I am unhappy with less than 2700 fps min in 55 or 62, but do not tend to load over 2900ish in those weights and my best accuracy and good plinking stuff is less. I love the trajectory of 55grains at 3500 fps, but that is in my .225 Winchester.
Anyways, some load for accuracy, some for light recoil, etc. etc. I load for a general all purpose in a couple of weights that is conveinent, not the best at anything.
I have starting buying bulk, cheaper bullets vs. hunting type bullets like I used to. I am kind of in the middle of figuring out what will be best.
I am not getting the FPS out of the 24.5TAC many others get in a 16 inch barrel, may end up running at 25 grains for 55 and 62.
I look for the highest possible velocity while maintaining reasonable accuracy and avoiding significant pressure indications.
For example my 77 grain open tipped match load gives 2-2.5 MOA at 2600 FPS. If I drop the charge by 3/10th of a grain I get under 2 MOA but lose 50 FPS.
I try and load for accuracy with 55 grain bullets for .223 while keeping just under 3000 fps to make life easier on my steel. My current load of 24.5 WC844 is running close to 2800 fps.
I do just the opposite… the highest possible accuracy while maintaining reasonable velocity… when I develop a bullet load, do a ladder test, find a reasonably accurate median load range. Fine tune in .3g increments for group testing. Group test and when I get a group that consistently makes my requirements only then do I chrono. Once you enter the info in a ballistics calculator it’s all accounted for. My 55g and 60g Nosler ballistics .223 load are .5 MOA or better at 100 and half MOA at 200 yards.
I look for decent accuracy with enough speed to shoot flat.
Goal is 250m without worrying about changing POA.
I tend to find best accuracy at real low loads, and at real hot loads. The low ones are not as flat as I would like.
The real hot ones not as quick at run and gun close range stuff.
And usually an OK one in the mid range.
For bolt actions, where I hand dip and do small loads for fire formed cases with neck sizing, I also tend to go for the accuracy. These are already in the 3K and up range and shoot pretty flat.
Realistically at least in my case it’s a wash. The improved accuracy I would see from lowering the velocity has to be weighed against the increased drop and wind drift that would also result at long ranges. My own guess is that hit probability would remain about the same with either loading.
Of course the only rifle I have been able to consistently put 5 rounds into a half inch circle was a 26 inch heavy barrel Savage 12FV .223 in a Choate Ultimate sniper stock filled with lead weights. If you can do that with an AR carbine you are a better shot than I am.
16 inch DDMV2, Vortex Viper PST 1-4 with a Geissele SD-C trigger. 5 shots off a bipod and rear bag, one called flyer. 55g Nosler Ballistic Tip H335. This load shoots even better out of my R700 SPS Tac with a B&C stock and 10x42 SWFA SS
Even with the “flyer” that 5 shot group is still under MOA, the 4 shots are .3 MOA, 3 shots are one ragged hole on the left.
Just for reference, best I have even done with with Blackhills factory 55s FMJ is just about 1.5 MOA as well as a number of other factory fodders. My point being fine tuning hand loads for a particular rifle makes a huge difference.
One thing I learned with this particular load is believe it or not… shorter is better. I tried an initial OAL of 2.260, but not till I shortened it done to 2.200 did it really shine. I had hear Noslers like a jump to the lands, but didn’t really take it seriously till I developed this load.
