Just got .223 dies. A friend gave me some 45 gr. Sierra softpoints. Anyone have a good load for that? Preferably with IMR 4198 or H335, as those are the only powders I have.

Also, he has some .22 bullets labeled .224--are those safe to shoot in a .223? Or are they intended for some other .22, like a Hornet or a .22-250?

.224 is for all .22 center fire rifles, The .22 Hornet is the only 22 that is .223 in a 40 & 45 grain bullet, but they shoot the .224 also in the 40 & 45 grain bullets. Good Luck

Try 22 and 23 grains of IMR 4198 with the Sierra 45 gr spitzer it makes a jagged hole at 100 yds in my savage,should be close to 3400 fps.

Thanks, Owensby. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Dave,

4198 is a great powder. When you have to buy some more, I suggest looking at Benchmark from Hodgdon if using the 40 or 45 grain bullets.

28 grains gives me a velocity of 3650, and has real tight groups. It became my powder of choice with that bullet weight. Previously it had been 4198 ( either one)

Haven't tried Beenchmark yet but tried IMR 4895 yesterday and got a .413 5-shot group with it at 200 yds.It did a little better than the 4198.That was with a 45 gr sierra spitzer and fed primers.
Let another guy shoot it and he shot a .424 group.

Those 45 gr. Balistic Tips sure perform in my 222 and did par excellent in my old 223...with a load of H322 or H335...

Ray,

they don't make 45 grain Ballistic tips anymore goodbuddy!

either 40s or 50s, or 55s. they do make a 45 grain bullet for the Hornet tho still.

I use 27 gr of H-335. That works great in my two .223s.

Seafire,
My mistake, Went to the shop and looked, The ones I have are 40 gr. Nosler Balistic tips, sorry..I bought about 25 boxes some years back, loaded up several thousand rounds and havn't looked at them for awhile, sorry.

The 50's shoot as well, but the 40s sure scatter a chuck over more of the landscape.