.223 reload questions

[Vanilla Gorilla]

Ok so I want to start off by saying I am new to the whole reloading game, but it interests me and I am willing to learn. With that said I just bought a new savage edge in .223, and I want to squeeze the most out of it that I can. It is a 1:9 twist 22" barel and after doing some reading I have found that the 1:9 twist likes the 75grn bullet. Now my qusestion is how much powder? I know I am suppose to start at the bottom and work my way up but is it ok to start at somewhere in the middle or above, or can I go straight to almost max load as long as I don't go over max load? Also does more powder equal better accuracy? I don't want to blow myself up here and I am trying to play it safe, but like I said I want to be as accurate as possible. Also if anyone has a good recipe for a 75grn that would be great, I will be using varget powder also if that helps.
Any advice, help, or comments would be great!

[joelogic]

only one "." in the whole paragraph, makes it hard to read. More powder means more velocity but not necessarily more accuracy. AFAIK, the 1/7 twist barrels like a heavier bullet. You really have to work up a load for gun/bullet/powder/primer combos.

[freonr22]

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

is a start

I found this excellent, if you can do the $20

http://ammoguide.com/

BTW ^^ Calguns sponsor

[Vanilla Gorilla]

only one "." in the whole paragraph, makes it hard to read. More powder means more velocity but not necessarily more accuracy. AFAIK, the 1/7 twist barrels like a heavier bullet. You really have to work up a load for gun/bullet/powder/primer combos.

Ok sorry for no "." Lol I edited it just for you

[d4v0s]

Its not that easy, you take a case, then pick a primer, pick a load out of a reloading manual that works with that type of bullet, start at min and work up to what ever shoots best. some guns like max powder, some mid, and some min. You can go as far as you like squeezing accuracy, different brass, different primers, its all how much you want out of it, i also reccomend purchasing some match factory ammo in the bullet you like then trying to reproduce it. its hard to just pick and choose random parts and come out with a winner. Although i did think up a batch of extrememly accurate .303. Luck though, all luck.

[EL_NinO619]

Okay First off, buy ABC's of realoading and read the entire thing. Get your hands on as much load data as possible. DO NOT start of on max load if you are a rookie. The most accurate loads are not even max loads. So DON"T risk it. Hornady Vmax. With 22.5 grains of H.Varget. Also a Match load is 69gr Sierra HPBT Match King, H.Varget 25.3gr. C.O.A.L 2.260. Velocity 2750 Ft. lbs 1158. Here is a good link to read up on. Use CCI Bench Rest Primers..

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

[Boots]

Okay First off, buy ABC's of realoading and read the entire thing. Get your hands on as much load data as possible. DO NOT start of on max load if you are a rookie. The most accurate loads are not even max loads. So DON"T risk it. Hornady Vmax. With 22.5 grains of H.Varget. Also a Match load is 69gr Sierra HPBT Match King, H.Varget 25.3gr. C.O.A.L 2.260. Velocity 2750 Ft. lbs 1158. Here is a good link to read up on. Use CCI Bench Rest Primers..

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

+1 with El-Nino I happen to be loading the same two bullet types and powder charges. As others have said... you're rifle may not like max... start near the bottom, work up charges and see what works best for your rifle and bullets.
I would suggest loading 5-10 rounds of various charges and go to the range with them. Print out (or buy) some range targets, mark them with each bullet type and charge and shoot away. The best group... you take note and load to that spec.

[bjl333]

You Savage has a 22" barrel not a 28" barrel. I would think a 52gr - 63gr bullet would work better for the 1/9 twist. I have a 10FP and I am not getting any love with the PRVI 75gr Match. My personal load is with a Sierra 55gr BTHP. I was out at Angeles yesterday and in the wind I get under 1" groups. The 75s were not getting close to 1 1/2". I also had good luck with the Blackhill's 52gr reloaded Match ammo. I'll have to look up the 55gr load for you. All I remember is the powder, its Reloader 7.

[Fyathyrio]

...I know I am suppose to start at the bottom and work my way up...snip...I don't want to blow myself up here and I am trying to play it safe...

Looks like you know the answer, it's not really a process for the impatient.

For me, part of the enjoyment of reloading is working up the loads, taking time with chronograph and testing on target, evaluating the empirical and subjective data and choosing the best load. then making a bunch and going out to shoot a bunch...then repeat.

[jwest]

Read the threads here - one of the most dangerous things are primers - always treat with respect and handle them with care - this includes of course how they are stored.

There is no such thing as reading too many reloading books.

[sonnyt650]

Along with a faster twist rate, the longer the barrel the more likely it has the velocity to stabilize a heavier (longer) bullet. That said though, a heavier bullet makes the barrel distort more than a lighter bullet, while a longer barrel bends more than a shorter barrel. For my rifles, at 100 yards this distortion outweighs the better flight characteristics of a 75 grain bullet. Those results are from a 16" 1-in-9 barrel AR and a 20" 1-in-7 barrel AR, both semi-automatic and neither of which have free-floated forearms so YMMV.

[Vanilla Gorilla]

Thank you all for all the good input. I will go down today and pick up the ABC's of reloading and start reading.

[rsrocket1]

Also try to get rid of as many variables and change only one thing at a time. Do you know for sure that your gun is sub-moa? With commercial bulk ammo? With expensive match loads? How about your trigger?

I would first characterize the gun with commercial match loads and start at a range where you can shoot a ragged hole with 5-10 shots. From that point you can move back to where you get maybe a 1" group. Then try some inexpensive bulk ammo. Those should be your limits for YOUR rifle. If you work up to a particular load that is better than the match ammo, great, but at least you know you aren't chasing the wrong variable like a bad trigger or a gun that is way out of the norm.

[HKROB]

I have had good results with hornadys 68gr hpbt & the 75gr A-max's. Sierra match kings 69gr or 77gr are hard to beat give then a try.

[killshot44]

Get the 49th Lyman manual. Read. Repeat. Get on the web and read all you can.

It's not hard but it's not simple, it takes time and patience and attention to detail.

That said, your 1/9 will love the 69gr SMKs, try them first. Varget or H335 powder. Any "Benchrest" small-rifle primers.