Longshot in small bores

[beagle]

A couple months ago, I was loading some .223 cast loads. I'd been playing with some Hodgdon Longshot and pretty well knew the burn rate. I loaded 20 figuring that wouldn't be too many to pull.

It shot great. Clean, good velocity and no pressure signs.

Things got busy and I didn't follow up on it until a couple of weeks of being laid up with a bad cold and at the loading bench instead of the range allowed me to load some test loads on some cast .22HPs for the .223 using Longshot.

Sunday, I tested 3 loads using Longshot and all three shot great. I'll do some further testing before I publish any loads but so far, that has been the best powder I've used for cast loads in the .223. By far, it produces the most consistent loads and that's the big bugaboo with .22 cast.

Anybody else fool with it in rifle loads yet./beagle

[felix]

I bet you are shooting circa 6 grains of Longshot, right? ... felix

[carpetman]

Beagle---My .223 is a Win Model 70. I dont know what the twist rate is off the top of my head. What .223 are you using and what is the twist rate? The bullet I tried is the 58 grain RCBS. If you dont have that bullet and would like to try some,let me know----drop me an E and give me your snail mail addy. I have tried Unique,748 and IMR 4227, all with dismal results. That gun shoots jacketed approaching Starmetal groups.

[StarMetal]

Carpetman

Which Model 70 Winchester 223 do you have? I have the varminter in that model. I'm not a big Winchester bolt gun fan, but I'm happy with mine. The best it shoots is with the match Hornady 53 hollowpoint and some 4895 powder. It clocks at an even 3300 fps over my chono and that's out of a 26 inch barrel. The group is 1/2 inch and NOT ONE RAGGED HOLE hahahahaha. Tell me abour your rifle. I believe the twist on these are 12.

Joe

[carpetman]

Starmetal---My Win Mod 70 is a Westerner. From 1960-1963 they made a Westerner in 264 mag and 300 win mag----this aint it. This Westerner model was made in early 80's. The Blue Book gives slight variations of things concerning Winchesters but made no mention of this Westerner. I contacted the folks at Blue Book and in turn received phone call from them. They told me it would be in the next book. I bought the book and it wasnt there. I quit buying their book and haven't seen one since the 22nd Edition---so don't know if it has finally been included or not. Anyways this model has a hardwood stock--not walnut--probablt beech. It does not have the hinged floorplate. A cheaper version I'm sure. But I hope so rare worth a fortune. Maven has one in .243. I did shoot a one hole ragged group one time with it.

[beagle]

felix...

225462HP 52.3 grains Longshot 8.0 grains 2201 FPS 14.9SD Sized .2255 WSR primer.

Goes in to less than an inch at 100 yards. I also shot some 225415HPs and some 22-55-SPHPs and they ran right at an inch.

What amazed me was these loads were more consistent than I've been getting from other powders. Think I might be on to something here./beagle

[StarMetal]

Well Ray, if it shoots like that, that's all that matters. You got a good one.

Joe

[felix]

I've been getting the same results with N105, a BlueDot speed, at 9 grains in the 222 ackley bench gun. The reason I suggested 6 grains is because this Longshot appears to be a double based 4756. By your 8 grains, Longshot appears to be a slow lot of 4756, which would be slightly slower than Herco, but still faster than BlueDot. I'll see if I can get some Longshot and verify your results. Might have to rely on our mutual mailing system to get some. Maybe Sundog can find some in Tulsa. ... felix

[beagle]

Felix..... The alternate mailing system is running the NE right now. I'm down to maybe 300 grains in the can I have so I'm looking too.

Blue Dot's burning pretty good in these loads as is Unique. Been a while since I tried any and it burns pretty good.

At 8.0 grains of Longshot with that low SD, looks like I'm milking it for about all it's worth.

Try some of those 225353s I sent you a while back over 4.0 grains of Red Dot and a 3/8 X 3/8 dacron wad. Gives you about 1620 FPS and 1.5" accuracy at 100 yards. I was surprised with a PB bullet like that.

I picked up a 225438 DC not long ago. Didn't notice but someone had shaved the GC shanks off giving me about a 40 grain PB bullet. I intend to try them with the Red Dot load./beagle

[Maven]

Ray, Slight correction: The Model 70 "Westerner" (ca. 1982) is a .30-06, has a walnut stock and is accurate when fed what it likes. The .243Win. is a Ruger #1, also very accurate.

[Bullshop Junior]

I am using 11.0gn in the 223 and am not getting leading. I am not sure how fast they are going. never chronograghed it. I do know that I am getting excellent accuracy! at 50 yards I am getting 1/2 inch groups, and at 200 in a hard wind 2 inch groups. I am probably going to load some tonight, and chronograph them tomorrow. will try to post the speeds some time.

DANIEL/BULL SHOP JUNIOR

[beagle]

BSJr....Chronograph those when you get a change and post the results.

I'm shooting a bunch of lightweight .22 cast right now in the .223....225438 and 225107s.

The powders that I've been using for heavier .22 cast like the solid 22-55-SP and the 225646 aren't burning as clean with the lightweights and HP versions despite the 5 and 10 grain weight differences.

We need to think this thing through and use faster burn powders on the lightweights such as Unique, Blue Dot and Longshot.

They seem to be giving me much better results in burning and accuracy./beagle


I am using 11.0gn in the 223 and am not getting leading. I am not sure how fast they are going. never chronograghed it. I do know that I am getting excellent accuracy! at 50 yards I am getting 1/2 inch groups, and at 200 in a hard wind 2 inch groups. I am probably going to load some tonight, and chronograph them tomorrow. will try to post the speeds some time.

DANIEL/BULL SHOP JUNIOR