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20" Barrel 223Rifle-Do I need to use faster powder
sigarmsp226
Member Posts: 2,457 ✭✭✭
Time to learn me something guys....
I just picked up my Remington 700 SPS that has a 20" bull barrel on it that I have had on layaway for a long time. I have my dies, lead,and primers so I am ready to reload when I select my powder but here is where I need some help.
Do I need to load a faster burning powder because the barrel is shorter on this rifle than many other 223 rifles?
Second Question - Keep this one elementary for me please. In my reloading books I have a wide range of powder choices. Here is my question - This is an example not taken from any load book -
If I want to push a 50Gr bullet 2800 FPS and powder X says use 25 Grs and powder Y says use 22 grains to acheive the same 2800 FPS, which of these two powders burns faster.
Thanks for your comments and educational feedback.....Mark
I just picked up my Remington 700 SPS that has a 20" bull barrel on it that I have had on layaway for a long time. I have my dies, lead,and primers so I am ready to reload when I select my powder but here is where I need some help.
Do I need to load a faster burning powder because the barrel is shorter on this rifle than many other 223 rifles?
Second Question - Keep this one elementary for me please. In my reloading books I have a wide range of powder choices. Here is my question - This is an example not taken from any load book -
If I want to push a 50Gr bullet 2800 FPS and powder X says use 25 Grs and powder Y says use 22 grains to acheive the same 2800 FPS, which of these two powders burns faster.
Thanks for your comments and educational feedback.....Mark
Comments
If you do plan on using 50-gr bullets (which I consider optimum for the 223), my pet load list includes the following:
24.0 H322
27.0 W748
25.5 Ramshot TAC
24.5 Ramshot X-Terminator
25.5 Benchmark
The replies were great. If you haven't picked a powder yet, I can make a few recommendations. Your options with a bolt gun are unlimited, almost. (A gas semi-auto DOES require some specific powder choices.)
If you do plan on using 50-gr bullets (which I consider optimum for the 223), my pet load list includes the following:
24.0 H322
27.0 W748
25.5 Ramshot TAC
24.5 Ramshot X-Terminator
25.5 Benchmark
Rocky - Thank you Sir - I will start with the H322 or W748 because I know both of these are avaiable at my local shop that carries powders. Thanks for sharing your load information. I do think later I will try 40 Gr and I might also try 60-70 Gr... Bought the gun to tinker with reloads and mostly punch paper, learning how bullet drop, velosity, wind, and all of those other things effect the flight of a bullet. I have a 5R Remington in 308 but figured I would enjoy shooting this little rifle more because of the recoil. Might try my luck in the future at crows once I work up a good round that after ranging I can click up my scope and become proficent in understanding all of the things that make a bullet hit where I want it. Then I will take what I learn with my 223 and apply it to my 308. Thanks again - Grouping photos to follow in the next 3-4 weeks. Thanks again..... Mark
Personally I prefer AA2015 for my bolt gun. It's a little faster than 4895 and a little slower than 4198. I use 24 gr. behind a 60 gr. V-max. As my standard standby, 4895 any flavor (AA2495) works well.
I have also found I really like RE-15 with the heaviest bullets my rifle will stabilize, the 75 gr. Hornady BTHP's. 25.8 gr. gives me 2690 out of my 16" AR barrel but I haven't yet chrono'd them out of my bolt gun.
Your rifle may not stabilize bullets much over 60 grains unless it has a twist rate of 1-9" or faster. The standard is (IIRC) 1-12" designed for 55-grainers. But it never hurts to try. I have two ostensibly identical 223 rifles; one loves 50-gr or lighter and the other refuses to like anything but 55 or 60-gr bullets.
If you want a powder that will shine in both the 223 and 308, look at TAC, 748, or RL-15.
With a 1-9" twist you should be able to stabilize both Hornady 75 gr. BTHP and Sierra 77 gr. BTHP's. It won't stabilize 75/80 gr. A-max's or Sierra 80 gr. BTHP's.
Skyfish,
AA2015 is an excellent powder for light/midweight bullets in the AR. I use 23.8 gr. for an AR but 24 Gr. for my bolt-gun. behind a 60 gr. bullet. I use 24.5 for both with a 55 gr. bullet.
Edit:
Another really good powder to use is Varget. A little slower than 4895 and will give just a little more velocity.
Moly coating was THE thing a number of years ago. These days, you'll find ten guys asking how to get moly out of their guns for every guy asking how to apply it.
http://stevespages.com/224_8_50.html
Varget is almost too slow for the 223 except with heavy bullets, and it is definitely too slow for a gas-auto. It is highly accurate, though.
I have to disagree with this from what I have read. Sierra's accuracy load for 69 HPBT shows varget 25.3 grains. This is from their AR loads. There are also some custom upper manufacturers that are placing the gas hole at 11 inches to use with slower powder and heavier bullets.
quote:Originally posted by Rocky Raab
Varget is almost too slow for the 223 except with heavy bullets, and it is definitely too slow for a gas-auto. It is highly accurate, though.
I have to disagree with this from what I have read. Sierra's accuracy load for 69 HPBT shows varget 25.3 grains. This is from their AR loads. There are also some custom upper manufacturers that are placing the gas hole at 11 inches to use with slower powder and heavier bullets.
If they were going to move the gas port, I'd rather they move it to 16" from 14" in a standard 20" A2 rifle. The short gas run you give is like for M4's.
quote:Originally posted by shoff14
quote:Originally posted by Rocky Raab
Varget is almost too slow for the 223 except with heavy bullets, and it is definitely too slow for a gas-auto. It is highly accurate, though.
I have to disagree with this from what I have read. Sierra's accuracy load for 69 HPBT shows varget 25.3 grains. This is from their AR loads. There are also some custom upper manufacturers that are placing the gas hole at 11 inches to use with slower powder and heavier bullets.
If they were going to move the gas port, I'd rather they move it to 16" from 14" in a standard 20" A2 rifle. The short gas run you give is like for M4's.
Your correct, had M4 length in my head for some reason.
Time to learn me something guys....
I just picked up my Remington 700 SPS that has a 20" bull barrel on it that I have had on layaway for a long time. I have my dies, lead,and primers so I am ready to reload when I select my powder but here is where I need some help.
Do I need to load a faster burning powder because the barrel is shorter on this rifle than many other 223 rifles?
Second Question - Keep this one elementary for me please. In my reloading books I have a wide range of powder choices. Here is my question - This is an example not taken from any load book -
If I want to push a 50Gr bullet 2800 FPS and powder X says use 25 Grs and powder Y says use 22 grains to acheive the same 2800 FPS, which of these two powders burns faster.
Thanks for your comments and educational feedback.....Mark
Check out this link I stumbled across for 223 info!
http://www.6mmbr.com/223Rem.html
Also look at the home page for other info!