loading for AR-223?

[jepp2]

Haven’t you fixed that yet? I can loan you a file.

I'm taking welding classes and just finished a home project. Pretty sharp!

 

[darkangel_r2]

.223 Is the ammo my buddy buys for his guns. I am going to be loading rounds from his factory brass. I will be loading Hornady 55gr V-max. Hodgdon CFE 223 powder and cci 400 primers.

That's a great bullet and can do really well for you.

I have never been a fan of cfe223. Great velocity and a few respectable members claim wide nodes in 308. My experience with it in 223 was poor in general. Lackluster accuracy, bad SD numbers, and velocity radically changing with temperature. If you have not already bought the powder I would suggest you go another way.

There are 3 ball powders for 223 I recommend. H335, W748, and Power Pro Varmint. All of these get good velocity, consistent accuracy, and much lower SD numbers than other ball powders.

Also CCI 400s have a pretty thin cup so they have a higher likely hood to slam fire. I use them all the time without issue but I don't use heavy springs. If CCI 450s or 41s are available to you it might be a better idea to use those. If you have slam fire problems and don't want to switch primers you can get A low mass firing pin in your bolt, a lighter recoil spring, heavier buffer, and an adjustable gas block.

And with that bullet Id load as long as your mag allows as long as it doesn't hit the lands. Optimal seating for that bullet is like 2.37" so as far out as you can get it will probably get better results. Steel mags typically have the thinnest walls and allow loading a little longer as a result. I can load to 2.3"+ in some of mine. Be aware though that if their seam in front comes apart it can reduce this. So if you go that route it may be wise to buy them in person so you can check how the metal joins up in front.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I don't use 400's or 6.5's for 223 loads, seen AR bolt faces etched from loads with those primers. Minimum primer for me is the Winchester small rifle for AR's.