.223 in an AR style rifle for noob

[LOKEN]

Hi!
I recently bought a semi automatic rifle (Imperial defense service M16A3) chambered in 5.56x45.
its my very first semi auto so I wish to learn how to reload accurate ammo for that gun.

The barrel is 20 inches long and the twist rate is 1:9.

basically I use redding dies (when I load 6mmBR for example) so I also wonder how to determine bushing size (I guess it should be a bit smaller than if I fired through a bolt action rifle...)

thanks!

 

[spclark]

(I guess it should be a bit smaller than if I fired through a bolt action rifle...)

Perhaps not, depending on the chamber dimensions in your M16A3.

I suppose your statement relates to neck tension mostly? You'll have to do some testing but you may find that what works in a bolt 223 works just fine in the AR unless you're into soft-seating....

Keep in mind with that 9 twist you likely won't have good luck with bullets over 75 grains (if that) owing to their length. 7.5 - 8 twist is the norm among service rifle shooters who'll be running 80-grain bullets out to 600 yards in a 20" match-chambered barrel.

Give it a go with what you do now for a bolt gun, be aware gas guns typically require full-length sizing due to the demands of assisted case extraction, and you'll be good to go.

 

[Scott Harris]

Bump the shoulder back an extra .001 and use an extra .001 of neck tension vs a bolt gun. An AR is a bit more violent on the cartridge and you need the "extra." I bump the shoulder .003 and use .003 of neck tension(sizing vs loaded round). All my dies are redding too.

 

[LOKEN]

thanks!
with bolt action rifle (typically with my 6mmBr for ISSF ) I measure the neck diameter of a cartridge with bullet seated in and i use the die .001 under .

so I should use .002 or .003 neck tension.

for bolt action I do not full-length so often (maybe once 4-5 fired),I only neck size basically .
I ignored that case had to be full-sized everytime on a AR (will probably spare me some inconvenient jamming thx )

with bullets I wont use anything heavier than a sierra 69gr
brass will be lapua (of course )

Considering powder Im still in indecision cause Ive read that theywere some interesting (and accurate) loads using N140 but they were meant to be fired through bolt action rifle...
So I hesitate to try them in a semi...

 

[archerross]

69 gr SMK + 25.5 gr Varget + 2.260 COAL should get you close to a good load. At least it did in 2 ARs of which I'm aware (25.5 in one and 25.3 in another). They are not screaming fast loads, but 0.4 - 0.5 inch 5-shot groups work for me!

 

[Killshot]

I've used the Redding Type S Full length bushing die and the competition Seater for my .223 ARs.

I'll use a different bushing depending on the brass maker. For Lapua I use a .246, for Lake city I use a .245. Never crimp and good neck tension.

Best load I had for a 20" 1/9 was 69SMKs over 23.3gr of H335. Worked well for 100-500yds. As Archerross noted, Varget is always good with .223s.

 

[LOKEN]

Thanks for your advices but unfortunately in my country we only have access to Vihtavuori powder (i once managed to bring back some 2 pounds of accurate 2520 from Luxembourg but i do not plan to travel that far this summer :-( )

once I get my redding set I'll begin to develop a load using these neck tension values and I'll keep you aware the results!

 

[MrMajestic]

Thanks for your advices but unfortunately in my country we only have access toVhitavuorii powder (i once managed to bring back some 2 pounds of accurate 2520 from Luxembourg but i do not plan to travel that far this summer :-( )

once I get my redding set I'll begin to develop a load using these neck tension values and I'll keep you aware the results!

Poor Guy! N140, 69 gr. bullets and up with a burn rate similar to Varget, and N133 for the lighter bullets. N135 doesn't get a lot of press with the .223 for some reason. It is like 335 and should Vhitavuoriavouri manuon-lineonline and has great data. Read the .223 page on the web site here, not the forums. Great write up with lots of information.

 

[Klong]

Shoot 69 gr SMK with 25 gr of VV 140 or VV 540. Magnum primer is best.

 

[Scott Harris]

I've been using 23.0gr VV N140, Lapua brass, CCI 400 primers with Hornady 75gr A-Max. This has been very accurate, but I do have a cycling malfunction every once in a while. I think this is due the the powder being on the slow end. With H4895, I have never had any cycling problems: faster powder.

 

[LOKEN]

Yesterday I went to the range and tried some reloaded cartridges . I used the .246 bushing on once fired cases, powder was N140 and bullets were 69 gr SMK.
by shooting prone with a sling I almost Hold 1 MOA at 200meter.

 

[dboyles]

For what it's worth, I used a .247 or .248 bushing with Lapua brass. If I remember correctly a loaded round would measure in the neighborhood of .2505". I played around with neck tension but never had any definitive results showing that one was better than the other. I don't doubt that there is a measurable difference, but whether or not I'm a consistent enough reloader and shooter to notice is a different matter.

 

[LOKEN]

My loaded rounds (after being fullsized and necksized) measure .248 (with Bellier & Bellot 5.56x45 brass) therefore I necksize them to .246 , I think the all of this greatly depends on the brass you use (neckwall thickness or that may change from one brand to another)

 

[Taildrag15X]

I used 75gr. HPBT Hornady Match bullets with VV-135 in a 1-9" Colt AR.

 

[LOKEN]

I used 75gr. HPBT Hornady Match bullets with VV-135 in a 1-9" Colt AR.

thats interesting cause I thought there was a keyholing risk with bullet heavier than 69grains for that twist rate .

how was the accuracy? and how was the OAL?

 

[Klong]

There is!

 

[Taildrag15X]

There is!

Not in mine, ran great with groups (15-20 shot) under 1" @ 100 yds. and if I did my part with a sling could keep clean the 300 yd. slow fire MR-63 all day long.

Don't know the OAL off the top of my head, but they fed from USGI/Colt mags just fine, if it was slow fire I made them a touch longer (all were loaded that way, only reseated the mag lenght ones as needed) as you have to single load for Slow Fire.

I even used 77gr. Sierra MK's with almost the same load and Federal supplied sponsored 77gr. Match Ammo out to 600 yds. with good results, don't believe I ever had a "keyhole".

 

[LOKEN]

seems to be worth trying , Ill load one box of 50 thx for the advice!