I recently acquired a .223ADL and was running some loads through the chrony and was becoming more disappointed with the velocity. I had used Varget with max case capacity and was only getting 3300 fps with the Nosler 40 g BT. I have a 22-250 and 243 already which covers my upper end needs for varmint shooting. I had hoped to get 3600-3700 fps with good accruacy from this caliber. Perhaps this rifle has a larger than normal chamber? Next on my list of faster burning powders is IMR4198. I'm open to suggestions from your experiences with this caliber and bullets combination that have produced speed in that range with good accruacy. Thanks.

I'm at 3550 fps for the 40gr. BT with 27.5 grains of H335 out of my Cooper 21 Varmint Extreme. I'v gone as hot as 28 grains but the accuracy dropped off a tiny bit, and I wanted a Prairie Dog load that wouldn't beat the crap out of the rifle too quickly. I can shoot sub .5 moa 5 and even 10 shot groups with boring consistency using a benchrest front rest and rear bag on a good bench. I've produced the occasional .25 inch 100 yd. 5 shot group. Interestingly the Cooper has a slower 1:14 twist barrel (It's an older Cooper, maybe 10 years or so?) so it really shines with the lighter weight bullets.

I'm getting 3600 fps using IMR 4198 and Fed Match Primers. The accuracy is just fine with 40 gr. V-Max or Noslers... either one works well in my rifle. I am shooting out of a 26" bbl, though.

FYI the Cooper is a 24" bbl. and I use Fed 205M primers. I was never able to quite get the same accuracy with the Vmax's as I do the BT's....

AA-2015 From 23.0 grains to 27.0 grains
Remington 7-1/2 Primer

Nosler's No. 5 manual lists 28.0 gr of Hodgdon's Benchmark for 3860 fps and 27.0 gr of Vihtavuori N-133 for 3812 fps out of a Lilja 24" test barrel. your mileage may vary, but I would try one of those. Remember to start low and work up gradually.

You should be able to produce 3,600'/sec minimum from a 24" barrel using varget, Bl(C)-2, and several other powders with the 40 grain bullet.

quote:

Originally posted by 2ndtimer:
Nosler's No. 5 manual lists 28.0 gr of Hodgdon's Benchmark for 3860 fps and 27.0 gr of Vihtavuori N-133 for 3812 fps out of a Lilja 24" test barrel. your mileage may vary, but I would try one of those. Remember to start low and work up gradually.

I certainly was not able to get the velocity that Nosler got with that load of Benchmark in their manual. However, I did play with RL 7 and ended up with some excellent results with a 40 grain bullet in a 223.

Work up to this, but I went up to 28 grains of RL 7, to see how it could compare to all of this talk about performance on a 204 Ruger.

Accuracy was excellent in the 3 different 223s I tried it in. Velocity was then chronographed and I was surprised and impressed as I got over 4000 fps out of each rifle!

RL 7 has become my 40 grain bullet's powder in my 223 loadings., at 28 grains of powder.

Even tho it is listed 4 grains over what some reload manuals have, I have noticed in newer manuals, loads for H 335 for instance have been upped by 3 or 4 grains over previous manuals. Same with H 380 in the 243 and 6mm Rem, in later manuals.

My 28 grains of RL 7 have some far not generated any signs of excessive pressure in Lake City Brass or Winchester or Remington brass, and this has been observed in about 350 t0 400 rounds loaded so far, with 40 grain Ballistic tips, 40 grain Blitzkings, and 40 grain Sierra HPs.

Good luck and work up.
cheers
seafire

I like H335 in all of the 222-based family of cartridges. My standard load in my .223 Sako is 27.5 gr H335 behind a 55 grain Sierra. I know that this is considerably heavier than most recommendations, but I have not found it to produce any signs of excessive pressure, and the chnonographed velocity (3250 fps) wouldn't indicate that it is all that hot, either. Remember, all guns are individuals and I DO NOT recommend this load for any other gun without working up to it carefully.

My point is, that with a 40 grain bullet, you should be able to start with around 28 grains of H335 and expect velocities considerably higher than you are currently experiencing.

By the way, 4198 isn't a bad choice with such a light bullet, but it tends to give rather high shot-to-shot velocity spreads (although accuracy with this powder for me has always been quite acceptable.)

Whats wrong with W 748. Thats the only powder that I ve tried that can get 3800 out of 26" M70. In Remington brass you can't put too much in. I have to use CCI mag primers with this load [30.0grs.] A drop tube helps here. Your mileage may vary.

Seafire

I got the chance to get finally and try out some of your suggestions with the RL-7. I went up to 27 g. and got 3925 fps out of a 24 " barell with no signs of excess pressure. Accuracy was better with that RL-7 than with any other powder. Thanks for the tip!!!

quote:

Originally posted by TEANCUM:
Seafire

I got the chance to get finally and try out some of your suggestions with the RL-7. I went up to 27 g. and got 3925 fps out of a 24 " barell with no signs of excess pressure. Accuracy was better with that RL-7 than with any other powder. Thanks for the tip!!!

Teancum:

My pleasure and glad that it is working out for you. Have fun during prairie dog shooting season.

cheers
seafire