Differences between hodgdon and hornady manuals

[Skinny Shooter]

I'm looking at data for a gas gun with the Hornady 75gr BTHP over Varget.
Hornady is the more conservative of the two and is data for a Service Rifle.

Hornady: 19.4 to 23.5
Hodgdon: 22.5 to 25.0C

I think Hodgdon used a bolt rifle (and a different brand 75gr bullet) and may be why they have the larger powder loads, ie pressures.

Am I right?

[bulletpusher]

Skinny,

From the data I have, I agree with you that the Hodgdon load is for a bolt gun.

From my little experience, I would not think the 25.0 grains compressed load would work in the gas gun. Although the charge would make the bolt on the gas gun extremely active during operation.

If your loading for a gas gun, and I'm sure you know this, stick with loads for the gas gun. The bolt gun can take a the loads a little differently, if you know what I mean.

Bulletpusher

[GoodOlBoy]

The good news? Try a load around the 23 grain mark and see what you get for accuracy. That load is well within the bounds of both sets of load data.

my 2 cents

Richard

[skeet]

Allen.. That load is for a 223 with normal pressures. Varget is a little slower burning and I think you will find it works well esp in an AR 5.56 the 5.56 allows much higher pressures than a 223 mainly because the chambers are slightly different with a little longer throat in the 5.56 rather than a 223. You may need a 7 inch twist to shoot that bullet. It is a long one and may be a bit slow for a 9 inch twist unless the velocity is at the top end. My rifle does not shoot them well. A guy gave me a few and I loaded them but with a different powder. They just seemed to wander around a bit. My Varminter with a 9 inch twist shoots the Nosler 69 gr match bullets very well. That is the heaviest bullet I use in any .224 size rifle. I got a bunch of blems for a really great price and they work well. I also shot some out of my 22-250 last week. But it has a 14 inch twist and did not shoot them great.

[skeet]

Forgot to say..that bullet Hodgdon used is a very long very low drag bullet. They are very dependent on the right twist and velocities

[Skinny Shooter]

Thanks.
It's a 1 in 8 RRA with a Wylde chamber.

[skeet]

It'll shoot out of that twist. Refresh my memory..but isn't the Wylde chamber kinda tight with a long throat. Cain't member all that crap..gettin old sucks. If it has a long throat you don't have to worry about that load i don't think. I know you are trying to keep costs down but there are better powders I think

[Skinny Shooter]

I can't get on RRA's website for some reason but found this which someone copied from their site:

The .223 Wylde chamber was designed as a match chambering for semi-automatic rifles. It will accomodate both .223 Rem and 5.56mm NATO ammunition. It is relieved in the case body to aid in extraction and features a shorter throat for improved accuracy.
Some call it a hybrid between 5.56 NATO and 223.

If you can recommend another powder that is in the Hodgdon Extreme line of powders then I'm willing to look at it.
I've got 9lbs of Varget though to use up.

[skeet]

OK Wasn't sure about the chamber..Now I think I know..till tomorrow...LOL. With 9 lbs of varget..use Varget,. I sure would. I had someone give me 5 lbs of H335..so I use it..but I am going to try the new 223 CFE.. Have some..just have't loaded it ...yet but I load mostly 55grainers..and some 60 gr VMax Hornady's and 60 gr Nosler Partitions..when i can find them..mostly for coyotes...The partitions were recommended to me by a guy in Mt who uses his 22-250 with those bullets for deer. Never blasted a deer with one..but they sure do destroy coyotes and bigger ones for the ocassion when they are around

[Skinny Shooter]

Skeet, what min and max loads would you use for CFE223 with a 75gr Hornady in my RRA?

[skeet]

Allen..am on the road traveeling so don't have access to my loading data. But with 9 lbs of Varget..I would use it..Nothing is gonna move that bullet FAST in the 223

[bulletpusher]

Varget is the most versatile powder in the reloading business, that is my opinion. When you start checking loads for almost every rifle cartridge in the books, Varget is listed somewhere in almost all of them.

In the small calibers like .222 Rem. and .223 Rem. the powder is listed with the heaver (i.e. longer, higher B.C.) bullets. In the smaller calibers that normally like a little bit faster powders, Varget is considered a slow powder for those calibers.

Yes I know that Varget is in the middle of the road as far as burning speed. In the smaller calibers it is like a slow burning powder and in the larger calibers it is like a faster burning powder.

The most accurate load that I ever had in my .25-06 the .30-06 and the .308 have been using Varget.

It is one versatile powder. Getting the bullet for the rifling twist correct is the hard part after that.

Bulletpusher