Mountain Goat
Handloader
- Dec 14, 2010
- 386
- 11
I picked up a new Vanguard synthetic in 223 about a month ago to use as a fun gun that would give me more trigger time without burning up barrels and ammo in my hunting rifles. (22lr's are only fun for a while) I mounted a Nikon Monarch 2-8 on top since it needed a home. I purchased some ultramax ammo when I got the rifle. This is remanufacutred ammo with 55gr spire points for about $20 per 50 count box.
After bore-sighting, the first 3 shots went into just under .75" but were low and left, so I made the appropriate scope adjustments. I then just pounded the remaining rounds into the center of the target, letting the barrel cool after 4-7 shots, and walked away with a 2 inch group or so. This gave me a standard for what I'm looking for in handloads. I'm not needing or looking for target grade accuracy and want to load in a somewhat efficient manner, both economically and production wise.
I loaded the empty brass, which is Lake City, Federal 205 primers, Hodgodon Benchmark and a 53gr Hornady V-Max bullet. I just stuffed them to the max COL in the Nosler #6 manual. I ended up with a load of 25.5gr.
Since I will be loading 223 for 3 rifles, all Vanguards, my buddy kicked in some new Remington brass, Wincheser brass, primers and some more Benchmark. All we were after is a load that shot as good or better than the Ultramax. This was not difficult to achieve. The loads in the Remington brass were noticeably better in all 3 rifles than the other two makes.
In short, all three rifles had no trouble with the first 3 shots going under .75" with most 5-shot groups around the same size. Two of the rifles are out of the box stock with zero modifications. One is in a Hogue pillar bedded with no other changes made. My rifle has the stock touching the barrel on both sides the entire length of the barrel as well as at the fore-end. This was going to change, but considering the way it shoots, that would be fixing something that isn't broken.
My budies had to leave, and I was the only one left at the range, so I decided to move out to 200 yards just for fun and to confirm zero. I was shooting at the "Shoot n See" prairie chuck targets. These have a small red dot in the center of the 10 ring. Surprisingly, I could see the red dot on the target through the Monarch scope set at 8x, even at 200 yards. This was very nice indeed. I touched off the first round shooting off the bi-pod and could see a hit about 1/2" high and 1/2" right. I managed to get the next four shots off without heating the barrel up, but not waiting in between shots too long either. I don't have the patience for that. After I finished my group, I started shooting pieces of clay pigeon, golf balls, or what ever was left on the dirt bank. The 8x setting was working great for this and think that it's all I will need for this rifle. I don't see myslef shooting at anything past 300yds. I was delighted when I walked up to retrieve my target and saw that the 5 shots had made a nice looking group. I later measured it at .806" center-to-center. For me, that is fantastic for 5 shots at 200 yards.
Now, I mentioned earlier that I was attempting to load these efficiently. Well, the first batch I weighed the charge every 7-10 rounds and found that the Benchmark meters remarkably well. This last batch, I just put the load block under the powder dispenser and dispensed directly into the cases. I visual inspection of all the cases was all that was needed prior to seating bullets. These are seated well off the lands-more than .070"- in all 3 rifles and feed and chamber flawlessly.
This was a good purchase for me, and I will enjoy shooting it a lot. This will also prevent me from looking at A/R style rifles. They don't fit me. Besides, I shoot a lot in northern California or travel through California to get to some of my Oregon spots. Posessing a "black rifle" in California is not a road I'm willing to take.
After bore-sighting, the first 3 shots went into just under .75" but were low and left, so I made the appropriate scope adjustments. I then just pounded the remaining rounds into the center of the target, letting the barrel cool after 4-7 shots, and walked away with a 2 inch group or so. This gave me a standard for what I'm looking for in handloads. I'm not needing or looking for target grade accuracy and want to load in a somewhat efficient manner, both economically and production wise.
I loaded the empty brass, which is Lake City, Federal 205 primers, Hodgodon Benchmark and a 53gr Hornady V-Max bullet. I just stuffed them to the max COL in the Nosler #6 manual. I ended up with a load of 25.5gr.
Since I will be loading 223 for 3 rifles, all Vanguards, my buddy kicked in some new Remington brass, Wincheser brass, primers and some more Benchmark. All we were after is a load that shot as good or better than the Ultramax. This was not difficult to achieve. The loads in the Remington brass were noticeably better in all 3 rifles than the other two makes.
In short, all three rifles had no trouble with the first 3 shots going under .75" with most 5-shot groups around the same size. Two of the rifles are out of the box stock with zero modifications. One is in a Hogue pillar bedded with no other changes made. My rifle has the stock touching the barrel on both sides the entire length of the barrel as well as at the fore-end. This was going to change, but considering the way it shoots, that would be fixing something that isn't broken.
My budies had to leave, and I was the only one left at the range, so I decided to move out to 200 yards just for fun and to confirm zero. I was shooting at the "Shoot n See" prairie chuck targets. These have a small red dot in the center of the 10 ring. Surprisingly, I could see the red dot on the target through the Monarch scope set at 8x, even at 200 yards. This was very nice indeed. I touched off the first round shooting off the bi-pod and could see a hit about 1/2" high and 1/2" right. I managed to get the next four shots off without heating the barrel up, but not waiting in between shots too long either. I don't have the patience for that. After I finished my group, I started shooting pieces of clay pigeon, golf balls, or what ever was left on the dirt bank. The 8x setting was working great for this and think that it's all I will need for this rifle. I don't see myslef shooting at anything past 300yds. I was delighted when I walked up to retrieve my target and saw that the 5 shots had made a nice looking group. I later measured it at .806" center-to-center. For me, that is fantastic for 5 shots at 200 yards.
Now, I mentioned earlier that I was attempting to load these efficiently. Well, the first batch I weighed the charge every 7-10 rounds and found that the Benchmark meters remarkably well. This last batch, I just put the load block under the powder dispenser and dispensed directly into the cases. I visual inspection of all the cases was all that was needed prior to seating bullets. These are seated well off the lands-more than .070"- in all 3 rifles and feed and chamber flawlessly.
This was a good purchase for me, and I will enjoy shooting it a lot. This will also prevent me from looking at A/R style rifles. They don't fit me. Besides, I shoot a lot in northern California or travel through California to get to some of my Oregon spots. Posessing a "black rifle" in California is not a road I'm willing to take.
