fast .223 loads.

[jhalcott]

I tried some of the loads I am working on with the .223. In the contender 14" barrel I got near 2800 FPS today. Groups were in the 2 inch plus range at 50 yards though. 225415 mold (49 grain linotype) hornady gas checks sized .224" in a Lee push thru sizer. LLA then Teflon tape,2 wraps. 26.5 27 and 27.5 grains of WW 748 and Rem BR primers. I would get 2 shots under an inch then a wide one . This happened at each powder level. the 27.5 grain load shot the best average of 3 ,3 shot groups .Still near 2 inches though. I patched the bore between groups ,but did not find any leading. I fired a 6 shot group at 100 yards using 2 of each powder charge. NOT a good sign! some of them MISSED a 2 foot x2 foot square. I am not sure if I was the problem or the load is not stable.

[adam38654]

That velocity is not that high for such a light bullet but im suprised you don't have any leading. Do you have gas checks?

[JeffinNZ]

I have had good results in my Rem 700 with the 225462 bullet over 26gr W748 for 2600fps. Oven heat treated clip on wheel weight, BHN 30, sized .226 - now that's the difference. I think you could be sizing too small. I am getting sub 2 MOA at 100m; actually closer to 1.5 MOA.

I have the 225415 too and have yet to push it that hard but it should perform.

[jhalcott]

Adam, yes ,hornady's and Teflon tape over LLA
Jeff, you may be correct,but the Lee sizer came with the mold. The gun is a 14" TC Contender with a 7x scope. I cleaned it several times to remove any/all copper traces before shooting any cast thru it. I tried a few with out sizing and got decent results but at much lower speeds. I did get a lot more "soot" from this can of 748 than the last one. I WAS shooting jacketed with that though! I did take a few shots at a 2inch balloon full of water at 100 yards. I missed it twice (close) and the 3rd time was the charm.