Colt AR-15 LE model for hunting/Varminting

[gotcha]

Neighbor/ friend has the above. I'll be teaching him to reload on my Dillon. .......... Is there any benefit to varying bullet seating depth (55 grainers) to enhance accuracy within restriction of magazine? We will be doing an OCW test with A-2230 first and wondering if varying seating depth might also be beneficial? ............ Your experience appreciated. Thanks for your input

 

[hunter243sgk]

I believe so. Also some mags will allow you to go longer than others. I think my magpul 2/3s will only allow 2.265 coal.

 

[gotcha]

Thanks Hunter ! Admittedly I've got zero experience reloading for AR's. This isn't a DPMS so I'm not expecting to much in the way of 100 yd accuracy. Maybe 1.5 inch at best. ................. I'm wondering what others are getting accuracy wise from this model and how they got there from a reloading stand point. Looking for a goal to shoot for if you'll pardon the pun

 

[MrMajestic]

You'll never get close to the lands in that Colt chamber. If I recall I was well over 2.500" COAL with 80 grainers to reach them when using mine, single loaded of course. It didn't seem to care when at mag length with 69's and shot a respectable 1 MOA with them. Never ran 55's but do yourself a favor and try the 64 grain Bergers. IMHO if a .224 caliber won't shoot them it won't shoot any.

 

[Larryh128]

Just make sure to have about .020 clearance in the mag or they will start failing to feed. I have no experience with that rifle, but AR's in general are pretty accurate with 55 gr bullets. Benchmark and AR comp are 2 really good powders for them.

 

[gotcha]

You'll never get close to the lands in that Colt chamber. If I recall I was well over 2.500" COAL with 80 grainers to reach them when using mine, single loaded of course. It didn't seem to care when at mag length with 69's and shot a respectable 1 MOA with them. Never ran 55's but do yourself a favor and try the 64 grain Bergers. IMHO if a .224 caliber won't shoot them it won't shoot any.

Thanks MR. M Also my way of thinking for bolt guns. I shot my best group ever with Berger 52 gr. Varmint in a bolt gun. I like the idea of the 64 grainer with smaller meplat for better B.C. and possibly better stopping power for Eastern white tail also Did you try various seating depth's with the 69's that were Mag. fed ??????

 

[gotcha]

Just make sure to have about .020 clearance in the mag or they will start failing to feed. I have no experience with that rifle, but AR's in general are pretty accurate with 55 gr bullets. Benchmark and AR comp are 2 really good powders for them.

'preciate the input Larry. Both powders available locally. I have no personal experience with either powder. Would they meter well in the Dillon ? Or would it be necessary to throw and trickle up ??? ........ BTW the A-2230 I'm using is spherical and drops dead nuts on in the Dillon as long as I keep the powder column above half full.

 

[gotcha]

C'mon guys .......... Anyone else with input??

 

[mac86951]

Oh there is a ton of info on this site. Meter in a Dillon; 748, blc2, cfe223, tac, need I go on?

Don't worry about chasing lands. Load work up as per normal; look for case head swipe and primer cratering. Don't use Win small rifle for fear of slam fires.

 

[hunter243sgk]

It has been years sence I loaded for a colt but last year I started loading my RRa and I was very surprised at the accuracy I have got with it. I am using cci 450 primers with h-4895 and cfe223 with 65g sgks 69g smks and 55g nbts. I noticed if I don't run them to fast I get my best accuracy and it is way better than I expected. This is the 16" flat top upper that I put on a bushmaster lower that I built with all rra parts.

 

[hunter243sgk]

Thanks Hunter ! Admittedly I've got zero experience reloading for AR's. This isn't a DPMS so I'm not expecting to much in the way of 100 yd accuracy. Maybe 1.5 inch at best. ................. I'm wondering what others are getting accuracy wise from this model and how they got there from a reloading stand point. Looking for a goal to shoot for if you'll pardon the pun

I get more like half inch groups with mine. If you work on it I think that colt should also!

 

[MrMajestic]

Thanks MR. M Also my way of thinking for bolt guns. I shot my best group ever with Berger 52 gr. Varmint in a bolt gun. I like the idea of the 64 grainer with smaller meplat for better B.C. and possibly better stopping power for Eastern white tail also Did you try various seating depth's with the 69's that were Mag. fed ??????

No, just mag length and confirmed feeding.

 

[wildfowler]

I have loaded for two other (not 223) calibers in AR. Using a magazine that allows for 2.295" max OAL, after finding powder optimum powder charge, I have seen an improvement in one caliber when I experimented with a .005" change in seating depth.

Ironically, in one rifle the optimum seating depth was 2.26" (the typical max most magazines) and the second rifle the optimum was the max length.

 

[gotcha]

I have loaded for two other (not 223) calibers in AR. Using a magazine that allows for 2.295" max OAL, after finding powder optimum powder charge, I have seen an improvement in one caliber when I experimented with a .005" change in seating depth.

Ironically, in one rifle the optimum seating depth was 2.26" (the typical max most magazines) and the second rifle the optimum was the max length.

O.K. guys, Thanks for ALL the input I'm encouraged that I can possibly improve accuracy with this AR with typical bolt gun reloading techniques. It seems that my friend will need two types of bullets. One for white tail, maybe a Nosler partition and a second more explosive bullet for small varmints and Coyote. Do y'all agree??? ......... Or is there a "one bullet does all" out there in the market place that would save a lot of load development ???

 

[hunter243sgk]

This year I deer hunted with mine using the 65g sgks. Dropped two just fine. I loaded a bunch of 55g nbts for varmints and predators. To me that's the only hunting bullets I need!!

 

[gotcha]

This year I deer hunted with mine using the 65g sgks. Dropped two just fine. I loaded a bunch of 55g nbts for varmints and predators. To me that's the only hunting bullets I need!!

Thanks Hunter243sgk, I've already loaded up some 55 gr. Nosler B-tips I had on hand. I'm going to take your advice on the 65 gr. sgk's. ................ Are you able to keep the bearing surface about .030" above the nk./shoulder junction and still feed well ?? Also, do you have room for seating depth adjustment with the sgk's and what area of the Deer body are you shooting for?? Neither I or my friend have hunted Deer with a .223 so please forgive our ignorance

 

[hunter243sgk]

When I load for my ar I measure coal not bto. So they are 2.265 and I hit them just in front or rear of the front shoulder. Its a good heart and lung shot. One was a doe at 40 yards. And the other was a big 8 point at 70 yards. The 8 point was hit at a angle and bullet broke through the far shoulder. With a hole about the size of a quarter. That I didn't expect!!!

 

[A_Gamehog]

AA2230 and X-terminator are the identical same powder according to the Western Powders website. That Colt has a 7 twist, you would do better with a 60 Grain V-Max in my experience. Work up to 24.5 Grains and keep the OAL to 2.255 or less. I love that powder and use it in my Dillon 650, it flows like water.

 

[gotcha]

When I load for my ar I measure coal not bto. So they are 2.265 and I hit them just in front or rear of the front shoulder. Its a good heart and lung shot. One was a doe at 40 yards. And the other was a big 8 point at 70 yards. The 8 point was hit at a angle and bullet broke through the far shoulder. With a hole about the size of a quarter. That I didn't expect!!!

Thanks Hunter !! Just the kind of info We were looking for Dense Georgia woods in our hunting area 100 yd shot rarely possible. ............ Congratulations on the 8 pointer.

 

[gotcha]

AA2230 and X-terminator are the identical same powder according to the Western Powders website. That Colt has a 7 twist, you would do better with a 60 Grain V-Max in my experience. Work up to 24.5 Grains and keep the OAL to 2.255 or less. I love that powder and use it in my Dillon 650, it flows like water.

Ditto on the A-2230 been using it for .223 for many years in my Dillon. ...... Looks like I'll have to choose between the 65 gr. SGK and your 60 gr. V-Max I wonder if hunter243sgk works for Sierra ........ Thanks for your input.