I had to name a worst that would go to Reloader 15, and even at that, it is still a real keeper....

All brass was Winchester 223 brass... primers were Winchester Small Rifle.....

rifle was a Savage 12 BVSS.....

Test results was based on 2 strings of 5 shots with each powder.. one with the 75 grain Match and one with the 75 grain A Max....

Test total were 200 rounds fired.....

I guess the one point that I should add.. I hate H 4895 powder.. I find it finicky and have trouble usually getting a good load with it.....

But 24.5 grains of H 4895 and a 75 grain Hornady bullet, either A MAX or HP Match... are both keepers....

Load'em up and go have fun shooting consistently little boring groups with them....

cheers
seafire

Thanks, I'll give it a try after the break-in this wknd

75gr. BTHP Match Hornady 50 yds.

24.5 gr. Accurate 4064, 2805 to 2868fps. 4 shot 3/8" grp.

24.5 gr. H380, 2632 to 2715 fps. 3 shot 1/8" grp.

12BVSS-S .223

69gr. Custom Competition. Nosler 50 yds.

24.5gr. Accurate 4064, 2849 to 2926 fps. 5 shot 1/8" group.

24.5 gr. H380, 2652 to 2716 fps. 8 shot 1/2" grp.

Roger,

From your load data and my findings It sure seems that 24.5 grains of a lot of different powders seem to be the "sweet spot" for loads with the heavier bullets in those 223 Savages.....

cheers
seafire

Thanks for the info guys. I hope to try out some loads in the next week or so.

On a side note, did the 75 Match fit in the savage magazine box? How long was the COL?

quote:

Originally posted by Justin B:
On a side note, did the 75 Match fit in the savage magazine box? How long was the COL?

Don't know; mines a single shot. sorry roger

What was your col? I just loaded up some 75 HPBT with 24 grains of H4895 and it is definitely a compressed load.

quote:

Originally posted by Justin B:
What was your col? I just loaded up some 75 HPBT with 24 grains of H4895 and it is definitely a compressed load.

I load mine to 2.245 to fit in an AR-15's magazine with 24.7 of RL15.

I crunches the powder and it crunches the X ring, so I don't much care.

quote:

Originally posted by seafire/B17G:
Roger,

From your load data and my findings It sure seems that 24.5 grains of a lot of different powders seem to be the "sweet spot" for loads with the heavier bullets in those 223 Savages.....

cheers
seafire

Not just with Savage rifles.

24.5 of Varget, RL15, or H4895 is becoming a standard load for heavy bullets in National Match AR-15s as well.

In Highpower, the 223 Remington has reached the level of load standardization once enjoyed by the 308 Winchester back in the M14 days.

Thanks for the info guys. It really helps to have a good starting point. Now to see if they will stabilize in my 1 in 9 twist tomorrow. If these don't work for me, I'm going to try the 68gr Hornady.

On as side note, the gun shows some promise. Was shooting right at MOA today at 100yds during break-in with cheap reloads that I bought at the gun show. I hope that good loads will cut that by at least half.

quote:

Originally posted by Justin B:
Thanks for the info guys. It really helps to have a good starting point. Now to see if they will stabilize in my 1 in 9 twist tomorrow. If these don't work for me, I'm going to try the 68gr Hornady.

On as side note, the gun shows some promise. Was shooting right at MOA today at 100yds during break-in with cheap reloads that I bought at the gun show. I hope that good loads will cut that by at least half.

Hornady 75s (both the HPBT and the A-Max) will stabilize in a 1-9 barrel. They did out of my Model 70 Stealth.

quote:

Originally posted by Justin B:
What was your col? I just loaded up some 75 HPBT with 24 grains of H4895 and it is definitely a compressed load.

col=2.360"

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

quote:

Originally posted by Justin B:
What was your col? I just loaded up some 75 HPBT with 24 grains of H4895 and it is definitely a compressed load.

col=2.360"

How far off the lands did the ogive end up at that OAL?

quote:

Originally posted by HP Shooter:
col=2.360"

How far off the lands did the ogive end up at that OAL?[/QUOTE]

Slightly engaged. roger

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

quote:

Originally posted by HP Shooter:
How far off the lands did the ogive end up at that OAL?

Slightly engaged. roger

Got it, thanks.

Ok, the load stabilized but the 24.5 was a little hot for my rifle. No real pressure signs other than primer flow back, bolt was not sticky at all. It may be a headspace issue, I'll check my dies. 24 was ok, but too windy for load development, just wanted to test out the new bullet before I got serious about finding a load. I think I'm going to switch to Lake city brass or standard winchester brass before I do any more load development. The WCC brass is not as plentiful as others and might as well start off on the right track.

I'm assuming you used H4895?

You might want to try Reloder 15 next. It should get you more speed w/o pressure signs.

[/QUOTE]
Hornady 75s (both the HPBT and the A-Max) will stabilize in a 1-9 barrel. They did out of my Model 70 Stealth.[/QUOTE]

I know of a couple of 24" Colt 1:9 AR's (one being mine) that would not stabilize the 75 AMax. Went to the Sierra 77's for the long stuff, as they grouped better than the 75 Horn bthp.

After I get everything straightened out and better brass in hand, Reloader 15 will be next on the list if I can't get H4895 to perform ok. I've already got several pounds of it on hand.

quote:

Originally posted by Mulerider:

Hornady 75s (both the HPBT and the A-Max) will stabilize in a 1-9 barrel. They did out of my Model 70 Stealth.[/QUOTE]

I know of a couple of 24" Colt 1:9 AR's (one being mine) that would not stabilize the 75 AMax. Went to the Sierra 77's for the long stuff, as they grouped better than the 75 Horn bthp.[/QUOTE]
That barrel must have been a little slower than 1/9, I guess.