223 60 gr PT & 64 gr BSB recipes

[rjm158]

My stepson called me the other day and told me he had bought a Savage Axis youth model in 223 for his daughter (7) to hunt with for the first time this year. He said the dealer sold him a box of Remington 69 gr hpbt ammo and told him it was the best deer ammo in 223 he had. I told him to try it and see if the rifle would shoot the heavier bullet OK and if so I would see about loading him/them some ammo that would be better suited for deer. As luck would have it the little rifle liked the heavier ones, shooting what he said was about a 3/4 inch group at 100 yards.

So, does anyone have any tried and true loads for these bullets in 223? I have a fairly decent stock of various powders on hand so if someone has suggestions, I'd welcome those as well.

The rifle has a 20 inch barrel and a 1-9 twist.

Thanks in advance.

Ron,

 

[1Shot]

Varget works really well with the heavy bullets. With those bullets mentioned start at 25 grs and work up to all you can cram in a case and you will probably find what you are looking for.

 

[DrMike]

No experience with the setup, but here are some QL projections.

Cartridge : .223 Rem. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .224, 64, Nosler Bond SB 38135
Useable Case Capaci: 25.822 grain H2O = 1.677 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.260 inch = 57.40 mm
Barrel Length : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm
Powder : IMR 4895

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 85 20.16 2353 787 27364 6967 81.7 1.258
-18.0 87 20.66 2414 828 29249 7220 83.2 1.226
-16.0 89 21.17 2475 871 31271 7469 84.7 1.194
-14.0 91 21.67 2537 915 33443 7714 86.1 1.164
-12.0 93 22.18 2599 960 35777 7953 87.5 1.134
-10.0 95 22.68 2662 1007 38287 8186 88.8 1.101
-08.0 97 23.18 2725 1055 40986 8412 90.1 1.067
-06.0 99 23.69 2788 1104 43895 8629 91.3 1.035
-04.0 102 24.19 2851 1155 47002 8837 92.4 1.003 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 104 24.70 2914 1207 50323 9035 93.4 0.973 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 106 25.20 2977 1260 53896 9223 94.4 0.944 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 108 25.70 3041 1314 57746 9398 95.4 0.915 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 110 26.21 3104 1369 61898 9560 96.2 0.888 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 112 26.71 3168 1426 66383 9709 97.0 0.862 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 114 27.22 3232 1484 71234 9842 97.6 0.836 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 116 27.72 3295 1543 76490 9961 98.2 0.811 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 106 25.20 3145 1405 65249 9347 98.9 0.870 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 106 25.20 2765 1087 43179 8658 86.2 1.039

Cartridge : .223 Rem. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .224, 64, Nosler Bond SB 38135
Useable Case Capaci: 25.822 grain H2O = 1.677 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.260 inch = 57.40 mm
Barrel Length : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 54000 psi, or 372 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 110 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Accurate 2495 104.2 24.3 1.57 2988 99.9 54000 8800 0.969 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4895 105.9 25.2 1.63 2979 94.5 54000 9229 0.943 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4064 110.0 25.6 1.66 2976 98.7 53497 9000 0.971 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon BL-C2 101.1 26.3 1.70 2975 95.9 54000 9129 0.942 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 203 old 109.5 26.4 1.71 2973 95.6 54000 9136 0.949 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2520 101.7 25.5 1.65 2968 97.8 54000 8852 0.951 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 203B 107.2 25.5 1.65 2965 94.4 54000 9096 0.944 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-15 106.6 25.4 1.64 2960 93.6 54000 9074 0.945 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-17 110.0 27.5 1.78 2944 92.8 50639 9597 0.956 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H380 107.7 26.2 1.70 2929 91.5 54000 8910 0.949 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 201 104.0 24.2 1.57 2920 96.0 54000 8644 0.960 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2460 96.6 24.7 1.60 2918 97.0 54000 8507 0.962 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760 110.0 27.7 1.79 2918 86.9 52264 9105 0.950 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414 110.0 27.7 1.79 2918 86.9 52264 9105 0.950 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4007 SSC 108.3 26.2 1.69 2859 86.9 54000 8408 0.956 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N550 110.0 26.8 1.73 2850 89.4 46865 9010 0.998 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2700 107.7 26.8 1.73 2799 86.4 54000 7836 0.963 ! Near Maximum !

 

[Charlie-NY]

In Lapua cases with Fed 205M primers I use 26.0 of CFE223 under the 64gr bonded Nosler bullet. Velocity is 2,9?? and is very accurate in my rifle. This should make for a decent whitetail load if you're committed to using the .223 for deer.

 

[rjm158]

Thanks for the info guys. I had been leaning towards a charge of about 24.5 gr of Varget as it's one of my favorite powders for many cartridges.

Charlie, I'm not a fan of the 223 for deer although I've seen some killed with it. However, this was my stepson's project and I'm just trying to help them get better ammo to hunt with for the kid's, and animals, sake. I would have preferred something slightly larger, personally, but I think he was concerned about recoil/flinching.

Not trying to start up an argument, either, about the 223's merits or faults, just my opinion.

Ron

 

[Charlie-NY]

Thanks for the info guys. I had been leaning towards a charge of about 24.5 gr of Varget as it's one of my favorite powders for many cartridges.

Charlie, I'm not a fan of the 223 for deer although I've seen some killed with it. However, this was my stepson's project and I'm just trying to help them get better ammo to hunt with for the kid's, and animals, sake. I would have preferred something slightly larger, personally, but I think he was concerned about recoil/flinching.

Not trying to start up an argument, either, about the 223's merits or faults, just my opinion.

Ron

No argument with me. I acknowledge that we all have different motives, needs and desires when it comes to shooting & hunting. I actually worked up that load with the intent of taking a whitetail with it.
Good luck and enjoy.