Alliant Reloader 7 for 223 55gr

[Storm_]

Friends,

Worked up loads for RAMSHOT TAC, H335, and Reloader 7.

TAC and H335 felt great around 25.5gr and 26.2gr accordingly leaving me at about 3000 FPS for H335 and 3150 for TAC.

Reloader 7 however came in at 22.5gr for 3200FPS.

This is all out of an 18inch Ruger AR.

My questions is, due to there being much less powder in the case, is there any side effects I should be aware of when running this faster powder for a 55gr 223 projectile?

Additionally, I am not sure how to describe it, but the recoil from the Reloader 7 round "feels" different than TAC and H335. Almost as if the bolt traveling backward is more defined. Very interesting. Any thoughts on why or am I just over analyzing.

Cheers,
Ben

 

[Rustytigwire]

Must be the humidity! I have experienced the different feel of different rounds same as you. Had some 40 gr couple years back shot like laser felt just right. Load data vanished.
^^^ What Afret said is good for me!

 

[Hoot]

I'm not a 223 guru but Reloader 7 seems a bit fast for 55gr 223 loads. Maybe appropriate for 35gr NBT's but even then H335 bests it in theory. (see signature). Hard to beat TAC for 55gr pills. I'm a slow typer. two others posted before I hit the submit button.

 

[Storm_]

I wish they made a sensor to measure bolt carrier velocity/gas system pressure.

That would be incredibly useful to know.

 

[Storm_]

I'm no expert but I think if you use a fast burning powder in an AR, the gas pressure falls off faster so by the time the bullet passes the gas port, the pressure is is lower than with a slower burning powder. That's probably why the recoil feels different since you have less pressure trying to move the bolt carrier. You can get cycling problems especially in rifle length barrels that are on the shorter side with short dwell times. I've had that happen with an 18" barrel with a rifle length gas system and fast burning powder.

That sound exactly like what I felt.

Low bolt carrier velocity, so I felt it compressed the spring later that expected.