I would like to work up some handloads for my AR15 .223 Bushmaster Varminter 1 in 9 twist, 24 inch barrel. Would appreciate your sharing any of your favorite handloads for all bullet weight ranges. Especially interested in maximizing accuracy for varmint, tactical or match purposes. Let me know how the loads have performed in your rifle. Thanks.
.223 AR loads
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I love VihtaVuori's N133 powder for 52-55 grain bullets. I have no problems working to their max published data and their powder is very clean burning. I like SMK's and Hornady Match as well as their AMAX sometimes.
You can go to N140 for heavier weight bullets. I am about to.
You can go to N140 for heavier weight bullets. I am about to.
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145 Posts
I been reloading 25 years but the price of reman makes it nonsense for the to laod for my mini & AR's. ultramax 55's shoot sub inch in my mini and way better in my AR, and at 76.00 per 300 rds, its cheap to
RR
RR
I just tried RL15 in my DPMS heavy barreled varminter. We didn't have targets up but were shooting approximately 3" rocks at 200 meters with only a couple misses.
This is a new rifle and it was the first time I used this load and was mostly checking rifle operation because it wouldn't cycle worth a darn with Olympic. After trying it I will definitely work up a load with this powder.
I've been told RL15 with heavier bullets will give good cycling pressure and it did.
Serria 55gr hpfb
25gr RL15
LC Brass
CCI Small Rifle primers
I picked up some 10x today to use with lighter bullets.
This is a new rifle and it was the first time I used this load and was mostly checking rifle operation because it wouldn't cycle worth a darn with Olympic. After trying it I will definitely work up a load with this powder.
I've been told RL15 with heavier bullets will give good cycling pressure and it did.
Serria 55gr hpfb
25gr RL15
LC Brass
CCI Small Rifle primers
I picked up some 10x today to use with lighter bullets.
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2,146 Posts
I originally worked this load up for my 1 in 10 mini, but it shoots sub 3/4" or better in my new Expedition kit from double star.The Mouse gun has a 1 in 9.
24.9 grains of H335 *note: Nosler says 25 gr is max, Lee says 25.3 so be carefull!!*
cci 450 magnum primers
Nosler Balistic tip 55gr boattails.
Winchester Once fired Brass
** Lee factory Crimped**
The medium to heavy crimp useing the Lee factory crimp die really make the difference. I tried lighter crimps, and no crimps but I went back to the med/heavy crimp to get the sub moa groups. I believe this helps with the start pressure since you cant load out to the lands and get magazine operation with A2 chambers in the mini and the Mouse gun. As always check your presure and work up to this for saftey.:sniper:
24.9 grains of H335 *note: Nosler says 25 gr is max, Lee says 25.3 so be carefull!!*
cci 450 magnum primers
Nosler Balistic tip 55gr boattails.
Winchester Once fired Brass
** Lee factory Crimped**
The medium to heavy crimp useing the Lee factory crimp die really make the difference. I tried lighter crimps, and no crimps but I went back to the med/heavy crimp to get the sub moa groups. I believe this helps with the start pressure since you cant load out to the lands and get magazine operation with A2 chambers in the mini and the Mouse gun. As always check your presure and work up to this for saftey.:sniper:
Howdy All,
Try any 55gr FMJ over 27 to 28 gr WW 748. I wound up at 27.5gr for 3075 fps from a 20" 1:7 Colt HBAR, and 3050 fps in an EA-15 with 20" 1:9 bbl. Set OAL from 2.225" to 2.235"
The old standby for the Sierra S69 MatchKing is 25.0gr WW 748 (or a little more if you are carefull) at 2.240" to 2.250" OAL. I used this load in NRA High Power in the late eighties before the heavier bullets came around. It went subsonic by 600, but kicked some butt at 200 and 300 if you did your part.
24 gr AA 2520 under a Sierra 77 is a good long distance load for the appropriate twist rate bbls. OAL for the S77 should be about 2.255" to allow it to feed from mags. RE-15 and Varget also work well under the S77 at around 24gr's.
Make sure cases are sized for proper headspace in your rifle. Best accuracy will be had if cases are uniformly trimmed to 1.75" and then get the case mouth deburred and chamferred on the inside and outside. I recommend a Dillon taper crimp die to just snug the neck up. These simple case prep steps will generate a noticeably more accurate round with minimal extra effort compared to all of the other rigamarole you may hear.
If you use ready to load commercial 100% processed brass, I have found that the case mouth de-durring still helps give more consistent chrono results because the seating and crimp tension will be more uniform if the typical ridge left on commercial case mouths is beveled off.
As always, scrub 10-15% of the charge weight anyone recommends and work it up 2/10's at a time over a chrono. Your mileage may vary
Happy Holidays All
Try any 55gr FMJ over 27 to 28 gr WW 748. I wound up at 27.5gr for 3075 fps from a 20" 1:7 Colt HBAR, and 3050 fps in an EA-15 with 20" 1:9 bbl. Set OAL from 2.225" to 2.235"
The old standby for the Sierra S69 MatchKing is 25.0gr WW 748 (or a little more if you are carefull) at 2.240" to 2.250" OAL. I used this load in NRA High Power in the late eighties before the heavier bullets came around. It went subsonic by 600, but kicked some butt at 200 and 300 if you did your part.
24 gr AA 2520 under a Sierra 77 is a good long distance load for the appropriate twist rate bbls. OAL for the S77 should be about 2.255" to allow it to feed from mags. RE-15 and Varget also work well under the S77 at around 24gr's.
Make sure cases are sized for proper headspace in your rifle. Best accuracy will be had if cases are uniformly trimmed to 1.75" and then get the case mouth deburred and chamferred on the inside and outside. I recommend a Dillon taper crimp die to just snug the neck up. These simple case prep steps will generate a noticeably more accurate round with minimal extra effort compared to all of the other rigamarole you may hear.
If you use ready to load commercial 100% processed brass, I have found that the case mouth de-durring still helps give more consistent chrono results because the seating and crimp tension will be more uniform if the typical ridge left on commercial case mouths is beveled off.
As always, scrub 10-15% of the charge weight anyone recommends and work it up 2/10's at a time over a chrono. Your mileage may vary
Happy Holidays All
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