Accuracy loads for 5.56

[joebush]

I have reloaded some 5.56 since I starting shooting and the accuracy of hand loads versus factory "training" ammo is pretty significant. What are some of your favorite combinations for best hunting accuracy? Praire Dog loads? Coyote? I have been using 55gr Hornady Soft points over a dipped load of 4895 and so far have been very happy with it, just punching paper so far but I hope to get in a hog hunt sometime soon, though for hogs I will probably be carrying my 6x6.8.

[jspencer]

I'm running 60gr V-Max's on top of 24gr of Benchmark if I remember correctly. I'm also shooting the 50gr V-Max with 24.5gr of Benchmark

[blopez50]

I shoot the 60 vmax with 26gr Varget.

[GLSHOOTER]

My current PD load for my 24" BHW X-Factor

IMR 8208 CHARGE: 25.8
BULLET : ZMAX WEIGHT : 50
MAKER : HORNADY PRIMER : WWSR
OAL: 2.258 CM: 1.457
CHAMBER/SIZING:
FIREARM : BHW 223 VELOCITY: 3251
LOADED : 6-14-12

Not terribly fast and AA2200 would boost it somewhat but it was one I found quickly and it did kill them well at around 325 or so.

Greg

[blackriflereviews]

50 or 60g Vmax over 24.5g of H4895 with Fed 205's make one heck of a group. it's my go to load in gas guns

[Deleted]

For a classic accuracy loads look into the 69SMK mild loads with Varget (Sierra's website)
For fast loads look into the 50gr vmax and W748 with CCI450 primers.
For long range given you have the twist the 75gr Amax with Varget for a 24"barrel.
All with very accurate and clean loads.

[GLSHOOTER]

Dec 11, 2012 15:07:44 GMT -8 @sergiomartinez said:

For a classic accuracy loads look into the 69SMK mild loads with Varget (Sierra's website)
For fast loads look into the 50gr vmax and W748 with CCI450 primers.
For long range given you have the twist the 75gr Amax with Varget for a 24"barrel.
All with very accurate and clean loads.

Good advice. I would also look at H4895 as an alternative that is less tempearture sensitive than the 748.

Greg

[Deleted]

Thanks.
Loads 1 and 3 are loads that win matches to this day.
Load 2 is done using a super consistent bullet with a military based ball powder from St Marks. If you use CFE 223 (also from st Marks) is almost the same.
It doesn't get more impervious to weather than that, specially varget. All very clean too.

[Deleted]

My only .223 load for p-dogs to coyotes is 27.5g W748 behind the 50g vmax.. Very accurate and nice small groups at the range.
Col is 2.280" in my bolt guns.

[slosqueezin]

My most accurate loads for <55 gr Sierra or Speer are with H 4895 in my experience. Doesn't matter what gun. A bit faster but not as accurate is H 335. I've always had problems making 748 work for me.
If the H 335 got me a 1" group, the H 4895 would come in at 3/4" or less. I haven't had the chance to try the 69 gr Noslers yet, keep hearing good things abour Varget for speed / accuracy with heavier bullets.

[dozer]

26.0 Varget and 69 SMK has worked well in every 223 I've tried it in. 24.0 Varget and 75 OTM is good also. Lately been working with CFE and 53 VMax. All barrels are 1-9 or faster.

[mkrouse]

Thanks. Very useful thread. I just started reloading and am still in the "afraid to screw it up" phase. Some mistakes are very unforgiving.

[texcl]

I've been using 21grs of AR-Comp under a 77gr mk bullet and have had great results. Varget seem to be accurate in close to max loads in my 18" spr with just about any bullet from 50grs to 77grs. I have yet to try a load that didn't shoot better than about MOA at 100 yards and have been getting 1/2" grouping pretty regularly. AR-Comp seems to be more sensitive and likes loads closer to 10% under max, but AR-Comp is much cleaner shooting leaving very little fouling. As soon as this blizzard passes I'll get back out and test more loads.