I have a decent .223 load worked up for my AR using a magnum small rifle primer, 26 grains of W748 and the Sierra 65 grain Game King (soft point boat tail). But it's only pushing out 2800 fps on a hot day, mid 2700's when it's cold out.

I also found out that I'm in short supply of both magnum rifle primers and W748, so I decided to work up a load with standard primers and H335.

New load shows a lot of promise! Here's the range report.

Ok, I started low and worked up like a good boy, but for the sake of time, I'm only going over the upper half of the data I've gathered today.

For starters, I fired the last round of my old load (26 grains of W748 with a magnum primer), my go-to plinking/varmint round (55 grain Hornady SP under with a standard primer and 25 grains of H335) and two factory Remington 55 grain FMJ's.

Weather- 5-10 mph wind, I waited for the wind to die down before taking shots, so basically, wind wasn't a factor. 80 degrees, bright sun. I had trouble with my chrono a few times until I took an old T-shirt and draped it over the sun screen (Pro Chrono Pal- doesn't like direct sunlight).

The Remington factory velocity reading was 3,016 and 2976 fps.
The W748 load with the 65 grain Game King came in at 2836 fps.
The old standby of 55 grain Hornady SP with H335 read out at 2930 fps.

The following data all reflects the following combination: Standard Small Rifle Primer (Tula actually), Sierra 65 grain Game King (soft point boat tail) and H335. Only the powder charge changed in all of this. I shot a string of four shot groups. Also, instead of commenting on the group size, I'll post pictures of my targets. All shots were at 100 yards with a cheap Bushnell 3X9 scope.

23.4 grains- I had my chrono fail to read two shots. The other two were 2645 and 2624 fps.
23.7 grains- 2682, 2704, 2754, error on the fourth.
24.0 grains- error on 1st, 2743, 2715, 2704 fps.
24.3 grains- 2754, 2754, 2737, 2754 (yup, 2754 three out of four!)
24.6 grains- 2732, 2807, 2772, 2783 fps.
24.9 grains-2812, 2783, 2795, 2783 (finally getting up to the velocity of my W748 load)
25.2 grains- 2873, 2842, 2849, 2886 fps.
25.5 grains- 2892, 2898, 2898, 2898 (yup duplicates on the last three! and only an extreme spread of 6 fps!)

25.6 grains is the max according to Sierra (using the 63 SMK data as they recommend). Hodgdon  lists the max as 25.0 grains. Seeing as my rifle is a 5.56, I have no issues or qualms going a measly half grain above.

Now for the pictures. I believe I'll be using the 25.2 or 25.5 grain load for hunting as with the .223, every FPS counts when used on medium game. I'll be using it on pigs and my wife will be using it on deer out to 100 yards.

Also, on the 25.5 grain load, I called the top shot as being pulled high by me. As far as the "There doesn't look like there's four shots in that group" one (25.2 grains) I assure you there are. The "flier" was my second shot. I have no idea how it got down there. The shot felt good too.
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz121/zlwhite/456E837A-0229-47D6-BD2D-926FE4452806-19966-0000185697AFAA04_zpsbbdab4c8.jpg
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz121/zlwhite/B255F746-F522-463E-9658-096472CA5A39-19966-00001856A0D59041_zps1b196600.jpg
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz121/zlwhite/6292B3BE-028F-4C64-B24F-2E70E1393139-19966-00001856A8B45D97_zpsc6b810d1.jpg
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz121/zlwhite/91D5225D-CA9F-4602-8080-F918B3D57E00-19966-00001856B0BCDED1_zps03ea9481.jpg
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz121/zlwhite/23C55807-1796-4D45-AE89-00F28097DD15-19966-00001856B8C12CB2_zpsf4e318b9.jpg

I have good results with 25.2 of H335 and the 65SGK, also.

If you're confident you pulled that one shot on the 25.5 load, go with it; or if you have the time and components, shoot those two again.

I wouldn't be too concerned with either of those loads if you're pressed for time OR components.

Just go kill a pig, already.

Any idea what distance you're likely to be shooting?

I'd love to hear your pig down report, as well.

Have fun.

I plan to re-shoot those two when I get tme. But it really isn't needed since I run an EoTech made Bushnell holosight for hunting. I only use a scope for load development.

Shots can be up to 300 yards, but usually 150 or so, that is until they run out of the field and back to the woods (where I snuck up at). Yup, they get scared and run for cover, where I'm waiting for them. I usually run two rifles, a scoped bolt action (2-3 shots before they get too close). Then I lay the bolt down and take running shots with my AR. The picture below is all from one group. I shot 3 and my brother in law shot two. I wish I could take credit for all of them.

Edit to add: there were more mortally wounded, I just didn't track them. The far left one in the pic was the only one we kept. My buddy dressed it out. I had rolled it up with one shot from my AR just as it reached the wood line. The shot went through her right shoulder and I had hoped to recover a nice mushroomed bullet, but that sucker punched right through just behind her off side shoulder.

http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz121/zlwhite/d0e5b8cb-41b4-4876-846a-90bb0f3768bf_zps1e90824f.jpg

While 335 runs perfectly through a meter, I think it's a little fast for a 65 gr. bullet.  I prefer 100% load density, and temp. stability, so I use 25.6 gr. of Varget with the same bullet.  My 20" ArmaLite chronos that load @ 2,950, and it stays in 1 MOA out to 300 yds. using 10 shot groups.
We don't have the luxury of shopping for different powders these days.  What you have is very close to the perfect .223 load.

If you ask me Varget is too slow for the 223, your load is at 109% load density which is very compressed and there is just no reason to have to compress a powder that much when more suitable powders are available.

I stopped using Varget in 223 a couple years ago but last week I used it again to load some 62gr TSX bullets and was reminded of why I stopped using it, when the load is so compressed that the seating die has to be adjusted down an extra .010" to compress the powder then the powder is just too slow for that cartridge.


EWP

I just worked up a load with that bullet in my Ruger AR.  I settled on 21.3 grains of H322.  Produces nice groups, low pressures, and moves the bullet at roughly 2700 - 2750 fps which is perfect for that bullets in hunting conditions.  I tried hotter but my groups opened up.  Despite the exposed lead nose they feed very smoothly through my rifle, I really like this bullet.

Try out some Ramshot TAC

Bullet Data for Sierra 65gr Gameking

For .223 pressures they show
Starting - 21.9 grs 2743 fps
Max - 24.3 grs 2,986 fps

Ramshot is so awesome they list 5.56 loads too
Starting - 23.7 grs 2,922 fps
Max - 26.3 grs 3,184 fps

I find H335 a little too fast for 65 gr bullets. TAC shines above 55 gr bullets.

Nice report. The funny thing is that the H-335 might even do better with a magnum primer. Speer recommends using a magnum primer basically with all ball type powders. I have gotten some real nice results with CCI 450's and H-335 with 55gr bullets.

I simply love that 65gr Sierra too. I use it for whitetail deer. I load mine with Reloder-15. It's easily under 1 MOA in my VTR and the same load shot awesome from my standard 20" 1 in 7 also. Can't remember if I chronograph it yet. I do know it's very accurate and produces nice clean kills on deer.