Nosler 55 grain Ballistic Tips in 223 Rem

[flashhole]

I'm not getting the results I hoped for using the 55 grain Ballistic TiP in my 223. My gun is a Kimber Longmaster Classic with a 1:9 twist.

Great results with the 40 grain Ballistic Tip and 40 grain Sierra BlitzKing's but the 55 grainers are not cooperating. Anyone use these bullets with good success? Care to share your load?

 

[corbin9191]

I dont have a 223 but here are some loads for your 55 grain bullets.
Reloader15 (25.3 grains) 3081fps up to (28 grains) 3390fps
H-Varget (25.5 grains) 3165fps up to (27.5 grains) 3384 fps
H4895 (25.0 grains) 3191fps up to (26.0 grains) 3315fps
Those are the top loads in my book, remember to start low and work up, and if you need anymore loads for that bullet just let me know.

 

[FOTIS]

25-26 gr of H4895..... :!:

 

[flashhole]

I hadn't considered H4895. Win 748, BL-C(2), Reloader 10x, and Varget are the powders I've tried so far. Varget has been the most accurate of the lot. I have a pound of 4895 so I'll give it a go.

 

[todbartell]

25.6 grs Benchmark was my load. Did 3/4" 5 shot groups in a 700 LVSF I had. 3250 fps in the 22" tube. Killed 4 coyotes and a wolf with it, kills them dead but exits.

 

[Larry in SD]

I am using 25.5grs. H-4895 in Military LC Brass with Remington 7 1/2 Primers with 55gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips in two different .223's. 1 is a 14" 1 in 12" Twist T/C Contender Handgun and the other 1 is a 16" Bushmaster M4 ORC Carbine with a 1 in 9" twist chrome lined barrel.

Accuracy in both of these .223's is great. In the .223 Contender if I shoot a group larger than 5/8", I messed up. Groups in the Bushmaster run between 5/8" to 3/4".

Since I switched to H-4895 I have been totally impressed with my .223's performance. In regards to the 55gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips in both of these .223's, they shot so good right from the get go I have never fired anything else in them.

Larry

 

[corbin9191]

25-26 gr of H4895..... :!:

Yeah thats what my reloading book say's. But maybe I should get a new reloading book, i have the lee 2nd edition book.

 

[YoteSmoker]

26.4 W748 55 v-max is what I shoot (max load)

 

[flashhole]

W748 was the first powder I tried because lots of folks were stating it is "the" powder for the 223. I had zero success with it no matter what I did. Groups were in excess of 3 inches. People have success with it, I didn't.

For those recommending H4895 ... thanks for the info, is it suitable for use with 40 grain bullets as well?

 

[HeathSexton]

Here's another for 24.5-25grs H4895 and the 55gr boolit.

 

[flashhole]

Well I put some time in at the range this morning working on some loads using H4895 powder and the Nosler 55 grain Ballistic Tip. Best I could do this morning was about 3/4 inch groups shooting into an irregular head wind but I did it several times. Just as a sanity check I shot some more of the 40 grain bullets and Reloader 10x. One ragged hole groups is the norm with that combo and it was performing as expected. 4895 shows promise if I tweak it a bit I may get it to the same level of goodness as the 10x load. I was just using a Lee 1.9cc Dipper Cup as a measure. It provides the charge weight in the specified ranges and is very repeatable.

I did notice that loads using Hornady brass were giving me better results than the loads using Lake City brass. I intentionally tried both and kept them separate. I drag a Lee Classic Turret press with me and do load development at the range. that's real convienient. I noticed the Hornady case doesn't have quite the powder capacity as the LC brass and the powder loads were slightly compressed. Neither were exhibiting any signs of high pressure.

Results were sufficiently good that I will keep working with the H4895 powder.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

I use a max load of h335 and cci 400's in my Bushmaster.

 

[Bob in TX]

...........another option.

Varget=26.5 grs., Win. Brass, Rem. 7 1/2 SRBR Primer

 

[Ol` Joe]

25.6 grs Benchmark was my load. Did 3/4" 5 shot groups in a 700 LVSF I had. 3250 fps in the 22" tube. Killed 4 coyotes and a wolf with it, kills them dead but exits.

+1.

I put 25.5 gr Benchmark under both 53 gr Sierra HPs, and 55gr BTs or Sierras, and get very good accuracy and velocity. Varget shows a couple more FPS but hasn`t been as accurate for me until I get to 60gr & up bullet wgts.

 

[Powerstroke]

With a 1 : 9 twist why don't you try the 60 grain B-tip ?

I have a new Rem 700 VTR that I'm just starting to play with some loads and purchased a box of 60 grianers.

I have a 22-250 that I shoot a lot of 55grain ( green tipped ) bullets out of with great sucess......however I can switch back and forth between the Blitzkings and B-tips with the same accuracy results.

I'll have it back out this weekend..... and post results if I find something that works....

 

[flashhole]

I was thinking even heavier than 60 grains, maybe 68 grains. Good success at this end too switching between orange and green tipped bullets.

 

[Powerstroke]

flashhole,

You might give H322 a try with the 60gr B-tip. The first five I put through the M700 VTR last weekend were .650 in @ 100 yds. Didn't have much time when I started reloading so set max OAL @ book spec. I'm fairly confident I have room for improvement. Can't remember exactly but darn close to 3200fps as well.