QL - 20" 223 Rem

[frankm]

Searched but no luck ... would someone be kind enough to run a QL for me on the following:

20" barrel
223 Rem
65 gr GameKings
OAL 2.220
Varget

I just had my barrel shortened from 24" to 20" and my old load still shoots fine at 3/4" MOA but I ve lost 150 fps so wanting to see if I might be able to get back some of that.
Did have 3 hits on a 9"x4" steel squirrel out of four shots at 650 yds with some swirling winds so I m being pretty nit picky ...! Hope to get that 2825 range fps back close to 2900 fps.

We ll see what QL says. I do have to say that 20" bolt action setup makes a sweet Jeep gun though!

That's for any help.

 

[bobnob]

Not Varget but I loaded the 65g SGK with H4895 in an 18” Ruger American Compact. From memory I was getting around 2950fps but it could have been 3000...

I’ll check my notes for you.

 

[frankm]

Could someone run this QL ? Sorry to be a pest... figured it might get spotted with another push to top.

 

[DrMike]

Cartridge          : .223 Rem. (SAAMI)
Bullet             : .224, 65, Sierra SPBT 1395
Useable Case Capaci: 25.169 grain H2O = 1.634 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.220 inch = 56.39 mm
Barrel Length      : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm
Powder             : Hodgdon VARGET

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% 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

-10.0   98    21.96   2578     959   38662   7410     87.5    1.102
-09.0   99    22.20   2607     981   39947   7515     88.1    1.086
-08.0  100    22.45   2637    1003   41275   7619     88.7    1.070
-07.0  101    22.69   2666    1026   42653   7721     89.3    1.054
-06.0  102    22.94   2696    1049   44079   7822     89.9    1.038
-05.0  103    23.18   2725    1072   45558   7921     90.4    1.023
-04.0  104    23.42   2755    1096   47088   8018     91.0    1.008  ! Near Maximum !
-03.0  105    23.67   2785    1119   48679   8113     91.5    0.993  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0  107    23.91   2815    1144   50328   8207     92.1    0.979  ! Near Maximum !
-01.0  108    24.16   2845    1168   52037   8298     92.6    0.964  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0  109    24.40   2875    1193   53811   8387     93.1    0.950  ! Near Maximum !
+01.0  110    24.64   2905    1218   55653   8474     93.5    0.936  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0  111    24.89   2935    1243   57565   8559     94.0    0.923  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0  112    25.13   2965    1269   59553   8641     94.5    0.909  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0  113    25.38   2995    1295   61619   8721     94.9    0.896  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0  114    25.62   3025    1321   63744   8799     95.3    0.883  !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    109    24.40   3029    1324   63932   8599     98.0    0.883  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba    109    24.40   2685    1041   44454   7837     85.0    1.036

 

[frankm]

Thanks Mike!

I m getting 2850 fps with 25.7 grs of Varget. Assuming my 8# Lot is slower than QL estimate. No extractor marks, sticky bolt, etc. Might take it up 2 or 3 tenths and see how things look. QL is projecting 30 fps or so for such increases; we ll see.

Thx again.

 

[DrMike]

The small increase is so insignificant that I wouldn't be overly excited about the extra few fps velocity.

 

[bobnob]

Checked my notes and was getting 2925fps with H4895 and the 65g SGK in the 18” barrel. One of the most accurate loads I’ve shot in that rifle, but I shoot 75g bullets in it mostly now.

With a 10” or faster twist 223 (or any .224cal) you could do a lot worse than sticking with the 65g SGK for everything.

 

[frankm]

Bobnob, knowing to start low and work up would you mind sharing your H4895 charge weight?

I have 4-5 lbs of it all the same lot.
Maybe it ll work as good or better than Varget in the short barrel of my 223 with 65 GK.
Thank you.

 

[bobnob]

Bobnob, knowing to start low and work up would you mind sharing your H4895 charge weight?

I have 4-5 lbs of it all the same lot.
Maybe it ll work as good or better than Varget in the short barrel of my 223 with 65 GK.
Thank you.

No worries. It was 25 grains of H4895 on the dot.

The same rifle used 23.8g of H4895 to drive a 75g Amax 2825fps for reference.

I found the 4895 as accurate as Varget in my 223 and 223AI. Velocities were around the same too though charge weights differed a little.

Good luck and let us know how you get on!