Need Help Loading Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport II

[riflewoman]

You do not need a small base die in most cases. You do need either a Hornady case comparator or an LEvWilson case gauge. This is to set the shoulder back. Unlike bolt actions you need to set the shoulder back to SAAMI minimum. The reason is for function. Check your die setup each time and every 50 rounds or so. Make certain you remove the primer crimp from each case and there are commercial cases that have crimped primers now. Seat the primers flush or below, use CCI 450, CCI 41, Rem 7 1/2, or Win SR primers only. A good starting load to try is 25.5 Win 748 and a 55 grain bullet or 24.5 IMR 4895. Seat to 2.250-2.255. You do not normally need to crimp. The picture is 4000 rounds of training ammo loaded a couple of years ago for my ARs.

 

[Bc'z]

If loading for more than 1 AR15, or using range pickups is the only time I use a
SB die.
55gr ballistic tip 25gr benchmark ☆- brass
60gr Sierra hp 24.7gr Tac LC14 brass

These loads shot well in my 8 twist & wifes 9 twist.

 

[Shooting while seated]

Not knowing what I was doing, I started reloading with the 308, If I do not use redding resizing dies and the Lee crimping. I get all kinds of feed problems.

I have to put a light crimp on to assist in feeding or it catches on the edge of the brass.

It also helps to get a Very good case gauge.

 

[Ccrider]

You do not need a small base die in most cases. You do need either a Hornady case comparator or an LEvWilson case gauge. This is to set the shoulder back. Unlike bolt actions you need to set the shoulder back to SAAMI minimum. The reason is for function. Check your die setup each time and every 50 rounds or so. Make certain you remove the primer crimp from each case and there are commercial cases that have crimped primers now. Seat the primers flush or below, use CCI 450, CCI 41, Rem 7 1/2, or Win SR primers only. A good starting load to try is 25.5 Win 748 and a 55 grain bullet or 24.5 IMR 4895. Seat to 2.250-2.255. You do not normally need to crimp. The picture is 4000 rounds of training ammo loaded a couple of years ago for my ARs.

Surely not loading one at a time? I guess it’s ok to throw rather than trickle or loads. I will pick up some 748 today and have a Wilson case gauge on the way.

 

[STOMP442]

I have never crimped a 223 and never had an issue. I have recently picked up a couple ARs thankfully just before things got way too crazy. I have had really good results with CFE 223 and H4895 with 52-55gr bullets. I have one that I put together from a kit that is essentially a Bushmaster XM-15 when complete except I used an AR Stoner 8 twist barrel from midway. That thing shoots fantastic with just about any combo of powder and bullet mentioned above. Really happy with it. The other thing I have found very valuable for my ARs is the Caldwell brass catcher attachment. I running some lapua brass in my Rock River and haven't lost a piece yet.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

Good luck finding components.

 

[mac86951]

Surely not loading one at a time? I guess it’s ok to throw rather than trickle or loads. I will pick up some 748 today and have a Wilson case gauge on the way.

I think this is where most of us will start to diverge in our processes. Most accurate rounds; yup weight each charge and yes even for an AR. I'll expand that to say that even some powders lend themselves to hand weighing charges vs. thrown. Varget being a great example. FYI, my rifle loves 25.0gr varget and a berger 70VLD. Ask me how I know that varget 0.1gr is three kernels... For the small case that 223 is, a single kernel of varget does make a difference.

Thrown charges; back to a ball powder which I also have great success with, but not the absolute most accurate, does well enough to keep me at the range.

I like the Lee perfect powder measure if you have a single press system. It's low cost but really effective; I use a Hornady lnl AP for bulk loading; but for most accurate it's still a single load press, hand weigh charges and lots of other tools along the way.

Time n effort, yes my hand loaded charges are the most accurate, but it pains me to watch those rounds get stripped from a mag and blunder up a feed ramp.

-Mac

 

[riflewoman]

Surely not loading one at a time? I guess it’s ok to throw rather than trickle or loads. I will pick up some 748 today and have a Wilson case gauge on the way.

The picture of the bulk ammo was to emphasize that you can load reliable 223 for AR rifles. I’m often the only person at my combat training school that shoots reloads. I’ve never had issues with my ammo. I’ve also gone to the same school with reloads for my 9mm Pistol or 9mm AR carbine. Even though the school discourages reloads.

 

[divingin]

55gr ballistic tip 25gr benchmark ☆- brass

Off topic: Out of curiosity, was it easier and faster to find the star symbol rather than type "Starline"? Not a swipe at you; I'm impressed someone would actually do that.

 

[Bc'z]

Off topic: Out of curiosity, was it easier and faster to find the star symbol rather than type "Starline"? Not a swipe at you; I'm impressed someone would actually do that.

I was bored and feeling a lil creative at the same time.