My outdated Hornady manual does not list the V-Max bullet. My brand new Hodgdon does not either. I would like to work up a load for the 50 gr., using either H322 or Benchmark. Any help would be greatly appreciated

This is from the Hornady site when they posted it 3/5/99
50 gr V-Max
H-322
23.9 grs > 3200 fps
24.5 grs > 3300 fps
25.2 grs > 3400 fps
I've used 60 & 40 gr 223 loads, seem a little conservative but the gun has a Looonng Throat.
This was the old days now we must pay for everything
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Keep Shootin'

Thanks! Will cook a few up and try them tomorrow.

Wow found your other post, you have been thru hell++. I used the 40 gr barnes VLC for my brothers 223, Some of the stuff you're used to will work. What I found is, get the bullet IN the throat .001 - .005" off the rifling. The coated bullets act very differently than solid Barnes X bullets. I shot 40 gr V-Max & XLC' with the same recipe at my trips to target & chrono. If you have a range where you setup a chrono you sound like the type that would enjoy watching some or your results as they happen. It slows my shooting down some but it keeps me in a better rhythm. Found that coated bullets are a different animal but more accurate and for me cleaner. Good luck

I now have a new respect for reloading. For years I loaded pretty fair quality rounds. Put lots of venison in the freezer with it. Saw as many coyotes as I did deer this year, that is what started all this. Decided to thin them down on my place, and wanted an Encore anyway, so that all seemed to fit.
Never even measured the inside of a case neck until now. I owned a vernier caliper, and that was it for precision measuring. I was not doing the simple obvious things to correct what I knew would end being simple when I figured it out. Had I really looked at those 80 cases, I would have realized that there was something wrong with them. I hit Ebay and picked up some good measuring devices, (to fix a problem that I could have seen with even my bad eyes, if I had been looking in the right place) Got the K&M neck tool, which I think is worth the money, and the inside flash hole uniformer. Was surprised at the number of burrs on the inside of the case, but that is not a problem any more. I need a chronograph, and the right method of really checking runout on my rounds to finish taking ammunition out of the equation as a reason for poor groups. Rechecked mount tightness, and plan to see what I can do with new loads tomorrow, after I visit with my Mother on Mothers Day of course. She has her own weapons, I try to stay on her good side!

Oh yeah, had to get the Stoney Point overall length gage and comparator, to make sure I got the right seating depth. And the "M" die, so that my brass will last longer, and of course had to have the universal de-cap die for that to work, can't let those evil expander balls strecth my case necks. Had to have a decent shooting table for all this, (takes two people to move, but it is solid! Two layers of 3/4" plywood glued and screwed for top, with 2X2 frames, side walls 3/4" plywood over 2X2 frames). New front rifle rest, build from plans, with various size sand bags for front and rear support (shot bags filled with that wonderful white sand from Destin, FL, they squeak every time you move the rifle). Borrowed the dozer to build the berm so the neighbors would not freak from the gunfire around their cattle. I drive 60 miles one way, each time I want to shoot. I sure am glad that reloading saves all this money!

I might suggest that you take a look at mike belm's headspace measuring tool if you are working with an encore and read his article on adjusting sizing dies for proper headspace in the t/c single shot guns. i think that this made the single biggest improvement in my encore. http://www.bellmtcs.com/

I appreciate the info very much. I have two barrels, the .223 that I have been working with, and a 7MM Rem. Mag. There was a lot to digest in the very short time I had to spend this morning looking at his site. I will go over it all when I hae time, but feel pretty good about the size of my cases related to my chamber, I had spent time with my press and full length dies in the original shooting session, making sure that I had the proper headspace. A trick that the gentleman from K and M shared was to place 9mm case over the shoulder area of the .223 case and take a full measurement, I fire formed 5 cases to fill out the chamber, and then worked my resize die to give me .002 set back of the shoulder, (too bad I did not notice how uneven the neck walls were to start with)which makes the resultant case stay flush with the chamber, was intersted to see Mr. Belms thought on space when action is closed, had not thought about that. Will have to rethink my headspace again.
Again, thanks, I am up for all the info I can gather.