Anyone have a Reload for Hornady 75gr BTHP?

[arizonaranchman]

After reading some outstanding reports on long range accuracy with this bullet (the same one used in their TAP loads) I'd like to experiment with this bullet and make up a load for precision use.

In my case I rarely concern myself with pinpoint groups with AR's as they're intended for close-up to short range serious business, not target shooting. I would like to dial-in one load though for something better than the usual 2" groups i get from Silver Bear, etc.

Anyone have a handload they're recommend for a 16" or 14.5" BCM with 1/7" bbl? I have tons of W748 on hand so that would be great if you have a loading in that, but if not then tell me what you do have.

I'm not looking for extreme velocity and usually load "down" just a notch from Max, especially in rifles. If I can near/duplicate the 75gr TAP loading that would be fine in fact.

Thanks to all!

[InfiniteGrim]

Hornady 75gr BTHP
23.5-24.0gr varget
CCI 450 or 41

My best is a .6" 5 shot group at 100 yards

[Artos]

Reloader 15 & the 75gr hornady hp has been great in my ar's...just go with a 223 load and work your way up watching velocities on a trusted chrony.

[GunnutAF]

Do you have .223 chamber or 5.56mm cause my load is loaded for 5.56mm ie case trimmed to 1.760" not 1.750" ! My load -reduce by one gr and work up in your gun! LC 06 case 1.760" , CCI BR4 Bench Mark 23.5 gr COAL 2.260" out of my 16" DPMS 1:9 twist I get 2660 fps chronied!:D

[mizer67]

Hornady 75gr BTHP
23.5-24.0gr varget
CCI 450 or 41

My best is a .6" 5 shot group at 100 yards

I've used the same load. 2.26" OAL, 1.750" trim length, except with 23.5 gr of Varget and a CCI 400 SRP. I believe they were travelling around 2,500 fps.

The 24.0 grain load started to show some primer cratering in my rifle when it was warm out with the 400's. Not sure if it would differ in the cold, or with a different primer, as I didn't test it.

10 separate 10 round groups average 1.2" ES' for me out of a 16" 1/8 BCM SS410 SS Ionbonded barrel.
'
Much of that group size could be the shooter, but I couldn't get sub-MOA out of those bullets for 10 rounds consistently, like I can with SMKs (if only slightly so).

[Molon]

10 separate 10 round groups average 1.2" ES' for me out of a 16" 1/8 BCM SS410 SS Ionbonded barrel.



Excellent work!

[mizer67]

Excellent work!

Thank you.

Seeing your shooting and the consistency of your reloads has me on a mission to improve my own.

I was actually disappointed when I shot these Hornady bullets with those results, expecting to see the "sub-MOA" that everyone on the internet seems to be able to achieve with boring regularity.

[arizonaranchman]

Thanks alot guys, I appreciate the input.

I am realizing thru further searches that the Hornady 75gr BTHP appears to have 3 variations: a hunting design and the other two are Mil/LE oriented though I don't know what these variations are in detail. I'd had in mind loading a 75gr TAP equivalent but that may not be 100% possible if the Mil/LE bullet is not available as a component.

[Molon]

I am realizing thru further searches that the Hornady 75gr BTHP appears to have 3 variations: a hunting design and the other two are Mil/LE oriented though I don't know what these variations are in detail.



There is no "hunting design" of the Hornady 75 grain BTHP. The three variations are shown below.

http://www.box.net/shared/static/m8qriqzub2.jpg

[jwfuhrman]

Been using a 75gr Hornady BTHP Match ammo all year long for 3gun.

16in BCM SS410 1/8 barrel

My load is 23.5gr AA2495, Federal Brass, Remington 7 1/2 primer.

Getting me 2550 avg FPS

[Turnkey11]

I shoot them with 23.5gr Ramshot TAC and CCI #41 primers.

[jmart]

748 is a bit quick for 75's. You can probably develop a load that will work, but velocity will be down.

24.0 - 24.5g (work up, depends on your chamber) of RL-15 has been a good load. Also, some guys are beginning to get good results with IMR 8208. Both meter better than Varget.

[Nightvisionary]

I went through 300 of the 75 grain Hornady BTHP trying to find a decent loading but they just would not shoot accurately through my Spikes LE 16 inch middie. I was getting 3-7 inch groups at 100 yards. I just loaded some 77 grain Sierra MatchKings and got 2.5 inch 5 shot groups at 200 yards with 25 grains of Varget with CCI 400's so that will probably be my go to load. Here what I have in my load data book for the Hornady 75:

Temperature was 40 degrees, mixed brass loaded to mag length unless otherwise noted.


24.0 Varget, CCI 400, Avg 2381 FPS

23.6 TAC, CCI 400, Avg 2523 FPS

24.0 TAC, CCI 400, Avg 2594 FPS

24.3 TAC , CCI 400, Avg 2639 FPS

24.4 TAC, CCI 450, Avg 2588 FPS

24.4 TAC, CCI 450, L.C. Brass, Avg 2619 FPS

23.7 AA2230, CCI 450, Avg 2688 FPS

23.6 AA2230, CCI 450, Avg 2621 FPS

24.4 TAC, CCI 400, Avg 2610 FPS

24.4 TAC, CCI 450, Avg 2651 FPS

24.2 TAC, CCI 450, Avg 2630 FPS

24.4 TAC, Federal 205, Avg 2664 FPS

24.3 TAC, CCI 450, Avg 2642 FPS

[Steve in PA]

Preliminary testing for me showed 22.0gr of H-335 gave great groups out of my 1:9 Bushmaster M4 and Savage 12FV with the Hornady 75gr BTHP.

[Low Drag]

Do you have .223 chamber or 5.56mm cause my load is loaded for 5.56mm ie case trimmed to 1.760" not 1.750" ! My load -reduce by one gr and work up in your gun! LC 06 case 1.760" , CCI BR4 Bench Mark 23.5 gr COAL 2.260" out of my 16" DPMS 1:9 twist I get 2660 fps chronied!:D

May I ask what your rational is trimming to 1.760? I’m fairly new to reloading rifle rounds, lots of experience with handguns. I’ve made plenty of 55 gr blasting ammo and have had pretty good results with 68 gr Hornady but did see accuracy go south when I used the brass too many times without trimming.

So I started trimming/deburring, but to 1.750. Any info would be appreciated.

[wahoo95]

For "my" rifles:

23.7gr-24gr Varget or RE-15
75gr Hornady BTHP or Sierra 77gr SMK
Rem 7 1/2 Primers
works well with almost any brass, however I tend to stick with LC

[Nightvisionary]

For "my" rifles:

23.7gr-24gr Varget or RE-15
75gr Hornady BTHP or Sierra 77gr SMK
Rem 7 1/2 Primers
works well with almost any brass, however I tend to stick with LC

That sound pretty mild. What kind of velocity are you getting?

[Low Drag]

I'm using Accurate 2520 for my heavy loads and was going to use it for a 75 grain load.

Looks like Varget gets a good deal of market share.....

What shape is Varget? I the like Accurate powders due to the sphere/granular shape because they measure out very well.

[mizer67]

I'm using Accurate 2520 for my heavy loads and was going to use it for a 75 grain load.

Looks like Varget gets a good deal of market share.....

What shape is Varget? I the like Accurate powders due to the sphere/granular shape because they measure out very well.

Varget is a long-ish grain extruded stick powder.

It doesn't meter consistently through any measure I've tried. +/- .3 grains is about average for what to expect.

I use an electronic powder dispenser for that reason when using Varget.

[wahoo95]

That sound pretty mild. What kind of velocity are you getting?

Have never run em through the chrono, however I'm very happy with the accuracy. 24gr Varget is pushing max.

[InfiniteGrim]

I've used the same load. 2.26" OAL, 1.750" trim length, except with 23.5 gr of Varget and a CCI 400 SRP. I believe they were travelling around 2,500 fps.

The 24.0 grain load started to show some primer cratering in my rifle when it was warm out with the 400's. Not sure if it would differ in the cold, or with a different primer, as I didn't test it.

10 separate 10 round groups average 1.2" ES' for me out of a 16" 1/8 BCM SS410 SS Ionbonded barrel.
'
Much of that group size could be the shooter, but I couldn't get sub-MOA out of those bullets for 10 rounds consistently, like I can with SMKs (if only slightly so).

I forgot to mention that I load mine to 2.235". If you actually measure the OAL of match loads from Hornady they are geneally shorter then 2.25". 2.235 works well for me and it also makes loading mags easier.

[Russ D]

I also have very good results with 24.0 gr. of Varget seated to mag lenght and CCI primers. I sort my brass and have always been able to achieve sub moa in all my AR's.

[SMJayman]

I also have very good results with 24.0 gr. of Varget seated to mag lenght and CCI primers. I sort my brass and have always been able to achieve sub moa in all my AR's.

Same experience here. If you're going to start with Varget, 24.0 is hard to beat. You may want to go up a little or down a little, but I got my best accuracy right there. I only have access to a 50y range, but I was punching one hole groups all day long when I wasn't doing something stupid on the trigger. This load is more accurate than I am. (16" mid length Noveske upper, 1:7, chrome lined.)

[boltcatch]

I shoot them with 23.5gr Ramshot TAC and CCI #41 primers.

I'm using both the T1 and T1C projectiles with 23.4 grains of TAC, Wolf small rifle magnum primers. Trying to seat them to 2.244" OAL (I need to get a micrometer seating die or a start using a comparator to measure for consistency). I use as light a crimp as I can get out of my Lee factory crimp die and still see that it's doing anything.

My brass out of my X-die is about 1.745"; with this seating depth and the cannelured bullets, the cannelure is just barely visible above the top of the case neck, and the rounds feed from my Pmags without hanging up.

Looking at my notes, I seem to get ~2550fps from my 16" AR at around 55F.

I really like my load, and don't plan on fiddling with it until I have some place where I can shoot off my back porch.

[chadbag]

Varget is a long-ish grain extruded stick powder.

It doesn't meter consistently through any measure I've tried. +/- .3 grains is about average for what to expect.

I use an electronic powder dispenser for that reason when using Varget.

I have not loaded Varget in a long time but when I did I was probably a little better than that +- .2 or so out of my Dillon powder measure. Compare to things like 4064, Varget is a short extruded powder. It is not so short as to be like a ball, but it is a lot shorter than the real long ones :-)

Trying tapping you powder measure a few times each cycle to help the powder settle. You will get a little better consistency...

[Nightvisionary]

Have never run em through the chrono, however I'm very happy with the accuracy. 24gr Varget is pushing max.

If you are running that through a 14.5-16 inch barrel I would suspect your velocity is mid 2400's. If I recall 24 grains of Varget is max going by the Sierra manual but their info is very conservative and follows SAMMI specs for .223 not .556. With 25 grains of Varget and CCI 450 magnum primers I have been getting just under 2600 FPS with 77 SMK's and Nosler OTM's and 2546 FPS average using CCI 400 standard primers through a 16 inch 1/7 chrome lined barrel.

[wahoo95]

I'm running the 24gr Varget and 24gr RE15 loads through both an 11.5" BCM and a 20" WOA with success. I'm happy with the accuracy but still need to run them over a chrony at some point.

For you guys havng trouble metering Varget, you shoul try a Lee Perfect Powder Measure....best $20 I've ever spent. Mine will consistantly drop Varget within a tenth of the dialed in amount with 90% being dead on. I sold my electronic dispenser because the LPPM is so much faster and accurate.

[Russ D]

I'm running the 24gr Varget and 24gr RE15 loads through both an 11.5" BCM and a 20" WOA with success. I'm happy with the accuracy but still need to run them over a chrony at some point.

For you guys havng trouble metering Varget, you shoul try a Lee Perfect Powder Measure....best $20 I've ever spent. Mine will consistantly drop Varget within a tenth of the dialed in amount with 90% being dead on. I sold my electronic dispenser because the LPPM is so much faster and accurate.

Funny you mention that because that is exactly what I use with Varget and I get the same results.