I haven't done it, but I load for a 1:9'' 20" barrel. I've read that 55gr isn't the ideal bullet mass, and that i should use heavier bullets. I was wondering if a recipe calls for 25gr of powder, is it bad to use a heavier bullet mass in .223. Specifically I use Varget, but I was just wondering if it's a bad idea to use a heavier bullet.

Err ... I think you are very confused. 

 

First, 55gr bullets are fine in 1:9 barrels. Secondly there is not recipe, there is load data. Just lookup the load date for the bullet and powder you want to load. 

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle
 

As a basic principal you should not use the same charge for a heavier bullet. The added inertia will cause the pressure to go up, possibly to dangerous levels.

 

As stated above, find published load data for the powder/bullet combo and work your load up from the minimum in the load data.

 

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I have the Lyman manual, and was just trying to figure out if there would be any difference. But thinking about it, higher mass bullets typically are elongated towards the rear, meaning they'll decrease the volume of the casing (even if ever so slightly).

But the load data I follow is  25gr varget with 55gr round. I've read a lot of conflicting things on the 1:9 twist rate, it seems that there's relatively little information on what rounds are best with them when compared to 1:7, and even slower 1:12. 

But I'm glad for the responses, I wasn't thinking about trying it really, unless it was a commonly done OK thing (which I doubted). But I certainly wanted to get the advice of reloaders more experienced than myself.

24.5gr varget with 55gr is what I load at 2.250" OAL and a light crimp with a lee crimp die. Shoot and chrono to see how it works for you.

I have the Lyman manual, and was just trying to figure out if there would be any difference. But thinking about it, higher mass bullets typically are elongated towards the rear, meaning they'll decrease the volume of the casing (even if ever so slightly).

 

But the load data I follow is  25gr varget with 55gr round. I've read a lot of conflicting things on the 1:9 twist rate, it seems that there's relatively little information on what rounds are best with them when compared to 1:7, and even slower 1:12. 

 

But I'm glad for the responses, I wasn't thinking about trying it really, unless it was a commonly done OK thing (which I doubted). But I certainly wanted to get the advice of reloaders more experienced than myself.

 

1:9 is fine for 50gr to at least 64gr. Some 68gr stuff works nicely, some doesn't perform well enough to justify the premium bullet prices. 77gr is likely not going to be worth the effort. I have a 1:9, it shoots 62gr projectiles as well as it does 55gr. 

 

As fro case volume, it varies. nosler makes a 60gr partition bullet that is fat and stubby, and a 60gr varmint with cannelure that isn't. The varmint round actually eats up more case volume, but the partition is actually more likely to raise pressures because it has a larger bearing surface (i.e. more surface area contacting the rifling).  

Ah, wow, glad I asked. Thanks for answering, I was just curious because I'd never seen that issue be asked before, so I was curious what difference it would make.

So, out of a 1:9, what mass of bullet would you find optimal, and does anyone load for a 1:9?

Rule of thumb is you can shoot up to a 70gr .224 bullet out of a 1:9 twist rate.

 

I very successfully shoot 69gr SMK out of a 1:9