223 plinking load with 35 gr lead bullet

[Montanan]

Hi, I need some advice. I have a bunch of 35 gr. match, lead, swaged 224 diam bullets and want to make up some mid range .223 Rem. loads. I can not find any data. I am thinking maybe 7-8 gr of unique for a start? Or blue dot? I'd like to get around 1500-1600 fps. then tailor for accuracy. Any help would be appreciated.

[Hammerforged]

Assuming you have the gas checks swaged into place already, the only data I can find is in the Speer manual under 40gr bullet, reduced loads. It states 11 gr XMP5744 for 1990fps 22"Bbl. Use at your own risk though.

[Rocky Raab]

As montanan and I have discussed via emails...

His suggested 7.0 of Uniques will work fine. I've played with gallery loads in the .223, but have not used lead bullets.

I've had fairly good luck with loads such as 3.5 Bullseye, 5.0 RedDot, and 9.0 BlueDot using almost any bullet weight. These are very short range loads, as the bullet will not be stable at such low velocity/spin rates.

Another shooter told me via email about his favorite squirrel hunting load, which is a cheap 46 bulk HP (Rem and WW sell them) over 4.5 grains of W231 for a load between .22LR and .22Mag velocity and very good accuracy.

See my website for loads a bit stouter, up to Hornet/Bee duplication loads in the .223.

[PJgunner]

I cast my own .22 caliber bullets, a 55 gr. flat nose gas check type. My load is 5.0 gr. of Unique. I have not chronographed the load, but it sure does a number on the rabbits I've shot. I just acquired a 37 gr. round nosed .22 bullet and have only cast a few to see how the mold casts. haven't loaded any, but I'd probably start with that 5.0 gr. load and work up.
Paul B.

[Drew_CarreyAB]

Different but same??? I use the 35gr V-max in my 223 with 4.5gr green dot.....you could try that load as well.