Another AR-15 load question

[jr600yd]

Yeah another one of those questions. I shot NRA Highpower for over 30 years and put a lot of 223 down range. That was back in the old days (Iron sights), time goes on and my eyesight and body don’t work as well as they use to. Sold the AR Match Rifle and didn’t shoot 223 for years then something happened, I don’t know, was in the LGS one day talking to the guys bla bla bla (still a little foggy here) walked out with a new AR. This is not the AR I’m use to. Ajustable stock, flat top, no sights, M lock handguard, 16” barrel 1/7, muzzle break and one of the worst triggers I’ve ever felt! Ok, replaced the trigger, mounted a Vortex 1-6 scope off to the range I go.

Bought some cheap 55gr SP bullets and loaded them up using Varget powder and Remington 7 1/2 primers. Got the gun zeroed at 100yds and they shot OK. I’m not looking for the accuracy or small group size I got with the Match Rifle. This Gun is more for plinking, playing, informal matches, teaching the grandkids rifle.

Now I’m sitting at my reloading bench looking at my 223 inventory. Got plenty of Varget. Got plenty of 7 1/2 primers. Got more

 

[jr600yd]

Brass then I’ll ever use. Got 69, 77, 80gr SMK’s. Humm..... wondering if bullets in the 50-60gr class would fit my needs better since I’m only shooting 50-100yds? Maybe a different powder? What about AR-Comp, PP 2000, Benchmark, others? How about some suggestions guys?

 

[skeeljc]

My AR-15 with a 20" White Oak 1 in 8 twist .223 Wylde chamber shoots well (sub MOA) with a max load of Reloader 15 and a 75 grain Hornady HP BT match bullet.

 

[jr600yd]

Ok, got some R-15. I was wondering if Varget, R-15, 4895 may be a little slow for that short a barrel and 50-60gr bullets. Guess they work.

 

[fatelvis]

Get one of Larue’s new triggers for your AR. THE BEST $80 you’ll ever spend!
I bout 3 for $75 each and they all break cleanly at about 3.75#

 

[Rsadams]

The old stand by is 24.5gr of TAC and a 55gr fmj of your choice...this is a start for 5.56 and hot for .223...
Cheap but decent trigger...ALG....

 

[lawman29]

With 1x7 twist the 77 SMK shoot best in both of mine.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

24.1 of Varget and 77 or 80 MK. with your 1-7 barrel. That should shoot pretty well

 

[RegionRat]

For just playing around at 100 yards, my WOA 20” 1:7 SR rig is okay with M193 clones. Lots of folks download 55 gr 193 clones for 100 yard offhand practice so there is no reason not to try.

All of the better bullets will do fine in your rig. There is an old page on the NJ Highpower club’s site that I will link here. It is long in the tooth but has many proven SR loads just for your reference.

I hope you get the bug again and screw on a WOA 20” bbl and jump back into the game, but I understand how life can pull us away.

I have run mostly 77 SMK with 24.0 RE-15 REM 7 1/2 in LC brass, which is overkill for 200 but I’m in wind at 300 most of the time and on one base their insurance agreement and base rules require me to only shoot factory ammo. So, I have had to learn to use that all the way to 600 when I would normally run SMK 80.

There is more to learning to run an AR than just playing with SR and many of those games have us shooting on the move, so nothing wrong with learning about 2 Gun or 3 Gun formats while you teach the youngsters. Glad you took the plunge and good luck.

http://radomski.us/njhp/cart_tech.htm

Some newer powders are not listed because the page hasn’t been updated in a long time. Some CFE223 is worth a try in the case that you just want to load progressive or to avoid needing to trickle for example.

 

[JAlfred]

Ok, got some R-15. I was wondering if Varget, R-15, 4895 may be a little slow for that short a barrel and 50-60gr bullets. Guess they work.

Benchmark and 60gr bullets have done very well with me, it will do well with that entire weight range of bullets.

 

[mac86951]

55sp should be accurate enough, don't try to set to cannelure or crimp; I find better accuracy at ~2.230" not that this is anywhere close to lands.

For plinking / 200y most powders work, as you've mentioned you won't get "match" rifle accuracy; but I'd recommend benchmark; h335; bl(c)-2; h4198; n133.

Load up some 69s with 25.0 varget, I bet that 16" barrel should still give good results with the match rifle loads.

-Mac

 

[skeeljc]

+1 for Benchmark and 60 grain bullets,

 

[Mouse-Gunner]

You will probably find that whatever worked for your 200/300 yard load when you were an active HP competitor will still work well well for you in your new short barreled AR. My standard short range match load shoots well in every AR in every configuration I own. It even shoots well in my match bolt gun. Moreover, in this time of primer/powder/bullet shortages you already have what you need on hand. I’d suggest you start with what you know and have now before venturing into unknown territory.

 

[jr600yd]

Thanks guys!

 

[PopCharlie]

25 to 25.5 gr w748 under 55 gr Nosler Balistic tip. Any 55 gr bullet will work. Great plinking load.

PopCharlie

 

[DDriller]

24.5 gr. Rel 15 with the 69 gr SMK works well in my 1:8 barrel.

 

[jr600yd]

Yup, you guys are shooting pretty much the same loads I did In Highpower. I was just wondering if the powders I shot were a little slow for the lighter bullet and shorter barrel? They’ll work sure but a lot of muzzle flash? Maybe I should start looking for a 223 bolt gun? Tikka’s looking pretty good! Whats that? Something starting to bite me, oh oh I know that feeling.

 

[nbkky71]

I've been using AR-COMP for my SR loads for a number of years and have been pleased with it. I'm using 22.3gr under a 77gr bullet with a CCI450 primer. Velocity through a 20" 1-7.7 was around 2730fps. My only complaint was that it's a dirty powder.

My 100yd reduced load uses Sierra 52gr MK over 25.4gr of WC844 pulldown powder, with a CCI400 primer

 

[searcher]

You should get some great results with your Varget, 7 1/2's and the 69 MK's. In my rifles, though, the best accuracy came well off of the max indicated as the accuracy load in the Sierra manual. My favorite A/R powders are IMR8208XBR, Accurate LT32, W748 and Reloader 7. If only one - it would be Accurate LT32 with 50 or 53 V-Max or 55 Blitz Kings. In the mid-weight, I like Berger 73's with Varget or RL15. Frankly, I've never had the heavy bullets shoot as accurately in any of my rifles.

 

[jr600yd]

Again thanks

Jim