Revopop Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 My girlfriend's dad is a certifiable gun nut and reloader who has three of just about everything. I got an AR recently, and I called to ask him which dies I should get to load .223. He said, "Well, I've got an RCBS 2 die set, a gunny sack full of brass, and 300 bullets I can give you. Got 'em for a Mini 14 I never even shot." Turns out the bullets are Hornady 70gr. bullets. I'm told the heavier bullets don't do real well in rifles like mine with a 1:9" twist. Should I give it a try, or just trade them for some 55gr. bullets? My purpose for this rifle is plinking and just cause I freakin' wanted one, so I don't require extreme accuracy or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm iprod Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 As far as I know Hornady don't make a 70gr, however they do make a 68gr HPBT that is so similar to the Sierra 69gr match that I use them when I have no Sierra available. They should be fine in the 1:9 barrels. I use 23.5gr Benchmark and load as close to the rifling as the magazine allows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aedavis Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 I've used 69gr Sierra BTHP bullets in my 1:9 Colt HBAR with good results. Considering what you have invested in them, I'd load them up and see how they perform. Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OpnBlstr Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 My Armalite 20" has a 1:9 barrel and it absolutely eats up the Hornady 75gr bullets. Well under 1MOA results at 300 yards with A2 sights. I load my 75gr rounds with VV540. I think the 1:9 works just fine with the heavier bullets as long as you keep the velocities high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revchuck Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 They may be Speers. Then again, they may be .228 bullets for a .22 Savage Hi-Power, so check the boxes before you load. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotm4 Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 Have him load them up 1x9 varies from one barrel to the next. If yours is closer to 1x8 it'll probably stabilize them just fine. Even if they don't stabilize it'll be down range and won't hurt your gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uscbigdawg Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 It's always worth a try. Ya never know until you spit 'em down the barrel. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Sierpina Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 (edited) Hornady does make a 70 grain .22 caliber bullet. The diameter is .227, which is for the 22 Savage Hi Power, an obsolete cartridge that was used in the model 99 lever action. Measure the bullet diameter with a micrometer, not a cheap caliper. Do not load .227 diameter bullets in .223 ammo. https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=67...006a6492f8c7113 Edited July 10, 2008 by Dan Sierpina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
00bullitt Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 If they are a .224 diameter bullet...........I would load them up and try them. I have seen them shoot very well more times than not from a 1/9. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm iprod Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Hornady does make a 70 grain .22 caliber bullet. The diameter is .227, which is for the 22 Savage Hi Power, an obsolete cartridge that was used in the model 99 lever action. Measure the bullet diameter with a micrometer, not a cheap caliper. Do not load .227 diameter bullets in .223 ammo. https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=67...006a6492f8c7113 Good point. I only looked in .224" bullets. Never thought anyone would load them or supply them for 223Rem. Make sure you check the diameter of those things before you load them. 22Hi Power is far from obsolete. Norma and Sellier/Bellot still make ammo, I think Lapua still do as well. I sell quite a lot of that stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwit Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Glockopop, you lucky guy. Maybe you should think about getting serious with her. It sound like a lot of side benefits and its also easier getting along with Dad if you have this hobby in common. UNLESS you get really lucky and find a girl who owns a gun store or liquor store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revopop Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 It's actually better than if she owned her own gun store. She'd be a great bullseye shooter, but she just isn't that interested. Consequently, my hobby's mine, and I get to use the Ruger 22/45 and Browning Hi-Power he gave her as much as I want. I've also found that he's a great resource for handloading tips. He loves reloading probably even more than actually shooting. He loads all kinds of Wildcat cartidges like the 6.5JDJ and .375JDJ, reforms brass, and all kinds of stuff like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revopop Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 I just went and looked. They are actually Speer. .224 Semi-Spitzer. Can anybody recommend a good powder to try out? I've heard good things about H335, and that's what I was planning to get, but TAC and X-Terminator are both readily available locally and I hear good stuff about those as well. I know I might not find a powder that's good for 70gr. and 55gr. loads, but if someone could point me in the right direction that'd be great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Sierpina Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Use H335 for up to 55 grain bullets. If you want to use those 70 grain bullets, Varget or Reloader 15 handle that weight very nicely. I've not tried any of the Ramshot powders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom D. Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 FWIW, that Speer 70 gr bullet is a sho nuff deer slayer (on Texas deer anyway) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revopop Posted July 13, 2008 Author Share Posted July 13, 2008 FWIW, that Speer 70 gr bullet is a sho nuff deer slayer (on Texas deer anyway) Unfortunately, no deerslaying with rifles in Iowa. There are a few southern counties where you can for short periods of deer season, but it has to be .243 or bigger. We have to stick to shotgun slugs, handguns, and muzzleloaders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docgary Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 (edited) Dan Sierpina Use H335 for up to 55 grain bullets. If you want to use those 70 grain bullets, Varget or Reloader 15 handle that weight very nicely. I've not tried any of the Ramshot powders. I believe that a rifle's inherent characteristics are more indicative of how it will accurately shoot as compared to its twist rate.(within reason!) That said, my AR15 seem to like 77 g SMK over 55g... It's a 1:9 twist like yours. (69g SMK with Varget 25.3g is its pet load) Anyways....I've found Win 748 a great powder when using heavier bullets, say from 70g on up. I'm a die hard Varget fan...just a great powder for all bullet weights and temperature changes. Tried a bunch of other powders - H335, AA 2230 ...nothing except for Win 748 came close to consistently matching Varget for accuracy AND precision. AND, Win 748 is cheaper by ~15%!! (Varget - $18.75, Win 748 - $16) Pick up a lb of Varget...you'll be hooked!!! good luck docgary Edited July 17, 2008 by docgary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viggen Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 H4895/IMR4895, Win 748, Varget, TAC Try and see if the barrel likes the 70s. Likely it will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 I've got 3 barrels in 1/9. all 3 shoot 75gr. Hornadys just fine. Velocities are near max. That might be a factor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revopop Posted July 24, 2008 Author Share Posted July 24, 2008 Thanks for all the info, guys. It's going to be a little while before I get around to cooking up some ammo, but I'll keep y'all posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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