Reloading for Bushmaster Varminter AR-15 .223

[jasonprox700]

I recently purchased a Bushmaster Varminter AR-15 .223. I was wondering about a good load to start out with. I plan on using either 50 or 55 Grain V-max bullets.

[Jeff]

26 grains W748
remington 7 1/2 benchrest primer
remington case
nosler 55 gr ballistic tip

This is an excellent load.
Works in all bushmaster varminters
can ajust powder a little to tighten groups but be careful going up
I seat bullets so they just fit in clip unsure on length off the top of my head. if you email me i can get exact number. have found no difference in accuracy by changing seating depths in my varminter as I have found in my other rifles

[Tom W]

You might want to check out the twist rate in your barrel. The tighter twists work well with heavier (longer) bullets. I'm experimenting now with a new barrel that has a 1:8 twist that shoots the 69g bullets much better than the 55g bullets. Something to think about.

Tom W.

[Jeff]

The new varminter has a 1 in 9 twist rate.

[sammyd95]

i like 25grs. of imr 3031 for varmits...and 23 grs. for target shooting ,,both are extreemly accurate!in my colt MT6700,20" barrel.

[Mark]

A really good starting place is the little 53 gr Hornady flat base hollow point match bullet, and H335 powder. Use a standard small rifle primer. Separate your cases by brand.

I've yet to see a .223 that this little Hornady won't shoot out of. With a 1 in 9 twist, you should be very happy.
Mark

[marchboom]

Using other shooter's load info can be dangerous. I have never told anyone what powder charge I use as they may not use the same components or loading techniques as I do and this may result in a load that produces too much pressure IN YOUR GUN. Every gun is different and responds differently to a given load.

Consult at least 3 good loading manuals and you'll find a safe starting load for a powder that another shooter has recommended. This is where you should start out and watch for pressure signs during your load testing. Ignore the powder charge weight other shooters have recommended. Go ahead and use whatever powder they suggested but do your own testing to see what works best IN YOU GUN.

And don't forget, temperature, humidity, altitude, etc can also affect your shooting.

Take care,

John

[mjonz]

With an AR-15, a wise choice in powders to start out with is W748. It is highly accurate and feeds through a powder measure nicely. You will more likely find accurate loads at 25 gr.(+/-). 55 gr. bullets are a good choice for speed and accuracy .I use Rem. 7 1/2 primers and Winchester shells. Seat your bullets a couple billionths inside of the magazines.
Good literature is going to be your best bet.Hornady,Nosler,Hodgdon are excellent. Be careful, most literature is for 1-12 or 1-14 barrels. Book max loads should be appraoched cautiously.
69+ gr. bullets work well at the range,But not in the field. Most need to be seated out so far they are hand-loaded one at a time (exceeding magazine length).

[Beowulf]

My load of choice for my AR varmit is... AA2260 about 25.5 grains, Nosler 69 grn. HP match(cheap to shoot) and a Winchester primer and cases.

[The Norseman]

The following .223 Rem reloads are what I’m using or trying.
The Reloads are under MAXIMUM load.
I sighted in at 25 meters. I have not had a chance to try 100 yards yet.

Varmint load .223 Rem; Bullet: Hornady 50 gr. Moly V-Max Boat Tail # 22613
Powder: IMR 4198, 20.5 grs. Primer: CCI Small Rifle 400 primer.
.223 Cartridges are Remington Nickel-plated brass.
Velocity 3200 – 3500. Groups easily within a nickel at 25M.
(Easily groups within a dime at 100yds with my Rem Model 7 S/S synthetic,
Leupold VXII 4 – 12 power A/O) and (HS AR15, 16”Bbl, 1-9”Twist)

Varmint load .223 Rem; Bullet: Hornady 50 gr. V-Max Boat Tail # 22261
Powder: Winchester 748, 26.7 grs. Primer: CCI Small Rifle 400 primer.
.223 Cartridges are plain Federal brass.
Velocity: 3000 Groups within a dime at 25M. Haven’t tried a 100 yards yet.
(HS AR15, 16”Bbl, 1-9”Twist)

Deer load .223 Rem; Bullet: Sierra 55 gr. Spitzer Boat Tail #1365
Powder: IMR 4198, 20 – 20.5 grs. Primer: CCI Small Rifle 400 primer.
.223 Cartridges are Remington brass.
Velocity 3200 – 3500. Groups within a dime at 25M. 50M appeared to be about
6 inches high?
(HS AR15, 16”Bbl, 1-9”Twist)

New Deer load .223 Rem…..Currently experimenting
Bullet: 65gr Sierra GameKing, 22 cal, .224 dia, Spitzer Boat Tail,
(7" - 10" TWIST BBLS. ONLY) Sierra catalog # 1395
Powder: Hodgdon Varget 24.0 grs.
Primer: CCI Small Rifle 400 primer.
Cartridges: .223 Remington R-P brass (trimmed to 1.75). OAL: 2.258-2.259”
Velocity: 2515 (average) Chornigraphed
30yds, dime size group POI 2-1 / 2” high.
100yds (last 5 rounds), didn’t even hit the target.
Ballistic Calculator; POI 5-1 / 4 high at 100yds
(HS AR15, 16”Bbl, 1-9”Twist)

Plinking/Varmint Load…..Currently experimenting
Bullet: 55gr Hornady Spitzer Flat bottom, #2265
Powder: 22.5grs IMR 3031 (got from a friend)
Primer: CCI Small Rifle 400 primer.
Cartridges: .223 Remington; Federal brass (trimmed to 1.75). OAL: 2.240”
Velocity: 2650 (average) Chornigraphed
Not accurate; 30yds, POI 2-1 / 2” and 1-1 / 2” (like it’s roaming)
(HS AR15, 16”Bbl, 1-9”Twist)

Work great in my High Standard AR15 Carbine, all above reloads functioned
without any problems through the HS AR15 Carbine.
All reloads were clean burning. Barrel looked clean when viewed through the
chamber or muzzle. Bolt Carrier Assembly had the usual carbon build up,
nothing out of the ordinary.

When reloading always research the load that you want to use. Refer only to reliable
reloading manuals. Follow instructions to the word. Start well below the MAX.
10% below MAX is a good rule of thumb (or first published load on the chart in the
reloading manual).

[The Norseman]

Range Report: (second reloading) for new .223 Rem. Deer Load…..Fri 16Nov07
Increased to 24.5 grs; Hodgdon Varget.

65gr Sierra # 1395 / Varget 24.5 grs. / CCI 400 / R-P brass / OAL:2.250”
Velocity: 2601fps (average)(Chornigraphed)

No pressure signs; Primers still rounded, chambered well, ejected well.
Shells Catcher used.

30yds, readjusted for POI low 1-1 / 2”. Dime size two hole group.
100yds; didn’t get a chance to try.
Ran a Ballistic Calculator; 30yd POI -1.34”, right on at 100yds (hopefully).

Reload started from below.

Tried a new Reload (suggested to try a heavier bullet for deer).
New Deer load .223 Rem
Bullet: 65gr Sierra GameKing, 22 cal, .224 dia, Spitzer Boat Tail,
(7" - 10" TWIST BBLS. ONLY) Sierra catalog # 1395
Powder: Hodgdon Varget 24.0 grs.
Primer: CCI Small Rifle 400 primer.
Cartridges: .223 Remington R-P brass (trimmed to 1.75). OAL: 2.258-2.259”
Velocity: 2515 (average)(Chornigraphed)
No pressure signs; Primers well rounded, ejected well. Shells Catcher used.

Rifle: High Standard AR15 Model HSTX6551 Flat Top Carbine.
.223 Remington / 5.56mm NATO cartridge.
Barrel is the bull barrel type, 16 inches long, marked “5.56 NATO 1 - 9”.
There are 6 rifle grooves, with right hand twist.
Sights: Ultra Dot 30mm optic sight, 2-1 / 2” c/c above the bore.
Trigger: Timney AR15 4# Skeleton Trigger, Item #664-S, Small Pin .154.

Thank you for reading my on going Range Report.

[Beowulf]

OOPs the right number for the AA powder is 2460

[sammyd95]

As always use cation when reloading !
I have a colt MT-6700 20" barrel
I use 23grs IMR 3031 ,cci small rifle primer 55gr fmjbt,and various cases,seemes to work very well !
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