loads for contender .223

M

madcatter

New member
i just got one and i am interested inany loads that yous have shot good from the 223.i am planning on shooting a 55gr.i also have alot of h380 powder to burn but i won't waste time if it hasnt worked for yous.
i will hunt groundhogs and other small critters out to 200 yards
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I'm shooting 40gr V-Max bullets over Reloader 7 and getting 1" groups at 100 yards. I use a 6x scope on my 21" .223 carbine. With a 5lb gun, I can't seem to shoot better groups than that and so far, that's good enough. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
My favorite loads in the 223 Contender have been the BlueDot loads. Do some checking on those, they are a pleasure to shoot and were accurate for me.
 
55 grain vmaxes have worked really well in my guns with 24.2 grains of W748 OR 25.5 grains of H335. Now the 25.5 grains of H335 is the max load reccomneded on the H335 bottle. So start at the 24 or 24.5 mark max and work your way up to be safe.

If you want to stick with H380 I have no suggestions.
 
I am currently shooting a SST Super 14 .223 G2 Contender Handgun, and a SST 23" Bull G2 Contender Rifle.

When I acquired both of these guns I had a bunch of ammo loaded with 55gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips (H-4895 Powder 1/2 grain under Hodgdon's published max on their web site, Military LC Brass / Remington 7 1/2 Primers) left over from a previous .223.

Of these two T/C's I have shot the Handgun the most, largely because I just acquired the Rifle a few weeks ago. One day in December it was a beautifui day for northeast South Dakota. 40 degrees and NO WIND so I headed for the range. My plan was to verify my zero and shoot some groups with the 3x12x Burris LER Handgun Scope set at different magnifications to see if I had any point of impact shift at different magnifications.

I shot 6 - 3 shot groups that afternoon from the bench at 100 yards at magnifications ranging from 6x to 12x. The smallest group of the day measured .238" and the largest group that day measured .500", with the rest of the groups being between that spread. For the record this load out of my Super 14 .223 Handgun averages 2820 FPS 12 feet from the muzzle.

As stated I haven't shot the T/C .223 Rifle much as yet, and am still breaking in the barrel. So far the groups I have shot have been under an inch.

Good luck with the T/C .223.

Larry
 
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what primers are you useing on these loads cweeks???



CCI Mag 400 Primers that is all I use for the bolt and AR .223's I have.
 
The first pic is with W748 and my Dtech AR in .223. I tired the ladder system of developement. Worthless way to get load info or develop a load. But this is a 10 shot group.

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This pic is with the 55 vmax and the W748 of course the CCI mag primers and Winchester cases. The flyer is the first shot or the cold bore shot.
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This one is the 25.5 grains of H335, CCI primers, win cases and 55 grain Vax out of my 1in9 twist Stevens savage.
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Hope it helps even a little for you.
 
today i picked up a pound of h335 and some primers.now i can't find a neck sizing die so i am planning on useing the full lenght die but adjusting the decapping pin way down so i stay out of the brass body sizing part,any one else try this?i want fireformed brass and by doing this should produce it without full length.
also how many rounds should i shoot to break in the new barrel or isnt it necessary for a 14"barrel.
i have 40 rounds of factory shells to shoot up to get the brass and also get it on paper.i mounted a leupold 2.5-8x scope.
 
In a break action gun like the contender, neck-sizing only is not the way to go. Eventually it will lead to misfires.

If you're new to Contenders, go to www.bellmtcs.com and read everything you can find.

The contender is a lot of fun, but its not a bolt gun and shouldn't be reloaded like one.
 
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what primers are you useing on these loads cweeks???



CCI Mag 400 Primers that is all I use for the bolt and AR .223's I have.



Is that the CCI 400 Small Rifle STANDARD Primer or did you mean the CCI 450 Small Rifle MAGNUM Primer? The "CCI Mag 400" got me confused. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Second Ras53 on checking out D.Mike Bellm for Contender info. The detailed descriptions of how to headspace and monitor pressure in a Contender barrel are fabulous.

I have had Mike build three barrels for me and his knowledge and craftmanship are out of this world. Read his piece on Co-ax throating. That alone tells you how smart he is.

Back to topic, 50 grain v-max over 748 shot well in my Contender. (14")(and before I cashed it in for a .257 JDJ)
 
Did you Read Ras53's post? Take his advise to heart! A contender is an animal in and of itself. I had the same gun that you are playing with, drove me crazy. Hinge pin slop, fore arm pressure, etc.

Get an over size hing pin for sure.

I ended up shooting a 40g Speer sp to see my hits due to recoil...contender kicked a lot. The gentleman that suggested that you go with Blue Dot loads may have given you some very sage advise, and I would take it to heart... I love to see what I am kill'en!

Good luck!
 


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