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  #1  
Old 01-05-2019, 08:04 PM
elalto elalto is offline
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Default 223 AI Favorite Loads?

Happy New Year All!!!

I am about to start loading for my new 223AI built on my Mini Mauser. I have a 1 in 9 twist on the 22" barrel and would like to know what are some good loads for 50 to 55 grain bullets.

Thanks,
Marcos (elalto)
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Old 01-05-2019, 08:23 PM
jholp jholp is offline
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Default 223 ai

My 223 AI built on a Remington 722 action, Pac-Nor barrel 26 inches long


3 shot groups went:

.251 using 28.3 grains of Varget, 53 grain V-Max, CCI BR-4 primer


.142 using 28.4 grains of Varget, 53 grain V-Max, CCI BR-4 primer


Now you know NOT to use these strait up, rather work up carefully from 10% below the above charges.

The 53 grain V-Max is very fragile and blows things up.


John
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Old 01-05-2019, 09:03 PM
elalto elalto is offline
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Thanks John,

I'm in California and will have to use non-lead bullets that are longer for weight so 50, 55, 60 grain lead bullets will be about the same length as a 40 to 50 grain non-lead.
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Old 01-06-2019, 01:27 PM
varmintshooter varmintshooter is offline
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Sorry I cant help you with lead free stuff. I can say that if your gun shoots anything like mine you will love it. At the range the other day I shot 50gr vmax (fireforming load), 65gr SGK and 75gr Amax. Without touching the scope all loads were able to hit a 3" gong @ 200 yds which is where I set my zero. 1" groups with 75 Amax's @200 yds. The gun is a pretty basic savage with a criterion 24" 8 twist heavy sporter contour barrel.
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  #5  
Old 01-06-2019, 04:08 PM
Bill K Bill K is offline
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Default 223AI favorite loads ?

Marcos: Just take the 223 rem loads and work up from there for your AI version. Work up on those loads for your rifle and you will find some with the lead free bullets that work accurately. Bill K
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  #6  
Old 01-08-2019, 02:01 AM
jepp22 jepp22 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elalto View Post
what are some good loads for 50 to 55 grain bullets.

Thanks,
Marcos (elalto)
Not the bullet weight you asked for, but one powder you need to be sure and try is CFE 223. I would have never tried this burn rate, but it was "the" powder to use in Cooper. So I tried it in my VS SF, and here are the results at 100 meters.

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  #7  
Old 01-08-2019, 02:49 AM
Bill K Bill K is offline
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Default 223AI favorite loads

Are those targets with CFE 223 or N133 as written on them ? But you are correct in that he needs to try CFE 223, it works great in my 20-223AI . Bill K
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  #8  
Old 01-11-2019, 02:15 AM
dungheap dungheap is offline
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My shooting partner and I tried an awful lot of different powder/bullet combinations in the .223AI, many of which would deliver groups under a half inch, but of all of them, I'd go to work with Benchmark first. Find the sweet spot with your particular rifle and it will put five in one ragged hole. I got some amazingly good groups with the Midsouth 55gr VNE HP bullets in that caliber. Hope that helps.
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