COAL on 52/53g bullets from AR

[kyotekiller25]

Going to work up a couple loads with the 52g ELDMs and 53g VMAXs from my AR here soon.

My question is if they will chamber, and benefit from seating out to 2.3" in the ASC mags, or do they perform better at the book length of around 2.240"

Thanks

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Which chamber do you have?

 

[kyotekiller25]

Which chamber due you have?

Guess I should have mentioned that, it's a Wylde chamber.

I don't have the special curved hornady gauge for an AR, and don't really know how else to check the lands. My first AR. It's a learning curve compared to my bolts for sure.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Tipped bullets interfere with seating depth adjustments when using the mags. I have factory cases of Nosler 40 gr BT ammo, marked not recommended for AR's. That ammo measures 2.260. I loaded some 55 blitz kings a couple hundredths short of mag length and they shot well out of both my Wyde chambers.

 

[kyotekiller25]

I've never heard that before. Hmmm.

So probably just better go 2.240" then

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I just did a quick check with the 53 max. 2.425 (coal ) would be firm in lands. My 55 BK 2.253(coal) will run in my mags. I don't have eld m, have some 52 amax, haven't opened them.

 

[kyotekiller25]

I believe I read somewhere that the 53g vmax shares the same type profile as the amax/eldm so I would almost bet the 52g eldm is similar to the 53g vmax.

Either way, I shouldn't have a problem with either mag feeding at 2.3 then" That still gives around a .125" jump.

 

[Jeff Porter]

Short stubby bullets will actually have a longer CBTO than the slick higher BC heavier bullets. You may be hard jam much over 2.250” with a 52/53 in a standard or even a Wylde chamber. I always ran those down about 2.235-2.240”

 

[LiveFire]

Guess I should have mentioned that, it's a Wylde chamber.

I don't have the special curved hornady gauge for an AR, and don't really know how else to check the lands. My first AR. It's a learning curve compared to my bolts for sure.

You dont need the curved one. Just take the upper off the lower and remove the charging handle and bolt. I wouldn't bother trying to load the bullets you mentioned out long though. In the few ar15s I have shot those bullets in the book OAL has worked fine. Good luck.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I'm playing with the Hornady 55 sp (2265) if I seat shorter (coal) than 2.220 the groups start to open. At 2.220 the case mouth is still below the cannelure. H335 25 gr and 2.220 has shot well in 3 different uppers for me. And I can get them for less than .15 ea shipped to me.

 

[JB10]

I bought 1k of the 55 sp. Shot a few coyotes with them just to compare with the 50gr vmax. I had 2 coyotes that did not go down untill after the 3rd shot. I know others have had good luck with them but i did not. Bad shots always happen, but one of them was a side rib shot. I had to chase that one 200 yards to put him down.

 

[Doom]

There is little to be gained by seating these bullets beyond the standard 2.260" COAL. You are using a cartridge with a short neck to begin with and the longer the cartridge the greater the likelihood of the bullet being set back on chambering.

In a standard 223 chamber I've loaded 53 SMK from 2.200-2.250" and both shoot very well. The 55 Nosler BT worked well at 2.260". I load the 52 Gr Berger FB Target at 2.260".

 

[chkunz]

Short stubby bullets will actually have a longer CBTO than the slick higher BC heavier bullets. You may be hard jam much over 2.250” with a 52/53 in a standard or even a Wylde chamber. I always ran those down about 2.235-2.240”

This is an important point!
I had to go below standard magazine length to keep these bullets from jamming hard.
They shot small tight groups.
I use them for 100 yard reduced course matches.

 

[kyotekiller25]

Sounds good guys. Sounds like I'll just set them up at around 2.260" to start and then work down from there to around 2.230" with a seating depth test.

 

[chkunz]

Sounds good guys. Sounds like I'll just set them up at around 2.260" to start and then work down from there to around 2.230" with a seating depth test.

I had to go shorter than 2.250 to avoid a jam.
Measure before you load.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

11

I had to go shorter than 2.250 to avoid a jam.
Measure before you load.

Sounds like Hornady’s book length recommendation is a sound one then.

 

[jepp2]

I'm playing with the Hornady 55 sp (2265)

Hope they work for you, they didn't for me. I had high hopes for this bullet. I spent considerable time developing loads in both gas and bolt guns. They ricochet badly. Read a lot of similar opinions from others. They are good for shooting pop cans.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I'm not using them for coyote, already have numerous bullets/loads/cartridge combs for Fox,coyote,raccoon. Just like to have cheap non fmj on hand for plinking, who knows what.

 

[Zero333]

I load...

52 gr BT smk @ 2.220"

53 gr FB smk @ 2.240"

26.6 gr W-748

I use the same loads for bolt and gas rifles.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

On the vast majority of AR's, mag length is the determining factor to how long the bullet can be seated. So, with very few exceptions, you're jumping anyway. I'd start at mag length and start backing away from the lands .003 at a time.