223 ADI powder Help

[SpudLee]

Hi Guys
Been reading a lot of post about load data with the 223 55gr and looking on adi web site and the starting loads are all over the place, so are max loads.

Not sure where to start and finsh ...
wanted to load with AR2206H
Nosler Varmageddon FBHP 55gr
Sierra HPBT 55gr

Rifle
TIKKA T3X SUPER VARMINT
1 in 8 twist

thanks for any help

[No1Mk3]

G'day SpudLee,
What do you mean "all over the place"? They only show one set of start/finish daa for 55g with 2206H.

[bladeracer]

Hi Guys
Been reading a lot of post about load data with the 223 55gr and looking on adi web site and the starting loads are all over the place, so are max loads.

Not sure where to start and finsh ...
wanted to load with AR2206H
Nosler Varmageddon FBHP 55gr
Sierra HPBT 55gr

Rifle
TIKKA T3X SUPER VARMINT
1 in 8 twist

thanks for any help

Starting is easy, you'll likely end up around 25gn of AR2206H so start with 23.5 or so and see how it shoots.
Max loads will come down to your loading technique more than the powder charge, but you probably won't get much further than 27gn with a conventional copper-jacketed 55gn bullet before starting to see pressure signs. I don't know how long the Tikka throat is, but the Nosler bullet is fairly long from memory, which might restrict how much powder you can run before pressure signs.

Load data for monolithic copper or brass bullets will be different.

[animalpest]

Tikka magazines limit the seating of the bullet. Long pointy bullets means loading further from the lands in order to still feed properly. This will have a effect on pressures

[deanp100]

G'day SpudLee,
What do you mean "all over the place"? They only show one set of start/finish daa for 55g with 2206H.

I see what he means. They list 3 different brands of 55 gr projectiles and the min and max is very different for all of them.
A Barnes max load is 22.6 gr while a Speer starting load is 25 gr. . I can understand the confusion

[bladeracer]

G'day SpudLee,
What do you mean "all over the place"? They only show one set of start/finish daa for 55g with 2206H.

I see what he means. They list 3 different brands of 55 gr projectiles and the min and max is very different for all of them.
A Barnes max load is 22.6 gr while a Speer starting load is 25 gr. . I can understand the confusion

The Barnes is a copper bullet.

[deanp100]

G'day SpudLee,
What do you mean "all over the place"? They only show one set of start/finish daa for 55g with 2206H.

I see what he means. They list 3 different brands of 55 gr projectiles and the min and max is very different for all of them.
A Barnes max load is 22.6 gr while a Speer starting load is 25 gr. . I can understand the confusion

The Barnes is a copper bullet.

There will be a reason why, but there is a wide range . I can understand the issue.

[in2anity]

SpudLee, with the 55gr the limiting factor is case capacity, not pressure, so it's safe to go up to a full case of powder, which will be around 25gr (as already stipulated). Here's a couple of snaps for you from Quickload with your bullets:

55GRFBHPVARMAGEDDON

55GRFBHPVARMAGEDDON.png (102.67 KiB) Viewed 4766 times

55GRHPBTSIERRA

55GRHPBTSIERRA.png (103.29 KiB) Viewed 4766 times

To be safe, work up to this and watch the primers for pressure signs. But you won’t be too far North of 50kpsi. It's more the heavier bullets where the margin for error starts to narrow.

Down the track, you may like to try a heavier bullet, better suited to your 1:8" twist. You will likely still get decent accuracy with the 55gr, but technically the 1:8" is perfect for roughly a 70-80gr bullet.

Cheers,
In2.

[No1Mk3]

I don't understand the issue as each set of data pertains to a specific projectile, If your projectile is not listed use data for the nearest in construction that is listed like SPR SP for Varmageddon etc. They are all 55g and listed dtata will never exceed SAAMI. I can only assume Spudlee is new to reloading and is being confused by too much choice.

[boingk]

Hi mate, similar loading has seen me start at 24gn and settle at 24.5 after trying 25gn and seeing accuracy start to deteriorate.

Cheers - boingk

[deanp100]

I don't understand the issue as each set of data pertains to a specific projectile, If your projectile is not listed use data for the nearest in construction that is listed like SPR SP for Varmageddon etc. They are all 55g and listed dtata will never exceed SAAMI. I can only assume Spudlee is new to reloading and is being confused by too much choice.

I think that is the whole point. This is his first reloading attempt.

[SpudLee]

Thanks guys for the help... I loaded from 24gr up to 26gr in 2 gr jumps... only loaded the sierras because I had trouble with the noslers with them been flat based
Thanks again people

[bladeracer]

Thanks guys for the help... I loaded from 24gr up to 26gr in 2 gr jumps... only loaded the sierras because I had trouble with the noslers with them been flat based
Thanks again people

Are you chamfering the case mouths?

[SpudLee]

I did by hand probably not enough will try again with next reload

[bladeracer]

I did by hand probably not enough will try again with next reload

You need a good visible chamfer with bullets that have a sharp base edge, like bullets swaged from .22LR brass due to the thin brass.

[Oldbloke]

Don't stress. if you are a little conservative you cant go wrong. Just take the lowest load and increase in increments of say,,, 0.3 or 0.5 gr

The lightest load I could see was AR2208 22.8gr. I would just start at 22.8 and work up in 0.3 or 0.5 gr steps. watch for pressure signs.
The hottest load that I saw was 27.5 Compressed. I would be surprised if you didn't get an acceptably accurate load by about 25.5 gr

I am loading 23.8gr with a super roo 55gr.
P.S. the foxes don't care what the load is.

223 55 2.JPG (66.13 KiB) Viewed 4656 times

55 1.JPG (51.47 KiB) Viewed 4656 times

[Bello]

Hi mate
I am curious as to what the application for this projectile/load may be

[Oldbloke]

Thanks guys for the help... I loaded from 24gr up to 26gr in 2 gr jumps... only loaded the sierras because I had trouble with the noslers with them been flat based
Thanks again people

I just noticed. 2gr is a lot. IMO 0.5gr would be far better. And safer.

[No1_49er]

Whilst it's not usually a good idea to assume anything, I think it would be reasonable to surmise that what SpudLee intended was his increments were zero point 2.
24gr to 26gr would be one increment of two grains, which would (probably) be a nonsense.
Perhaps OP will confirm that he missed the decimal point?

[Oldbloke]

Hope so

[SpudLee]

Sorry guys it 0.2 gr jumps and the application for this projectile/load is for vermin/pest management...
Did first test yesterday
25.4gr = 0.472 in group
26gr =0.420in group
5 shot group at 100m
very happy with the results for my first time reloading...I am getting a f class chronograph and repeating those two to check speeds

[disco stu]

Very nice, well done.

[in2anity]

Take your pick. A cooler load is easier on the brass.

[Oldbloke]

What a grouse result. I would load
25.4gr = 0.472. Mild load and better than most can shoot in the field.