223 ar 1:14 18" question

[Peebles24]

What varmint bullets are you running in a slow twist 223.
Only thing i can get and tried so far are hornady 40gr vmax and i just happen to have a pound of accurate 2460. Speed was rather disappointing at 3324 avg. accuracy was good enough at moa. I really expected to be able to hit 3700+ fps..

Current load is
40gr vmax
28.2gr accurate 2460 (full case)
Cci srp

Wondering if i shouldnt just put together a 20" 20 practicle instead.

 

[SSL]

According to the Western Powder Loading Guide, 27.4 grains is maximum with the Hornady 40-grain VMax at 3,746 fps with a 24" barrel. With up to 50 fps loss per inch, in theory that gives 3,446.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Many of the reloading data sources are references for bolt guns, MSR use is generally 0.5-0.7 grains less. I have a case of Nosler 40 Bt in 223 rem. COL is 2.260 case is marked not recommended for AR use. Can you seat a Hornady 40 short enough for mag use and stay on the bearing area? Don't want to seat ogive inside the case mouth. I can't get 40's above 3700 with my 20p AR(22" barrel) tried several powders.

 

[Peebles24]

Many of the reloading data sources are references for bolt guns, MSR use is generally 0.5-0.7 grains less. I have a case of Nosler 40 Bt in 223 rem. COL is 2.260 case is marked not recommended for AR use. Can you seat a Hornady 40 short enough for mag use and stay on the bearing area? Don't want to seat ogive inside the case mouth. I can't get 40's above 3700 with my 20p AR(22" barrel) tried several powders.

Yes the hornady data calls for 2.20" COAL, i have zero signs of pressure but zero room for more powder. Have a feeling im kinda at the limit without going lighter which im not really finding much available, maybe some midway 34gr dogtowns but then i have to deal with seating flat base and may not cycle. Currently it cycles good with a 3:00 ejection pattern.

I just really thought i could get much better speed than i an for making prarie poodles explode.

 

[5spd]

I'm running 50g vmax, 50g jsp in my 24" 1/14 twist in front of h335.
This is in a bolt gun, col at 2.280 though.
Tiny holes in targets, slaps p dogs nicely.

 

[searcher]

maybe some midway 34gr dogtowns but then i have to deal with seating flat base and may not cycle. Currently it cycles good with a 3:00 ejection pattern.

I'd first try some RL7, Accurate LT32 or other such "fast" powder if you can find any. You might also see a nice accuracy improvement. If you go with the lighter bullets and your A/R won't cycle, swap out the mainspring with a Wolff reduced power mainspring. They get changed in 20 seconds, cost about $12.00 last time I ordered some - and I have bought them directly from Wolff and Brownell's. I have had so many problems with light loads and small bullets cycling - I put them in all my varmint A/R's which shoot bullets 40 grains or under (both .20 cal. and .223). Continue to seat at manufacturer O.A.L. recommendations - as those small bullets do not usually do well at all when seated long - which some do to get a bit more powder in. When doing the "crunch" to get more powder in - the bullets tend to "creep" back out at irregular lengths unless you have a death crimp on them - none of which is good. light bullets tend to like fast powder. Not hard and fast - but definitely more than not. Good luck.

 

[K22]

With a short 18" barrel, I would expect faster powders to do better velocity wise especially with that light of bullet. The longer barrels can take advantage of the slower burning powders, at least that has always been my understanding, but I'll let the experts chime in on that.

I use 50 grain Nosler BT's and with my 20" Rem Model 7's, 223's I get about 3050 to 3100 with H4895, 12" twist. I've never went lower that 50 grain bullets in my 223's.

If you can get it, you may want to try IMR 3031 or IMR 4198.