223 bolt gun loads

[mriddick]

Just last week I bought a Stevens model 200 (cheapened version of the 110) in 223, anyone have one? Any pet loads that I should try? Besides the stock being flimsy (grey plastic) it looks new.

I got a whopping $240 in it complete with Leupold rings and a Tasco Wold class 3x9x40 scope.

[rgmcl]

Have one in 22.250. Really like it.

[ready]

I don't have a .223 bolt gun but I use the Hornady 75grn match stuff in my Recce build. I hear good things about the Black Hills 77grn stuff, too.

What's your twist?

[mriddick]

1 in 9

[ready]

75 might be a little heavy but you could buy a box and try it out. You could also go in the other direction and try the 55grn and under match stuff Hornady offers.

[mriddick]

Is there any "cheap" stuff that's reasonably accurate? If I could get under 2MOA without much work I'd be happy.

[ready]

"Cheap" and "accurate" usually don't go together. I remember the first time I bought "Match" Prvi Partizan .308 because it was cheaper than Federal. I guess what constitutes match grade in Serbia is a little different that what we're used to. The Hornady V-Max stuff is between 15-18 bucks a box of 20 and it's supposed to be pretty damned good. Never personally tried it though. You can also get Fiocchi varmint loads for about 15 bucks a box that are supposed to be decent but again, never tried it myself.