What componets will give me the most accurate load for .223?

[Bagelthief]

Of course I know my mileage will vary because we don't have the same gun, press, dies, climate, and most importantly mind and body. However, just to point me in the right direction, in your experience what has been your most accurate loads for the .223 (read: gives you the smallest groups)?

I will be using Lapua brass (unless someone has a better suggestion?) because that's what I've heard is "the best."

The rest of the components i'm a little less informed about...ESPECIALLY powder wise!! There are so many different types of powder from numerous different manufacturers, and it makes my head spin.

So what primers, powder and bullets do you guys use for those UBER accurate loads?

Thanks!!

[Jonathan Doe]

My recipe may not work for your rifle. You will have to experiment with various components.

I did a lot of experiments with 308 Win. About 5 - 6 powder, 3 - 4 primers, 5 - 6 different bullets, 5- 6 different brass, powder charge, seating depth. After 1 1/2 years, I got what I like. Spent most Saturdays at the range and my wife was not very happy.

You can check reloading manuals and start near their recommended accuracy load.

[6079Winston]

Read this article, it should give something useful whether you are interested in benchrest, service rifle or anything in between.

http://www.6mmbr.com/223Rem.html

[Bagelthief]

Perhaps it will work GREAT with my rifle! Tell me your recipe and I will let you know...lol.

[Synergy]

OP - You have quite the vague question.

Are you shooting:
Benchrest?
Bolt Action?
AR Variants?
AR Pistol?

What ranges are you aiming for?
What barrel twist and grain bullet are you shooting?

As for Lapua, they make good benchrest brass. For the most average .223/.308 shooter you cant go wrong with Lake City brass. Its the mil surp or XM 193/855 brass. Plus it costs a lot less than Lapua.

[Bagelthief]

Sorry. I know I was kinda vague, and it was on purpose. I just want to hear what is giving you guys the smallest groups with your particular set up, and I can pick and choose as I see fit.

But if it would aid anyone, then I will be doing quite a bit of benchrest, with an AR. The barrel is from WOA, and is a 1 in 7 twist. Ranges will be as far as I can accurately reach (600 yards or so) to 100 yards.

BTW, 6079, that article is awesome. THANKS!

[Synergy]

Sorry. I know I was kinda vague, and it was on purpose. I just want to hear what is giving you guys the smallest groups with your particular set up, and I can pick and choose as I see fit.

So what your saying is you dont know how to reload and by asking for info not given by you based on your type of rifle, twist and bullet grain. You expect to build a load and shoot sub MOA instantly. Little grasshopper you have lots to learn!

I guessed you missed reading a loading manual and reading that you start small and build up from there based on your own rifle and specs.

[6079Winston]

You could do a lot worse than copying the highpower crowd, saving time while avoiding re-inventing the wheel. The various 80 grain bullets single loaded work better than anything loaded to magazine length at longer ranges while the lighter bullets are more convenient and adequate for shorter range shooting. A few more useful links:

http://www.njhighpower.com/cart_tech.htm

http://www.whiteoakprecision.com/info-reloading.htm

[five.five-six]

What componets will give me the most accurate load for .223?

I reccomend these 3 components:

a)pracitce
b)practice
c)practice








varget and 168 SMKs

[bfoosh006]

http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=206...

Look for Sierra bullets, Varget or RL15 powder... and as for Lapua brass, save that for a good bolt action. You'll probably not even find any Lapua on that spread sheet.

[Bug Splat]

Ok I'll give my best 223 100 yard groups with recipes.

Savage 12, 26" 1-9 barrel benchrest built competition rig. 0.18" 5 shot group
LC brass full grown, CCI primers, H335, Hornady 40gr V-max seated at lands.

CMMG built 1-9 16" Bull barrel AR. 0.24" 5 shot group
LC brass trimmed, CCI primers, H335, Hornady 40gr V-max seated to spec.


H335 and 40gr v-max's have been just a complete winners for me. Not suited for longer ranges but great for out to 300 yards.

[bfoosh006]

http://www.zediker.com/books/books.html...and order some of these books , I reread them frequently. And its one of the first books I check for info.

[Bagelthief]

So what your saying is you dont know how to reload and by asking for info not given by you based on your type of rifle, twist and bullet grain. You expect to build a load and shoot sub MOA instantly. Little grasshopper you have lots to learn!

I guessed you missed reading a loading manual and reading that you start small and build up from there based on your own rifle and specs.

Hmm...Please show me where I said "Who here gets the smallest groups so I can go buy a 3000 count bag of those same bullets, 50 pounds of that same powder, and 10,000 of those same exact primers and be set getting the SAME exact groupings as you, maybe better!!!"

Nope. Perhaps your thinking of a different bagelthief?

What im trying to do here is a little data mining. "ohh i see there's a lot of people who use this same bullet and are getting pretty good groups out of a similar barrel profile...I think ill order a box of 100, and try them out with these 3 different powders that people were most commonly using...Hey it also looks like this primer was the most popular, I think ill order 1000 of those, and maybe 1000 of the second most popular and see which works best. This bullet was also pretty common, I'm going to order 100 of those too." etc.

This way it narrows down my choices, instead of having to order 20 different bullet types, and 10 different powders, and 6 different primers; then having to spend many many moons testing out all the combination's.

But thanks anyways for insulting me and ****ing all over my thread...Have a nice night.


To the rest of you very kind people...thanks for lending a hand, you are certainly pointing me in the right direction and it is much appreciated!

If anyone else wants to chime in on their loads, i'm sure I wouldnt be the only one to benefit!!

[Synergy]

What componets will give me the most accurate load for .223?

I reccomend these 3 components:

a)pracitce
b)practice
c)practice
varget and 168 SMKs

Thats one big .223 your shootin there Tex!

[Synergy]

Hmm...Please show me where I said "Who here gets the smallest groups so I can go buy a 3000 count bag of those same bullets, 50 pounds of that same powder, and 10,000 of those same exact primers and be set getting the SAME exact groupings as you, maybe better!!!"

Nope. Perhaps your thinking of a different bagelthief?

What im trying to do here is a little data mining. "ohh i see there's a lot of people who use this same bullet and are getting pretty good groups out of a similar barrel profile...I think ill order a box of 100, and try them out with these 3 different powders that people were most commonly using...Hey it also looks like this primer was the most popular, I think ill order 1000 of those, and maybe 1000 of the second most popular and see which works best. This bullet was also pretty common, I'm going to order 100 of those too." etc.

This way it narrows down my choices, instead of having to order 20 different bullet types, and 10 different powders, and 6 different primers; then having to spend many many moons testing out all the combination's.

But thanks anyways for insulting me and ****ing all over my thread...Have a nice night.


To the rest of you very kind people...thanks for lending a hand, you are certainly pointing me in the right direction and it is much appreciated!

If anyone else wants to chime in on their loads, i'm sure I wouldnt be the only one to benefit!!

Simmer down cowboy!

You stated you were being "vague" for a reason of data mining. If you dont list your gun type, barrel twist and goals for the round. You are asking for trouble by asking a vague question on the internet. Especially when it comes to reloading. If you you want to gamble like that then go ahead. I wish you the best in your reloading endeavor. Just stay a few lanes away from me.