.223 - 5.56

[BoilerUP]

Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

75gr Hornady HPBT
24.0gr Varget
Lapua brass
CCI-400

2875fps from 26" 9 twist Savage barrel

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

<span style="font-weight: bold">From a Savage 12FV (26" 9 twist barrel)</span>

75gr Hornady HPBT
24.0gr Varget
Nosler brass
CCI-400
2.25" OAL

5 shot average - 2834fps (this load chrony'd 2645fps in a 20" AR)

75gr Hornady HPBT
24.0gr Varget
Nosler brass
CCI-400
2.30" OAL

5 shot average - 2862fps. 10 shots into 0.7" @ 100yd, 7 shots into 0.4", hammer on steel @ 370yd.

75gr Hornady A-Max
24.5gr Varget
Nosler Brass
CCI-400
2.46" OAL (0.005" jump)

5 shot average - 2915fps. First four shots into 0.25", shanked the 5th shot under pressure opening this up to 0.62". <span style="text-decoration: underline">75gr A-Max seems to shoot well from my 1:9 barrel</span>, but future 300yd testing will verify.

Other 5-shot average velocities during 75gr A-Max testing with Varget:

24.8gr: 2955fps
25.0gr: 2985fps
25.2gr: 2998fps

 

[223ai]

Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

27" Brux, 6.5 twist
82gr Berger BTHP, pointed with the Whidden system
Wolf SRM primer
24.4 8208xbr
2.490" OAL
2904 average, able to be fed via AICS 223 mags in my bolt gun, excellent accuracy

 

[insight3b]

Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

WOA 18" SPR bbl 1/7 wylde chamber with Tubbs carrier weight system installed in the BCG.
77gr Nosler Custom competition seated to 2.267(only fits in pmags and beta mag)
24.8gr Vihta N540(hot load without CWS)
LC brass
Remington 7.5 primer
AVG 2730fps at 90 degrees and 2690 at 34 degrees

 

[bmk]

Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Lake City Brass
CCI Small Rifle Magnum Primer
26.5 Grains Varget
60 Grain Nolser Ballistic tip
2.26 COAL

It's a tack driver in every AR I've tried it in and hits coyotes and prarie dogs like thor's hammer.

 

[capreppy]

Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Win Brass
Fed 205M (Small Rifle Match)
24gr H322 (got 16# for $150 from someone locally)
Hornady 50gr Z-Max
2.20 COAL

This was fired out of a 24" 1-9 twist Savage Varmint barrel. Initial load development showed 24gr was 1/2 MOA. Loaded up 100 and shot groups over several weekends and maintained 1/2 MOA. I may tinker a little bit and try 23.8, 24.0, 24.2 to see if I can tighten the group and then may play a little with the OAL. I didn't check my jump as I just wanted to shoot. Using a Millett 4-16x50 TRS-1 and could probably tighten the group up if I used my Mueller 8-32x40 Target Dot scope. At 1/2 MOA each and every outing, I'm pretty pleased. Pleased enough that I got 2.5k sitting on the shelves for the next year of shooting at my local range
*************************************
LC '07 Brass
CCI #400 (Small Rifle)
24gr WC844
Sierra 55gr GameKing HPBT (not entirely sure where I got them, but they were $105/k)
2.20 COAL

These shot 1/2 MOA with ease. I've got 400 remaining and I'm going to load these up for very cheap trigger time.
*************************************
Got 1k Nosler 69gr CC's in the email (over-runs) and am going to see how well these shoot in the coming weeks.

 

[Tedfs]

Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Does anyone have any 5.56x45 loads they have developed with TAC and CCI # 41 primers using 62gr - 64gr projectiles?

I developed these loads over the summer (85+ temps) with CCI 400 primers. All I have left now are # 41 primers and am happy if we get over 20 degrees. A CCI tech said the # 41 are considered magnum primers and are not interchangeable with the 400 primers. Just having a hard time finding data using TAC and magnum primers.
You would think there would be a ton of data considering the proliferation of TAC and #41 primers in the AR reloading community.

Upper is a 1:7 chrome lined BCM 14.5" pinned, Midlength BFH

Pulled Gold dot 64 grain
LC NATO 1x fired Brass 1.750 trim length
CCI 400 Primer
26.3 gr of TAC
2.242 OAL
No swipes or cratering of primers

Bulk SS109 New manufacture 62 grain
LC NATO 1x fired Brass 1.750 trim length
CCI 400 Primer
26.6 gr of TAC
2.255 OAL
No swipes or cratering of primers

Starting 10 % under to work up with the #41 primer would be put me at minimum for 5.56 load data from Ramshot using 400 primers. I'm finding it hard to believe the #41 primers are going to make that huge of a leap in pressure but really have nothing to go by here.

Emailed the makers of QuickLoad to see if TAC is included in the powder database, have no idea if the software lets you pick primers or not which is really what I need here instead of guessing.

 

[SPAK]

Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Had anyone used OBT to calculate any loads with their ar15??? I've used ocw and its worked well but I recently tried a handful of loads using obt and quickload and the results weren't very good at all.... It's possible I just have wrong powder and bullet combo but I expected a little better than 6" groups at 100 yards.....

 

[SPAK]

Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

I forgot to add I've been using obt and quickload with my bolt guns with really good results in identifying the accuracy node....just wondering if I'm missing something with gas driven rifles in properly identifying the node...using obt...

 

[aviumvenator]

Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

This load is pretty good at 100 but I have not tried it at longer ranges yet.

22.9 AR Comp
Nosler CC 69 HPBT
LC often fired brass
Trimmed, primer pocket uniformed and deburred inside
Wolf 223 primer
2.260
No chrono yet

Barnes Precision Machine DMR Rifle-18” 1/8 twist
100y 5 shot .5 moa

 

[BoilerUP]

Black Hole Weaponry 18" 1:8 5.56 barrel
77gr Nosler Custom Competition
23.8gr 8208XBR
RP brass
Rem 6.5

2683fps (5fps slower than Black Hills 5.56 77gr OTM Seconds on that range trip)

 

[George63]

new LT-32 powder load - tried a few tenths over their published max, but right at the max for 556 loads did the best average in 4 rifles: 16, 18 and 20" AR's - 18" bolty
FC case
24.0 gr LT-32
52 gr SMK
tula prime
2.255 oal

 

[NCHillbilly]

Hodgdon H-335 is a ball powder, and the only one I use for 55gr bullets.25.2 grs in a federal case with cci 41 primers almost exactly duplicates m193 loads in speed,but are slightly more accurate.I'm getting right at 2980fps from a 16 in 1-9 barrel with this load.

 

[yz45067]

Tag, thanks guys for great data!

 

[OldmaninNeb]

shooting a cooper 1-14 can hide a 5 shot group under a nickel @ 100 yds with
H335 26.7 gr. .015 into the lands Hornady 40gr.V-max

also good results using Reloader 10X and 4895

am looking for someone using H335 on Sierria's 50gr blitzking's ... hate to buy their book until I'm' sure they have ALL the bullets n not just their own like Hornady

 

[wk05]

I'm looking for some .223 loads for my 26" 1 in 12 twist ADL-Varmint. Right now, I've got Sierra 52gr BT-HP, Nosler Varmegeddon 40 an 55 grain bullets, and Nosler BT 50 grain bullets as well. Powder is H335. I'd love to be able to smack steel at 400 with this setup if possible.

 

[gaintwist]

varget, cci450, 90vld, lapua case

 

[tobedell]

69gn Sierra HPBT 26gn Varget, shoots great through mini14 and Bushmaster heavy barrel 5.56
77gn Sierra HPBT 25gn N540 exceptional long pange out of a 20 in rock river .223 wylde.

 

[BCP]

69nosler
2000MR (25.2 and 26gr)
CCI mil spec primer
WCC brass
2.255" COAL

26gr shoots the best but it's definitely max

Currently playing with seating depth to see what happens

Didn't have luck with either 2000MR or 69s in the past but this AR loves both

 

[rubicon06on33s]

rem 700 223 varmint barrel
28 g Tac
40 Nos BT
2.26 Coal
Makes the PD's go splat

 

[ratrod54]

Rock River Elite Operator 2
Hornady 55 Grain VMax
Lake City Brass
Federal 205 Primers
25.5 grains Varget

Split brass just above the case head on first shot. Second shot bulged the brass above the case head. I didn't anticipate i would have problems with this load.

Updated 5/28/13
Shot two rounds from Hornady brass at 23.5 grains and still bulged brass. Looked at the chamber and have found the bad round messed up my chamber. I can only figure I had a bad piece of "once fired" brass. I will have to re-barrel. Anyone else have issues with 25.5 grains of Varget or Lake City brass?

 

[Ultraman550]

Stag Arms 16" 1:9, 5.56 NATO
LC Brass trimmed to 1.75
OAL 2.260
23 & 23.5 gr H335 (six shots of each)
69 gr SMK
Fiocchi small rifle primers
Redding FL die w .247 bushing
Very mild LEE crimp

Question for you guys. With 23 grains my grouping at 200 yards was within 2 quarters side be side. When I shot the 23.5 grains my groupings opened up significantly. Wind was about 3-4 mph entire time. What could have caused this? I didn't let the barrel cool after my first 6 shots of 23 gr. Could that have attributed?

I dont know know the velocity as I dont have a chrony yet but I saw this on Sierras site----below

This is from Sierras Site:
69 GR. SIE HPBT
Hodgdon H335
2.235"
22.0 gr 2801 fps 42,400 CUP
24.0 gr 2960 fps 49,500 CUP

 

[Monmouth]

- New Winchester .223 brass out of the bag.
- 55 gr Montana Gold's
- Remington 7.5 primer
- BL-C powder
- No chronograph, yet.
- Range - 100 yards
- AR-15 with a 16" Daniel Defense barrell with 1/7 twist
- Great groups at 200 meters

4 shot group at 100 yards

 

[Sowastrong Industries]

69gr Nosler BTHP
24.5gr H4895
CCI 41
2.260"
mixed brass
2920fps from 18" Noveske spr bbl and adjustable GB

pressure signs aplenty going up to 26gr, backed off and have been happy with groups.

 

[BCP]

69nosler
2000MR (25.2 and 26gr)
CCI mil spec primer
WCC brass
2.255" COAL

26gr shoots the best but it's definitely max

Currently playing with seating depth to see what happens

Didn't have luck with either 2000MR or 69s in the past but this AR loves both

Just to update I ended up seating them deep, 2.24" COAL with 26gr of 2000MR and they are shooting very well. No serious pressure signs either.

 

[OldmaninNeb]

Cooper 1:14

Sierra Blitzking 50gr. 3590 fps!

Lapua brass CCI 450 just touching the lands. Hot Load.
would have to go look up H335 load.

 

[AzTac2shooter]

new LT-32 powder load - tried a few tenths over their published max, but right at the max for 556 loads did the best average in 4 rifles: 16, 18 and 20" AR's - 18" bolty
FC case
24.0 gr LT-32
52 gr SMK
tula prime
2.255 oal

Have you made up any other loads with the LT-32? How do you like it? How does it shoot?

I have been trying to find people that have real world experience with it in .223

 

[George63]

Have you made up any other loads with the LT-32? How do you like it? How does it shoot?

I have been trying to find people that have real world experience with it in .223

I have tried it with 77 SMK, it was alright but somewhat faster burn rate than what is ideal - R15 is usually the go to powder for 75/77 gr - for a metered 77 gr load XBR 8208 is an excellent choice

I have not tried the LT-32 powder for middleweight 223, for 69 gr I like an AA2520 3000 fps load

 

[rebs]

I have a 20" 1 in 9 twist Ar 15 and am looking for a load with H335 powder and a 55 gr flat base hollow point bullet.

 

[Tango Bravo]

Rebs, try 25 grains for a highly accurate load. Not sure about fps, but should be around 3150-3160 in the 20". The H335 is not the fastest load, but is extremely accurate on 55-60 grain for the 223. My buddy worked up this load, and last week I saw "most accurate powder tested" in Nosler's reload manual.

 

[Ring]

Wow...
55gr barns tac-x
26.5gr win 748
CCI sr
2.25 col

5 shots
Savage lrpv

 

[Quickoz]

My current load is:

55gr Nosler Varmageddon
25.2gr H4895
RP Match Prepped Brass
Fed 205 Match
10-15 thou off lands

Shoots under 1" for 5 shots at 100yds when I do my part.

Currently testing the 53gr Vmax w/ Varget 25gr to 27.5gr in Win brass. Shot a 5 shot group at 400m which measured around 4" so that higher end shows promise and I is flat. 6.2MOA from 100m zero to 400m. Will be trying again at 400m for good vertical.

Rifle data:

Howa 1500 with 24" varmint bbl, 1-12T
Manners MCS-T3

May replace barrel with a 1-8T 26" bbl.

 

[700sendero]

60 gr vmax
Bha match brass fully prepped and trimmed
7.5 primer
25 gr varget
Remington 700 sps tac stock
2900 fps 5 shot bugholes..

 

[Sowastrong Industries]

CFE223 25.0gr
CCI 400
mixed FC head stamp brass
69gr Sierra HPBT
2.235" OAL
no Lee factory crimp, will put a smidgen of one now that I found a sweet spot.

Shot a 5rd group just under 1"; all horizontal spread.
18" Noveske w/ 2.5-10 PST.

 

[JB02]

Rifle: 1/7 tw, 20" Brux, Standard 223
Lake City Brass
CCI 400 Primer
Everything seated just off the lands, but loads weren't too sensitive to bullet jump

The rifle was throated for the 75gr AMAX, but 80gr AMAX works good too. Of course these easily fit in my AICS 223 Mag:

75gr AMAX w/ Power Pro 2000-MR:

Node 1: 25.5gr (very precise, ~ 0.25 MOA)
Node 2: 26.4gr (acceptable, ~ 0.5 MOA)
Node 3: 27.1gr (tolerable precision, but a speed demon, ~ 3/4-1.0 MOA)

80gr AMAX

Node 1: 25.3gr
Node 2: 26.1gr
Node 3: 26.9gr
(performance save as nodes 1-3 above for 75 AMAX)

I stuck with Node 1 for both loads. The higher nodes give you more speed but degraded precision.

The 75 AMAX is slightly more accurate in my rifle than the 80 AMAX. 75 BTHPs are "meh" with the 75 AMAX loads above; they shot best with 27.4gr PP-2000MR.

Both the 75 AMAX and the 75 BTHP seemed to have faired well with 24.7gr of Varget, but I haven't tuned them like I did with PP-2000MR.

 

[Thumper580]

AR15 1/8 twist, 24" bull barrel. Winch brass, Federal match primer, 22.5gr XBR8208, 77gr Nosler match. Give groups about 1/4" -3/8" groups at 100 yards. About 2700fps.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Bushmaster Varminter 24" barrel. 1-9" twist
CMC trigger
Nikon 3-12 M-223

69 SMK
25.0 gr. Varget
Rem 7 1/2 BR Primer
Lake City 07 brass once fired
Case length trimmer to -.005 below max
Primer pockets uniformed, flash holes de-burred, chamfered for VLDs
COAL 2.260
3033 fps
.202" 3 shot group @ 100 yds.

50 gr. V-max
25.5 gr. Benchmark
Rem 7 1/2 BR Primer
Lake City 12 brass once fired
Case length trimmer to -.005 below max
Primer pockets uniformed, flash holes de-burred, chamfered for VLDs
COAL 2.220
3390 fps
.585" 10 shot group @ 100 yds. (1" higher impact than 69gr SMK load)
4.5" 10 shot group @ 502 yds.

 

[peligro113]

Rem 700 Brux 20" 1/8 223 wylde chamber
77gr Nosler Custom competition 2nds
seated to 2.260
RL15
22.5g, 2502 fps
23.0g, 2561 fps
23.5g, 2635 fps
LC brass
Tula SRM

sighter shots only top left target on 1st target page
77gr Nosler Custom competition 2nds
seated to 2.350
H335
22.2g, 2589 fps
LC brass
Tula SRM

1st target



2nd target ignore the writin on the target that says H335, 2.260"

 

[dannyr3_8]

what is [&quot]

 

[bruddah]

Black Hills Weaponry 18" 1:8 5.56 barrel
77gr Nosler Custom Competition
23.8gr 8208XBR
RP brass
Rem 6.5

2683fps (5fps slower than Black Hills 5.56 77gr OTM Seconds on that range trip)

Do you mean Black Hole Weaponry?

 

[BoilerUP]

Do you mean Black Hole Weaponry?

Yes...yes I did.

 

[bruddah]

Yes...yes I did.

I've got three of their barrels. Good stuff!

 

[Trevor300wsm]

Stiller Tac30 action
Bartlien @ 22"

80gr Berger VLD
25.4gr Varget
CCi 450
Lapua brass
1.984" off the ogive (fits in a AI mag)
Avg: 2,875fps (brand new barrel, will speed up some)

This load shows no pressure signs in my rifle and shoots in the .1's-.2's consistently for me.

 

[Erthal]

Borden SSR repeater Krieger 1/9 tw 24 inches

77 gn SMK
24,0 RL 15
Lapua brass
Avrg 2970 fps ( seems hight, possible or chrony error?)

 

[hkguns]

Cooper model 16 24" bbl. 1/12
.223 WSSM
Win. brass
Federal 210 primers
Hornady 60 gr. V-MAX
39.5 gr. IMR 4895
COAL 2.150
not chrono. yet guessing 3600-3700 fps

You got me on this one. Missed that it was WSSM. Might want to bold that WSSM before someone blows themselves up trying to stuff that much powder into a "normal" .223 Remington.

 

[LVdubbin]

This is a load I'm working up for SD, hogs and maybe some coyotes. 10-shot group. Red X was from a different string of shots. This load did have a Dillon taper crimp.

 

[BravoSector1]

Tikka T3 Tactical, .223 Rem, 1-8 twist 20" barrel
SWFA 20x SuperSniper
10 round group off the bipod at 100m, 0.43"

Hornady 55gn VMAX, B.C. 0.255
Once fired PPU brass
CCI primer
25gn Varget
C.O.L. 2.23
Average Velocity: 2,855/SD=24

I expected my Hornady 75gn rounds to group better but the best I could turn today was a 1.16" group. Need to work with that load some more. I'm happy with this round for a 300m paper puncher or critter getter.

 

[JoshcBoucher]

In this land of scarcity, I bought some 35 grain polymer tip {AMAX?],.224, from Midway. Finally did some load testing, and found some good loads for them, at 100 yds. Shooting them out of 1/9 twist Remmy 700, and a Stag 6 varminter.IMR 4198-20.7 grns., COL-2.1,BLC2-26.3 grns., COL-2.1. Both loads shot 1/2 in. groups, at 100 yds. Did a ladder test, with the 4198, from 20-21.5, with no signs of over pressure. Did the same, with the BLC2, from 25.4-27 grns., with no pressure signs, and no FTF issues. Most likely not a good long range load, but they did fine at 100. Made over 300 loads out of a pound of the 4198, though it doesn't meter well [i.e. had to weigh each load], being a "rod" powder.

 

[pmclaine]

Sorry to be looking for an easy path.....

I am new to .223 reloading and over the months have lucked into a bunch of good powders - AR Comp, CFE 223, 8208XBR, Varget, TAC.

I tried the OCW route but. I've been handicapped by only having iron sights at this time. I have a 1-8X on order to help get some better marksmanship than my eyes and irons can provide.

But time is wasting and I need to change my S1050 over to load some other calibers. So while I have proper OCW loads ready to go when I get my scope I want to make some respectable plinking ammo.

I have 8 pounds of CFE on hand and I want to go to town with the S1050.

Any good loads for CFE223 combined with

77 Nosler CC
16 inch 1/7 chrome lined
2.26 COAL
WSRP
Head stamp sorted by year mil brass WCC and LC

I've fired up CFE loads between 23.2 to 24.4 (over max) without signs of pressure just really couldn't see a load that stood out as consistent.

Any good experience appreciated.

 

[AZ.noob]

Anyone have nodes for 68 grain Hornaday HPBTs?
Platform would be 20" 1:9 twist AR-15
Available powders are TAC, Varget, BLC-2