223 load

[BigE 0]

Hi All

I would like some help with the best load for a Howa 1500 223. I am a novice reloader waiting for the reloading equipment to arrive. So any help would br much appreciated.

[HUnter_zero 58]

Hi All

I would like some help with the best load for a Howa 1500 223. I am a novice reloader waiting for the reloading equipment to arrive. So any help would br much appreciated.

 

 

The rifles normally have a 1 in 12 barrel as such would prefer 50 to 55 grain bullets, I would suggest a 52 grain A-Max from Hornady (#22492) driven with by Hodgdons BL-C(2) powder which I found to be most excellent in my .223.

Quick load suggests that 26 grains will be a light load , producing 3142 fps or 1141 Ft-Lb ME (with 26.5 being just compressed) and that 28 grains would be as hot as you would want to really go with 3415 fps or 1346 ft-lb ME and is a compressed charge from 26.5 grains to 28 grains. Taken on a COAL of 2.26"

MY pet load in my old M77 .223 was 23.5 grains of BL-c(2) driving a 60 grain V-max which gave 2596 fps across my chronograph, quick load predicts 2690 fps to give you an idea of how accurate this program really is, less than 5% error in this case, most factory ammo is +/- 8% fluctuation in velocity round to round. Please note that information from Quick load is in general very accurate but only a mathematical model, you still need to work up your loads and use information from a good reloading BOOK! Hodgdons 26th Ed manual states : 26.0 grains = 3090 fps / 28 grains = 3328 fps.

 

John

Edited September 4, 2009 by HUnter_zero

[BigE 0]

Hi All

I would like some help with the best load for a Howa 1500 223. I am a novice reloader waiting for the reloading equipment to arrive. So any help would br much appreciated.

 

 

The rifles normally have a 1 in 12 barrel as such would prefer 50 to 55 grain bullets, I would suggest a 52 grain A-Max from Hornady (#22492) driven with by Hodgdons BL-C(2) powder which I found to be most excellent in my .223.

Quick load suggests that 26 grains will be a light load , producing 3142 fps or 1141 Ft-Lb ME (with 26.5 being just compressed) and that 28 grains would be as hot as you would want to really go with 3415 fps or 1346 ft-lb ME and is a compressed charge from 26.5 grains to 28 grains. Taken on a COAL of 2.26"

MY pet load in my old M77 .223 was 23.5 grains of BL-c(2) driving a 60 grain V-max which gave 2596 fps across my chronograph, quick load predicts 2690 fps to give you an idea of how accurate this program really is, less than 5% error in this case, most factory ammo is +/- 8% fluctuation in velocity round to round. Please note that information from Quick load is in general very accurate but only a mathematical model, you still need to work up your loads and use information from a good reloading BOOK! Hodgdons 26th Ed manual states : 26.0 grains = 3090 fps / 28 grains = 3328 fps.

 

John

 

Thanks John for the help will try the load you have sujested, will let you know how i get on in due course. Once again thanks alot for the help

[jamie g 17]

just speaking to a mate with tikka 223 and he uses 60 grain berger target ammo with 24.5 grains of benchmark powder. and the groups for a factory rifle is superb.

 

but it will depend on what twist you have. if its 1in12 yours mite not be able to shoot the 60's very well where if its 1 in 8 or 1 in 9 twist they will

[HUnter_zero 58]

Thanks John for the help will try the load you have sujested, will let you know how i get on in due course. Once again thanks alot for the help

 

 

No problem at all, just double check the twist of the barrel (could be a 1 in 9, in which case switch to a 60 or heavier grain V-max). If you not sure how to check the twist rate, just give me a PM.

 

 

John

[3jackwhite3 2]

im using h335 powder and the max load for 55gr bullet is 25.3gr and a 50gr bullet is 26gr, i can use any load from 23.4 grain to 25.3 gr and it will group .5 of an inch at 100 yards through my tikka t3, i think it will do better than this as i am just throwing my charges and not measuring them one by one and the o.a.l is 2.240"-2.243".

good luck with your loads.

[BigE 0]

Thanks to every one for being so helpfull, it looks like THL is going to be an absolute god send. thanks again ian

[brno17 5]

hi mate i have a howa 223 and im currently loading 55 grain vmax in front of 25.5 grains of varget with cartridge length 1.889 (measured to the ogive) using winchester brass and cci primers, these will group 0.5 inch all day. your twist rate is 1 in 12 so 55 grain should be optimum.good luck with the howa mate you'll enjoy it.

[BigE 0]

hi mate i have a howa 223 and im currently loading 55 grain vmax in front of 25.5 grains of varget with cartridge length 1.889 (measured to the ogive) using winchester brass and cci primers, these will group 0.5 inch all day. your twist rate is 1 in 12 so 55 grain should be optimum.good luck with the howa mate you'll enjoy it.

[BigE 0]

hi mate i have a howa 223 and im currently loading 55 grain vmax in front of 25.5 grains of varget with cartridge length 1.889 (measured to the ogive) using winchester brass and cci primers, these will group 0.5 inch all day. your twist rate is 1 in 12 so 55 grain should be optimum.good luck with the howa mate you'll enjoy it.