223 load where to start

[Rocky Raab]

I also much prefer 50 grain bullets in the 223, but have had good results from 40 to 60 in various guns and with various loads.

I made my first trip of the year to my local range yesterday (it's closed in the winter). I put a few 223s downrange just to check the zero on my prairie dog gun. The load uses the 55 VMax over 23.0 of Accurate 2015 and WSR primers in mixed military cases. Not a load I carefully worked up - just picked it from the book and threw it together as a "sighter" load.

It shoots nice round groups that average .4"

I have two go-to loads that work in a lot of guns. Both use 50-grainers (Vmax or BlitzKing). Your choice of brass and primer. Try either 24.0 of H322 or 27.0 of 748. One or the other will sing.

Lately, I've been VERY impressed with Western Powders TAC. 26.0 under a 50-grainer might even outshoot 748. And it's MUCH cleaner and easier to clean out than H335!