Rokslide Special 223 recipe

[Vern400]

What is your new load?

23 grains of benchmark, 2.260 OAL. F205.
65, 68, 69 grain bullets all work really good. That data was with 69 smk.

 

[willfrye027]

I’m shooting the American bullet company 75gr BTHP which I believe are the hornady bthp in my tikka. Over lever, starline brass. 2820fps.

 

[chrsclnngr]

Disclaimer, I'm not an authority on anything, I'm relaying what I did. If you copy me and end up with a rifle bolt lodged in your zygomatic arch, well you should not have copied a fool.

Rifle is a Tikka with 16.5 inch barrel.

For anyone curious, Accurate 2495 sucks. I could not find load data specific to a 77 gr TMK, but a 77 SMK is 22.6 gr (from what I found on another forum, not a load manual). This powder is supposedly close to H4895, which has a listed max of 22.6 gr with 77 gr Sierra BTHPs. So, I loaded it to 22 gr for 10 rounds. No signs of pressure, load is very lightly compressed with setting 77 TMKs to mag length. Using Fed 205 primers, Starline brass.

This gave me a 1.99 inch group (at 100 yards) with an average velocity of 2382 fps.

For comparison, using the same components, 22 gr of N135 (a full gr below book max), gives me velocities of 2554 fps and sub 1.2 inch groups.

To check, I shot a confirming group with 8 target rounds loaded with 75 gr RMR bullets. My 30 round group with these was 1.66 inches. The confirming group was 1.36 inches.

Too bad, I can easily get AA2495 locally and have trouble finding other single base extruded powders for the 223.

AA2495 is probably not my powder of choice but I loaded a Hornady 75g BTHP on top of 24.5g of AA2495: avg velocity 2864. This is a compressed load, coal 2.26, out of a 22.5” barrel. I would think that you should/could get more velocity, out of your 16.5” setup, than you are with AA2495.

Initial testing had some pressure signs, over 100 degree temperature outside. 5 round group below.

Follow up testing showed no pressure signs, outside temps in the high 80’s. 30 round group below.

 

[Marbles]

AA2495 is probably not my powder of choice but I loaded a Hornady 75g BTHP on top of 24.5g of AA2495: avg velocity 2864. This is a compressed load, coal 2.26, out of a 22.5” barrel. I would think that you should/could get more velocity, out of your 16.5” setup, than you are with AA2495.

Initial testing had some pressure signs, over 100 degree temperature outside. 5 round group below.

Follow up testing showed no pressure signs, outside temps in the high 80’s. 30 round group below.

Perhaps, but I'm not going to mess with it. VV N135 and N150 both give good velocity and shoot better in my rifle, as well as burning cleaner.

I also got pretty low velocity from H4895, so have to wonder if the pressure curve of those two powders work better with longer barrels.

I burned up the pound of AA2495 for target practice. The H4895 is being used for low velocity loads.

 

[Stocky]

My quick load from yesterday was
Shitty G.F.L brass with off centre flash holes from factory Fiocchi 50 Vmax, 55 SP, and 55 Vmax loads.
Quick trim and chamfer (mostly to help feeding)
Max book load of 24.5grains ADI 2206H (H4895)
75 ELD M @ 2.425" COAL

Gave me 2855FPS out of my 18" barrel and 1.13" for 15 shots.

 

[Poe]

Sorry to jump in on this but I just purchased a tikka t3x varmint .223 that I am going to load some 73gr eldm’s in. I have 8 lbs of varget on hand that I am hoping to use but I’m not sure if I will have to compress my loads to much. Not getting top end velocities isn’t a game changer but I was curious if anyone else has tried this powder and bullet combo and what kind of velocity numbers I can expect

 

[Stocky]

Sorry to jump in on this but I just purchased a tikka t3x varmint .223 that I am going to load some 73gr eldm’s in. I have 8 lbs of varget on hand that I am hoping to use but I’m not sure if I will have to compress my loads to much. Not getting top end velocities isn’t a game changer but I was curious if anyone else has tried this powder and bullet combo and what kind of velocity numbers I can expect

Hornady data says 2800fps at a max charge of 24.6grains for 5.56 data.

Or ADI says a 75JLK is 2900fps at 25grains (compressed) max charge at 223 pressures with 2208 (this is varget ADI produce it for Hodgdon)
And show a start load of 22.5grains not being compressed.

Data – Rifle

Whenever practicable, avoid loading to maximum possible velocity. Safety Data Sheets include all information relating to product composition, safety, handling and storage.

www.adiworldclass.com.au

For reference my 75 eld load matchs ADI data in an 18" Tikka for H4895 loads.

 

[Poe]

Hornady data says 2800fps at a max charge of 24.6grains for 5.56 data.

Or ADI says a 75JLK is 2900fps at 25grains (compressed) max charge at 223 pressures with 2208 (this is varget ADI produce it for Hodgdon)
And show a start load of 22.5grains not being compressed.

Data – Rifle

Whenever practicable, avoid loading to maximum possible velocity. Safety Data Sheets include all information relating to product composition, safety, handling and storage.

www.adiworldclass.com.au

For reference my 75 eld load matchs ADI data in an 18" Tikka for H4895 loads.

Perfect thank you.

 

[sveltri]

Sorry to jump in on this but I just purchased a tikka t3x varmint .223 that I am going to load some 73gr eldm’s in. I have 8 lbs of varget on hand that I am hoping to use but I’m not sure if I will have to compress my loads to much. Not getting top end velocities isn’t a game changer but I was curious if anyone else has tried this powder and bullet combo and what kind of velocity numbers I can expect

I'm running 24.6 Varget and 73 ELD-m at 2.250 in Hornady multi fired brass. Its a little crunchy, velocity is 2860ish. I'm going to try to re-create the load with Starline brass which I'm sure will require a reduction in charge weight. And also some creative powder consolidation techniques.

 

[Poe]

Well I loaded up a few rounds last night and tried them out today. 73gr eldm some cheap leftover brass that I had from a different project and some Varget and a COAL of 2.260 only 3 round groups so far but 24gr looks promising so I will load up 10 or 20 more and see if it’s repeatable and run some over the chronograph

 

[TimberHunter]

Well I loaded up a few rounds last night and tried them out today. 73gr eldm some cheap leftover brass that I had from a different project and some Varget and a COAL of 2.260 only 3 round groups so far but 24gr looks promising so I will load up 10 or 20 more and see if it’s repeatable and run some over the chronograph

If you overlaid those target on each other, you’d see that they are all in the same general spot.

Honestly wouldn’t worry about which one shoots the best as they all impacted the same location on the target so they are essentially one group.

Keep in mind that 3 shot groups illustrate very little on how a bullet/powder/rifle works together.

There’s a thread about making reloading super simple, basically just find pressure, back down a bit and shoot 10 rounds. If group is not good change by a full grain of powder and if still not good, change powder or bullet


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Poe]

If you overlaid those target on each other, you’d see that they are all in the same general spot.

Honestly wouldn’t worry about which one shoots the best as they all impacted the same location on the target so they are essentially one group.

Keep in mind that 3 shot groups illustrate very little on how a bullet/powder/rifle works together.

There’s a thread about making reloading super simple, basically just find pressure, back down a bit and shoot 10 rounds. If group is not good change by a full grain of powder and if still not good, change powder or bullet


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That’s an interesting way to do it. I have been shooting 3 round groups at various powder charges looking for a node. If I have a load that shows promise I then move to a 10 shot group. I used to load atleast 5 rounds at each charge weight but I figured if 3 rounds don’t group to my liking putting 2 more holes in it won’t change my mind

 

[WestTN2288]

Perhaps, but I'm not going to mess with it. VV N135 and N150 both give good velocity and shoot better in my rifle, as well as burning cleaner.

I also got pretty low velocity from H4895, so have to wonder if the pressure curve of those two powders work better with longer barrels.

I burned up the pound of AA2495 for target practice. The H4895 is being used for low velocity loads.

Kind of on the same note, I’ve been looking at the jugs of n150 and 550 in my stash wondering if I could make something with them. Anybody have velocity/charge weights for any of the mag length 73/75/77s with these?

 

[Marbles]

Kind of on the same note, I’ve been looking at the jugs of n150 and 550 in my stash wondering if I could make something with them. Anybody have velocity/charge weights for any of the mag length 73/75/77s with these?

24.5 gr N150 under a mag length 77 TMK is slightly compressed and gives me no trouble in a factory Tikka barrel. 25.5 needs a drop tube and tapping the case, but fits (this was listed as max for N140, so I was treating it as max for the slower N150). It was over pressure in my Tikka 223 chamber. It might work well in a Wyld or 5.56 chamber.

VV has some load data for N150 in 223 free in their app.

 

[TheCougar]

That’s an interesting way to do it. I have been shooting 3 round groups at various powder charges looking for a node. If I have a load that shows promise I then move to a 10 shot group. I used to load atleast 5 rounds at each charge weight but I figured if 3 rounds don’t group to my liking putting 2 more holes in it won’t change my mind

I don’t think 3 round groups show much of anything. There are numerous threads about it, but getting up to a 10 round group starts to be statistically relevant.

 

[fshaw]

I traded that gun for a super varmint and reworked the load, new load is better. Crunchy 24.6 Varget at 2.250

Thank you.

 

[hunterjmj]

Cougar, how did your rifle shoot with your recipe? It's possible I missed your post.

I'm gathering supplies for a rifle I have yet to buy. So far I have 500 77tmk's on the way, 3lbs of N140, cci400, and 100 count of Norma brass. I grabbed a box of 73 eldm's as well. Still have dies and comparators to order. Will post back here with results here in a couple weeks.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I don’t think 3 round groups show much of anything. There are numerous threads about it, but getting up to a 10 round group starts to be statistically relevant.

3rd groups on their own show little. 3rd groups using the same type of point of aim so you can generally overlay them tells you something more useful. Realistically he has a 12shot group on that target spanning 1.1gr of powder charge that all shot well as an aggregate within 1 square. I find that statistically relevant during load development.

I’d use that data to confidently load up 10+ rounds in the 24-24.3 range to validate now.

If he had a single good 3shot or their point of impacts varied relative to each other then I agree it’s not very useful.

 

[TheCougar]

Cougar, how did your rifle shoot with your recipe? It's possible I missed your post.

I'm gathering supplies for a rifle I have yet to buy. So far I have 500 77tmk's on the way, 3lbs of N140, cci400, and 100 count of Norma brass. I grabbed a box of 73 eldm's as well. Still have dies and comparators to order. Will post back here with results here in a couple weeks.

Shamefully, I haven’t reloaded yet. I ran out of time and money to buy the equipment. I found that Hornady Black that shoots 75BTHP less than 1.2 MOA and it’s cheap, so I’ve been shooting that until I actually start reloading.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Shamefully, I haven’t reloaded yet. I ran out of time and money to buy the equipment. I found that Hornady Black that shoots 75BTHP less than 1.2 MOA and it’s cheap, so I’ve been shooting that until I actually start reloading.

The ADI 55gr blitz king shot respectably in my 223 so I'm initially using that and to develop a brass supply, folks say its decent/good brass. I have everything on hand to reload otherwise already including some 53gr vmax, 73gr eldm, 75gr bthp. Everything but time. Winter project.