Go To General Use .223 Load

The #1 community for Gun Owners in Indiana

Member Benefits:

  • Fewer Ads!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • bwframe

    Loneranger
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    93   0   0
    Feb 11, 2008
    38,170
    113
    Btown Rural
    Hey there folks. :ingo:

    My stock of factory .223 is getting low. I need to start loading the components that I have accumulated for some years. I believe I have all the equipment necessary.

    I plan to put some initial loads together on the single stage, but ultimately move over this "bulk" ammo production over to the XL650. Hoping to initially settle on a powder that meters well through a Dillon powder measure.

    I have a few thousand 55gr bullets of a couple different brands and a bit less of 62gr. I certainly don't have every powder, but I've accumulated a fair variety in anticipation of this. Mainly Winchester SR primers and also some CCI and Tula. Also have a lot of range pickup brass. At least a thousand sized, swaged, cleaned and ready for primers.

    I'll be shooting various AR's with various barrels and twists. I have always mainly shot PMC Bronze, to use up cases of it I picked up years ago. I am less than happy with the consistency and accuracy of this PMC ammo. I was amazed at how much better a few boxes of Speer Gold Dot LE Duty ammo shot recently.

    What are your go to factory like plinking, training sort of general purpose .223 AR loads?
     
    Last edited:

    Doublehelix

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    15   0   0
    Jun 20, 2015
    1,874
    38
    Westfield
    I like Tac for ease of metering and great all-purpose powder for .223, but for more "serious" work, I prefer Varget, but it does not always meter the best out of the Dillon powder drops.

    Tac seems to work pretty well behind the 55 gr Hornady bullets that I bought a ton of about 2 years ago.
     

    billybob44

    Master
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    383   0   0
    Sep 22, 2010
    3,426
    27
    In the Man Cave
    55gr. Most any FMJ..

    55gr. FMJ of what ever is on sale at the time that you bulk buy.

    25.0gr. of H-335 or the military WC-844.

    I like Wolf/Tula .223 primers for the most part to help avoid problems with slam fires with AR's floating firing pins. If not Wolf/Tula, I will use a Magnum SR primer.

    This load ONLY in strong actions as it is right at 5.56X45 (NATO) pressures..Bill.
     

    cmann250

    Sharpshooter
    Rating - 100%
    18   0   0
    Jan 2, 2018
    503
    27
    Land of 300bu corn
    I’ve used W748 and H335. Both meter in Dillon equipment and shoot well for 55gr loads.

    The WORST part about reloading M193-ish that after all the sorting, cleaning, trimming, swaging, and loading someone will post some factory ammo in the classifieds for less than you can reload it for. It really makes one feel great about all the time they spent.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

    lovemywoods

    Geek in Paradise!
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    50   0   0
    Mar 26, 2008
    3,026
    0
    Brown County
    There was a link to a barrel of M193 rounds...Want to go halvsies? :):

    H335 meters very well out of Dillon powder measures. I just did a test recently and found that over 25 loads, the H335 ranged between 99.7% and 100.5% of the average. The standard deviation was 0.05. So, if you can tolerate loads that are within one half of one percentage point of the average, then you're good to go. I'm sure that with this ammo in a good rifle that I'm am still the weak link in the chain!
     
    Last edited:

    charley59

    Sharpshooter
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Feb 27, 2010
    380
    18
    In Carroll County
    with 55gr FMJ bullets, I have used 22.5gr of H335. H335 is what I also use in my .30-30, since Alliant dc'd Reloader 12. Also, have good results with 23.5gr. of Accurate 2230. Ball powders, meter consistently in a Hornady powder measure.
     

    2in1evtime

    Master
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 98.4%
    61   1   0
    Oct 30, 2011
    3,444
    113
    retired-midwest
    55 gr. boattails
    h335- 24.5 gr.
    acc2015- 22.2gr
    imr4198- 20.1 gr.
    bl-c2-- 26.5 gr
    These loads serve me well for basic shooting but not match ammo all at 2.200 except the 2015 its at 2.260
     

    sugarcreekbrass

    Expert
    Industry Partner
    Rating - 100%
    26   0   0
    Mar 29, 2015
    938
    43
    West central
    I just started loading some for my new AR. It is a 16" with a 1-7" twist. I made up some with 25.5 gr up to 27 gr of CFE 223. The 26.5 gr load was the most consistent in terms of velocity and accuracy, although there wasn't much difference in any of the loads. My load is 26.5 gr of CFE 223, mixed brass, CCI SRP, Wolf 55 gr FMJBT. I am making this load for $0.20/round.
     

    indyjohn

    PATRIOT
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    77   0   0
    Dec 26, 2010
    7,505
    77
    In the trees
    Hey buddy, hope you and yours are doing well.

    I'm not a fan of Hornady's 55gr FMJ cannelure; IMO if you seat to the cannelure the bullet is too deep and causes a jump that just doesn't lend itself to repeatable groups. Some years ago I was fortunate to find someone selling a couple thousand 62gr FMJ Steel Core made by General Dynamics, those pills were amazingly consistent.


    These loads are for an average 1:9 twist 16 - 18" barrel. MV on typical June day will be in the 2700 -3000 fps range. I've always been a LC brass fanboy, but these recipes are done with WIN, FC, and REM brands both new and fired.


    WC842
    55gr FMJ, WSR - 23.1gr
    62gr FMJ, S&B SR - 24.3gr


    WC844
    62gr FMJ, Rem 7 1/2 - 25.0gr


    Varget
    55gr FMJ, WSR - 25.5gr (Remington bullet)
    62gr FMJ, CCI #400 - 25.0gr (Green Tip pulls)


    Of course YMMV.
     
    Last edited:

    bwframe

    Loneranger
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    93   0   0
    Feb 11, 2008
    38,170
    113
    Btown Rural
    Thanks folks! :ingo:

    I think I'll start with a CFE223 load as its the powder I have the most of. I may go ahead and try another powder also, we'll see.

    I'm assuming most everyone is loading to the book OAL?
     

    indyjohn

    PATRIOT
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    77   0   0
    Dec 26, 2010
    7,505
    77
    In the trees
    I'm assuming most everyone is loading to the book OAL?

    No. I'm loading as close as possible to maximum length for a standard 20 rd magazine without binding. That means depending on the projectile (and the magazine) 2.220 - 2.270. The closer to the lands you get, the better chances for a tight group.
     
    Top Bottom