80gr Berger in .223

[LONG RANGE CAPT]

I have been recommended to get some 80gr Berger bullets for my 1-8 twist, 25inch barrel .223 has anyone any experience with these bullets and whats the best powder/bullet combination.

(I have loads of Vit 140)

 

Regards

 

Rob

[Laurie]

Rob,

 

you have a reasonable choice of 75-82gn bullets for .223R and the 80 Berger is only one and not necessarily the best for whatever you're intending.

 

You don't say what you want the load for, in particular the range(s) you plan to shoot over. If short range, Berger, Lapua, Nosler, and Sierra all make 77gn HPBTs that are nothing special BC wise but are designed to be fired in match AR15s from the magazine and happily take a huge jump to the rifling. As a result, they are very easy to 'tune' loads for, work with any sensible powder, and often give exceptional accuracy. They are however 300yd bullets, although they'll shoot well to longer ranges. BCs are around 0.370-.376.

 

Quite a few 223R short to mid range shooters like the 75gn Hornady A-Max which is also usually easy to get to shoot well and can be driven very fast from a 24-26" barrel. Its BC is .414.

 

Then you have those around 80gn - the Sierra MK (.425 BC), very similar but more expensive Nosler Custom Competition, 80gn Berger VLD (.445), Hornady A-Max (.452), and newly introduced 82gn Berger Match BT (.444). The Berger VLD and Hornady A-Max have secant form ogive shapes that can make them very 'fussy'. Many people find they'll only perform if seated hard into the rifling and that risks pulling the bullet and getting powder all over the action if you have to unload a live round for any reason.

 

The 80gn Sierra MatchKing and similar shape Nosler CC work very well in my experience. The Sierra is probably the best bullet to start off with in trying 80s in the cartridge. it has a heavy jacket and its rounded (tangent ogive) nose form lets it accept a fair jump into the rifling and it usually isn't that fussy about seating depths.

 

The newest bullet, the 82gn Berger may be the best of the lot if not the cheapest. It has a virtually identical BC to the two VLD shaped bullets but the less fussy tangent ogive nose shape. Bergers are very well made indeed too. Put this together and there's a good chance you'll get a good load without too much trouble.

 

Powders wise, there's lots you can use including N140 and N540, the latter giving higher MVs. The favourites for 80s are Varget and Reloder 15 and I've generally had best results with one or other of this pair especially Varget that seems to suit every 80-grainer. The 75 Hornady A-Max and 77s are more flexible and will do very well with slightly faster burning powders, especially H4895 and N140. With Varget in 80s, start around 22.5gn and work up to 24.5gn or thereabouts in 0.3gn steps. Re15 usually takes around half a grain more being slightly slower burning, N140 a half to full grain less as it's a little faster burning, but it varies from rifle to rifle depending particualrly on how they're throated. Small Rifle Magnum or BR primers should be used for their thicker cups otherwise you risk blanking primers as soon as you get above starting loads in most actions. The usual warning apply to using these loads.

 

The BCs quoted are not from the manufacturers but from Bryan Litz based on actual long-range tests so a lot more accurate and they do allow a true comparison between the different models.

 

The other thing I should add is cartridge length and case make. The 77s are designed for loading to magazine length, ie 2.25-2.26", although you can seat them further out ifr you're single-laoding and the rifle's freebore allows. The 80s are all designed for suitable chambers that allow seating at above SAAMI / magazine length, in the likes of the Wylde chamber that sees the COAL around 2.445" with the bullet just off the rifling. That extra two-tenths of an inch makes a big difference to the powder capacity of the case and the pressures. If the rifle is short-throated or you seat bullets for magazine operation, you'll find the 80s have their bases way down the case body and the quoted loads are heavily compressed and you'll likely blow the primer in a big way! Beware of US loads data from Sierra etc that shows 80s at 2.550" COAL - that's for the 5.56 NATO chamber or the Colt AR15 Hbar Match Rifle chamber, both of which are very long indeed and aren't used by other makers or gunsmiths in custom rifles unless spercified by the customer.

 

There are big differences between .223 Rem case capacities and you want thinner-walled high capacity brass for heavy bullets. Current Lapua (marked 'Match' on the box) and Winchester are good. Remington is said to be 'roomy' but I've never tried it. Earlier Lapua is very heavy as is Federal and most military ammo cases. With thick-walled brass such as the early Lapua, loads may have to be reduced by as much as 1-2gn or you get excessive pressures.

 

I hope these thoughts help.

 

Laurie

[LONG RANGE CAPT]

Laurie,

 

Thank you very much indeed.

 

PM - sent.

 

Kind Regards

 

Rob