Loading .223 For Stevens 200

[Ugly Dwarf]

Wondering if anyone on the board has had any experience loading .223 for a Stevens 200.

I've had one for a couple years. It has been a low priority working up a load, but I have tried a number of different bullet / charge combinations, with nothing doing particularly great. I probably shouldn't complain about 1.5-2" groups in a <$300 gun, but by all accounts I've read this gun should be able to shoot better. Also, with the light contour barrel, anything more than about a round a minute causes it to heat up and the groups really open up, so I need to make them count.

Specifically, I've tried 52, 55, 60, 62 and 69 grain bullets. I've been pushing them with Data 2200 surplus powder (I don't have the different charge weights at hand, but I typically start with 10 rounds of five different charges between 90% - 100% of posted data).

Something that has made a difference in my model 700 has been seating the bullet closer to the rifling. Has anyone found their 200 likes this?

Has anyone found any particular bullet weight thrives in this barrel? How about powder choices. I typically load with Accurate Arms, but have also worked with IMR in the past and am not afraid to try something else.

I'm planning to make this gun a priority this Spring and wanted to get a little feedback before I settle down for my next loading sessions.

Thanks,

Dwarf

[ar15barrels]

Every gun is just a little different.
I could tell you that one of the first AR barrels I made worked great with 23.0gr of AA2200 under winchester 55gr FMJ's, but this would not help you much.
10 rounds went under 1/2" at 50yds which is quite amazing for crappy bullets.
I guess it says a lot about a high quality barrel though.

Lesson to be learned is that only YOU can develop your own best loads.
Get some more powders.
Buy high quality bullets.
Get a chronograph.
Watch for low ES.
Then start tweaking bullet seating length as the final adjustment.

[1911su16b870]

If you are looking at a 1 in 12-in twist barrel, the best bullet dope I have received on that combo is as follows:
100-200 yards
1. 53gr HP Matchking
2. 50gr Blitzking (IMO Hornady's V-max is similar)
3. 52gr HPBT Matchking
4. 50gr Blitz
over 200 yards
200-1. 55gr Blitzking
200-2. 65gr Spitzer Boat Tail (IMO Gameking)
I'm just now starting to work out a loading for 1 and 2 above with Varget.

[Ugly Dwarf]

Every gun is just a little different.

True enough. I've seen this personally when handloads that shoot consistantly tight in my Wby don't do nearly as well in another rifle just like mine (same make, model, barrel, etc...).

I was looking to see if anyone else had has similar issues (trying different weight bullet's / different charge weights - nothing really standing out) with this model / caliber.

Lesson to be learned is that only YOU can develop your own best loads.
Get some more powders.
Buy high quality bullets.
Get a chronograph.
Watch for low ES.
Then start tweaking bullet seating length as the final adjustment.

Good suggestions.

I got a chrono in January. I've only had it out to the range once since then, but plan to use it in this load development.

Just to confirm, when you say "Watch for low ES", you're talking about Extreme Spread? Percentage wise, what seems reasonable or low? For something traveling 3000 FPS (obviously this will change with bullet weight), does an ES of 100 FPS seem low, medium, way to high?

I have been mentally putting a Natchez order together for some Berger VLD 80's, Hornady A-Max and V-Max's in 52 and 60 grains, and am looking for something in the 69 - 70 grain weight range (the Berger 70's I had planned to order are sold out). Any suggestions in this weight range?

I know I've got some AA2460 on the shelf and maybe I'll look for a pound of a couple different powders when I chime in for the Powder Valley Group Buy going on right now.

From talking this through in my head (and reading your reply), I'm starting to suspect this gun doesn't like AA 2200.

Thanks

[Ugly Dwarf]

If you are looking at a 1 in 12-in twist barrel, the best bullet dope I have received on that combo is as follows:
100-200 yards
1. 53gr HP Matchking
2. 50gr Blitzking (IMO Hornady's V-max is similar)
3. 52gr HPBT Matchking
4. 50gr Blitz
over 200 yards
200-1. 55gr Blitzking
200-2. 65gr Spitzer Boat Tail (IMO Gameking)
I'm just now starting to work out a loading for 1 and 2 above with Varget.

http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.p...=105971.5;wap2

1911su16b870,

Thanks for the link and the info.

I noted this info was for a 22-250. I assume you saw this too, but wanted to make sure you weren't trying to cram those kinds of powder charges into a .223 case.

Good luck with the load work up.

[ar15barrels]

Just to confirm, when you say "Watch for low ES", you're talking about Extreme Spread? Percentage wise, what seems reasonable or low? For something traveling 3000 FPS (obviously this will change with bullet weight), does an ES of 100 FPS seem low, medium, way to high?

Yes.

I like to see ES be under 30fps if possible on my 2900fps 308 loads, even though 80 seems to be more common with the Varget that I am using.
There's no real specific number or percentage though.
The lower the better.
Without shooting several groups for each load on paper, you won't really know how they perform.
If you can find a few specific loads with a low ES, those are the ones to keep experimenting with and tuning after seeing how they perform on paper.

[Ugly Dwarf]

Yes.

I like to see ES be under 30fps if possible on my 2900fps 308 loads, even though 80 seems to be more common with the Varget that I am using.
There's no real specific number or percentage though.
The lower the better.
Without shooting several groups for each load on paper, you won't really know how they perform.
If you can find a few specific loads with a low ES, those are the ones to keep experimenting with and tuning after seeing how they perform on paper.

Thanks for the suggestions.

ES is a factor I was planning to watch, but I'll give it greater consideration. It makes sense, the more consistant the velocity, the more consistant the arc the bullet will fly (theoretically). Prior to getting the chrony, I had to rely on finding powders that I could throw consistant charges with and trust I would have consistant ignition.

I typically start with 10 rounds of five different powder charges, ranging between 90% - 100% of max charge (monitoring brass and primers for signs of overpressure). I shoot two groups of three and one of four for pattern (now I'll be adding the factor of putting my shots over the chrony). Anything that stands out (< 1.25"), get's a revisit my next time at the reloading bench.

Does this seem like a reasonable test bed for intial work-ups? It's proven successful in previous guns (pre-chrony), but I wonder if that was science or luck.

Regarding powders (earlier post in this thread), I'm figuring to try H335 and TAC. I've read good things about Varget, but also hear it's an extruded powder and know my powder bar can measure +/- .2 grains with those (at least on magnum charges). Have you had any experience with those two?

[1911su16b870]

1911su16b870,

Thanks for the link and the info.

I noted this info was for a 22-250. I assume you saw this too, but wanted to make sure you weren't trying to cram those kinds of powder charges into a .223 case.

Good luck with the load work up.

Thanks Dwarf. I am working up a 223 Remington load, and did not realize you were doing a 22-250.

[Ugly Dwarf]

Thanks Dwarf. I am working up a 223 Remington load, and did not realize you were doing a 22-250.

Negative. You had it right the first time. I too am loading .223.

The link you referenced in your post ( http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.p...=105971.5;wap2 ) was for loading .22-250. Those would prove very stout loads in a .223.

If you've got a Stevens 200, your .223 will probably have a 1 in 9 twist (at least mine does). The 50 and 52 grain bullets in your link may be on the light side of ideal, but I expect they would work just fine.

[1911su16b870]

10-4 copy that Dwarf. You are loading a 1 in 9 Stevens 200 in 223! My data is for a 1 in 12 and is not relevant to a 1 in 9 barrel! FWIW I deleted the confusing link from my previous post.

[ar15barrels]

Does this seem like a reasonable test bed for intial work-ups?

Yes.

No experience with Tac, but H335 meters really nice.
Extruded powders will often be less temperature sensetive.
Varget often shows higher ES than desireable, but the accuracy does not seem to show problems like you would expect.

[Ugly Dwarf]

Randall,

Thanks for the input. We'll see how it works out, assuming I can find time for the bench and the range.