Posted: 5/22/2007 2:55:40 PM EDT
Had to work this afternoon for a few hours, but had a chance to get out and try some new reloads today. It was said in an earlier reloading forum thread that heavier Hornady bullets tend to be sleepers til they get out around 200 yards. Well, I whipped up a batch using Varget at 23.5grns and RORG brass, and was quite surprised with the ballistics. I set up a silhouette target at 150 yards, touched off 17 rounds in 30 seconds, aiming about the lower half of the head. They all consistently hit a few inches high, even with the gun zeroed for 55grFMJ! I'm quite impressed, as these were through a 16" Bushy HBar A3 with a crappy Tasco scope, sandbagged off the Chevy hood.
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I just realized that I didn't say that these were 60grn SP's. For the 55's, I've been using AA2230 at 24.1 for both VMax and FMJ. Its worked pretty good so far. The only thing I might be a little worried about is 2230 being temp sensitive, but then again, if its above 90 out, I'm not planning on being out shooting anyways
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| I've heard alot of good things about H335. I'd looked at several powders before I got back into reloading, and the 2230 just looked to be very versatile. It meters great, the 24.1 load is very accurate in the 16", and the price wasn't too bad. I'm playing around with a few other loads, such as trying Varget, but H335 might be next on my list to try out. |
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My usual load for 55gr bullets is 25gr H335. Seems very accurate. I have tried Hornady BTSP, SP, FMJ and Nosler ballistic tips. The Noslers are incredible out of 24" heavy barrel. I have been told that H335 has a much greater flash than many others. What are your thoughts. I do a lot of reloading in other calibers but have basically not experimented at all with .223. It has pretty much been 25 gr. of H335 even with some heavier bullets. Is the AA powder a ball powder. I want to stay away from the extruded powder except for matches as it doesn't meter as well. That is why I went with the H335. I was told it meters about the best. Once set the powder measure in my RL550 is pretty exact with that powder. I have to weigh every charge of the loads I make with IMR 4831, 4895, and 4064. Same with the RL22. That is if I want them exactly the same weight. |
| 2230 is a double base ball powder, and meters awesome. I'm to where I'll load 500 rounds only weighing every 10th charge, and my cheap-o Lee holds +/- .1 through 500 rounds. My SP loads I just did with Varget, I was weighing every charge, but sticking with the same tolerance of .1. I tried to meter and it meters like shit in the Lee. The 2230 was for my Vmax and FMJ loads, which I did 500 VMax and 2K of FMJ, so a good metering powder was a must for speed as well as consistency. |