223 1x9 24" bbl 52 grain loads

[Bill C]

http://s1007.photobucket.com/user/bs...l.jpg.html?o=0

Hello gents and ladies,

I have been thoroughly enjoying my savage flcp-k in 223. The only thing that bothers me is that I cannot get Hornady's 52 grain HPBT to group worth a s***. This bullet shoots amazing from my 8 twist AR-15. I've tried AA2495, AA2460 and Varget with this bullet and the groups all look like the ones in the picture. I seated the Varget loads (pictured) to the lands and it made zero difference. And just to make sure it wasn't me, my wife shot this load and had nearly identical results.

This is rather annoying as this bullet is cheap and lights out accurate in my AR15. Also, I have a quite a few of them on hand.

Any thoughts? Similar experiences?

Bill

[GaCop]

I've been trying them in a 1 in 9 twist 223 Heavy barrel Savage I built in April. To date, I've been getting groups similar to yours at 200 yards and I've even tried jamming them into the lands with no improvement. I used Varget, and 748 to date with unimpressive results. I've gone back to 69 grain SMKs and 70 grain Bergers with far better results.

[Bill C]

I've been trying them in a 1 in 9 twist 223 Heavy barrel Savage I built in April. To date, I've been getting groups similar to yours at 200 yards and I've even tried jamming them into the lands with no improvement. I used Varget, and 748 to date with unimpressive results. I've gone back to 69 grain SMKs and 70 grain Bergers with far better results.

Well at 200 yards, the 69 and especially the 70 VLD will take a lot more wind than the 52. Still, I wonder what it is about a savage barrel that just doesn't like these bullets....I also brought velocities down to 3000 fps and also cranked them up without any signs of improvement.

I have been seriously considering the 69 SMK and 70 VLD as well. They're good bullets. However, Hornady's 75 groups well for me, are less expensive, and are supposedly ballistically superior to both.

I'm thinking a 50-60 grain flat base for a good short range bullet? Logic holds that for reduced distances, shoot reduced bullets.

Bill

[Dennis]

My Savage 223 with 69's. It also love 52grain FB Bergers.

[darkker]

Depends on your temps and how long you cook things, but Varget is a terrible choice in the 223 as far as temperature stability goes. The original choice H335/Bl-c(2) are very good choices. Being that 748 came from that family with some added copper cleaners, and the fact it was the Benchrest choice for a long time, is try that as well.

Also, not sure if those bullets are the AMP jacket or not... But it's possible is an RPM issue.

[Bill C]

Also, not sure if those bullets are the AMP jacket or not... But it's possible is an RPM issue.

RPM issues as in the twist is too fast or too slow? I'm assuming you mean too fast. If so, these bitty bullets shoot so well from fast twist AR15s provided the velocity is kept down.

http://s1007.photobucket.com/user/bs...tml?sort=6&o=2

Bill

[sharpshooter]

Try seating the bullets deeper. Mine likes about .070" jump. Seating them .005" one way or the other blows the groups out to almost 1". I'm using 25.5 of VV133.

[Bill C]

Try seating the bullets deeper. Mine likes about .070" jump. Seating them .005" one way or the other blows the groups out to almost 1". I'm using 25.5 of VV133.

Will do! After that, I'm definitely clueless

[RC]

Try the 53 gr Hornady flat base. It is also inexpensive. Your barrel may prefer flat base bullets in that weight range. Also agree with darkker, try one of his suggestions for powder. I have had great results with Varget but not in every caliber it is supposed to work in.

[darkker]

An AR won't have the same velocity, so RPM will be different. MV × 720 ÷ TWIST = RPM.
When a bullet approaches max (without destruction) any imperfection gets exaggerated.
That bullet is also rather long for its weight, so jump could be important.

[Bill C]

I dropped my powder charge to 24.0 grains which brought my velocity to 3048 FPS (sweet spot for my AR using this bullet). I also seated the bullet .070" deeper as suggested to 2.185."Two five shot groups shrunk to 7/8" and 3/4"

I would like to dismiss the size of my groups by attributing it to my lack of skill. I'm beginning to think it takes A LOT of skill to group under 3/4 MOA. Bench shooting is also not my forte. Practically speaking however, a solid 1 MOA gun is accurate enough as the shooter remains the primary limiting factor.

Bill

[J.Baker]

Know how you do a ladder test with your powder charge when developing a load? You need to do the same thing with your seating depth once you find the powder charge that seems to be offering the best consistency (low S.D. and E.S.). Simply jumping from just touching to 0.020" off to 0.070" off or more isn't going to tell you anything or if you're going in the right or wrong direction. Every barrel is going to be different in what it likes and doesn't like, and your particular Savage barrel may just not like those bullets.

[tiny68]

We are shooting the 52 gr Bergers in my sons 223 we chopped to 19" with Benchmark with very good results. I'll have to look at the load book to see his charge. Tim

[Hotolds442]

Know how you do a ladder test with your powder charge when developing a load? You need to do the same thing with your seating depth once you find the powder charge that seems to be offering the best consistency (low S.D. and E.S.). Simply jumping from just touching to 0.020" off to 0.070" off or more isn't going to tell you anything or if you're going in the right or wrong direction. Every barrel is going to be different in what it likes and doesn't like, and your particular Savage barrel may just not like those bullets.

Berger recommends starting the VLD's at .010 off the lands and loading in .040 increments out to .130 and refining from there.

[darkker]

, a solid 1 MOA gun is accurate enough as the shooter remains the primary limiting factor.

Bill

This right here Bill, should be in your tag line. This is the unfortunate truth that: most don't realize, few will admit, and even fewer understand.

[jonbearman]

What type of rest are you shooting off? Try the H335 and BLC_2 along with benchmark as I have had great results with all 3 powders mentioned. If you cant hold the rifle still and it rocks a bit ,it will make any bullet look bad. Your rear bag should fit the stock to ride the ears. Call protector and get a high quality rear bag and one for your rest sir. It will improve your shooting immensely. Check bullets.com and have a look at his front rests and for the money there is nothing on the market that can compete with them. Stay away from the Caldwell as they are junk.

[Turkeytider]

I dropped my powder charge to 24.0 grains which brought my velocity to 3048 FPS (sweet spot for my AR using this bullet). I also seated the bullet .070" deeper as suggested to 2.185."Two five shot groups shrunk to 7/8" and 3/4"

I would like to dismiss the size of my groups by attributing it to my lack of skill. I'm beginning to think it takes A LOT of skill to group under 3/4 MOA. Bench shooting is also not my forte. Practically speaking however, a solid 1 MOA gun is accurate enough as the shooter remains the primary limiting factor.

Bill

" a solid 1 MOA gun is accurate enough as the shooter remains the primary limiting factor". True that. Fits right in there with " A miss is 95% Indian and 5% bow ". I never owned a gun that couldn`t shoot better than I can!