55 fmj load

[avidflyer]

What’s everyone’s favorite 55 fmj 5.56 load? Going to run off a couple thousand was curious what people were using for powder on the light 55’s (gas gun load)

Didnt think Varget worked to well for the light loads. Maybe cfe 223 or ar comp. With summer coming looking for something that doesn’t have huge temps swings maybe stay away from the ball powder

 

[mac86951]

CFE 223 meters well, for plinking i like ~26.5gr CFE; cci450, seated to 2.220. works great for FMJ and the Soft Point Hornady 55s.

Varget works well, but metering isn't so much fun; if you're hand weighing each charge, Varget makes sense, though I'd recommend keeping Varget for the 68/69 or 73/77gr loads.

-Mac

 

[rockhound78]

I use AA2230. I am sure others will be along with better choices

 

[karrarararararar]

25ish grains of benchmark has worked well for me with 55's

 

[LiveFire]

What powders do you have on hand? I am assuming since you are using 55gr fmj in a gas gun that you are not looking for tiny groups. I use Xterminator, Shooters World Tactical Rifle and H335 for 55gr 5.56 plinking loads. I know you said youd rather stay away from ball but for general 1-2moa target load I dont think youll have issues if you don't run hot rod loads and youll get better more consistent metering. Theres a bunch of powders that will work.

 

[avidflyer]

What powders do you have on hand? I am assuming since you are using 55gr fmj in a gas gun that you are not looking for tiny groups. I use Xterminator, Shooters World Tactical Rifle and H335 for 55gr 5.56 plinking loads. I know you said youd rather stay away from ball but for general 1-2moa target load I dont think youll have issues if you don't run hot rod loads and youll get better more consistent metering. Theres a bunch of powders that will work.

Have plenty of powders just seeing what everyone is using. (varget,rl15,arcomp,cfe,h4895)

 

[LiveFire]

Oh gotcha. Youre set for sure. I have used cfe 223 but never was happy with it in my guns. I do have a preference for ball powder in my ar15s simply for powder measuring.

 

[avidflyer]

Oh gotcha. Youre set for sure. I have used cfe 223 but never was happy with it in my guns. I do have a preference for ball powder in my ar15s simply for powder measuring.

what didnt you like about cfe?

 

[LiveFire]

For me I just could not find a accurate load in my 2 rifles which I thought was unusual. I was looking for 2 MOA at 100yds. These are 16" chrome lined 1/7 twist Bushmaster barrels from the early 2000s. I was getting 3-5in 5 shot groups. I switched to SW tactical rifle and the shrank right up to about 2" which was acceptable for me for range plinking and steel shooting out to 300yds. Both guns run red dots but I put a scope on them for load development. I've heard/read cfe223 needs to be loaded toward the higher end for pressures to burn clean and produce the best performance.

 

[tsyarnall]

H4895 is a great powder in an AR-15 with 55/60 grain bullets. I run about 25.0 of it. This is one that I use for coyotes and it’s plenty accurate in my RRA.
I’ll add to this by saying that this is what I have used with 55 gn VMax and 60 gn Berger flat based. My rifle does not like certain fmj bullets. An example: it loves 53 or 55 gn VMax, but I can’t get a group with Hornady 55 gn fmj (I didn’t try 60 gn Hornady fmj). It loves Sierra 69 and 77 gn hpbt, but I can’t get 68 and 75 gn Hornady to group well.
So, just as my barrel doesn’t like certain brands of bullets, your rifle may have its preferences. You’ll just have to try different bullets until you find what your rifle does best with. I have found that it’s just as much or maybe more about the bullet as it is the powder.

 

[GWY]

I’ll second H4895 for an AR. Works well for bullets from 52 up to 80 grains in my experience

 

[darkangel_r2]

25 ish grains h335
24.5 ish grains 2230
25 ish grains 2460
26.2 ish grains w746
25.7 ish grains power pro varmint

These are all cooking pretty good so start low and work up to these. These are all ball powders so you can throw them accurately and load quickly. Tac is also a good choice but I haven't used it with 55 grain.

 

[Jeff Porter]

26.0-26.5 W748 2.240” oal

 

[JB10]

H335 for 55gr bullets since meters well and decent accuracy.

 

[rwj]

When powder availability was even worse than now… I used IMR 4166 and was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked! Slightly less powder charge weight than for Varget…

 

[LiveFire]

H335 for 55gr bullets since meters well and decent accuracy.

That is becoming one of my favorites as well.

 

[D-4297]

Benchmark is a solid powder for the 55gr. Worked a load up for a "Bud" with a AR . Holds 1" to 1 1/2' groups at 100 yards . Very consistent .