Continuing the quest for the 500 yd PD I got some test loads prepared and decided to use the long weekend to find out what fodder the 223 XP would digest best. Decided the cabin yard would be a good place to do a close range sight-in and some chronographing. Broke the clamp on a Millett ring and shot (nicked) the chrono screen. Another good idea shot to he$$. Got back to town and bought a set of Weaver rings, mounted and boresighted the Burris 3 - 12.

Sunday

Gathered all the range gear and then decided to wait for the sun to break through and waited and waited. 9:30, the heck with the sun it's about 50 degrees, I'm on my way to the range. First shock at the range - they raised the price to $12. %$&**@# democrats!

The bullets that I had loaded were the Sierra 50 gr Blitz, Hornady 40 gr VMAX and Hornady 50 gr VMAX. The powders being tested were WW 748, AA 2015 and AA 2460. The Blitz was loaded in old ammo with WW 748 that I took along for sight-in and familarization. The 40 VMAX was was also previously loaded with WW 748 for another project. The Core of the testing was 50 rds loaded with the 50 VMAX and three different charge weights each of 748, 2015 and 2460.

Started shooting with the 50 Blitz loads to sight-in and get back into the groove of shooting an XP. Have to admit I've mostly been using the Contender and r!f(#s lately. Sight-in went well and I started getting some groups instead of clusters. Best group with the Blitz and it's 748 load was 1.09" with four of the shots into 0.66". Velocity was 2862 fps.

After getting the XP sighted and myself warmed up and reacquainted with the XP I moved into the real test loads. The cases were WW, matched by weight, freshly trimmed to length, flash holes uniformed and deburred. Each charge was individually weighed on a Lyman LE-1000. The 50 gr VMAX bullets were seated so the rifling just kissed the match soot I use to check seating depth.

All groups were fired at 100 yds. The first firing sequence used the 50 gr VMAX and WW 748 test loads with the following results:

Velocity / Group
2862 / 1.46
2867 / 1.96
2989 / 2.17
3025 / 2.63

The second sequence was loaded with AA 2015.

Velocity / Group
2799 / 1.47
2899 / 1.22
2977 / 0.88 With 4 shots in .34".

The final sequence used AA 2460 and Gave the following results:

Velocity / Group
3137 / 0.89
3210 / 1.14
3238 / 1.74

The 40 gr VMAX loaded with WW 748 produced an 11 shot group of 1.24" at 3020 fps.

After finishing with the 223 I pulled out the other XP. It is one of my old silhouette guns, restocked and rebarreled for varmint hunting. It is now a 6 MM Rem and wears a Burris 10X and a thumbhole stock with substantial weight added. It fires a 69 gr Berger at 3292 fps into 1" at 100yds.

Hope I didn't bore you with the length of this. It was a great day at the range. Now I have to refine some of those loads and find some fur to put a group on!

A17Shooter

nope, you didn't bore me. that was a great little report!
ever look at blue dot powder loads in the .223? fun,fun,fun!
cheap,cheap,cheap!

low powder charges makes many loads per pound. low recoil, little muzzle blast, and good accuracy.

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http://www.reloadingroom.com/page33.html

check out these links!

In my custom XP with Schneider barrel. I use strictly 50gr BT with Benchmark powder. Shoots great. Some guys can't believe it is being shot from a 15 inch barrel. Haven't chrono'd it yet. No need. I've killed a number of chucks over 200 yards with it.

that is a very good report will give me something to
try in my contender should work well in that to.
i use 50gr bts with varget dont know the facts but
very good accuracy.
larry

Sounds like you have a good start but more tweeking is in order. Most .223's I've had over the years were 1/2 inch guns (rifles and Contenders). My favorite powder for the .223 is still IMR4198 with RL-7 a close second. But in my Savage 12BVSS, Varget gets the nod. It seems to perform a little better in longer barrels from my experience. It also fills to the cases to the mouth a little before max load is reached...enough so that the compressed charge will creep the bullet back out of the case.

Took my Super Striker .223 Rem out yesterday for a shooting session is good weather. I had ten rounds loaded with Fed GM brass (prepped), 21.7gr IMR4198, 50gr Starke RPVB, and Fed 205. I sighted in with some odd .223 stuff from another gun. Once on paper I fired two-three shot and one-four shot group. The best was .75" and worst was .85". Seems to be consistent and now I can start tweeking...I'll try RL-7 and 50gr V-Max's or NBT's.

Seems like you are headed in the right direction. I have wondered about the Strikers vs the XPs. If the rain lets up I hope to get back to the range. I have about 50 fireformed and neck sized cases to try some serious testing with. Am posting a photo of my two XPs. The 6MM Rem is on top and the 223 is the bottom gun.



A17Shooter