COL for Hornady 75gr BTHP .223

I have a Savage 12FV .223 with a 26" 1:9 barrel. Right now I am loading Hornady 75gr BTHP over 23.5gr of Varget, Rem cases CCI 400's with a COL of 2.250". They shoot great out of my rifle, however I now want to play with the COL.

After using the RCBS Precision Mic to measure to the lands then backing off .010" I get a COL of 2.400" which is .140" over the max of 2.260" as recommended by the Hornady manual. I've never loaded longer than a published COL, so this is new territory for me. I've loaded up some dummy rounds (no powder or primer) at 2.400" and they feed and chamber in my rifle so no problem there.

Just wondering if anyone loads something similar.

Using the RCBS P/M, I found that my current COL has the bullet .155" from the lands.

If you single load, you can seat the bullets to touch the lands if you want to. The 2.260" is the max length that will fit an AR or other magazine. I've been seating the 75 gr A-Max I load for my son's rifle .010" off the lands and he gets slightly more than inch groups at 200 yards.

I've had good luck with that bullet in my 12FV barrel at AR mag length, but it shoots better from a 0.010 jam to a 0.010 jump.

75gr HPBT, 24.0gr Varget, Nosler brass, CCI-450...2850fps and 0.35-0.50 MOA 5-shot groups @ 200yd.

I have the most accuracy with 24.2 Varget, Win Brass, Hornady 75 HPBT, CCI BR4 primers and .015 jump.
Here's a recent target @165 yds with two, 2 shot Fouled Cold Bore "groups" with this load. Bipod, no rear bag.
Rifle is .223 10 FCP-K sans the muzzle brake.

165 yds bottom group
http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/...h_82e08b3e.jpg

The 75gr BTHP at 2.250" shoot great out of my rifle. Guess I'll play with the COL and see what happens.


100 yards
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...-5grVARGET.jpg

I run the 75 AMAX at 2.500" COAL in my 10FP-UV with 748

Hey Steve,
I started with this bullet / rifle combo when I got into F Class Mid Range. I used the same setup, but with RP 71/2 primers and RL 15. They produced great results but when I started getting "focused" on my reloading I discovered a huge difference in the length of the "bullet" itself. I would recommend that you seat the length based on the ogive. The ogive measurement was consistant with those bullets, but length cause alot of frustration, cussing and now counseling.....

Ken