223 rem + .223 ai cartridge guide

8/14/2019 .223 Rem + .223 AI Cartridge Guide

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223 Rem + 223 AI Cartridge GuideThe popular .223 Rem and Ackley version for Sport, Defense, and Hunting.223 Rem AR15 rifle, 223 Remington, 5.56x45 222 reloading, shooting, hunting rifles. 224 223 Rem bullets, 223 Rem ammo

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.223 Remington--Centerfire Favorite

The .223 Remington is the most widely-used centerfire rifle cartridge in the developedworld. In its 5.56x45 military form, it is the primary issue ammunition for the U.S. Military andNATO forces. It is a popular sporting cartridge, and probably the most commonly used centerfirevarmint cartridge. In our Readers' Poll, the .223 Rem (both standard and improved) ranked firstamong preferred varmint rounds. The .223 Rem is efficient and versatile. It can sling 40-grainerspast 3650 fps, and deliver 90gr VLDs accurately at 1000 yards. Its parent case, the .222Remington, was once a mainstay of benchrest competition. Today, with custom match bullets, the.223 Remington can still deliver impressive accuracy, shooting well under quarter-MOA in a goodrifle.

.223 Remington Cartridge History

The .223 Rem traces its roots to the .222 Remington, a round popular with benchrest and varmintshooters in the 1950s. When the US military was looking for a new high-speed small-caliber roundto replace the .308 Winchester (7.62x51), Remington started with the .222 Remington, andstretched it to increase powder capacity by about 20% in 1958 to make the .222 RemingtonMagnum. The cartridge was not accepted by the military, but it was introduced commercially. In1964, the 5.56x45 mm, also based on a stretched .222 Rem case (and very similar to the .222Rem Magnum), was adopted along with the new M-16 rifle. As with the .222 Rem Magnum, thenew military case achieved enhanced velocity (over the .222 Rem) by increasing case capacitywith a longer body section and shorter neck. This military modification of the .222 Rem wasoriginally called the .222 Special but was later renamed the .223 Remington. In military metricnomenclature, the round is called the 5.56x45. For the full history of the 5.56x45 cartridge, readthe5.56x45 Timeline,by Daniel Watters.

Source for Name-Brand Factory.223 Rem Ammo: LuckyGunner.com
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.223 Remington vs. 5.56x45--Chambering and Throat ConsiderationsIs the .223 Remington the same as the 5.56x45? The answer is yes and no. There AREdifferences between the .223 Remington as shot in civilian rifles and the 5.56x45 in military use.While the external cartridge dimensions are essentially the same, the .223 Remington is built toSAAMI specs, rated to 50,000 CUP max pressure, and normally has a shorter throat. The 5.56x45is built to NATO specs, rated to 60,000 CUP max pressure, and has a longer throat, optimized toshoot long bullets. That said, there are various .223 Remington match chambers, including theWylde chamber, that feature longer throats. Military 5.56x45 brass often, but not always, hasthicker internal construction, and slightly less capacity than commercial .223 Rem brass.

Should you be worried about shooting 5.56x45 milspec ammo in a .223 Remington? The answerreally depends on your chamber. 5.56 x45 ammo is intended for chambers with longer throats. Ifyou shoot hot 5.56x45 ammo in short-throated SAAMI-spec chambers you can encounterpressure issues. The new long-throated 'Wylde' chamber allows safe use of military ammo. Wyldechambers are quite common in Rock River guns. Other manufacturers, such as Fulton Armory,offer modified "match chambers" with extended throats that allow safe use of 5.56x45 ammo in.223 Remington rifles. For a complete discussion of the .223 Rem vs. 5.56x45 question, read thisTech Noticefrom Winchester, and thisGunZone Commentaryby Dean Speir. Without belaboring

the point, we'll repeat the official SAAMI position: "Chambers for military rifles have a differentthroat configuration than chambers for sporting firearms which, together with the full metal jacketof the military projectile, may account for the higher pressures which result when militaryammunition is fired in a sporting chamber. SAAMI recommends that a firearm be fired only withthe cartridge for which it is specifically chambered by the manufacturer."

Twist RatesThe .223 Rem shoots a wide range of bullets very effectively, from 35gr flat-based varmintbullets, to ultra-long 90gr VLDs. However, you'll need the right twist rate for your choice ofbullet. For max velocity and accuracy with the lightest bullets, a 1:14" twist may be ideal.More versatile is a 1:12" twist that will allow you to shoot the popular 60-64 grain match bullets.(However, a 1:9" twist is needed for the steel-core 62gr bullet used in the M855 military loads,because that bullet is as long as most 70-grainers.) For normal lead-core jacketed bullets, a 1:9"twist will let you shoot up to 73gr bullets. Since most .223 Rem shooters prefer bullets in the 50-73gr range, a good "do-it-all" solution is a 9-twist, unless you're a Highpower competitor.

For long-range match purposes, long, high-BC bullets are favored for their ability to buck the wind.You'll want at least a 1:8" twist to shoot the 77gr and 80gr MatchKings and 80gr Bergers. Toshoot the new 90gr pills, a 1:6.5" is recommended, though a true 1:7" will work in most conditions.
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Overall, what twist rate is best? For varminting we like a 12-twist. The slower twist will give you abit more velocity, and minimize the risk of jacket failure at high rpms. For general use, an 8-twistbarrel will let you shoot the excellent 77gr and 80gr Sierra MatchKings and nearly all varieties ofnon-tracer milsurp ammo. We'd only select a 1:7" or faster twist barrel if we had a need to shootthe 90gr VLDs.

Barrel Twist Rate 1:14" 1:12" 1:9" 1:8" 1:7" or 1:6.5"

Max Bullet Weight 55gr FB 65gr FB 73gr BT 80gr BT 90gr BT VLD

Acknowledgements: Big thanks to Andy ("Graymist") for his load data and many hours spent measuring brass,to Jason for providing some cool photos, and to Sierra Bullets, for making its .223 Rem load data available.

Berger, Sierra, and Hornady also provided bullet samples.

Loading for the .223 Remington Cartridge

General Reloading AdviceThere are no special tricks to reloading the .223 Remington cartridge. Use the samemethods and tools you would use for other centerfire cartridges. With anything other thanLapua brass, we recommend you debur the flash hole. Sort by weight if you are loading forcompetition. Trim the brass to a uniform length and chamfer the case mouth inside and out. Welike to use a 28-degree chamfering tool from Sinclair Int'l or Hollands for the inside chamfering,and a 45-degree Forster tool for the outside chamfering. Powder, primer, and bullet selection is

discussed in separate sections below. For dies, Forster, Hornady, and Redding sizers and seatersare all good. For shooters who prefer neck-sizing, theLee Collet Dieproduces very straight ammowith low run-out. To learn more about advanced case prep techniques, read Preparing Cases forLong-Range Accuracyby Jacob Gottfredson.

Reloading for AR15s and other .223 Rem Gas Guns With their multiple bolt lugs and rapid locking/unlocking, AR15s are more sensitive topressure and bolt thrust issues than stout, modern custom bolt actions. There is also ariskof slam-firesin AR15s. Therefore, some high-end loads that may work in a BAT, Barnard, Bordenor Stiller bolt action will be too hot for an AR15. This is why Sierra issues a completely separateload map for AR15s chambered in .223 Rem and 5.56x45 (see notes above on 5.56x45 throatlength concerns). We recommend the you initially reduce loads at least 0.7 grains for an AR15compared to a bolt action, and never exceed the powder manufacturers' recommended loads.

Click on the button at right to download Sierra's latest .223 Rem loads for the AR15.

With bolt-action rifles, if you shoot a moderate load, just neck-sizing the brass is a viablealternative for a few loading cycles, though eventually you'll have to run the cases through a bodydie or full-length sizing die. However, with an AR15, we strongly recommend you full-lengthsize your cases every time. With proper dies, this does not over-stress the brass or lessen theuseful life. For full-length sizing where you need control over neck tension, we recommend theRedding Type 'S' full-length bushing die. If you reload the same brand of brass all the time,another solution is to use aForster full-length diewith the neck honed to give your desired necktension. Forster will hone its dies to your specification for about $12.00 plus shipping.

High-Volume Reloading for Varminters

by Graymist

Although I enjoy reloading, I would rather spend time hunting. The .223 Rem can benefit from allthe case prep tricks, but good accurate .223 Rem varmint ammo has few secrets. Inexpensivehunting ammo can be assembled from once-fired military brass, your choice of 40-55 grain bulletsand most small rifle primers. Important if you are going to use military brass is to remove theprimer crimp. I have used both reamers and swagers. I prefer the Dillon primer pocket swager forease of use. For the prairie dog hunter using military brass you can swage 300+ cases an hourwith the Dillon tool. [Editor's NOTE: If you use new IMG (Guatemalan) milsurp brass, $89/1000fromWideners,no crimp removal is required.] Aside from the primer pocket swaging, full-lengthsizing is another step I do. Here a Dillon or Wilson case gauge will help determine how much
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will have to reduce the load if your new batch of brass has less capacity.

For varminters looking to acquire large numbers of cases at low cost there are some real bargainsto be had.Widenershas NEW Guatemalan brass for just $89 per 1000 cases. This is good stuff,made on U.S. OLIN machinery exported to Latin America.MidwayUSAnow offers Federal LakeCity brass (item 197849) at $81.99 per 500. That works out to just $16.40 per hundred. Shootersreport this brass is very uniform and shoots exceptionally well. Note, this is a discontinued itemsoreturns can only be made to Federal, not Midway. AndScharch Mfg.offers fully processed militarybrass (mostly Lake City), for $88.99 per thousand. This is once-fired brass has been reamed,cleaned, sized and trimmed to 1.75".

.223 Rem Case Weight vs. Capacity

Case Manufacturer Case Weight* H20 Capacity**

Lake City 06 92.0 30.6

WCC99 95.5 30.5

Sellier & Belloit 92.3 30.5

Remington 92.3 30.4

PMC 93.5 30.4

Hirtenberger 93.7 30.4

Lake City 04 93.0 30.4Federal 96.3 30.2

Hornady 93.9 30.1

IMG (Guatemalan) 95.4 30.1

Lapua (new lot) 93.4 30.1

Winchester 93.9 30.1

Olympic 97.4 30.0

Radway Arsenal 96.1 30.0

PMP 104.5 29.9

FNM 93-1 97.3 29.8

Lapua (old lot) 104.0 28.0

.223 AI Case Capacities

Lapua (old lot) 103.4 30.9

Winchester 95.5 32.2

Lapua (new lot) 93.4 32.4

Lake City 02 93.0 32.5

* Average case weight of sized, deprimed, oncfired brass (except new Lapua lot). Weight is

average of sample lot.

** Case capacity of three sample cases thatweighed closest to the average weight of that

brand. All cases were full-length sized andtrimmed to 1.750". A spent primer was inserte

in the primer pocket, the case weighed. Then thcases filled with distilled water to the top of the

case mouth and weighed again.

.
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PowdersThe .223 Remington is a reloader's dream. Not finicky, it shoots well with a wide variety ofpowders, both extruded (stick) and granular (ball). Ask a dozen .223 shooters and you'll probablyget a dozen different powder recommendations. For the lighter bullets, H335 ball powder is aproven performer, and N133 shows outstanding accuracy. For 55gr to 60gr bullets, Benchmark,TAC, H4895, and AA2015 are excellent choices. For the 69gr and 77gr SMK, Sierra recommendsVV N540 and N140 respectively. Finally, for the heaviest bullets, in the 80-90gr range, goodchoices include Reloader 15, VV N140, N550, and Varget. But there are many other goodcombinations. If you need a single, do-it-all powder for your .223 Rem loads, H4895, AA 2015,

and TAC are all versatile and cost-effective. If you're loading with a progressive press, you'll findthat ball powders such as H335, BLC-2, and TAC meter best.

Bullet Weight 35-50gr 50-60gr 60-70gr 70-80gr

Recommended

Powders

H335, N133,

RL10X

AA 2015, Benchmark,

H335, H4895, TAC

AA 2520,

N540, Varget

Varget, Reloader

15, N140, N550

PrimersThe .223 Remington uses a Small Rifle primer. In a bolt gun you'll get good resultsfrom all the major brands: CCI, Federal, Remington, Winchester. The Rem 7 1/2s work very wellwith both stick and ball powders. Benchresters have shown a bias towards the Federal 205M(match), but in our informal testing, the CCI BR4s shot just as well as the Federals, while the CCIsdelivered lower ES/SD with some powders. In fact, we've found that the "plain Jane" CCI 400swere closely matched with the much more expensive BR4s. Both can deliver good accuracy withlow ES and SD. (Currently, atPowder Valley,CCI 400s cost $19.00 per thousand, while CCIBR4s cost $29.50 per thousand.) Some primers do seem to work better with particularpowder/bullet combinations, so it's wise to do your own testing, and you may want to test CCI400s vs. CCI BR4s head to head. You may find that the cheaper CCI 400s work just as well asthe pricey BR4s in your gun.

For use in semi-automatics and AR15s, we advise that you stick to CCI and Remington primers.These brands have harder cups and are much less likely to pierce primers. Also, the AR15 has afree-floating firing pin that dents the primer on loading. This creates a risk ofslam fires.So youwant hard primer cups. The latest generation of Winchester primers, with brass-colored cups,should be avoided for AR15 use. The old silver Winchester primers worked fine, but the currentWSRs are soft and can be pierced more easily than CCI or Rem primers. A poll of Highpowercompetitors (mostly shooting ARs) showed that Rem 7 1/2 primers are the most popular(33.23%), followed by CCIs (25.78%). The majority of CCI users favored the CCI BR4s, but bothCCI 400s (small rifle standard) and CCI 450s (small rifle magnum) were also popular. Only10.25% of Highpower shooters polled used Federal primers (either 205M or 205). At the time ofthe poll, many shooters reported using WSRs, but this was the older version with silver cups. SeeNationalMatch.uswebsite for complete poll results.

For maximum protection against primer piercing and slam-fires, CCI also markets the#41 militaryprimer.Possessing a very hard cup, with decreased sensitivity, #41 primers are designed to resistslam fires in rifles lacking firing pin retraction springs. In a bolt-gun or semi-auto AR-15, it is notnecessary to use #41 military primers. But this is an appropriate option for some militaryapplications.

Bullet Choices for the .223 Remington and .223 AI
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The bullets used in the .223 Rem and .223 AI will be.224 diameter. The selection of .224 bullets is huge,likely bested only by the number of 30-caliber bulletsavailable. On the light end, one can find nearly frangiblebullets that almost vaporize when they hit the dirt, yetcan withstand whatever velocity (and RPMs) thecartridge can throw at it. In this range you have thecomposite-core 36gr "Varmint Grenade" from Barnes,and the 40gr V-Max and BlitzKing offerings. These workvery well on varmint sized critters as well, and usuallydon't exit. Check out thisHigh-Speed Video Clipof a"Varmint Grenade" exploding upon impact as it hits agrape at 4344 fps. Barnes explains: "Originallydeveloped for military applications, the bullet's copper-tincomposite core is highly frangible. The new FB, hollow-cavity bullet remains intact at ultra-high velocities, yetfragments explosively on impact--it virtually vaporizesground squirrels and prairie dogs. The bullet blows upcompletely at high speed, creating little or no exit woundon larger animals."

For a standard "hunting" bullet, Sierra offers its 65grGame King, and Nosler its 60gr Partition, and Barneshas its Triple-Shock" X-Bullet in 53, 62, and 70grweights. The 70-grainer has good penetrating ability onmedium-size game, but it does requires a 1:8" or fastertwist to stabilize.

Match BulletsFor close-range competition (100-300 yards) one can find a large variety of 50-53gn Matchbullets, both custom made and commercial. The Sierra 52gr BTMK is a popular "short-line" loadwith Highpower shooters. Custom 52s in .224 caliber are offered by the benchrest bullet-makers,such asBart Sauter,Lester Bruno,andDon Gentner.Lester also makes a very accurate 57.We've had very good luck with Bergers in the 50-65gr range. Berger offers a panoply of options,with Berger FB bullets offered in 50, 52, 55, 60, 62, and 64-grain weights. This wide selection letsyou literally "pick your BC", from .241 for the 50, to .306 for the 64 grainer. If you're looking for do-it-all bullet that can shoot bugholes on paper and also perform in the varmint field, these Bergerswill fit the bill.
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Mid-Range (300-600 yard) BulletsFor the mid-range match shooters there are even moreoptions available in the 68-80gr weight range--many illustrated on this page. Check out the69gr Lapua Scenar (.321 BC), 75 A-Max (.435 BC), and Berger 75gr VLD (.447 BC). Someguys have asked us: "Please don't tell people about the 75 A-Max. Right now these are supercheap, and they shoot like a house on fire." The A-Maxs are indeed a major bargain. MidsouthShooters Supplysells the75gr A-Maxfor just $13.79/100, and the 80gr A-Max for $14.92/100.Sweet deal.

Long-Range Match BulletsThe 77gr and 80gr Sierra MatchKing are probably the"default" 22-Cal bullet choices among long-range Highpower shooters today, but we haveheard many good reports about the 80gr A-Max and the 75gr and 80gr Berger Match VLDs.If you're shooting an 8-twist barrel at long range, you should try all the options and see whatshoots best in your barrel. The new 90-grainers from Sierra and Berger caused a stir whenintroduced in 2006, but we haven't heard many reports from shooters using them in competition,possibly because one needs a very fast twist barrel (1:6.5" is preferred), and the 80s alreadyshoot so well. Robert Whitley tells us he rarely sees a 22-caliber shooter using anything heavierthan an 80 in prone and Highpower matches. But that may change as more competitors acquirefaster-twist barrels.

Chart based on max velocities (by bullet type) in Sierra Bullets' Load Manual for bolt-action .223 Remingtons.

Commercial .223 Rem Ammo--New and Remanufactured

There is a vast array of new and re-manufactured factory ammo available, with bullets rangingfrom 35gr up to 80gr. For match purposes, the top three choices are Black Hills, Federal GoldMedal Match, and Lapua. For price and quality, it is hard to beat the Black Hills. David Tubbnotes: "Even though I normally had my own competitive ammo, on those occasions where I amrequired to shoot factory ammunition, I always try to pick the best. In my opinion Black Hills isunsurpassed." Black Hills sells a full line of .223 ammunition, including long-range match ammoloaded with 75gr HP, and 77 Sierra MK. Dennis DeMille won the 2003 National Service RifleChampionship shooting 77gr Black Hills ammo.
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Black Hills also offers a wide range ofRemanufactured Ammo,in bullet weights from 36 grains to77 grains. Black Hills' reloads employ quality components and shoot nearly as well as the brandnew ammo. You'll find good prices on Black Hills remanufactured ammo atCreedmoor Sports,andMidwayUSA.com.For example, Creedmoor Sports offers the remanufactured Black Hills with77gr SMKs for $26.55 for 50 rounds. That's less than half the cost of new .223 Federal GoldMedal Match, which runs about $19 for 20 rounds.

For Varminters, Black Hills offers the following selection of remanufactured ammo:

Bullet 36 Vrmt Grenade 40 V-Max 50 V-Max 52 HP match 55 SoftPt 60 Nosler 60 V-Ma

Velocity 3750 fps 3600 fps 3300 fps 3250 fps 3200 fps 3100 fps 3100 fp

Lapuaalso offers excellent new ammo loaded with 55gr FMJ, 55gr SP, or 70gr HPBT matchbullets. This is very good stuff (with the best .223 Rem brass available) but the 70 grainers arerelatively expensive at $26.99 per box of 20 rounds fromGrafs.com.

.223 Rem Ackley Improved--More Speed, More Power

Why the AI?Some shooters own a half-dozen .223s and they just want to trysomething different. That natural curiousity can be reason enough to try a .223 Rem AckleyImproved. But there are also three very logical (and quantifiable) reasons to go with thischambering.

Reason Number Oneis Speed. Depending on the powder, brass, and barrel length, theAckley version of the .223 Remington will, typically, deliver from 100 to 140 fps more speedwith any given bullet. (Light bullets gain more.) That makes a difference, particularly forvarminters looking for a flatter trajectory and more explosive effect on target.

Likewise, long-range shooters will benefit from improved ballistics. The AI's greater casecapacity will let you run a given bullet faster, or let you step up to a heavier bullet with betterBC.

Reason Number Twois Brass Stability. The .223 Rem AI has a 40 shoulder. Once the casesare properly fire-formed, the steeper shoulder resists case growth. You'll find the AI brass isextremely stable and you won't have to trim the cases as often. Many .223 AI shooters alsofind they can reload the case many times before full-length sizing is required.

Reason Number Threeis Availability of Components. Compared to other "hot rod" casessuch as the 22 Dasher or 22 PPC, .223 brass is cheap and plentiful. You can buy new IMG(Guatemalan) brass fromWidenersfor $89 per 1000 cases.Top Brass(Scharch Mfg.) offers
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fully processed, once-fired Lake City military brass for the same $89/1000. And many shootersalready have an ample supply of .223 Rem commercial brass. Rather than let that old .223brass languish--Ackleyize it.

How Much Extra Powder Capacity Will I Get?The .223 Remington is a compact case, with relatively limited case capacity. Ackleyizing thecase adds roughly 7-8% to the capacity. The exact amount of the increase in case capacitydepends on your brass and the reamer used to cut the chamber, but the range is between 2.2

grains and 2.8 grains. It's reasonable to figure you'll gain about 2.5 grains extra capacity.

What About Dies?The .223 Rem AI is the most popular of the Ackleyized cartridges. Hence a wide selection ofdies is available. Redding, RCBS and Lee all sell .223 Rem AI (40 shoulder) sizing andseating dies. Wilson also makes inline seater dies and neck-sizing dies for use with arborpresses. Our current favorite set-up would be a Redding Type "S" full-length bushing diecombined with a Wilson seater. While it's a good idea to have a full-length die (or body die),the stability of the .223 Rem AI case means that, if you avoid max loads, you can get by withjust neck-sizing your brass for a few reloading cycles. This is one of the advantage of theAckleyized case.

The inexpensive Lee dies work fine. Graymist reports: "Lee Pacesetter 223 AI dies were

purchased through Midway for less than $26.00. The brass only has to fit in [my one 223 AIrifle], so unlike the 223 Remington brass I am only partially sizing the neck of the case. Runouthas been under .002" with the Lee dies. I recently had a friend run a 223 AI reamer in aForster 223 Remington seating sleeve so I could use a Forster Ultra Seater die. The only realadvantage with the Forster seating die is I can use the micrometer adjustment when seatingdifferent bullets."

Where Can I Find 223 AI Load Data?Apart fromGraymist's .223 AI page,andReloaders' Nest,there is limited online loadinfo for the .223 Rem AI. Sierra plans to add a .223 AI section to its reloading manual,but that is still months away. Jason Baney has acquired a .223 Rem AI and we will be addingdata to this page over time. But until all that info arrives, it's best to start with .223 Rem loadsand work up. Since the .223 Rem AI only has about 8% more capacity than the parent case,

the best thing to do is to start with a known, good load for the .223 Remington and thenwork up your AI load incrementally.With the light bullets and a fast powder such as H335,you'll probably use about 1.5 grains more powder in the Ackley case. But this is only aguideline. Since .223 Rem brass varies up to 2.6 grains in internal capacity from oneheadstamp to another, you'll have to work out your own best AI loads incrementally.

What is the Best Method to Fire-Form the Cases?Fire-forming .223 AI brass is very easy compared to some of the other Ackleyized wildcats.This is because the overall geometry doesn't change very dramatically other than the shoulderangle. You're not blowing the shoulder forward into the neck. Graymist simply loads a stoutcharge of H335 with 40gr V-Maxs: "Fireforming was straight forward. Put the 223 cartridge inthe rifle and pull the trigger. None of the complications I had when forming other AckleyImproved cartridges. I lost no cases when fireforming. Fireforming loads are superbly

accurate, so don't waste them on punching paper. Form your brass while you hunt." JasonBaney, to save on barrel wear (and bullet costs), is fireforming using pistol powder andcornmeal: "Try some Bullseye powder along with cornmeal and a patch to give you 95%+formed cases. In my testing, I used 8 grains of Bullseye, topped with 12 grains of cornmeal(you have to settle it a little bit to fit it all in), with half a .22 caliber (1/2" x1") patch stuffed in theneck to secure the charge. This will give you a mostly AI-formed case with no bullet. Theshoulders will not be as sharp as a case that has been 2-times-fired with a full-house load, butin my opinion, the cornmeal-forming procedure will help get to a true 'Ackley' load sooner.NOTE: Though there is no bullet, the cornmeal charge is still very dangerous--use the sameprecautions you would employ with normal ammunition. Likewise, use hearing protection."
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What Brass Should I Use?You can get excellent results with many different brands--Lapua, Lake City, Hornady,Winchester, and IMG to name a few. But Graymist did an interesting comparison test in his.223 AI, comparing Lapua with Winchester: "After fire forming, I recorded four groups with theLapua brass. The average group size was .293". (Individual groups ran .221", .366", .389" and.195"). The .293" average Lapua group size is about .197" smaller than the average of the sixbest groups fired previously in this rifle using Winchester brass." How does the Lapua brasshold up over time? "After six firings the Lapua primer pockets remained tight, bolt closure was

still easy, and no cases exceeded the 1.760" maximum case length. (Most of the Lapua cases,when formed, measured 1.750"). At $40.00 per 100, Lapua .223 Rem brass is two times moreexpensive than Winchester or Remington but it represents a substantial improvement in loadconsistency in my .223 AI. I will acquire more. It might also be noted that current lots of Lapua223 brass are 10 grains lighter (with 2.1 grains more capacity) than the brass I used in thistest."

.223 Remington ARs for the VARMINT FIELDS

AR15 and the .223 RemingtonThe combination of the .223 Remington and a scoped, heavy-barrel AR15 are a varmint'sworst nightmare. A skilled shooter with an accurized AR can make quick work of a dog-town.The low-recoil, high-velocity .223 Rem cartridge, in a platform that allows immediate follow-upshots, is hard to beat as an efficient varmint eradicator. The AR's modular design permits youto easily change barrels by just pulling a couple of pins and swapping uppers. The AR isdurable and relatively impervious to wet and cold. A vast inventory of accessories is availablefor it. Here's what our readers have to say about the AR in .223 Rem:

"I had a Colt Accurized Rifle that I used for groundhogs, called fox and an occasionalcoyote. The only change made to the rifle was a trigger job and a Harris bipod. It would put55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips into a 1/2" circle faster than I could point and shoot. [I used]once-fired Lake City brass at couple cents a piece.... I really enjoyed that rifle--it was aboutas accurate as any production rifle I've owned--it wouldn't quite keep up with the Coopersbut the second round was a whole lot faster."--Gunamonth

"I think the AR is theperfect varmint gun. If I were limited to only one gun and one gunforever it would be the AR. I shoot a lot of prairie dogs--while my friends with fancy singleshots are trying to load another round, I will have four or five dogs down. Fast second shotscount when you are shooting small dogs in the wind. Plus I can buy [quality] .223 ammo to

shoot dogs, no reloading. The best thing about an AR is the fast follow-up shot. By the timeyou have reloaded a bolt rig for the second shot, the dog is long gone. "--ChuckW2

"The only bad thing about hunting with the AR-15 is that the hunts tend to be shorter, asthe animals die so much faster!"--Lance in Oregon

"When I was shooting so many prairie dogs, I had a custom AR built by Bill Wylde, his workis superb. I had a heavy Hart 28" barrel installed on a Colt action with a custom set trigger.I could agg five 5-shot groups in the .285 area in a 9-twist. When shooting prairie dogs, Ifound that I simply wiped out the dogs in the areas that I was hunting in. My rifle weighed


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15.5 lbs. with the heavy bbl, bird shot in the butt, and a heavy, flat plate on the forearm. Itwas simply a joy to shoot. I got rid of it because it was not fair for my hunting partner. Whenwe would roll up on a dog town, the prairie dogs seemed to be feeding in groups. I wouldstart off on the edge of the 'party' of dogs and work my way to the other side, killing most ofthem. I was shooting a round off every 6-8 seconds when working on a 'party' of dogs.Shooting the AR on a prarie dog town reminded me of the use of the Sharps rifle on aBuffalo herd...you just kill them all." --K. Candler

Outfitting the Ultimate AR Varminter

Out of the box, a standard AR15 is far from optimal for varminting. Right off the bat,you'll want to upgrade the trigger and fit a metal or carbon free-float tube. (These are availablein either round or box section). A custom heavy barrel is a must for a serious varmint rifle--itadds accuracy and won't overheat as quickly.

For most of us, when shooting from a bench or prone with a big scope, the standard AR stockis too short--it's hard to get correct eye relief and still keep the butt on your shoulder.Moreover, the standard buttstock isn't well suited for use in a rear sandbag (it has too muchdrop), and the rear sling swivel is a hindrance. We suggest you fit a buttstock with a straightsection on the bottom to ride a rear sandbag, and adjustable length. The Magpul PRS

(Precision Rifle Stock) offers both these features, plus an adjustable cheekpiece.

Mounting large scopes on an AR can be problematic. Many varmint shooters usescopes with up to 30X max magnification. Most of these scopes need to be positionedpretty far forward to allow proper eye relief. You'll need a way to get that front ring outwell ahead of the receiver. Here's a picture of Larry Medler's AR. Note how far forward thescope is positioned to give proper eye relief.

A good AR varmint rifle will benefit from an extended scope rail that will allow you tomove the whole scope forward. You can either use a cantilevered front mount such asthe LaRue or an extended scope rail, such as the A.R.M.S. rail or the GG&G GS-1 unitshown at right. The GS-1 puts the scope far enough forward to allow proper eye relief withoutusing long butt extensions that stretch the length of pull.

Larry Medler also uses a metal plate attached to the float tube. This makes the whole rigmuch more stable when using a pedestal front rest. The plate can mount directly to thefloat tube or it can be attached to an accessory rail. It's relatively easy to build your ownplate from aluminum or delrin. A set-up like this works well for F-Class competition as well asvarminting.

Last but not least, you'll want to some kind of brass-catching system to keep yourvaluable brass out of the weeds. There are both rigid and fabric brass catchers for theAR family of rifles. We like this simple mesh bag with a zipper at the bottom. It attacheswith Velcro fasteners and costs less than $15.00 atCheaperThanDirt.com.

AR15 Gear Sources

ArmaliteBushmasterColt Mfg.DPMS

Fulton ArmoryLaRue TacticalMagPulRock River Arms

Great Factory Varmint Rifles in .223 Remington
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Cooper Arms'Montana Varminteris available in both .223 Remington, and .223 Remington AI,using a single-shot Cooper m21 action with Sako-style extractor. This handsome rifle featuresa vented forearm to aid in barrel cooling. All Montana Varminters have AA Claro Walnutstocks. Like all Cooper centerfire rifles, a Montana Varminter in .223 Remington or .223 RemAI is guaranteed to deliver 1/2" 3-shot groups at 100 yards using hand-loaded ammunition.MSRP for the Montana Varminter is $1459.00, while the basic Varminter costs $1198.00.

TheModel 700 VSSF-IIrepresents one of the most capable rifles in Remington's inventory. Aspin-polished stainless action is mated to a quality H-S Precision composite stock with analuminum bedding block. The textured stock is colored black with green webbing and featuresa contoured beavertail fore-end with ambidextrous finger grooves, and twin front swivel studsto accommodate both a sling and a bipod. As a crowning touch, the flutes on the 26" barrel are

finished in matte black. Suggested retail for the VSSF-II is $1284.00, with street price around$1000.00 in .223 Rem.

Long-favored by serious varminters, theSavage 12-BVSSis ready-to-run right out of the box.With a strong, pillar-bedded laminated stock, and fluted 26" heavy barrel in 1:9" twist, the

single-shot 12-BVSS can often deliver 1/2-MOA groups with tuned handloads and can easilyshoot under 1 MOA with factory ammo. The crisp, AccuTrigger" can be adjusted down toabout 1.5 pounds, so all you really need is to skim-bed the action and add a scope and you'reready for the varmint fields. MSRP for the 10-pound BVSS is $746.00, with street price under$630.00.
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TheHowa 1500 Varminter Supremeis an excellent rifle for the price. You can often find thelaminated Howa varminters for under $600.00 (MSRP is $711.00). The Varmint Supremefeatures a sturdy and very comfortable laminated stock with vent holes for barrel cooling. Theaction is strong and smooth, and the barrels are probably a bit better, on average, than you'llget from Remington.

.223 Remington and .223 AI Load Map

Powder Grains Primer Bullet Velocity Comments

H322 25.3Rem7.5

40 SierraBlitzK

3200fps

Sierra's Accuracy Load for AR15s. Try 28.4 grH335 for 3500 fps.

Benchmark 25.5 WSR50

V-Max3307fps

Loads great in a Dillon. Used last summer tohunt prairie dogs.

H4895 26.5 WSR50

V-Max3341fps

Graymist's favorite 50gr load. Has worked inevery 223 he has owned. Also work with Nosle

BT and Sierra BlitzKing.

Reloader10X

23.5 WSR50

V-Max3127fps

A great load with a new powder. Close to bookmax.

VV N133 26.2CCIBR4

50 SpeerTNT

3398fps

Vihtavuori MAX load for BOLT GUN, 2.244"COAL. Very Accurate.

Win 748 26.5Rem7.5

52 SierraBT MK

3000fps

Reliable, moderate pressure AR15 "short line"load for service rifle comps.

H335 25.5 WSR53 Sierra

HPFB3153fps

A good practical BOLT GUN load. Loads greain the Dillon.

VV N133 23.5 Rem7.5 53 SierraFB MK 2900fps Sierra "Accuracy Load" for AR15s.

BLC-2 27.5CCI400

55 SpeerSP

3313fps

Hodgdon MAX load for BOLT GUN. Metersgreat.

AA 2015 23.2Rem7.5

60 SierraFBHP

3000fps

Sierra "Accuracy Load" for BOLT GUNS.

H4895 25.0Fed

205M60 V-Max

3008fps

Graymist's favorite 60gr AR15 load. SuperAccurate. Good choice for groundhogs.

VV N540 26.2CCI400

69 LapuaScenar

3179fps

Vihtavuori's MAX load for BOLT GUN. Start at24.2.

AA 2520 26.0Rem7.5

69 SierraMK

3000fps

AR-friendly load. Very Accurate. Watch forpowder lot variations though.

H4895 24.5Rem7.5

75 JLKVLD

2905fps

Hodgdon MAX load for BOLT GUN. Too hot foAR15.

Reloader15

24.1Rem7.5

77 SierraMK

2600fps

Close to a "standard" load for AR15 long rangematches. You can substitute 23.9 Varget.

VV N140 23.5Rem7.5

80 SierraMK

2550fps

Sierra MAX "Accuracy Load" for AR15s. RL15 good for 2600+

Varget 24.4Rem7.5

80 SierraMK

2800fps

Sierra "Accuracy Load" for BOLT GUNS.

.223 Remington Ackley Improved Loads Below -- DO NOT USE in Standard Case
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H335 28.0 WSR40

V-Max3737fps

Graymist's fire-forming load.

H335 29.2Rem7.5

40 NoslerBT

3840fps

Graymist's 40gr Varmint Load.

H4895 28.0Rem7.5

50V-Max

3517fps

Graymist's 50gr Varmint Load.

Reloader

10

23.5Rem

7.5

50

V-Max

3374

fps

Graymist's fire-forming load.

Reloader10

24.0Rem7.5

50V-Max

3374fps

Graymist's Accuracy Load in formed brass.

N133 26.0Fed

205M52 FBHP

3350fps

Very accurate seated just into lands.

N140 25.5CCIBR4

75 A-Max2938fps

Very Accurate. In LC brass, shoots in twos at100; .47" in Savage at 200 yds.

IMR 4895 24.5CCIBR4

75 A-Max2911fps

Techshooter Load. Groups 0.6" at 200 yds in27" Savage PacNor, LC Brass.

WW 748 25.0CCIBR4

Berger 80VLD

2843fps

Techshooter Load. Groups 0.7" at 200 yds in27" Savage PacNor, LC Brass.

WARNING: With all loads, ALWAYS START 10% LOW and work up incrementally. Factory Reloading Data

Full Guide|.223 RemAccurate Arms (.pdf files)

Alliant Powder Hodgdon Powder IMR PowderVihtavuori(.pdf file)

WARNING:ALWAYS start 10% below these loads and work up. Pressures can vary dramatically from one barrel to another.Seating depths have a huge effect on case pressures--moving the bullet just .015" one way or another can push a "safe"load into the danger zone. Powder lot variances can be extreme--you may have to adjust a full grain or more. Whenever youbuy new powder, even the same brand, start 10% low. NEVER assume pressures will be safe if you change lots or ANYcomponent. Case web growth is probably the most reliable indicator of over-charge. By the time you're getting stiff bolt liftor ejector marks with fresh brass you've exceeded proper pressure levels. Ambient temperatures can alter pressuresconsiderably. Don't assume cold weather loads are safe in summer. As you approach max loads, reduce the loadincrements. Just 0.2 grains can make a difference.

Comparative Ballistics (Drop from 100yd Zero, Drift in 10 mph Crosswind)

Cartridge Bullet Vel FPS 300yd Drop/Drift 600yd Drop/Drift 1000yd Drop/Drif

.223 Rem 80gr Sierra MK 2900 11.79" | 6.71" 82.31" | 30.34" 348.23" | 100.52"

.223 AI 80gr Sierra MK 2990 10.85" | 6.36" 76.37" | 28.84" 323.65" | 96.13"

22 BR 80gr Sierra MK 3150 9.43" | 5.96" 67.54" | 26.83" 285.01" | 88.83"

22-250 80gr Sierra MK 3200 9.02" | 5.87" 64.96" | 26.21" 274.13" | 87.71"

6mm BR 105 Berger VLD 2920 10.91" | 5.08" 73.33" | 22.35" 286.0" | 71.14"

.243 Win 115 DTAC 3120 8.97" | 4.24" 60.82" | 18.25" 232.3" | 57.0"

Drop and Wind-Drift calculated with Point-Blank Software for 70 F temp, and 1000' altitude.BCs were 0.420 for 80 SMK, 0.535 for Berger 105 VLD, 0.585 for 115 DTAC.
http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/Accurate%203-1.pdfhttp://www.accuratepowder.com/data/Accurate%203-1.pdfhttp://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Rifle/Standarddata(Rifle)/22Cal(5.56mm)/223%20Remington%20pages%20185%20to%20187.pdfhttp://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Rifle/Standarddata(Rifle)/22Cal(5.56mm)/223%20Remington%20pages%20185%20to%20187.pdfhttp://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Rifle/Standarddata(Rifle)/22Cal(5.56mm)/223%20Remington%20pages%20185%20to%20187.pdfhttp://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipeList.aspx?gauge=&gtypeid=2&title=Centerfire%20Loadhttp://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipeList.aspx?gauge=&gtypeid=2&title=Centerfire%20Loadhttp://www.hodgdon.com/data/rifle/223rem.phphttp://www.hodgdon.com/data/rifle/223rem.phphttp://www.imrpowder.com/data/rifle/223rem-2005mar28.phphttp://www.imrpowder.com/data/rifle/223rem-2005mar28.phphttp://www.lapua.com/fileadmin/user_upload/esitteet/RifleReloadingData2006.pdfhttp://www.lapua.com/fileadmin/user_upload/esitteet/RifleReloadingData2006.pdfhttp://www.lapua.com/fileadmin/user_upload/esitteet/RifleReloadingData2006.pdfhttp://www.imrpowder.com/data/rifle/223rem-2005mar28.phphttp://www.hodgdon.com/data/rifle/223rem.phphttp://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipeList.aspx?gauge=&gtypeid=2&title=Centerfire%20Loadhttp://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Rifle/Standarddata(Rifle)/22Cal(5.56mm)/223%20Remington%20pages%20185%20to%20187.pdfhttp://www.accuratepowder.com/data/Accurate%203-1.pdf


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Other .223 Rem Internet Resources

.223 Remington,Gunners' Den Cartridge history, specs, ballistics, general info.

.223 Rem Cartridge,The Reload Bench Cartridge history plus recommended bullets and powder

.223 Rem Load Charts,Reloaders Nest 445 loads for bullets 30 to 80 grains.223AI dataalso.

.223 Rem Ackley Improved,by Graymist .223 Rem AI load data and brass tests.

.223 Remington Page,by Graymist .223 Rem load data for ARs and bolt guns.

5.56 v. 223 Rem,by Dean SpeerDiscussion of SAMMI specs and variances in pressureratings and chamber properties.

223 Rem Factory vs. Handloads,AccurateReloading.com

Factory 55gr ammo reloaded with H4895 and NoslerBTs. Average group dropped from 1.01" to 0.384".

Slam Fires, Mags & SLEDs,by ClintMcKee, Fulton Armory

Explains risk of Slam Fires in AR15s.

The Heavy-Barreled AR-15Varmint/Target Rifle,by Jeff Quinn,GunBlast

Comparison Review of ArmaLite M-15A4(T), BushmasteVarminter, Doublestar, Rock River Varmint, DPMSPanther.

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Topics: .223 Remington, .223 Rem, 223, 223AI, 223 Ackley, .243 Ackley Improved, 5.56, 5.56 x45, 5.56mm, 5.56 NATO, .308,.308 Winchester, 308 Win, Reloading, Bullets, Lapua, Norma, Winchester, Remington, Speer, Hornady, TripleShock, X Bullet,

Partition, Nosler, Sierra, MatchKing, Blitz, BlitzKing, V-Max, Vmax, hollow point, boattail, boat-tail, BT, HPBT, powder, gunpowder,H414, Varget, H4350, H4831, H4831sc, IMR, IMR 4064, IMR 4350, H-1000, H-414, Vihtavuori, N135, N-135, N140, N-140, N-160,N165, N-165, N170, N-170, N560, N-560, brass, Load Map, Reloading Recipes, WLR, CCI Primer, CCI BR4, Federal Primer, Fed
http://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.223remington.htmlhttp://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.223remington.htmlhttp://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/223.htmlhttp://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/223.htmlhttp://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=18http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=18http://reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=98http://reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=98http://reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=98http://www.geocities.com/graymist44/ackley223.htmlhttp://www.geocities.com/graymist44/ackley223.htmlhttp://www.geocities.com/graymist44/Rem223.htmlhttp://www.geocities.com/graymist44/Rem223.htmlhttp://www.thegunzone.com/556v223.htmlhttp://www.thegunzone.com/556v223.htmlhttp://www.accuratereloading.com/223comp.htmlhttp://www.accuratereloading.com/223comp.htmlhttp://www.fulton-armory.com/SlamFire2.htmhttp://www.fulton-armory.com/SlamFire2.htmhttp://www.gunblast.com/AR15_HBARs.htmhttp://www.gunblast.com/AR15_HBARs.htmhttp://www.gunblast.com/AR15_HBARs.htmhttp://www.gunblast.com/AR15_HBARs.htmhttp://www.gunblast.com/AR15_HBARs.htmhttp://www.fulton-armory.com/SlamFire2.htmhttp://www.accuratereloading.com/223comp.htmlhttp://www.thegunzone.com/556v223.htmlhttp://www.geocities.com/graymist44/Rem223.htmlhttp://www.geocities.com/graymist44/ackley223.htmlhttp://reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=98http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=18http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/223.htmlhttp://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.223remington.html


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210, 210m, Savage 12-BVSS, Savage LRPV, Accutrigger, Remington 700, VSSF, VSSF-II, Howa 1500, Varminter Supreme,factory .223.
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223 rem + .223 ai cartridge guide

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