I recently traded for a new Remington XR-100.
I would like to know what .223 load you have found that works the best.

I mostly shoot paper but am also looking for another place to shoot P-Dogs my friend and I had a lot of fun in the past.

I used to load H335 with Nosler 52gr Match bullets, but since then they have been discontinued.

Your assistance will be appreicated.

For accuracy, I like Sierras 52 grs HPBT Match or the 53 grs HP Match. They have both been very accurate for factory bullets (as opposed to custom BR type bullets).

To keep costs down, I load Remingtons 55 grs PLHPs for one of my .223s. Surprisingly, these bulk packed bullets give me consistent .5" groups in a sporter weight barrel. Not eaxtly BR stuff, but great for practising at low cost.

My all time favourite cases are Lapua, but I mostly use Winchester, since I have them left over from firing the Winchester "White Box" 45 grs factory loads. (OK, call me cheap, they actually shoot really well, and it is hard to beat the price). I use (but have disliked) Federal Gold Match .223 brass, but that was a mistake. Primer pockets turned out to be loose from day one...

I mostly use VV N130 or VV N133. But that is largely because I like to standardise on my powders - I already have way too many powders stored in my reloading room...

Primers are either CCI400 or Federal 205 M - simply because I happen to have those primers.

- mike

27 1/2 grains BL(C)-2 and a 50, 52, or 53 grain bullet is what I've had great success with.

H-335 also has served me well

for bullets the 50 Grain TNT has been a great bullet. For superb accuracy I liked the Berger bullets. Noslet BT, Hornady V-Max and 53 Gr HP are also extremely good.

There's a lot of good bullets for the .223 from 40 gr to 55 gr...more good ones than bad ones.

Try some BlackHills .223 ammo and you will throw your .223 relaoding gear away.

25 gr H335 and the 52 Sierra works in mine, a lot of 1/4 inch groups.

quote:

Originally posted by mho:
I mostly use Winchester, "White Box" 45 grs factory loads. (OK, call me cheap, they actually shoot really well, and it is hard to beat the price).

They are one of the best in my 12bvss-s.That has to be the first store bought ammo I've used in 35 yrs. 10 shot 3/8" group at 50 yds.

Got some commercial 55gr PMP (South African manufacturor) and also got great results except my firing pin pierced 1/4 the prmers.

My best hand load so far has been with 69gr. HPBT, Nosler 24gr. 2230-C, 5 shot 1/8" group at 50 yds.2990fps avg. 10 shots you could cover with a dime.

This was fallowed closely by 75gr BTHP Hornady same load 2830fps avg. at 50 yds..

And than 60 gr. hp Sierra 20.7 gr. 2200 10 shot 1/4" group 50yds. 2882fps avg.
same bullet 24gr.acc73 3060fps. 6 shot 3/8" group at 50 yds.

62gr psp Law enforcement Bulk 24.5gr. acc73 3140fps. 4 shot 1/8" group 50 yds. After rifle coold for about 20 min. fired the next 5 shots into a 9 shot 1 inch group counting the first 4. got more but these were the best. roger

I use alot of win 748 along with 50 gr. tnt bullets. very accurate in my rifle @ 26grs. DB Bill is smack on blackhills ammo is very very good, my problem with it is finding it where I live.

28 gr IMR4895 55 gr Vmax moly gives me the best groups, sub moa at 200 yards.

I think the H335 is a good powder choice. If it worked with the 52gr. Noslers, I'd recommend sticking with that powder.

I agree with the above recommendations for the 52 or 53 gr. MKs.

If you're not satisfied with the MKs you might try something like the 52gr. Berger MEKs.

H335 with about any 50 grain bullet. H335 meters well too. 25-27 grains and a 50 gr NBT is my favorite load.

Da Man, your avatar is disgusting

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
Da Man, your avatar is disgusting

You really think so, AZ?

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
Da Man, your avatar is disgusting

You're right ! He should know better than pick his nose in public. No cuth at all. roger

I have found that military 55 grain FMJ shot well in a .233 bolt action I had. I had a couple thousand (still have a bunch) of these bullets and about 3 thousand military cases. I duplicated the military load of 27.5 grains of
W 748 and they shot well and didn't cost much to shoot. A friend shoots deer with the same military round from a stand at 100-250 yards and takes several a year. Head and neck shot mostly. He uses the same round for wild hogs and the 55 grain FMJ works great on them. And the coyote at 350 yards, well he shouldn't have stopped and looked back just in time for the FMJ to take about half his head off. Any the 27.5 grains of W 748 worked great for me.

quote:

Originally posted by DaMan:
I think the H335 is a good powder choice. If it worked with the 52gr. Noslers, I'd recommend sticking with that powder.

I agree with the above recommendations for the 52 or 53 gr. MKs.

If you're not satisfied with the MKs you might try something like the 52gr. Berger MEKs.

Gilligan,

welcome to being out of the dorm room....

I knew you were probably a fellow shooter finally.....

Another AZ Writer has a point, I'd at least recommend changing that AVE for the other forums besides the political forums there Gilligan...

cheers
seafire

Actually it is harder to find a load that won't shoot well in a bolt action 223, than it is to try and find the "best load"....

All of the ones I have owned shot about everything, Minute of Prairie Dog out to 250 yds or better...

cheers
seafire