Pet loads for .223 Stevens?

[borg]

Just wondering where to start.

[dcloco]

What twist is your barrel? Length?

In all honesty, 223 and 308 are like your favorite movie actor....does not matter what movie they are in, they make it work.

So, for reloading, pick a powder/primer/case combo...and start loading.

I like H4895, Benchmark, XCR8208...whatever your powder measure drops consistently will work.

For a 1:9 twist 26" barrel, my Savage model 12 and three AR15's (barrels are 16, 20, & 24) all like 25.0 gr of H4895, CCI450 primers, Rem or Win cases, 69 gr Nosler or Sierra HPBT's, with the COAL set to 20 thousandths off the lead on the Model 12 and 20 thou short of mag length on the AR's. WORK UP THE LOAD for YOUR rifle....it very well might be different.

[slaroy]

I load 50gr vmax for groundhogs/ coyotes using IMR4895 and more recently H335.

For my rifle I get good results from 25.2gr IMR 4895 with cci standard primers. This is the load that has accounted for a lot of groundhogs for me here in Michigan.

The problem with reloading is that you just can't leave well enough alone... so recently started testing some varget andH335. The H335 meters well and I have had success with a Max load (26gr) with a cci magnum primer.

Hope this helps.

-Scott

[tammons]

My tightest groups from a Savage 1:7 twist came from

52 gr amaxes over 27 gr of varget, Lapua brass fire formed vld chamfer sorted, CCI BR primers.
2.32 oal or jumped about .015.

That is a super hot load so you probably should start at 25 gr and work your way up.
Too hot for mid summer so back off in hot weather.

[helotaxi]

My 12FV likes Hornady 75gn HPBT over 21.4gn of AA2520. It hates every other bullet that I've fed it.

[rjtfroggy]

My Mod 12 26" barrel 1:9 likes 23.8-24 gr. IMR4895 63 gr. Sierra CCI 400, well under MOA @200. But like any other load what works in mine may not work in yours.

[dolomite_supafly]

I use 24.5 of Varget with 69 grain SMK's, R-P brass with CCI 400's. The OAL is 2.43 with the SMK's. It is a bit of a light load but works well for my gun. It has shot enough .3's with my handloads that the groups are not a fluke. It is a factory sporter barrel that has been shortened to 18" and tensioned to fix a heat related drift it had.

Dolomite

[borg]

It still has the factory sporter barrel, 22" with a 1:9 twist. Sounds like IMR4895 is a good powder to start with, but I already have RL-15. I'm thinking some 52 and 69 gr MatchKings to find the right bullet weight for the gun. We'll see what my checkbook says when I get to the sporting goods store. Range report sure to follow.

[amadjuster]

Stevens 200 .223 Remington with 26" heavy barrel that they only have at Gander Mountain. It comes with a Simmons scope and a heavy trigger that only adjusts so much.

H335 and Varget seem to be made for the .223. I like either 26 gr of H335 or 25 gr of Varget with a 55 gr. Speer Varmint SP. Remington cases and CCI small rifle magnum primers with the H335 and non-magnum primers for the Varget. Everything shoots 1" or better at 100 yds with the crappy Stevens trigger! As a matter of fact, evrything shoots about like that in this rifle. I can't wait to see how it shoots with a trigger with less that 6 lbs. of pull!

I think RL15 will be useful for bullets 60 gr. or heavier. You can use H335 and Varget in just about every jacketed bullet with this caliber. And they work well a .308, too.

[racinready300ex]

I just took my .223 to the range for the 1st time. 1st group 4 shots .27" at 100m.

Lapua brass
70 gr berger VLD
CCI BR primer
H4895 powder. I want to say 24.5 gr. but I'd have to check when I get home.

I have more testing to do, but this set up is going to shoot.

[borg]

I went to the range today to make some empty brass and get the rifle sighted in. I picked up a box of Ultramax remanufactured ammo with ballistic tips, but unfortunately I wasn't paying attention and it turns out they were 40 gr. The scope was boresighted to within 4" of POI at 50 yards, which made my life easier. I was shooting at 100 yards in very short order. 5 shot group size averaged about 1.5", nothing special, but the wind was fierce today. The trigger is very heavy and needs some TLC.

[Uncle Jack]

".....but the wind was fierce today."

If you were shooting out at Logan, boy, do I understant that!

uj

[BrentWin]

Varget and 60 gr. Vmax's super accurate and they go into coyotes, but don't come out.

[borg]

That's what I will try IF I can find some Varget.



".....but the wind was fierce today."

If you were shooting out at Logan, boy, do I understand that!

uj

You said it. I knew the conditions would be finicky when I was nearly blown off the road on my way out there.

[Uncle Jack]

Come on, guys, let's face it. "Pet Loads" are like pet dogs. They belong to only one master. Several years ago a writer (I think his name was Ken Waters) made a living publishing "Pet Loads" and I never found them to be especially accurate in any rifle I owned.

If you know anything about rifles and reloading, you know that there are no magic bullets (Yes, pun intended). Each and every chamber and barrel will react differently to each and every load. Your -.500" .308 "Pet Load" may not work worth squat in my rifle. A "Pet Load" may be a great place to start experimenting but, don't expect it to solve all your problems.

uj

[possum1]

Thought I'd put my 2 cents in, not worth much. Savage will shoot just about anything, pick a powder for your bullet weight and stick with it. Get your best grouping with that powder, then fine tune with seating depth. I thought mine wouldn't shoot H335 but tried different OAL and got this.http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af311/possum6/seating%20depth/th_025.jpg (http://s1019.photobucket.com/albums/af311/possum6/seating%20depth/?action=view&current=025.jpg)

[borg]

Come on, guys, let's face it. "Pet Loads" are like pet dogs. They belong to only one master. Several years ago a writer (I think his name was Ken Waters) made a living publishing "Pet Loads" and I never found them to be especially accurate in any rifle I owned.

If you know anything about rifles and reloading, you know that there are no magic bullets (Yes, pun intended). Each and every chamber and barrel will react differently to each and every load. Your -.500" .308 "Pet Load" may not work worth squat in my rifle. A "Pet Load" may be a great place to start experimenting but, don't expect it to solve all your problems.

uj

Agreed, but I wish my first powder purchase for my .30-06 had been H4350 instead of H414. I just wanted to know what powder, charge, and bullet weights seem to work best in guns most similar to my own. It is solely in the interest of narrowing down the variables before making a purchase. Reloading manuals are helpful, but having experience is even more helpful. Since I have so little, I thought I'd turn to those who know more.

[possum1]

If your in my position you don't have the $ to p!$$ off on something you can't use. Nothing like buying some powder that's too slow/fast for your application.

[Uncle Jack]

Okay, where do you want to go.....accuracy or velocity and what bullet weight and what cases are you using?

uj

[borg]

I'm using once fired or reman. Lake City brass. I have three uses in mind for this rifle:

1. Varmints &
2. Coyotes

I was thinking the 55 or 60 gr. V-Max loaded for accuracy would be ideal in a critter gitter, maybe 55 gr FMJ for smaller furbearers.

3. Small Deer

I like Barnes TSX, but at the range I would be shooting deer with a .223 (50 yd max), I am worried that the petals might break off. I was thinking instead of the 60 gr Nosler partition or something cheaper, like a 64 gr Win power point.