COAL on 52/53g bullets from AR

[kyotekiller25]

I'm just gonna load to hornady book specs. I called them and the tech said it's best to just run them at their book length. Said that's where they performed best.

I realize mag length is the main factor in ARs. Most mags are 2.260" and the ASC I have are 2.315" which is why I was inquiring about the longer length.

According to a few guys here though, you can't even load them to 2.250" without getting into the lands. So Hornadys length at 2.240" and 2.230" must be right.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I'm just gonna load to hornady book specs. I called them and the tech said it's best to just run them at their book length. Said that's where they performed best.

I realize mag length is the main factor in ARs. Most mags are 2.260" and the ASC I have are 2.315" which is why I was inquiring about the longer length.

According to a few guys here though, you can't even load them to 2.250" without getting into the lands. So Hornadys length at 2.240" and 2.230" must be right.

Find the lands in your rifle and work from either there or mag length, whichever is shortest of the two. Not sure with the two bullets you mentioned but there are very few that reach the lands at mag length and it's possible but still doubtful with your longs mags. So find the lands and go from there. Published OAL in manuals is based off of magazine limitations, not each individual chamber so there's no way they tested for best accuracy in your gun.

 

[Hudge76]

I have shot the 53 gr. A-MAx’s at 2.260” in my AR and it ran just fine. Both of the ones I currently have are .223 Wylde. I’ve even ran a few bullets to 2.300 in ASC mags with no issues.

 

[kyotekiller25]

I have shot the 53 gr. A-MAx’s at 2.260” in my AR and it ran just fine. Both of the ones I currently have are .223 Wylde. I’ve even ran a few bullets to 2.300 in ASC mags with no issues.

I got the ASC mags for the 73g ELDMs and 75g BTHP. I didn't like the idea of stuffing those heavier bullets down to 2.260" if I didn't have to.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I got the ASC mags for the 73g ELDMs and 75g BTHP. I didn't like the idea of stuffing those heavier bullets down to 2.260" if I didn't have to.

Only so much can be done as to mag length so you basically have two options. Change bullets or change rifle platforms. But I agree otherwise.

 

[kyotekiller25]

Only so much can be done as to mag length so you basically have two options. Change bullets or change rifle platforms. But I agree otherwise.

I just did a custom 223 Wylde bolt with .080" FB with a Bartlein 28" HV 8 twist set up for the 75g ELDMs at 2.510" Still working on load development for it. Plan is to use it as a trainer out to 1K on steel.

The 223 Wylde AR has a 20" Krieger 7.7 twist and will mainly be used as a truck/calling rifle for dogs, and 600 yard steel.

The AR will just be what it is at mag length as I'm not going to single load it. Kinda takes away the whole reason of an AR at that point.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I just did a custom 223 Wylde bolt with .080" FB with a Bartlein 28" HV 8 twist set up for the 75g ELDMs at 2.510" Still working on load development for it. Plan is to use it as a trainer out to 1K on steel.

The 223 Wylde AR has a 20" Krieger 7.7 twist and will mainly be used as a truck/calling rifle for dogs, and 600 yard steel.

The AR will just be what it is at mag length as I'm not going to single load it. Kinda takes away the whole reason of an AR at that point.

Yes, a custom bbl and a shorter throat is what I'd do for myself and live with a lot of bullet in the case but you just don't have many good options is all. I do like the 73 Berger bullet you mentioned earlier. That's a good bullet and it tunes easily IME. Not crazy about the 75 Hornadys though. YMMV

 

[kyotekiller25]

So I was playing around with the 52 eldm and 53 vmax at 2.260" And I don't know about you, but the 53g vmax doesn't look like it can go much deeper without falling into the case? Seems pretty dumb to me to go down to 2.240" with that particular bullet anyway...The 52 eldm is quite a bit better without falling into the case if you were to go 2.240" with it.

What gives? You would think you could easily go to 2.3" with these bullets in a Wylde chamber and the ASC mags. Still plenty of bullet in the neck at 2.3" with both.

Anything shorter than 2.260" with the 53 vmax and it about falls into the case. You could get away with 2.240" with the 52g eldm easily though.

 

[1ofU]

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.

I loaded the same powder/ charge /bullet combo but at 2250 aol for a PD hunt in June , loaded 2K of them at they shot at moa if i did my part on 3 different AR 's

 

[Hudge76]

I got the ASC mags for the 73g ELDMs and 75g BTHP. I didn't like the idea of stuffing those heavier bullets down to 2.260" if I didn't have to.

I understand that. I’ll have to look at my notes and I tried 73 gr and 75 gr ELD-Ms last month in one of my builds. The 75 gr shot the best, but it was seated deep. I was told by my buddy that shoots service rifle competitions the 73 gr ELD-Ms were made for AR’s specifically.

Edit: I ran both the 73 and 75’s at 2.285” COL with no issues.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

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.

Are the #2266 Hornady bullets any different from the #2265?

 

[jepp2]

Are the #2266 Hornady bullets any different from the #2265?

The 2266 have a cannelure and are also available in the 6K packaging. Same bullet otherwise.

 

[kyotekiller25]

I understand that. I’ll have to look at my notes and I tried 73 gr and 75 gr ELD-Ms last month in one of my builds. The 75 gr shot the best, but it was seated deep. I was told by my buddy that shoots service rifle competitions the 73 gr ELD-Ms were made for AR’s specifically.

Edit: I ran both the 73 and 75’s at 2.285” COL with no issues.

You mag loaded the 75g ELDMs?

Ya the 73g ELDM is made to mag feed in ARs, the 75 ELDM really isn't. It does better single fed, but I'm sure you can still mag feed it, just takes up a bit more powder space is all.

I'm going to run the 73g eldm and 75g bthp at 2.3" out of the ASC mags to start with, and work down from there if need be.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I am seeing 2.260 as a loaded round length in this thread many times. I have seen a number of rifles stopped by a round that happened to be a little longer than that. A long bullet, a compressed load that pushed the bullet out a tad. A good practice is to use 2.250 as a mag length to load to. I just checked several factory loads and all were shorter than 2.250 including some loaded with 77SMKs.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

The 2266 have a cannelure and are also available in the 6K packaging. Same bullet otherwise.

Ok thanks, that’s what I have been getting from PV and BCR when they break them down to 500 and 1000 count.

 

[Hudge76]

You mag loaded the 75g ELDMs?

Ya the 73g ELDM is made to mag feed in ARs, the 75 ELDM really isn't. It does better single fed, but I'm sure you can still mag feed it, just takes up a bit more powder space is all.

I'm going to run the 73g eldm and 75g bthp at 2.3" out of the ASC mags to start with, and work down from there if need be.

Yes, I loaded up about 25 rounds of them back in March and shot them. I got great groups out of them as well. I was a little uncomfortable shooting them seated so deep. I went to 73’s and they do not shoot near as well. I’ve got 69 gr TMK’s to try now.

 

[kyotekiller25]

Thanks for the info. I might have to try some of them 75 eldms out of the AR then. If they shoot well out of it, would be a bonus, because they're being pretty picky out of my bolt trainer rifle. Would just keep them for the AR and move onto the 80.5 Bergers from the bolt.

What powder, barrel length and speeds were you getting from the 75s at mag length?

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I just did a custom 223 Wylde bolt with .080" FB with a Bartlein 28" HV 8 twist set up for the 75g ELDMs at 2.510" Still working on load development for it. Plan is to use it as a trainer out to 1K on steel.

The 223 Wylde AR has a 20" Krieger 7.7 twist and will mainly be used as a truck/calling rifle for dogs, and 600 yard steel.

The AR will just be what it is at mag length as I'm not going to single load it. Kinda takes away the whole reason of an AR at that point.

The 2266 have a cannelure and are also available in the 6K packaging. Same bullet otherwise.

2266 is a boatail sp, 2265 is a flatbase sp.

 

[Big Mc]

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

Mag minus 0.050. Works for me

 

[Cfshooter]

Book length on those seem to work great. Just test charges.