.223 accuracy load?

[Mortblanc]

Does anyone have a pet accuracy load in .223 using IMR3031 and a 55 grain bullet.

Powder is scarce and I do not want to use up a full pound trying to find the best load.

[JTCrl]

The most accurate load for any bullet and powder combination also depends a little bit on the brass and primer used but mostly on the gun that it is used in. The most accurate load in an Axis will likely be significantly different than it would be in an LRPV with a 26" bull barrel.

[Mortblanc]

I know that, which is why I posted in the Axis section and stated the powder and bullet I am using.

[Hotolds442]

IMR 3031 is probably not the best choice for the 223. It's burn rate is a little fast for what most consider to be optimum for the cartridge. Most of my accurate loads use slower burning powders in the range of 4895, Varget, 8208, etc. that's not to say that you can't develop an accurate load with the 3031, but you might be handicapping yourself somewhat velocity wise. If you're not worried about velocities, then I'd try somewhere around 22 grains of IMR 3031 as a starting point with something like a 53gr Sierra. By the time you get up around maximum load weight, you'll be compressing your charges considerably, which is why a faster burning powder is needed.

[Texas10]

For what it's worth, I would have to agree with HotOlds on the 3031, although I have found that it will shoot fairly well with 55 gr. Hornaday V-Max, my groups will vary with barrel and outside air temps. At least that is what I am seeing in my model 12. Just this week I shot some comparison loads using Hornaday 53 gr V-Max and 24.2 gr of IMR 3031 and 25.7 gr. of 8208 XBR, both loaded for 3200 fps but may be slightly higher in my 26 inch barrel. Temps were 75 degrees, winds light and variable. My best/worst 5 shot groups of each were;
IMR 3031= .500 & 1.1, and for IMR 8208= .325 & .475. All bullets set .025 off the lands, brass cleaned, sorted by weight and length and neck sized only, CCI400 primers.

I liked the 3031 initially because it was both available and I didn't have to worry about loading a compressed charge in my Federal brass, unlike IMR 4320 where a max load fills the case right up to the mouth and you're trying to stuff a 50 gr V-Max on top without spilling :(

I have found that my best groups with 3031 are attained with a slightly warm barrel and waiting 2 to 3 minutes between shots. 8208 doesn't seem to care much about barrel temps, keeping within reason, of course, and groups are consistently smaller.

[243LPR]

75° sure would feel good about now!

[handirifle]

I have worked up loads using H335 and 55gr bullets, and did so when at one point, I owned 4 different 223 chambered rifles. All 4 of them shot with 1/2" of each other. Groups ranged from 3/4" to 1 1/4". The 1 1/4" groups were with my Mini 14, all the rest were better. Just depends on how "accurate" you need to be. I am sure there are powders and loads that might do better, but that was great for me. One load, 4 rifles!