AR 15

[beaverguy]

Hi Guys
I'm new here and this is my first post. I recently bought an AR 15 in the 223 cal. I'm just wondering if there is a load that will consistently shoot well out of most AR's ?? I've been loading for around 45 years so I have some experience. I'm 66 now and would like to work up a load with less trial and error if possible. Thankyou
John

 

[jonbearman]

I use 53 grain hornady match bullets with benchmark,h335,and blc-2 all around 24.0 grains of powder. I also use Remington 7 1/2 br primers.

 

[bigedp51]

The same rules apply even after 45 years of reloading and no two AR15 barrels vibrate the same way.
Read the info below and work up a load.

Sierra load data for A15
http://accurateshooter.net/Downloads/sierra223ar.pdf

223 / 5.56 reloading. (if you look here 24.7 and 25 grains of H335 with a 55 grain bullets were the most accurate load tested)
http://www.223reloads.com/home/223-5-56-info/223-5-56-reloading

 

[2506]

To narrow things down we need more information. What barrel twist do you have? What type of chamber does your rifle have. What barrel length do you have? What will be your intended purpose for the rifle?

 

[logger3006]

I don't think you can go wrong with Benchmark and Hornady 55 grn. FMJBT seated to the cannelure. It has shot well and cycled for the three ARs I have tried it in.
24 grns of it is sub moa in my current rifle length AR. I started at 22.5gr and went to 24.5 with no pressure I settled for 24.0 it was accurate and gives me a margin when throwing charges and using mixed range brass.

 

[waldo1979]

Inside 100 yards I've been playing with 25.3gr Benchmark with Hornady 50gr Z-Max in LC09 brass CCI primer @~2.22". I've got some primer testing ahead of me but strong contenders based on research are Winchester 7 1/2 and Wolf Magnum primers.

I also have a load for 300+ yards. Using Compass Lakes recipe, VV N135 22.1gr, 80gr Sieraa matcha kings, CCI primers @2.430" with new unformed lake city brass. I noticed that my case capacity expanded a grain H2O after firing and headspace is about 0.007" longer.

I just got this 24" Kreiger 1:7.7" w/CLE chamber back from Compass Lake and still have a lot more tuning. I also have some Hornady 52gr HPBT sitting on my bench waiting for load development.

 

[jimbo88mm]

Varget is a great powder for the AR.

24.5 grs of Varget under 55gr nosler ballistic tips, 69gr nosler competition or 68gr hornady bthps produce sub moa groups (5-10 shots) with my 1-8 twist bull barrel.

My 55gr nosler load also shot equally well from a buddies savage axis with its 1-9 twist.

 

[chkunz]

Varget is a great powder for the AR.

24.5 grs of Varget under 55gr nosler ballistic tips, 69gr nosler competition or 68gr hornady bthps produce sub moa groups (5-10 shots) with my 1-8 twist bull barrel.

My 55gr nosler load also shot equally well from a buddies savage axis with its 1-9 twist.

Varget has produced some very accurate loads for the lighter bullets as you say. For folks shooting the heavier bullets at 600 yards, 75,77,80 grain match bullets, I found that Varget does not produce as much velocity as N 140 and 2520 in the 20 inch barrel and RL 15 and 2520 in the 26 inch barrel. For competition you would like to have both, accuracy and velocity. Also, these heavier bullets need a 1-8 twist.

 

[searcher]

I have a number of .223 tubes in both bolt and A/R configurations. As Biged said - no two are alike, yet I have found that some powder/bullet combos work pretty well to excellent in all guns I have tried them in. Try 50 Z-Max with 8208 XBR or 40 Z-Max with LT-32.

 

[wapiti25]

H335 with 55gr is a load that has shot well in a lot of 223's. Usually the best groups are at loads below max, H335 was at one time an Army powder for the 223.

 

[Danattherock]

H335 with 55gr is a load that has shot well in a lot of 223's. Usually the best groups are at loads below max, H335 was at one time an Army powder for the 223.

That's my 1.25-1.5" plinking load on my Dillon 550. Using Hornady 55's in 6,000 count boxes from Midsouth Shooters, PMC brass from Leobrass ($7/100). Great affordable load.

For accuracy, I'm using 69 SMK and 77 SMK molys with Varget in Lapua cases. With 20" Krieger getting 1/4-1/2" groups. These are single stage loaded.

All depends on what your after.


Dan

 

[waldo1979]

H335 with 55gr is a load that has shot well in a lot of 223's. Usually the best groups are at loads below max, H335 was at one time an Army powder for the 223.

That's my 1.25-1.5" plinking load on my Dillon 550. Using Hornady 55's in 6,000 count boxes from Midsouth Shooters, PMC brass from Leobrass ($7/100). Great affordable load.

For accuracy, I'm using 69 SMK and 77 SMK molys with Varget in Lapua cases. With 20" Krieger getting 1/4-1/2" groups. These are single stage loaded.

All depends on what your after.


Dan

Dan do you have an improved 550 shell holder from whidden gun works? I've been thinking about making the move to a 550/650 for bulk precision loads.

 

[Roadie_3]

I have had great success using varget and 55gr fmj out of my AR. Like most loads, you will have to play with what works well, but I have found varget shoots well in a variety of weather temperatures and isn't too finicky.

If you know someone who had several different bullet types for .223 ask to see if you could buy 5 of each and see what works best. It's better than buying a full box of each to find the rifle doesn't like that particular bullet.

 

[nmjwolf]

H335 with 55gr is a load that has shot well in a lot of 223's. Usually the best groups are at loads below max, H335 was at one time an Army powder for the 223.

^^^ This.

 

[nwflycaster]

Varget is a great powder for the AR.

24.5 grs of Varget under 55gr nosler ballistic tips, 69gr nosler competition or 68gr hornady bthps produce sub moa groups (5-10 shots) with my 1-8 twist bull barrel.

My 55gr nosler load also shot equally well from a buddies savage axis with its 1-9 twist.

Varget has produced some very accurate loads for the lighter bullets as you say. For folks shooting the heavier bullets at 600 yards, 75,77,80 grain match bullets, I found that Varget does not produce as much velocity as N 140 and 2520 in the 20 inch barrel and RL 15 and 2520 in the 26 inch barrel. For competition you would like to have both, accuracy and velocity. Also, these heavier bullets need a 1-8 twist.

As with anything new, for safety always work up to these loads. I have a 1:8 twist and when shooting Varget with heavier bullets and using Lapua brass, I will be blowing primers before I reach the 24 grains of powder mark with that combination.
Be safe and be careful, watch for pressures as you increase your loads