can't get good groupings

[blink]

well i ordered the hornady bullet comparator and the hornady oal gauge with .223 rem insert today from cabela's in the u.s.a.,at least that way i know they will be here in 7-14 days.
i will wait till then to start loading all my min to max loads to guarantee i am seating at the recommended depth to start with!
i will check into getting some h335 if i can find it.lol and give it a go as well.
again,i'd like to thank you all for setting me on the right track!

[earl39]

Blink you still have not told us what size the groups are that you are getting.

[blink]

my groups measured approx 2-4 inch inches but that was with different seating lengths all running 25gn of the varget.

[earl39]

As others have stated try a ball powder. BLC-2, CFE-223, H335, H332 are some that come to mind real quick.

[blink]

next time i'm at cabela's or local outfitter,i'll check for some h335 as well,see how that fairs out after the varget ladder test.

[MrO17]

My axis likes 50gr V-Max over 25 gr Varget. Seated .015 off the lands. Top shot was a sighting shot, next nine under a quarter.
http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af276/jmrosek/Axis%20target%202_zpsyzgvivno.jpg (http://s1015.photobucket.com/user/jmrosek/media/Axis%20target%202_zpsyzgvivno.jpg.html)

[kkeene]

I have not had great accuracy w 55 gr vmaxes. Try a box of sierra 52 gr hpbt match 1410 bullets.

[maxl]

I think as you see from most of these post that you may need to try several different powder, bullet, and seating depth combo's to find what your gun likes. I have 7 different 223's in various platforms and twists, all 7 guns like a different combination, guns are like people they each have there own personality. Finding that combination can be expensive, time consuming and at times frustrating but when found can be rewarding.

[jonbearman]

Someone posted H332 which doesn't exist. It is really H322 which is a good powder. I also like benchmark and alliant 10x which was created for the .223 as well. Everyone wants to use varget, I myself have tried it and haven't had one .223 that likes it. I either use H335 or wc844 which is identical surplus, blc-2 is just as good. With benchmark I had an AR-15 go from 4 inches down to 3/8th's. So as other posters say try different powders and see if any of your frineds would let you try others without buying 10 different pounds of powder to find the one it likes. I usually in 1 in12 guns stick with 53 grains or less. In the 1in9 guns I seem to like the 68or69 grain bullets. In the 1in8 twist you can shoot into the mid 80"s and 1in7 high 80 grainers.

[blink]

i will definitely be trying some of the suggested powders.
i only went with the varget because it was suggested by the reloading guy at the local outfitter and being a powder that sells out as fast as it is put out on the shelf,i figured "hey,must be good stuff".
would not be hard to trade it,if h322,h335 or the other suggestions are available.

[Predator220]

Hey there Im new here, but not new to the site I follow it frequently and am a posting member of AR15.com, figured Id let you know my load out of both my savage axis 223 and my Mk12 SPR AR, Ive recently found that Alliant Power Pro Varmint, 23gr with a Hornady 55 Gr Spire Soft Point with Lake City or Federal Brass and a Wolf Magnum or CCI Magnum Small rifle primers, loaded to cannelure groove length and with a slight crimp produces groups out of both of my guns less than .5 moa at 100 yards, again just my guns and Im lucky enough to live in East TN where Wideners is close and I can frequently pick up local orders, they stock the powder and so far out of my guns its the best 50-60gr bullet powder ive found. Hope this gives you some of my insight

[blink]

still working on the ladder tests.my best group so far was using 26.3gns of varget and vmax 55gn.i was actually expecting better accuracy with a lower powder charge???
the hornady manual lists 26.4 gns as the MAX load,my next ladder test starts at 26.0 and goes up to 26.7.
the hodgdon varget bottle says a 55gn can have a max of 27.5 gns.i wonder where you put the extra powder.lol
i was compressing it enough imo at 26.7 with an aol of 2.250 (1.861 with oal gauge).
i am also wondering if i should weigh my powder to the 100th?should i find that 26.3 is the best performer i could weigh out 26.28 26.30 26.32 ect..to try and tune it further?

here is my 5 shot group @ 100 yrds using 26.3 gns of varget and 55gn vmax

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d147/blinklit/11351399_10153217422180743_4001162366823648590_n.j pg (http://s34.photobucket.com/user/blinklit/media/11351399_10153217422180743_4001162366823648590_n.j pg.html)

[JW]

Try a different (longer) seating depth with the 26.3 load
.005 to ..010 increments
Jack

[blink]

thanks jack,i'll finish my next test and then jump into oal adjustments.
just running one more test to see if it wasn't just luck,all in the 26 grain range.

[flatshooter]

RL10x