RE: .223 over 4100 fps
 

I have thought about this some , I have been known to push the envolpe a little . But if you have 1 case with a defect with these hot loads you mayhave a case head seperation blown primed or worse. I have seen out of my gun a load that was not showing any case head expansion , show high presure with 30 degree of temp rise. Also the next lot of primers may be a "little" hoter or the next jug of powder may burn a "little" faster and create a presure problem. Is your gun or your and others standing close safty worth the few extra fps. IMO the only shurly safe way to increase speed is to increase usable case capasity and with a 40 gr. bullet you can't seat it out far enough to get you there safly

RE: .223 over 4100 fps
 

Gundigest...
That's a new one for me:eek:......care to explain it?

There isnt but one way to really know the velocity of a given load in a particular firearm and that is to chronograpgh them. Plain and Simple. You can take all the loading manuals/ballistic charts etc that were ever written and the only thing they will do is give a rough idea. There are way to many variables in the mix...barrels, chambers, powder lots, weather condtions etc. that have a part in velocites/pressure. Without chronograpghing, it's merely a guessing game, even with ballistic charts.

This kinda reminds me of the guy that said a hog he shot weighed 400 lbs, when asked what scale he used, he responded he didnt weigh it but it felt like it was heavy as 400 lbs.

I have been in this game for a long time, the reloading companies have researched and have spent 100's of thousands of dollars to compile safe loads. I would think they know about safe limits. There will always be that crowd that says...whos cares about what brand x company says, I am loading ____ more grains of powder and I dont have pressure signs....BS. Again, without taking pressure readings of your loads you are only "guessing" at it. It's your arm,eyes,fingers, life though.

By the way, would not a little heavier bullet(BC good) have the advantage over a 40 grain (BC bad), sometimes faster MV's with low bc's will fall behind a bullet of higher bc that starts with a lower M V?

doubleA

RE: .223 over 4100 fps
 

I heard that a 223 is maxed out velocity wise at about 22 inches of barrel, and longer barrels only give you stability(accuracy). With such a small case it would not surprise me if all powder is burned in a shorter barrel, which would make this true. To get extra velocity out of a longer barrel you need to have powder capacity to use the extra space for burning. Anyone know forsure?

RE: .223 over 4100 fps
 

Double A

latter, I thought about the heavy barrel and decided that it was not correct that it would take higher pressures.

RE: .223 over 4100 fps
 

Long range shooting typically does yeild better results with heavier bullets, and gundigest your heavy barrel will not allow you to overpressure compared to other barrels, you should know that!

RE: .223 over 4100 fps
 

"your heavy barrel will not allow you to overpressure compared to other barrels, you should know that!"
What book did this come from this is a new to me ?
all of the max loads in all of the load manuals are under the true max
and all gun designs have to be pressure tested at 2 times their intended use to sale to the public.
a max load for one gun may not be in another
I had two 243 rifles and the max load in one was fine and the other it was hard to open the bolt after firing the same load.
a cartrige can have a pressure rating of 65,000 lbs and in the load book it will tell you the max load is 57,000 lbs, this is only because of libilities. not because your gun will expload
in your face.
(if you want your bullet to get there quicker then leave the house sooner)
accuracy is always more important than speed

RE: .223 over 4100 fps
 

According to my Speer #13, with 40grn bullets and H335, 28.5 is listed as max load (and also is listed as a compressed load) with a velocity of 3133fps. I don't know how you could figure that an extra 4" of barrel and 1.5 grains of powder would get an extra 1000fps. Anyway, if you wanted something that fast or faster you need to look at .22-250, .220 swift, or .223wssm. Don't over do it, I've loaded for guns that show pressure signs before you hit the "max" loads. And remember that the weakest link in the chain is not the rifle, but the casing.

RE: .223 over 4100 fps
 

Id suggest you get yourself a chronograph if you are serious about shooting. Your 223 is not moving a 40 at 4100. You mentioned there being no advantage of a swift when you can get the same velocity out of your popgun. If your 223 is getting 4100, just think what the swift will do with 10 more grains of powder.....

RE: .223 over 4100 fps
 

For all of the late posters that don't take the time to read every post, let me sum it up for you.

I used the Barnes Book which has a max load of 31gr H335 I am using 30gr with 40gr XLC coated bullets. The Barnes book has a velocity of 3932 fps out of a 24" barrel. My cases show no signs of excessive pressure.

My gun touches holes at 100 yards with this load.

My velocity ESTIMATE is based on the bullet drop at 200 and 300 yards with a 100 yard zero.

Looking at a few of my guns I do believe that my 26" heavy barrel has a slight amount more steel around the neck and bullet than a shorter tapered barrel does. That is what I was thinking when I posted the heavy barrel statement.

I can get 4000 fps with less powder and cheaper brass than a 220 swift or a 22-250 and my cases look fine and don't stick in the chamber.

If you feel like being argumentative call Barnes and tell them that you don't believe that their max loads, velocities, or ballistics charts are even close to being accurate. Im sure they would like to talk to you.

RE: .223 over 4100 fps
 

You need to get yourself a chronograph. Simple, reliable and accurate units can be purchased for around $75. Published reloading data will give you a good idea of what speeds you can get at acceptable pressure levels with a particular powder/bullet combination. Extensive testing has shown that working up to published velocity levels is a better indicator of pressure than powder charge weight.

John Barsnes did a great article on this subject in handloader magazine awhile back. He used actual laboratory pressure data and compared it to "traditional" pressure signs. He found that good quality rifles and brass will often tolerate extreme overloads with no stiff bolt lift or cratered primers. The chronograph showed the overpressure everytime.