Reloading Data... Here is some.

[Zed Stewart]

Oly 16" barrel, 60 degrees, 30' elevation:

Case: Rem .223
Primer:?

150 FMJ: 17.5 H 110, avg-1968, sd- 24
16.5 AA #9, avg-1973, sd-13, max load

165 Sierra BTSP: 12.5 gr AA #9, avg-1482, sd- 28

220 MK: 9.5 AA #9, avg- 1064, sd- 4.6

Everybody wants data so here is what I have so far.

[Zed Stewart]

Some more data and a few insights.

130 Speer Flat SP: 21.3 gr 296, AVG. 2375, SD 12.3, OAL. ? Seated to crimping groove and crimped. Max + a little. Blew two of ten primer out of pockets. This is a mildly compressed load and 0.7 gr below the published data on this sight. Recoil was light and ejection was at 3 o'clock and 6'.

150 FMJ: 12.5 gr AA #9, AVG 1506, SD 25.5, OAL 1.16"-1.175" depending on bullet ogive. (They vary, you know.) Soft shooting. 3 o'clock ejection.

Just a note on 165 gr and lighter bullets:

These must be seated shorter than 2.25" OAL. (The Sierra pistol manual give 2.25" or 2.26" for all of the spitzer bullets. However they are loading for T/C Contenders.) If they are not seated to at least 1.2" OAL you are risking a bullet jumping out of the case and lodging in the throat on chambering. (Seating to the crimping groove of a 150 FMJ will give aprox. 1.17" OAL.) This happened to me at a carbine match last weekend. This is especially true with bullets that have extremely tapered boattails.

Remember, long seating is for extreme accuracy. For normal shooting, it is better to make 'em a little shorter... and safer.

[Zed Stewart]

130 gr Speer FN SP- 20.5 gr 296- AVG 2240 fps- SD 21.6
This is as hard as I would recomend pushing this bullet/ powder combo.

150 gr copper washed steel jacket FMJ BT- 14.5 gr 296- AVG 1577 fps- SD 9.5
Nice load.