Realoding 223 for an AR15

[cundiff5535]

Hey gang, I have reloaded pistol for years! I am just getting into rifle loading and am in need of some help!

I have a few questions I am hoping you experts can assist in! I will first talk about my setup, and then ask about loading thoughts.

I have an old Dillon 450 set up to load only 223. I use a manual powder drop with adapter to work with the 450. I use all Forster dies on this machine.

My processing head is set up on a Super 1050 with Lee Decapping die, Swagging station, RT1200 trimmer, and another Forster Sizing die... Probably a little overkill, but I was not sure.

I own a few AR's with 1:7 Kreiger Barrels (2 with Wylde Chambers and one with a Match Chamber) and a few others with 1:7 twist barrels like DD and POF.

I would like to do the following two things. Load a large amount of very good shooting ammo for training and having fun with (2-5K). And load some for shooting BR precision (for an AR... 200-500)

What bullets (kind and weight), powder, etc... do you all like

I know this is a loaded question so dont kill me... just looking for your thoughts on your personal preferences.

Feedback on the setup etc?

Thx

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Rl15 or varget with 75 hornady bthp is my go to

 

[jonbearman]

One of my favorite's is the Hornady 68 grain match using all three powders from time to time. H335, BLC-2, and w/w 748 with Remington 7 1/2 match primers or wolf or tula 5.56 primers.

 

[243winxb]

case separation FL sizing

The setup needs a comparator/case gage, if you dont have one. I run into a problem on my old RL450"s shell plate.

Each station may give a different FL sizing, when measured head to datum.

 

[Road_Clam]

You asked questions with no single best answer. Fact is there is ton's of excellent shooting projectiles and powders for the AR. Me personally have the best precision shooting 52gr SMK's with W748 and Benchmark powders. Also have had excellent results using 52gr Nosler CC's and 69gr SMK's. So you need to test and document your data as to what combo your barrel likes.

 

[logger3006]

Benchmark and 55 FMJBT is very accurate in my 1-9 Colt.

 

[cundiff5535]

You asked questions with no single best answer. Fact is there is ton's of excellent shooting projectiles and powders for the AR. Me personally have the best precision shooting 52gr SMK's with W748 and Benchmark powders. Also have had excellent results using 52gr Nosler CC's and 69gr SMK's. So you need to test and document your data as to what combo your barrel likes.

Yes, I agree with this 100%... just looking for starting points before I get lost in data and overwhelmed.

 

[waldo1979]

If the were you, I would load 75gr HPBT Hornady @2.28" COAL for both purposes. I use VV N135 but Varget works just as good. IMO, 1:7 twist might be faster than ideal and a 1:9" would produce less "dispersion" (see Bryan Litz books) for inside 300 yards. I have a 1:7.7" Kreiger on my match rifle.

For loads out to 600 yards, where the faster twist shines, try a SMK 90/80gr or Berger VLD loaded right on the lands (+/- 0.020"). The jackets on the SMK are a bit thicker but the Bergers are a little more uniform.

For inside 100 yards try a 52gr hornady, 50gr Zmax/Vmax, etc. Dial back the powder at least 10-15%, you want to reduce RPMS if possible. Zediker talks about bullet weights in AR's in his competition hand loading book which is jam packed full of information.

For setup, your dies and powder metering is where your groups make or break. I use a Redding National Match Die with a free float carbide expander ball. Expander balls usually cause massive concentricity issues and a separate expander die can fix that but adds a lot of time. For out to 300 yards a chargemaster (+/- 0.1gr)can meter good enough but a good satorius scale (+/- 0.005gr) or gem pro 250 (+/- 0.02gr) is a lot better for long range. Also, I really prefer the Forster micrometer seatting die over the Redding

For measuring max COAL I use a sinclair overall length gauge and a hornady gauge (bullet comparator) for getting OGIVE numbers. If you do get the hornady COAL gauge get the bent one.

For brass I like Lake City which I get from Brassman out of Oregon. Lapua brass gets really beat up quickly so it's a wash after a couple reloads. David Tubbs sells a spring kit which can help brass from getting so beat up on ejection. JP rifles enhanced bolt supposedly does this as well. On the ar15.com precision rifle/gunsmithing forums there is also a post by a guy who detunes his bolt, barrel extension and ejector to prevent marring of brass. Also, a piece of tape or felt over the forward assist (or an upper w/o it) will help. I use a Cadwell picatanny brass catcher and either a 10rnd Pmag magazine or a Bob sled magazine depending on COAL.

I use a Giraud Trimmer and occasionally a 21st century neck turner but those don't matter than much. For prep I'm convinced that walnut media is the best. I use a separate decapping process and either ultrasonic or STM tumble.

For shooting off the bench EGW bag riders are invaluable or maybe a Chocate A2 stock. Compass Lake also sells a bag rider.

 

[cundiff5535]

If the were you, I would load 75gr HPBT Hornady @2.28" COAL for both purposes. I use VV N135 but Varget works just as good. IMO, 1:7 twist might be faster than ideal and a 1:9" would produce less "dispersion" (see Bryan Litz books) for inside 300 yards. I have a 1:7.7" Kreiger on my match rifle.

For loads out to 600 yards, where the faster twist shines, try a SMK 90/80gr or Berger VLD loaded right on the lands (+/- 0.020"). The jackets on the SMK are a bit thicker but the Bergers are a little more uniform.

For inside 100 yards try a 52gr hornady, 50gr Zmax/Vmax, etc. Dial back the powder at least 10-15%, you want to reduce RPMS if possible. Zediker talks about bullet weights in AR's in his competition hand loading book which is jam packed full of information.

For setup, your dies and powder metering is where your groups make or break. I use a Redding National Match Die with a free float carbide expander ball. Expander balls usually cause massive concentricity issues and a separate expander die can fix that but adds a lot of time. For out to 300 yards a chargemaster (+/- 0.1gr)can meter good enough but a good satorius scale (+/- 0.005gr) or gem pro 250 (+/- 0.02gr) is a lot better for long range. Also, I really prefer the Forster micrometer seatting die over the Redding

For measuring max COAL I use a sinclair overall length gauge and a hornady gauge (bullet comparator) for getting OGIVE numbers. If you do get the hornady COAL gauge get the bent one.

For brass I like Lake City which I get from Brassman out of Oregon. Lapua brass gets really beat up quickly so it's a wash after a couple reloads. David Tubbs sells a spring kit which can help brass from getting so beat up on ejection. JP rifles enhanced bolt supposedly does this as well. On the ar15.com precision rifle/gunsmithing forums there is also a post by a guy who detunes his bolt, barrel extension and ejector to prevent marring of brass. Also, a piece of tape or felt over the forward assist (or an upper w/o it) will help. I use a Cadwell picatanny brass catcher and either a 10rnd Pmag magazine or a Bob sled magazine depending on COAL.

I use a Giraud Trimmer and occasionally a 21st century neck turner but those don't matter than much. For prep I'm convinced that walnut media is the best. I use a separate decapping process and either ultrasonic or STM tumble.

For shooting off the bench EGW bag riders are invaluable or maybe a Chocate A2 stock. Compass Lake also sells a bag rider.

What a great reply!! Thanks for this I can call Frank or Bunny at CL (they are the folks I get all my barrels from).... great people

I wet tumble all my brass as well... Brass is not an issue for me ever. I have well over 100K in 223/556 cases sitting in buckets. Its actually what has gotten me into wanting to reload rifle. Stuff just sitting around while I drop money shooting crap from Cabelas. I figured since I had a few presses, over 200K in primers, and a lot of random rifle powder laying around... I should start loading my own and save some money. I have relationships with many ranges that give me bulk brass of mix calibers at a ridiculously discounted rate. Because many of my older (70 +) friends are slowing down, I have been able to trade them cases for components... Hence why I have so many primers and dont load much rifle. I figured I would get into it one day or it would be good trade bait on something else I needed later on.

Anyway, thanks a ton to this point... lots of good info here so far!

 

[Cold Bore]

I own a few AR's with 1:7 Kreiger Barrels (2 with Wylde Chambers and one with a Match Chamber) and a few others with 1:7 twist barrels like DD and POF.

I would like to do the following two things. Load a large amount of very good shooting ammo for training and having fun with (2-5K). And load some for shooting BR precision (for an AR... 200-500)

What bullets (kind and weight), powder, etc... do you all like

After a lot of playing around, and twisting myself into knots, I finally settled on using 24.5 grains of Varget pushing anything from a 55 grain to an 80 grain bullet (Nosler Ballistic Tips and Sierra MatchKings, depending on weight and intended use).

I use this out of bolt guns and various AR-15's, for everything from groundhogs to XTC shooting (200-600 yards).

I found that I gave up very little, in exchange for a whole lot simpler process. No switching powders, no changing settings on the powder measure, etc.

The balance works just fine for me.

Start there, maybe adjust the powder charge slightly if needed for your guns, fine tune seating depth for COAL, and have at it!

 

[CBlack]

I use 21.0gr of IMR4198 and 55gr Xtreme Bullets for plinking/general target shooting. I have some 52gr Sierra Match bullets with 19.7gr of IMR4198 that's a nice, accurate target load.

 

[Joe Wade]

I always liked the performance of H4895 in a .223 with 70-80gr class of bullets for Mid Range
600yds. I shot highpower with the 80 grain bullets, single round load, too long for magazine fed.
I think Berger makes a good 70 grain bullet for magazine fed that I wanted to try.

Good luck

Joe

 

[CBlack]

I always liked the performance of H4895 in a .223 with 70-80gr class of bullets for Mid Range
600yds. I shot highpower with the 80 grain bullets, single round load, too long for magazine fed.
I think Berger makes a good 70 grain bullet for magazine fed that I wanted to try.

Good luck

Joe

I've used some 80gr VLDs with 4895. It was a crush load with I believe 22.5gr. Fed in the magazine ok.

 

[hogan]

Loading for magazine length usage?

Consider that no two chambers have the same headspace.


Got a tool like Wilson Case Gage or RCBS Precision Mic?
Need to gather data on your chambers and size your brass so loads function with each rifle; or tailor brass to each chamber.

Need to see before & after firing brass measurements.
Need an FL sizer and to size about .004 below fired case dimension for feeding and to avoid slamfire.
I use a Redding S FL Die with tight bushing so don't have to crimp.

Once you get chamber data you will see where you are.
Probably all will be pretty close if Wylde chambered quality barrels.

If tailoring loads for each rifle, might use specific brass for ea to keep it easy...

Good luck!

 

[Brians356]

FWIW:

While it deals with 308 Win and AR-10, I highly recommend reading the article Lane Pearce wrote for the Hodgdon 2014 Annual Reloading Manual: "Reloading the 308 Winchester for ARs".

There are nuggets of insight in there applicable to reloading for ARs in general.