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Cheaper to reload .223rem

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Alan Robertson View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Alan Robertson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/26/2011 at 10:30
Originally posted by supertool73 supertool73 wrote:

Hey Julio.  I have been loading 75 grain hornady HPBT with my hornady progressive.  Winchester brass, 24.5 varget, cci primer.  They are crazy accurate in my 1-8 and 1-7 twist barrels.  I have got sub 1/2 moa groups with that load in 4 different barrels.  
I've also had good results with that Hornady bullet in a 1-8 w/both TAC and H4895. Besides, it's relatively inexpensive for match grade.
Have you tried the cannelure version of the Hornady 75?
"Garg'n uair dhuisgear"
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote budperm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/26/2011 at 11:00
Originally posted by supertool73 supertool73 wrote:

Hey Julio.  I have been loading 75 grain hornady HPBT with my hornady progressive.  Winchester brass, 24.5 varget, cci primer.  They are crazy accurate in my 1-8 and 1-7 twist barrels.  I have got sub 1/2 moa groups with that load in 4 different barrels.  
 
WOw, vI thought I was teh only one that used Varget in 223s...  You must really tuck that 75 down into the casing pretty far to get them to fit the mag and load in the AR!
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
--Thomas Jefferson



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Alan Robertson View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Alan Robertson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/26/2011 at 15:23
Originally posted by budperm budperm wrote:

Originally posted by supertool73 supertool73 wrote:

Hey Julio.  I have been loading 75 grain hornady HPBT with my hornady progressive.  Winchester brass, 24.5 varget, cci primer.  They are crazy accurate in my 1-8 and 1-7 twist barrels.  I have got sub 1/2 moa groups with that load in 4 different barrels.  
 
WOw, vI thought I was teh only one that used Varget in 223s...  You must really tuck that 75 down into the casing pretty far to get them to fit the mag and load in the AR!
Yes. Crunching Varget at that point. One gets used to compressing loads.
Varget is a very accurate powder in .223 and is one of the competitor's top choices.



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JF4545 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/26/2011 at 16:42
Jason,
My memory is horrible. I forgot these recipes below that Wes gave me several years ago. Ive since contacted J. Holliger and bought a match Rifle for my son....Anyway I bought 10 cans of RL-15 to go with the 500 rounds of .224 77 Gr. HPBT MatchKings....
 
I will use these up, then try your load as well.
Thanks!!
J......
You guys might like some of these loads below.
 

Reloading Information

The following are loads that have worked well for myself and some of the more successful shooters. A wealth of 90 grain JLK reloading information can be found on German Salazar's, Florida Highpower Forum. Also be sure to see Walt Radomski's 'Reloading Stuph' page on his New Jersey Highpower Rifle website.


69 gr Sierra (overall length 2.25")

Powder Type
Grains
Notes
Reloader 15
24.0 to 24.8
This is my favorite load with the 69 grain bullet. It is extremely accurate and consistant. Very good velocity.
Varget
24.0 to 25.0
Very accurate. You may have trouble obtaining the velocity of faster burning powders. Also, Varget powder burns dirtier than Reloader 15.
AA 2460 23.5 to 24.0 Very accurate and excellent load. It is a ball powder, so it measures very well. No chronograph data.
Hogdon 4895 24.0 Shoots very well, but it does not meter very well, as it is a medium stick powder.


80 gr. Sierra (overall length 2.450 to 2.485, depending on lot)
(allow for .005" - .015" jump)

Powder Type
Grains
Notes
Reloader 15 23.5 to 24.4 My pet 80gr load. Very accurate, good velocity, and clean burning.
Varget 23.5 to 24.5 Compressed load. You will not get the velocity of the faster powders.
AA 2460 22.8 to 23.3 Ball powder. No need to weigh charges, even for 600 yard loads. Meters very uniformly. No chronograph data, but shoots very well.
Hogdon 4895 22.5 to 23.2 Accurate; good velocity. This is a very good 600 yard load. You will probably want to weigh charges, as it does not meter as well as other powders.

I use Remington 7-1/2 primers, but Federal work fine also. Winchester primers have a tendency to pierce, so I do not recommend them.

Please note there is a lot of variation in the weight of .223 Remington cases. A load that is safe in an R-P case, which is light, may be too hot in a Federal (heavy) case. Please keep this in mind when changing manufacturers of brass.

Just remember, the .223 Remington is a great cartridge, but a .22-250 it is not! Moderate loads will give you good accuracy and very long case life (typically 10-12 reloads), and most importantly, will win matches.

Good luck and good shooting! John Holliger



Edited by JF4545 - December/26/2011 at 16:43
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 338LAPUASLAP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/29/2016 at 11:18
i havent pulled the lever in years... miss it
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cheaptrick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/29/2016 at 15:22
I'm gonna give that 69gr SMK a go with R-15 instead of Vargay.  
If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote budperm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/29/2016 at 16:48
I haven't tried R15 with 223 yet.  I did try R-17 when it first came out because everybody was saying it burns cleaner than Vargay and adds 100 to 250FPS at same load volume as Vargay.  I only saw about 100FPS gain....
I don't like haven't to keep track of several powers and since I had good sub-MOA results with Vargay in my 308 and 270 went ahead and developed loads for 223 and 300WM in Vargay too!!!  all loads prove to be sub-MOA out to 200yds.  I didn't bother testing them farther as I doubt I'll get a chance at a 200+ yd shot on game around here.... 
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
--Thomas Jefferson



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/29/2016 at 16:54
Varget works WELL in my .223 bolt gun and .308. That AR of mine is another story.

Maybe trying to milk sub MOA out of a 5.56mm chrome mil-spec chamber and barrel might be asking too much....

Nah...Big Grin   
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steelbenz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/29/2016 at 18:08
Hey Y'all, it's just cheaper to buy .223 and just leave the brass on the range, the steel crap you need to police up but the brass stuff is 300 blkout I mean eco friendly so no worries there! 



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stevey Ducks Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/29/2016 at 19:09

At one time I had a Mini 14 and loaded once fired brass of any kind preferring non-crimped primers, Hornady 55 FMJ bullets, CCI 41 primers and TAC powder. The thrill of having 1000 rounds or so of ammo used in mediocre performing rifle - ammo - scope combo went away and this guy who liked this type of stuff more than I bought the whole works. Occasionally, at the range I hear him hammering away at basket ball size targets.

My move, upon realizing the proceeds of the sale was to get a nice stainless 1-11 twist .20 Practical barrel fitted to an existing .223 Ruger MKII.

After that I bought 600 rounds of once fired RWS .223 brass, 3 more pounds of IMR 8208, another 1000 CCI 41 primers and 3, 250 count boxes of 40 grain .204 diameter VMax bullets.

I had to spend more $ for a Redding .223 small base die, and a Redding FL bushing die with .226 bushing. I used an existing .20 Hornady seater die.

Not to create any arbitrary ill will for .223 fans but in my opinion the .20 Practical is a superior small varmint rifle. The 40 grain .20 VMax bullet has better ballistics than 40 and 50 grain .22's and can be driven at 3750 fps. Hand size, one pound rodents can be picked off at 400 yards with this .20.

The big advantage is the ease that easy to find, cheap once fired .223 brass is used. Small powder charges of 25-26 grains, long barrel life, cheap bullets, are another plus.

Using a 1-9 twist .223 with 68, 69, and the 70 grain Berger VLD's at ranges up to 600 yards would be a different situation.

Both are no just blasting shooting.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote budperm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/29/2016 at 19:16
I haven't re-priced lately but it was costing me just under $1.00 for 3 .223 reloads.  I'm about to crack open the next 8lb jug of Vargay and that will change as it was purchased during the run on loading supplies and the price had jumped by about $40 a 8lb jug.
 
If I remember the math.... 7000 grains per pound, 24.4grains per load.  That works out to 287 loads per pound.  An 8lb jug should keep me busy for a while.... unless I start playing with the AR15...  Wink The down side to Semi -autos...they are HUNGRY!!!
 
 
I am lucky in that my AR loves the same load as my Savage Varmint
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 338LAPUASLAP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/29/2016 at 19:27
Anyone use 2230?  CCI #41?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote budperm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/29/2016 at 19:32
I use CCI primers exclusively but haven't tried 2230...
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
--Thomas Jefferson



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 338LAPUASLAP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/29/2016 at 19:42
Any experience with VV?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stevey Ducks Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/29/2016 at 19:52

When I was shooting my .223/5.56X45 I bought 4000 CCI 41 primers. As you probably know, the CCI 41 is designed for semi/full auto rifles (weapons). They are brass instead of nickel plated and their anvils are very close to or not protruding from the bottom of the cup. Red lacquer is applied to the stuff below the anvil.

In any event I am still using these in my .204R, .20 Practical, and 6.5X47 Lapua (I use Rem 7 1/2's in the Lapua mostly)

No problem - go bang every time, not a bench rest quality primer but make into fine rodent killing ammo.

At one time I got a good deal on Accurate 2230. This is sort of a fast medium burning rate ball powder and was designed for 5.56X45 ammo. The powder that I bought was made in Israel; it is probably made in other places now. It worked just fine in the .223 and was very similar to H335.

Ramshot TAC (ball) and IMR 8208 (extruded) were my favorite .223 powders. The ball powders are of greater density than Varget and appear to work better with lighter bullets and give good load densities with little or no compression.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 338LAPUASLAP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/29/2016 at 20:05
I have tried 23.5gr+- VV n550  CCI 41 90gr 2.635 OAL
I have tried 24.5gr+- VV n140 CCI 41 90gr 2.535 OAL
I have tried 23.5gr+- VV n150 CCI 41 90gr 2.500 OAL
I have tried 26.5gr+- VV n540 CCI 41 79gr 2.260 OAL magazine AR

Across platforms 1:7-1:8 twist.

bottom n540 is for magazine fed AR platforms...

The rest is 23.5-24 2230 CCI41 62gr 2.260 OAL magazine AR
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote anweis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/12/2016 at 22:00

powder $9/100 rds.
bullets $13/100 rds
primer $4/100
cases  free
 i pay about $28 per 100 rounds of reloaded ammo. Not much savings. But, i make them accurate and i load them mild, to save the barrel.

i use cci 41 because it seems the most accurate with h4895 in my bolt rifle, reduced loads. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steelbenz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/12/2016 at 22:10
Originally posted by anweis anweis wrote:


powder $9/100 rds.
bullets $13/100 rds
primer $4/100
cases  free
 i pay about $28 per 100 rounds of reloaded ammo. Not much savings. But, i make them accurate and i load them mild, to save the barrel.

i use cci 41 because it seems the most accurate with h4895 in my bolt rifle, reduced loads. 
I'm seeing 26 dollars per 100 that is 5.20 a box. Almost 26% savings, that's a pretty good savings to me! Of course I'm going to shoot 50% more ammo! Wink
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