.223 Rem and Benchmark

[Rookie]

Loading for a AR15, 1/7 twist Knights Heavy Tac barrel.
New Fed. Brass, CCIBr primers, Benchrest powder, 55gr V-Max & 75grSMK. Forester .223 BR loading dies.
Anyone have Load data using Benchmark in a AR?

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Heavier bullets with that fast twist would do much better with Varget.

 

[KMart]

For the 55 gr bullets try around 25.5 of Benchmark. Haven't tried heavier than 69 gr bullets, but with the 69 try around 23.5 gr. The velocity with the 69 gr is a little lower, but shoots quite well.
Hodgdon data shows about 23-23.5 as max with 75/77 gr bullets

 

[jonbearman]

I have had good results with benchmark powder from 50-69 grain bullets.Get a modern reloading manual to refer to.They are the best thing going for performance and safety.

 

[DoubleUp]

I use 23.5g with 75 Hornady hpbt. Shoots very good groups and averages only about 20-25 fps less than 25g of Varget in bolt and AR.

 

[wapiti25]

BenchMark has been great for 50 to 55's in a bolt gun for me.

 

[Larryh128]

I use 26 grs of Bench mark with a 55 gr bullet in my RRA 1-8. Good accuaracy.

 

[Beau]

Shoots quite well but is a tad fast for some ARs. You'll be able to tell when it doesn't lock the bolt back.

 

[jonbearman]

I have never had the bolt short stroke with benchmark,I wonder if he has a hydraulic buffer or something.I have been using(benchmark) it for a year or so with no problems whatsoever.

 

[Beau]

Nope. No weird buffers. Some ARs just don't like it. Bushmasters seem more prone to not liking it than most other brands.

ETA:
My club bought a bunch of CMP BMs several years ago. None of those like M193 either! Go figure!

 

[Rookie]

I've worked up loads with Benchmark in my AR.
First I love it! Very clean burning, very little muzzle flash.
55gr Vmax with 25gr of BM 2.225" O.A.L. sub 1" groups @100yds
62gr SS109 bullets, 24gr of BM 2.230"O.A.L. 1.5" groups @100yds
69gr MKs, 23.5grs of BM 2.230" O.A.L. 3/4" groups @ 100yds.
If you haven't tried Benchmark do yourself a favor and try some.

 

[larryk40c]

I agree that BM works ok in my AR's but H4895 works much better in both my 9 twist and 8 twist. This may not be the case with your AR. Just my 2 cents.
Larry

 

[Rock Knocker]

I am using 24.8gr. varget with 69gr smk, around .5" groups in my AR 1-9" twist. Im looking to try some 75gr bullets and some different powders. Im new to this and looking for some powder suggestions also. Next time im out i think im going to pick up some H4895 and give it a try.

 

[ForneyRider]

Benchmark works great in .223 as does AA2230. I think Benchmark meters as well. Varget and R15 didn't measure as well as Benchmark and AA2230 but will offer a smidgeon more fps with heavier bullets and a smidgeon less fps with lighter bullets.

 

[RonAKA]

Here is the .223 AR Sierra Reloading Guide from the Cartridge Guide section of this site. There are some loads using Benchmark.

 

[Paddyd]

Nope. No weird buffers. Some ARs just don't like it. Bushmasters seem more prone to not liking it than most other brands.

ETA:
My club bought a bunch of CMP BMs several years ago. None of those like M193 either! Go figure!

As much as it isabout buffer weights and spring rates is the position of the gas block along the barrel. The closer to the muzzle in longer barrel it is, it will have less gas pressure with fast powders.

 

[searcher]

For the 55 gr bullets try around 25.5 of Benchmark. Haven't tried heavier than 69 gr bullets, but with the 69 try around 23.5 gr. The velocity with the 69 gr is a little lower, but shoots quite well.
Hodgdon data shows about 23-23.5 as max with 75/77 gr bullets

I've used the 25.5 Benchmark load with the 55's (and 52 Bergers) for great groups, though I'm using a 1-9". Haven't tried the heavier bullets with TAC

 

[Plumsask]

26.6 gr Benchmark, 53 gr Nosler out of a 26" 12 twist = 3500 FPS and tiny little groups.

 

[Benchrest Braxton]

26.6 gr Benchmark, 53 gr Nosler out of a 26" 12 twist = 3500 FPS and tiny little groups.

try n133 sometime if you can. 26.0 grains, 53 hornady vmax, 26" 1-12 factory remington barrel, 3,575 fps with lapua brass

 

[Plumsask]

try n133 sometime if you can. 26.0 grains, 53 hornady vmax, 26" 1-12 factory remington barrel, 3,575 fps with lapua brass

I was never able to get this barrel to shoot the 53 V-max very well, loved the flat base noslers in 53 gr and the 40 vmax. H335 also performed very well with the 40's. I'll have to try some N-133 though.