Range Report cont.

[RiskyBusiness]

Back at the grind and its getting pretty sad that it's been 3-4 trips and I haven't found a middle ground of what's an acceptable plinker to me lol


Followed up on some past promising data and played around with the COL on each set of 5 shot groups. Powders used were H335, Ramshot and Varget. Trim at 1.745-1.750, LC range brass and hornday 55gr FMJ BT 223


Varget 25.2 gr 1st Pic from top left corner
COAL: (1) 2.200 (2) 2.235 (2.245)
*Last trip had just a bit larger spread from 25.1gr @2.225. This time it looks somewhat identical if not tighter with +.02gr and larger COL.

Varget 25.5gr 1st pic first starting at left side middle, (2) Middle row center (3) 2nd pic top left corner target.
COAL: (1) 2.200 (2) 2.235 (2.245)
*just a mess

Varget 26.0gr (1) 2nd pic top middle (2) 2nd pic top right (3) 2nd pic center row left
COAL: (1) 2.200 (2) 2.235 (2.245)
*Previous range report was promising for 25.9gr @2.225 and 2.215, as you can see it opened up with a longer COAL this time around and the tightest group of the day was with 2.200

Varget 26.2gr 2nd pic (1)Center middle row (2) Right middle row (3)bottom left corner
COAL: (1) 2.200 (2) 2.235 (2.245)
*Once again COAL of 2.200 was the tightest of these 3 different lengths even with a +/- .02 gr difference.


Ramshot was seated all at 2.200, charges from 23.5 24.0 24.5 25.0 25.5,
nothing even close to what i expected out of this as a fellow reloader hyped it all up for lighter bullets at the local powder store. Glad i only picked up a pound of it.

H335, almost out of my 1 pound that i've been testing and a lot of my data is point at 25.0gr not more or less. This time only played around with 24.3 and 25.0gr. I'll make a couple batches of this from 2.200-2.260 and finish up the bottle.

Also have an unopened bottle of CFE223 to play around with.


So guys leave me some comments, suggestions, advice. I welcome all criticism and just to beat you to the punch... no i was not using a shotgun

This was shot at 100yds on a sled and a 4x optic, 1:7 16" barrel. The best group i shot was at the smallest target on the sheet, i honestly couldn't see it as my crosshairs covered what was the black dot in my sight. Do you think i should move the target down to 50yds so i can be more consistent with the picture i have in sight or does it help to have smaller objects in sight, you know that saying "aim small miss small"?


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[Cheep]

I would try a heavier bullet in that 1:7 barrel...

[rsrocket1]

If you can't see the red dot much less the black bullseye, I think your limiting factor is not the loads, it's your optics.

If you are trying for sub MOA at 100 yards, you would be better off with a 9x power.

Quite frankly, if you are going to be shooting with that setup, your groups are more than adequate. If you move the target in to 50 yards, you'll probably get all ragged holes and not see much difference in loads at all plus you'll be off the bullseye due to differences in bullet rise going from 100 to 50 yards.

[LynnJr]

In a 223 try some better bullets first. Sierra or Berger match bullets not FMJ.
Then as was already pointed out use a higher powered scope for your load development then you can go back to your lower powered scope and see what the difference is.
In general 99 and 44/100 of shooters will shoot smaller groups with more magnification.

[OpenSightsOnly]

Back at the grind and its getting pretty sad that it's been 3-4 trips and I haven't found a middle ground of what's an acceptable plinker to me lol


Followed up on some past promising data and played around with the COL on each set of 5 shot groups. Powders used were H335, Ramshot and Varget. Trim at 1.745-1.750, LC range brass and hornday 55gr FMJ BT 223


Varget 25.2 gr 1st Pic from top left corner
COAL: (1) 2.200 (2) 2.235 (2.245)
*Last trip had just a bit larger spread from 25.1gr @2.225. This time it looks somewhat identical if not tighter with +.02gr and larger COL.

Varget 25.5gr 1st pic first starting at left side middle, (2) Middle row center (3) 2nd pic top left corner target.
COAL: (1) 2.200 (2) 2.235 (2.245)
*just a mess

Varget 26.0gr (1) 2nd pic top middle (2) 2nd pic top right (3) 2nd pic center row left
COAL: (1) 2.200 (2) 2.235 (2.245)
*Previous range report was promising for 25.9gr @2.225 and 2.215, as you can see it opened up with a longer COAL this time around and the tightest group of the day was with 2.200

Varget 26.2gr 2nd pic (1)Center middle row (2) Right middle row (3)bottom left corner
COAL: (1) 2.200 (2) 2.235 (2.245)
*Once again COAL of 2.200 was the tightest of these 3 different lengths even with a +/- .02 gr difference.


Ramshot was seated all at 2.200, charges from 23.5 24.0 24.5 25.0 25.5,
nothing even close to what i expected out of this as a fellow reloader hyped it all up for lighter bullets at the local powder store. Glad i only picked up a pound of it.

H335, almost out of my 1 pound that i've been testing and a lot of my data is point at 25.0gr not more or less. This time only played around with 24.3 and 25.0gr. I'll make a couple batches of this from 2.200-2.260 and finish up the bottle.

Also have an unopened bottle of CFE223 to play around with.


So guys leave me some comments, suggestions, advice. I welcome all criticism and just to beat you to the punch... no i was not using a shotgun

This was shot at 100yds on a sled and a 4x optic, 1:7 16" barrel. The best group i shot was at the smallest target on the sheet, i honestly couldn't see it as my crosshairs covered what was the black dot in my sight. Do you think i should move the target down to 50yds so i can be more consistent with the picture i have in sight or does it help to have smaller objects in sight, you know that saying "aim small miss small"?

Just stick with 25.5 grains of Varget with the 55 grain Hornady fodder ammo. If you get 3 or 4 MOA at 100 yards, call it a day.

You want a better performing set-up that is 0.75 MOA?

Buy a White Oak or a Compass Lake upper and load the 75 or 77 grain match grade bullets with 24.5 grains of Varget. That is all that you would ever need to do.

[divingin]

I shoot the Hornady 52gr match hps. Cheap and fairly accurate. They'll hold MOA pretty easily with 26.2 (I think; might be 26.6) CFE223. They'd probably do better, but I'm not great with a rifle.

[highpower790]

24.5 of Varget is all you will need,just change the bullet.tac is temp sensitive, it may meter great but it's crap for accuracy in hot weather.

[RiskyBusiness]

Guys im sticking with 55gr because its cheap as dirt. If i strictly went 69gr+ it would raise my cost up 6cpr. That being said i do have some 68,69,75gr bullets just to experiment for the luls

But i'll mostly be loading bulk 55gr.

[RiskyBusiness]

If you can't see the red dot much less the black bullseye, I think your limiting factor is not the loads, it's your optics.

If you are trying for sub MOA at 100 yards, you would be better off with a 9x power.

Quite frankly, if you are going to be shooting with that setup, your groups are more than adequate. If you move the target in to 50 yards, you'll probably get all ragged holes and not see much difference in loads at all plus you'll be off the bullseye due to differences in bullet rise going from 100 to 50 yards.

I can see the black bullseye on the 4" targets but not the red. on the 2" bullseye top center i couldnt even see the black with the crosshair over it but it was the best group of the day out of 20 different 5 shot groups. I'll see about borrowing a 9x for the next outing and seeing how i fair with that, thanks for the advice.

[OpenSightsOnly]

Focus on the reticle not the target.

The reticle should be centered and leveled on that black bullsye.

[highpower790]

Guys im sticking with 55gr because its cheap as dirt. If i strictly went 69gr+ it would raise my cost up 6cpr. That being said i do have some 68,69,75gr bullets just to experiment for the luls

But i'll mostly be loading bulk 55gr.

Mid South sells Hornady 62gr(fmjbthp) 22cal.They are a nice cheap accurate bullet sold in 250,500 and 1500 quantities,Cost break puts you at .09.If you wanted a cheap 77gr go to Shooters Pro shop and by factory(Nosler)blemished for 120.00 a thousand.

[smoothy8500]

Your scope is not the limiting factor here. If your groups are "so so" and you tried another powder, getting the same results.....it's the bullet. The Hornady fmj's do "ok" in most guns. You are getting pretty much the standard results. Unless you choose another bullet such as the Hornady HPBT other better bullets, you get what you get. Pick a powder that's easy to meter and readily available, then go blast the cheap fmj's.

[RiskyBusiness]

Your scope is not the limiting factor here. If your groups are "so so" and you tried another powder, getting the same results.....it's the bullet. The Hornady fmj's do "ok" in most guns. You are getting pretty much the standard results. Unless you choose another bullet such as the Hornady HPBT other better bullets, you get what you get. Pick a powder that's easy to meter and readily available, then go blast the cheap fmj's.

idk man i've gone through a couple dozen 69gr smk and 68gr hpbt hornadys and nothing spectacular. ive only been able to reach under 1" with 55gr and varget at least two outings report that. Let me just settle this 26gr varget once more at 2.200 and if i can repeat the results from above then its a keeper. Whether it is or not i'll start looking into load data for the 68,69,75's that i have 100 of each. I also have a 1:8 barrel i got for free thats still in packaging i can try out afterwards.

[17+1]

Guys im sticking with 55gr because its cheap as dirt. If i strictly went 69gr+ it would raise my cost up 6cpr. That being said i do have some 68,69,75gr bullets just to experiment for the luls

But i'll mostly be loading bulk 55gr.

Sierra 69, 24-25 grains of varget, 2.260" OAL, CCI 400, military case trim to minimum, do not apply crimp when seating bullet.

If your rifle doesn't shoot that load something is wrong with it or you need more practice.

[17+1]

This group was my wife shooting her $340 PSA upper 223 wylde 1-7 twist with 1-4 power bushnell. 15 rounds in a 20 round mag all in succession no cool down at 100 yards. Load as above. Pretty typical results for just about any AR and a decent shooter.

Little bit or horizontal stringing but not super concerned. The hand guard is almost touching the barrel at rest.