I am finally handloading .223

[Dan W]

Damn...Looks like I accidently deleted my last post... anyways, today I found a Redding powder measure in the pawn shop and stole it for $32.50. It is the Model 3 Redding, sans the bench bracket.   I am using it in an old Lee C frame press with the lever and ram removed.

I was able to throw 50 perfect 24.5gr throws this afternoon using H335.

The Redding equipment I am using now are the 2 die set  in .223 (full length resize) with the carbide free floating neck sizer,  The Redding powder trickler, and now a Redding powder measure.  So far no regrets for spending a little more for quality

[Dan W]

Gettin there...1.3 MOA (incuding the flyer) Hornady 55gr Spire Point 2.200"  24.5gr H335 2910 FPS average
 

[Dan W]

I decided to try out some Ramshot TAC powder with heavier bullets. Today I got my hands on some Hornady 68gr Match HPBT, Hornady 75gr HPBT & Sierra 69gr MatchKing HPBT.

Load work up for the  68 and 69 grain bullets will start at 23.8gr of TAC and COL is 2.260".

The 75 grainers will start at 22.5gr TAC . I found it interesting that the 68 and 75gr Hornady hollow point boat tails are the same length.

Now I just need to wait for the miracle January thaw to occur...anyone know if Ramshot TAC is temperature sensitive

[Dan W]

Some recent developments... upgraded equipment. 

Bargain bin Redding Model 3 powder measure found at a pawn shop -  found the needed mount and a baffle. I saved $100 and it is super precise with the ball powders I am using,  TAC and H335

Upgrade to Possum Hollow case trimmer. The Lee setups work, but it is a lot of work...hopin' this cuts some case prep time with equal precision.

Added a Hornady cam type bullet puller and collet  for easy bullet removal without damage.

Upgrade?  Made up a stuck case remover set...you can guess why. I also decided to try a different (better?) case lube in Imperial Sizing Wax.  I have read many good things about this stuff, waiting to try it out.


Added a Daniel Defense Omega Rail to the Rifle. I guess I will see if free floated barrels are a real accuracy improvement.

I also lightened the 2nd stage of my RRA match trigger about a pound, previously it was 3 lbs 1st stage and 3 lbs 2nd stage. Now it is 3  and  1.5 lbs approximately.

Here's to the mythical sub MOA group

[dvsboyz]

try some winchester 748 i've been loading my ar15 rounds with it and using a 70 vld bullet by berger and for a gas gun its grouping exellent i
have a 1:9 twist and was thinking about a 60gr v max does anyone know if that will staiblize alright with the barrel twist it takes a couple shots with the vlds to take a coyote down at around 200 yards

[Dan W]

Finally some range time today! The 100 yard range at the IKE's was not as busy as I expected, but the walk to the target was a pretty mushy and wet.

Right off the bat, I shot a .912 MOA group with the Hornady 68gr Match over 23.8gr of Ramshot TAC. I think the stringing is caused by using a bipod instead of bags. I will need to check that on my next trip



The 69gr Sierra and 75gr Hornady also stabilized well in my 1x9 twist RRA barrel.

My old standby Hornady 55 SPP still holds a decent group even in a semi rapid fire test.




I think I need to make up some shooting bags for my next trip if I want to get the full potential out of the heavier bullets.

BTW the IKE's had a large group of kids and parents today for the Hunter Safety course. Great to see the future of hunting and shooting in Nebraska is still alive

[justsomeguy]

Dan, are you preloading the bipod? Leaning forward on the rifle a bit to put some pressure on the springs. This should help steady it up some. What model bipod are you using?

[Dan W]

My bipod is a Harris BRM-S 6-9" on a Larue Tactical QR mount.

 My friend Gunscribe asked me that same question, and frankly I forgot about it today.

With all the changes I had made this winter,  I had to sight in a new scope, adjust to a lighter 2nd stage on the trigger, and I was chronographing  and recording data at the same time.

I think my best groups will come when I focus on one thing,  and pull all the technique together without thinking about it. Just like anything else , it's a process I have to learn.

It took me 10 years to break 100 straight in trap the first time.

I will get this right too...eventually

[Dan W]

Tomorrow my work gets put to the test. Hope to be shooting prairie rats by Scott B's place after the Kearney gun show

[Dan W]

Well only a few dogs would show their heads after I killed the first two, so we ended up playing with some other toys Rob Androyna was very nice to lend out

[Dan W]

Time has come for a few new reloading posts...I have recently become aware of a problem with my quality control related to case sizing.

I was boxing up some 55 gr Hornady SPP  loads, and decided to case gauge them as I went. 

My findings were not good.    Many of the lot of 200 were too long in the headspace area. I surmised the  problem had been a loose die that had backed out a few thousandth of an inch and I failed to check it. 

Since I only bump the shoulders back about .003", I wanted a way to test the cartridges in an exact way, so I put in an order to Midway for a Hornady Lock-N-Load Headspace Gage Set with Comparator.
.
This tool makes it possible to set the shoulder bump exactly, and to measure the results. Different brass appears to react differently, especially if your lubing technique is inconsistent.

I found, using the comparator gauge, that many cases were .003" longer than the fireformed brass I was using as a zero point. That means a big jam, or not going all the way into battery...not a good thing.

Now I have concluded that I need a special die called a BODY die that only re-sizes a case body and shoulder without resizing or otherwise disturbing the neck.

That means that I can re-size the long cartridges while assembled, and not cause any damage to the bullet or the neck tension and crimp. 

Now I can feel confident that I won't embarrass myself by blowing up an AR15 at the GIRC meeting