223 Loads tumbling

taracer21

I loaded some 53 gr Hornady match bullets to minimum specs according to the hornady book. I loaded them with 24.1 gr of IMR 4895 and a OCL of 2.230. The bullets grouped well but appeared to be leaving a big hole in the paper. Should I load them shorter or hotter? Thanks Gary

JustC

describe "big hole". Does that mean one large oblong group for several shots, or holes that look like a bullet hitting the target sideways??

taracer21

Looks like the bullets are hitting sideways. Gary

b00mer

your bullets are not stabilizing.
1. the twist is to slow for the grain your are shooting
2. your loads are to hot, or to slow.

my best bet is the twist rate is not matched to the bullets

JustC

What rifle and which bullets?

B17-P51

The twist rate can't be wrong with that bullet. Maybe if it was a 70 gr + , with a 1/9 or 1/14, I would say ok it is possible. But a 53 gr bullet should stabilize even in a 1/7. I do not believe that you can over stabilize a bullet. But you can blow them up at ultra high velocities with a fast twist. My 2c.

ChetStafford

I have had the same thing happen to me with Hornady v-max bullets.

Try a different lot of bullets. Also try some Sierra or Nosler match bullets.

[url][/url]

JustC

Run them hotter, and see what happens. If you get to a few grains under max,.and it still happens,..you have an internal barrel issue.