Looking for 223 loads

[dovehunter]

My Sierra manual must not be too up to date. It doesn't list the 65 gr. Game King nor any loads for Varget powder. However it does show loads for their 63 gr. semi-pointed bullet for IMR-4198 powder: starting load is 18.5 gr. @ 2600 f/s and the maximum load is 20.2 gr. @ 2700 f/s. Based on my manual it doesn't appear that IMR-4198 is that good of a powder for the .223. Most of my manuals show IMR-3031 as giving the highest velocities (or nearly so) before reaching maximum pressures. Using that same bullet and 3031 (from the Sierrra manual) the starting load is 20.6 gr. @ 2600 f/s and the maximum load is 22.7 gr. @ 2900 f/s.

Since I have IMR-3031 and a supply of Sierra's 52 gr. HPBT Match bullets on hand, that's what I am going to try initially for the .223 rifle I just bought. It shoots great with factory Federal Premium loads which use the Sierra 55 gr. HPBT Game King bullets.