Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

KYpatriot

KYpatriot

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#1
Got a Hornady LnL on the way. Want to start progressive loading 223 and have a few questions for the hive:

1. What powder for 223? I was thinking TAC, then Bl-c2. Obviously needs to meter well I have a lot of varget but heard the powder measure doesnt like it.

2. Are y'all using mag primers with the ball powders-is it really that hard to ignite? This will be exclusively for ARs I dont want slamfires but do I really need the mil primers?

3. I am planning on loading cannelure bullets, both 55 FMJ and the Hornady 55gr tipped rounds with cannelure. What crimp die is good for ARs?

4. For 9mm 115g to 125g and 45acp 200 and 230gr. What powder would be good for both? I was thinking WSF, HS6 or power pistol. Anything wrong with them, or advantage to any?

I have done lots of single stage reloading for bolt guns, but no progressive and not much for ARs or pistols.

Thanks in advance.
 
#2
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

I'm in a similar situation. I've got a LnL AP press here that UPS dropped and cracked. In boredom while waiting for UPS to issue a check (they did, I'm just waiting for it), I set the press up and fiddle farted around with it. My new press should be here in a couple days.

1. Depends on bullet weight. For light(er) bullets, I intend to use WC-844 (if I can find any). For heavier bullets, I'm gonna give Varget a try and see how well it meters. If it's +/- 0.2gr or less from target weight, and I think it will be, I'll continue using it. If the range is larger than that, I'll give TAC a try.

2. Someone else'll have to help ya here. I recently bought a handful of Wolf ".223" primers to try but haven't used them yet. I was using standard WIN SR primers, but am switching because they've been so prone to piercing and leaking lately.

3. Lee FCD.

4. I've got experience with HS-6 and found it to be absolutely FILTHY. Both in excessive carbon residue and unburnt powder residue. I ended up switching to Unique, and although touted as a "dirty" powder, I found it to be not all that bad. It flowed through a Dillon powder measure with +/- 0.2gr accuracy which isn't all that great, but it suited me just fine. Note - My experience with Unique is in 9mm 115gr bullets and 45 ACP 230gr bullets. I'm still using Unique in the 45, but I recently switched to 147's in 9mm and am using TiteGroup which meters very well. I don't think TiteGroup will work very well with 45 ACP.

When researching which dual purpose powder to use for 9mm and 45, I strongly considered Win 231.

Hope this helps at least a little.
 
#3
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

I'm in the same boat. I'm all setup waiting on shell plates to come in.

I hope CCI SR primers are good for AR-15 ammo. CCI was the only primers left.

I have 2 lbs of H-335 I'm going to try. I have some IMR 4064 and Vargent too.

Looking to buy some AA 2230

The way it looks I'm just going to try what I can buy.
 
#4
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

i really like tac and 2230 for reloading .223 on my lnl press. a buddy of mine had good groups with varget when he was reloading on a single stage press but when he started reloading on a progressive his powder thrower got stuck and he made a bunch of dummy rounds (training rounds )lol.

and have had really good luck with bullseye for my .45acp
 
#5
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

Varget will cause heartburn in some powder-bar type throwers like the Dillon but works fine with the Horndady powder measure. I've loaded 10s of thousands of rounds with Varget. So if thats what you prefer, go for it.
 
#6
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

I used CCI match primers the first time and it turned my AR into a burst gun...Its a bushmaster varmint special but every time I pulled the trigger it fired three rounds...When it got dirty it went to two rounds...then real dirty back to normal. Its a pain to try and shoot a 3/4 minute group with three round burst. First shot was always dead, next shot was about 4 inches above that, then the third landed damn near off paper at the top of the target. It was fun for a minute but I wont do it again...
 
#8
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

Ok, I will try and get some TAC, BLc2 or H335.

Anyone have a problem with CCI mag primers? I have heard that the mag primers have a harder cup and should prevent slamfires. SJ if you are getting 3 round bursts that sounds like your primers were seated enough...a protruding primer will definitely cause a slam fire.

Pistol powder? I want something that meters well and will work for both 9 and 45...people are saying power pistol has too much flash...anybody load both on a progressive?
 
#9
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

They weren't...I hand prime and felt every single round...I could take a round out that was chambered from a round being fired and see that just the free mass of the firing pin was leaving quite the crater on the cup.
 
#10
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

I load HP-38 for both 9 and 45. I don't need or want full power loads so this powder works well for me. Meters like water just like H335/WC844 which is what I use for all of my 223 plinking rounds. Powder drops are always within +/- 0.1gr which is perfect for my needs.
 
#11
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

I use 2230, winchester small rifle primers, and a lee die set with the factory crimp die for .223. Never had a problem with the winchester primers in ar's.

For the 9mm and 45, winchester 231 works good for both.

Also Imperial sizing wax speeds up the process for me on the lock and load.
 
#12
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rookie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Varget will cause heartburn in some powder-bar type throwers like the Dillon but works fine with the Horndady powder measure. I've loaded 10s of thousands of rounds with Varget. So if thats what you prefer, go for it. </div></div>

X2
 
#13
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

I use varget mainly on my LNL AP for 223, but am slowly moving over to XBR 8208. I think it meters better and works great in my ARs.

I use standard CCI small rifle primers. Never had an issue.

I dont crimp.

For pistol I have used HS6 and it is dirty but IMO you should be cleaning the powder drop after every use anyways. I use bullseye regularly because it uses less powder for 9mm and 45 than HS6. I dont have any issues +/- 0.1 GN.

Good luck
 
#14
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

CCI mag primers are what I'd recommend. Blc2, and H335 are extremely dirty powders. The Tac might be the way to go. Ar Comp powder is looking like it will be a good powder, especially for the 65+ grain bullets.
Right now I run Win 748, cleaner, but extremely temp sensitive.
For pistol Win 231, WSF, WST are good places to start.
 
#15
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

dont buy up all the AA2230
grin.gif
 
#16
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

I've used CCI 41 primers and H-335 pretty much exclusively since I started reloading 223's.I mainly shoot 55gr fmj,but have used this combo with 62gr and 68 gr match hp's.
As far as the 9mm and 45 auto,I use bullseye with the 9mm and AA no.5 with the 45 auto.It has been my experience that the faster powders(bullseye,power pistol,etc.)while they will push the bullet out of the barrel,are not optimum with the heavier 45's.BTW,AA no.5 meters like water.It's a true pleasure to use.
 
#17
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

IMR 8208XBR works real well both through the LNL AP powder measure and through the rifle. I am pleased with the velocity and the consistency for .223 with 55gr FMJ.
 
#18
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

I recommend Titegroup for pistol. It is extremely versatile and will load any pistol, from 25acp to 500SW Mag. It will also load subsonic rifle ammo.

It doesn't provide peak performance/velocity in some cartridges, most notably the high power magnums where slow powders rule, but in moderate cartridges like 9, 40 and 45, it works wonderfully.
 
#20
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

For lighter .223 projectiles, typically my plinking ammo, I tend to lean towards BL-C(2) because it meters so damn well in my Dillon. I can just pump the rounds out like nobodies business with great amounts of consistency.

BL-C(2) was originally a military powder for 5.56 from what I have been able to gather. It is a bit dirty on some of the softer loads, but it seems that as the load gets hotter, it actually gets cleaner oddly enough.

For my Service Rifle competition and practice ammo, I am loading 77 and 82gn projectiles and I choose to trickle Varget or IMR4320.

For all my .223, or any ammo that I use in a semi-auto with a floating firing pin, I always use either magnum primers or military spec primers. I have seen to many slam fires and too many torched/trashed bolt faces from pierced primers. The thicker cup on the magnum/mil primers is worth the extra safety margin, IMO.

As far as my pistol loading is concerned, I use WW231 due to its soft pressure curve and the fact that it is so versatile. I load 9mm, .40 and .45, and it has been just fine for all of them. Its a tad dirty, but it produces accurate loads and it meters well through my Dillon. It is also damn near impossible to throw a double charge in any of those cases.

Hope that helps!
 
#22
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

For 55 gr. FMJ on my LNLAP, I use AA2230. Meters well, good medium velocity.

For heavier 75/77 gr rounds, I love TAC. Works almost as well as Varget, but works on the LNLAP.
 
#24
Re: Hornady LNL Progressive and 223-what powder?

TAC/CCI 400/55g Varmit XTreme HP
Loaded and shot over 1000 through my 16" DD M4V5, 10.8" DD SBR, Ruger 223 Bolt not mine, several different AR's of friends. Meters well, very accurate, I won't recommend a load, that ones up to you, but I use RAM's data sheet and shoot under max. It's also pretty clean.
 
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