Range Report: First batch of .223 reloads

[U.S. Patriot]

I fired all rounds at 50 yards.

Charge: 24.5 grains of Varget
Brass: Mix of Lake City and Federal
Bullets: 62 grain Armscor FMJBT
Primers: CCI #41 mil spec

Overall I'm pretty happy, but I'm going to order another brand of bullets. The Armscor where given to me by a fellow member. I'm also going to bump my charge up a 1/2 grain. The recoil the rounds produced was softer then the AE223 I have been shooting, so I know I'm safe in terms of pressure.

 

[sgreen3]

Looks like a good start, what kind of bullets you going to go with?

 

[U.S. Patriot]

Looks like a good start, what kind of bullets you going to go with?

Still contemplating on that, I'll probably wind up buying Winchester if I can find them in 62 grain FMJBT.

 

[Twentyfootdaredevil]

Still contemplating on that, I'll probably wind up buying Winchester if I can find them in 62 grain FMJBT.

I haven't had very good results from the Winchester bullets.

 

[sgreen3]

Are you making just plinking ammo or precision ammo?

 

[U.S. Patriot]

Are you making just plinking ammo or precision ammo?

Plinking, I may load up some precesion rounds at a later time.

 

[Twentyfootdaredevil]

I have some of the Winchester stuff here if you want to try it out.

 

[sgreen3]

Ah ok, well I wouldnt think bullet selection would be as critical being for plinking ammo

 

[Twentyfootdaredevil]

Just curious if you are just making linking ammo have you looked at some of the pulled powders? They could save you some coin over the Varget.

Don't get me wrong I prefer Varget myself but for linking ammo there are cheaper ways to go.

 

[Litlratt]

The recoil the rounds produced was softer then the AE223 I have been shooting, so I know I'm safe in terms of pressure.

Relying on your perception of recoil is not advised for determining pressure.

 

[U.S. Patriot]

Relying on your perception of recoil is not advised for determining pressure.

I saw no other signs of overpressure. I also loaded at the minimum charge according to Hodgdon's data.

 

[U.S. Patriot]

Just curious if you are just making linking ammo have you looked at some of the pulled powders? They could save you some coin over the Varget.

Don't get me wrong I prefer Varget myself but for linking ammo there are cheaper ways to go.

That is definitely a consideration. I wanted to get a test load up before winter hit, and I have read a lot of good comments about Varget.

 

[Aszerigan]

Relying on your perception of recoil is not advised for determining pressure.

Actually, I disagree. I'm not saying its the only indicator, but measured recoil is a direct measured mathematical number in ft/lbs derived from an equation of force = mass x acceleration. See both Newton's 2nd and 3rd laws.

Perceived recoil is often the most immediate sign that something is wrong when firing a new load. So are muzzle flash and sound of the shot. Obviously these are not the 'end all, be all', but they are very valuable signs of an incorrect load.

Situation #1 - Individual loads a 10-round magazine full of .45 ACP loadings. The first round has significantly higher recoil than normal rounds. Individual then stops firing and checks his rounds, instead of dumping the rest of the mag into a target. Individual then finds he has accidentally double charged all this rounds. Recoil was the first tell-tale sign that something was wrong.

Situation #2 - Individual loads a 10-round magazine full of .45 ACP loadings. The first round fires properly, but when the second round is chambered and fired, nothing happens. The individual pulls a spent piece of brass out of his chamber, and checking for pressure signs, sees that the primer has burnt, and there are no obvious signs of overpressure. Individual is a smart shooter and analyzes his situation, knowing that something didn't feel right. He then checks his weapon, and realizes he has a bullet stuck in his barrel. He's loaded a squib round. Recoil was, again, the first tell-tale sign that something was wrong.

In both these situations, perceived recoil was the first - and most obvious - sign that there was an issue. Again, I state, relying on perceived recoil IS advised when determining pressures on rounds, proper functioning, and 'gut-check' error prevention. It's not the only way to do it, but its often the most immediate and apparent sign there is a problem.

 

[U.S. Patriot]

Actually, I disagree. I'm not saying its the only indicator, but measured recoil is a direct measured mathematical number in ft/lbs derived from an equation of force = mass x acceleration. See both Newton's 2nd and 3rd laws.

Perceived recoil is often the most immediate sign that something is wrong when firing a new load. So are muzzle flash and sound of the shot. Obviously these are not the 'end all, be all', but they are very valuable signs of an incorrect load.

Situation #1 - Individual loads a 10-round magazine full of .45 ACP loadings. The first round has significantly higher recoil than normal rounds. Individual then stops firing and checks his rounds, instead of dumping the rest of the mag into a target. Individual then finds he has accidentally double charged all this rounds. Recoil was the first tell-tale sign that something was wrong.

Situation #2 - Individual loads a 10-round magazine full of .45 ACP loadings. The first round fires properly, but when the second round is chambered and fired, nothing happens. The individual pulls a spent piece of brass out of his chamber, and checking for pressure signs, sees that the primer has burnt, and there are no obvious signs of overpressure. Individual is a smart shooter and analyzes his situation, knowing that something didn't feel right. He then checks his weapon, and realizes he has a bullet stuck in his barrel. He's loaded a squib round. Recoil was, again, the first tell-tale sign that something was wrong.

In both these situations, perceived recoil was the first - and most obvious - sign that there was an issue. Again, I state, relying on perceived recoil IS advised when determining pressures on rounds, proper functioning, and 'gut-check' error prevention. It's not the only way to do it, but its often the most immediate and apparent sign there is a problem.

I also marked all my primers with a sharpie. So I could check them for any damage, etc.

 

[Litlratt]

Actually, I disagree. I'm not saying its the only indicator, but measured recoil is a direct measured mathematical number in ft/lbs derived from an equation of force = mass x acceleration. See both Newton's 2nd and 3rd laws.

Perceived recoil is often the most immediate sign that something is wrong when firing a new load. So are muzzle flash and sound of the shot. Obviously these are not the 'end all, be all', but they are very valuable signs of an incorrect load.

Situation #1 - Individual loads a 10-round magazine full of .45 ACP loadings. The first round has significantly higher recoil than normal rounds. Individual then stops firing and checks his rounds, instead of dumping the rest of the mag into a target. Individual then finds he has accidentally double charged all this rounds. Recoil was the first tell-tale sign that something was wrong.

Situation #2 - Individual loads a 10-round magazine full of .45 ACP loadings. The first round fires properly, but when the second round is chambered and fired, nothing happens. The individual pulls a spent piece of brass out of his chamber, and checking for pressure signs, sees that the primer has burnt, and there are no obvious signs of overpressure. Individual is a smart shooter and analyzes his situation, knowing that something didn't feel right. He then checks his weapon, and realizes he has a bullet stuck in his barrel. He's loaded a squib round. Recoil was, again, the first tell-tale sign that something was wrong.

In both these situations, perceived recoil was the first - and most obvious - sign that there was an issue. Again, I state, relying on perceived recoil IS advised when determining pressures on rounds, proper functioning, and 'gut-check' error prevention. It's not the only way to do it, but its often the most immediate and apparent sign there is a problem.

I agree with both of your situations regarding a .45 ACP, as I would any centerfire pistol cartridge. What I don't agree with is your attempt to compare apples to oranges.

The statement was relative to the subject matter and I stand by it. At no point did I say that recoil, or a shooters' perception of a difference in recoil, was not a valuable indicator of possible over/under pressure.

My statement was "Relying on your perception of recoil is not advised for determining pressure." It was in response to "The recoil the rounds produced was softer then the AE223 I have been shooting, so I know I'm safe in terms of pressure." I would strongly suggest that it's entirely possible to over pressure a .223 in an AR15 without perceiving any appreciable difference in recoil.