I have two 77's both "compacts", 20" bbls 1:10 twists and very light weight. The .308 is a early '70's push feed and the '80's .223 is a MKII control feed. The MKII is a problem in that it is not as accurate as I'd like. I liked the .308 so much that when I saw the .223 on the shelf I just bought it.
My only other .223 is a 1885 Browning LoWall which is a tack driver with WW748 so I tried out with 50-55 Vmax in the MKII and **** I only got 1.5 to 2.5" groups at 100 yards. MY LoWall will do 1/2 " at the same distance, same loads.
Now I did try ladder loading & OAL tests in the MKII and got about the same accuracy limit with it. Thinking about it, It's only fired maybe 200-300 rds so Is it not 'broken in yet"?
Last night I went out and inventoried my powders and found I had accumulated a mess of powders suitable for .223, IMR and H-4198, some Accurate 2015 that I bought during the powder shortages, Reloader 10, and a few shot canisters of ww748, H-414 and some H322. I've never tried the A2015 so maybe it or the R10 would help the MKII do better.
I don't shoot cast in my .22's so this is about J-words, sorry.
Am I just too picky or will a light short bbl shoot as good as the Browning tapered octagon 24"?
Hoping that the Covid will relent soon here so I can get to the range again.