.223 55GR Load Data question

[Faded]

I took some rounds to the range to try out. I am far from a great shot, but wanted to see which loads were better. Each set of 5 had a flier. Granted it could have been dumb luck that I got them close to each other, but I have two sets that seem ok, but they are 1.5 grains apart. Is that normal to have multiple "sweet spots"?

Once Fired Brass
H335 powder
MidwayUSA Dogtown .224 55GR HP bullet


23.4


24.9

[joelogic]

Yes, there can be multiple nodes but you need to tighten up your shooting to be able to see which load is better.

Here is my last ladder. 24.5 was 10 rounds.

[GeoffLinder]

A flier like that will usually be an indication of something other than ammo. If the ammo was inconsistent, there would not be much of a group to see usually.

Try 10 round sample groups and see if you get mostly a tight group with only a flyer or two. A tight group of 8-9 rounds and 1-2 flyers are almost always non-ammo related.

Also, review your shooting technique to make sure it's not a trigger control, rest stability or similar issue.

Bad triggers are the single biggest impediment to consistent groups I have seen folks have. Inconsistent rest position and rifle tension are next in line, especially important if you don't have a free-float hand guard or barrel is contacting fore-end on a bolt rifle.

[Bill Steele]

Another factor can be scope parallax.

Nice shooting JL.

[joelogic]

Thanks.
JP 18" wylde, adjustable gas block, silent captured spring, AR Gold trigger, front and rear bags, 8x scope.

[damndave]

Those powder charges are pretty far apart for doing load development. I generally do a bunch of different powder charges .3gr apart.

Are you using a scope? Front and Rear sand bags? What distance were the tests done at?

[slopoke]

My optimum accuracy load with H335 and 55 grain bullets is 25 grains. Similar to the post above, I take the difference of the minimum load and maximum and divide by five, that will give me the increment to go up in. Looking at my Sierra book, 23.6 is the starting load and 25.7 is the max. So the difference from 23.6 to 25.7 is 2.1. Divide 2.1 by 5 and you get .42. So in this case increase your powder charge in .4gr increments. I load up 20 in each increment and shoot four, five shot groups. So basically you'll make 100 rounds. After you find the the charge with the tightest group, you could go back one charge, then work up in small increments to one powder load past the tightest, to further find the most accurate charge for your firearm.

To me, working up a load is like old school carb tuning. Keep going up in jet size til the power drops off and go back one jet size. So keep going up in powder load, see if the groups get tighter, then find the tightest one and thats your optimum combination for that firearm. Main key is that the shooter is doing his or her part. If you are not doing your part, then it's all for not.

[koehn,jim]

faded, are you weighing your charges before loading. My procedure is to weigh each bullet and make sure they are the same weight. Than I weigh each charge to make sure it is the same. I also shoot from a rifle rest with supports front and back, leave time between shots to keep the barrell cool, hot barrells shoot different than cool ones. If all this seems like a pain it is, but I want everything as exact as possible, than I know what the load will do. You may shoot 10-20 combinations until you get the one. Joelogic nice shooting,

[joelogic]

Just MHO but .3 is too small since most scales and powders drops are rated +/-.1gr.

Unless you are going for a title I don't bother with the voodoo of weighting each charge, case, or bullet.

My most proud target. First round hit at 1k. I only take credit for the ammo and trigger pulling. My line coach at the sac valley clinic was a wind calling god. Savage .308, 24", 175gr pulled SMK, wc844, and wolf primers loaded on a 650.

[tmorse]

Are the dogtown bullets good? I bought some Armscor 62 gr. Shot in new gun and was disappointed. Was afraid it was the gun since I didn't have any better ammo to try. The guy shooting next to me said he had similar results with Armscor.

Got some Sierra Match King 68(?) gr and wow. Way better. I am not a great shot, but that cut the group size by more than half.

[Faded]

Those powder charges are pretty far apart for doing load development. I generally do a bunch of different powder charges .3gr apart.

Are you using a scope? Front and Rear sand bags? What distance were the tests done at?

I am using a 1-4x scope and no bags. Grip pod on front, shooting from a bench. The shots are at 100yards.

Oh I had charges from 23 to 25 I was playing with. Just posted the 2 that looked better. To be honest I just plink around with my ammo not trying to be super accurate.

[joelogic]

Armscor bullets are the worst. Hornady 55gr FMJ are the best bulk bullet.

To the OP, if you were just plinking why ask an accuracy question?

[Faded]

Armscor bullets are the worst. Hornady 55gr FMJ are the best bulk bullet.

To the OP, if you were just plinking why ask an accuracy question?

I am curious about multiple sweets spots in loads. Is it normal to see a decent group at 23.4 then again at 24.9. It was answered that this common so that answered my curiosity

[GeoffLinder]

I am curious about multiple sweets spots in loads. Is it normal to see a decent group at 23.4 then again at 24.9. It was answered that this common so that answered my curiosity

Yes, there can be several barrel nodes, as many as you want to find if you work across a wide enuff velocity range.

And stop using Armscor bullets, they are very bad and can actually generate fliers. Worst bullet I have ever tried. Threw the rest away after testing them once.

Joelogic is dead on about the Hornady bulk 55gr FMJBT, MOA bulk bullet if you do the work right. Possibly better depending on how hard you work.

[GeoffLinder]

BTW, use a bipod or bags, mono-pod is not stable enuff for load development. You also need a rear rest too. Bag or weak hand fist under grip. Control front and rear of rifle or you won't get good results.