• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

.223 - 5.56

Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

50grn VMAX, BlitzKing, NBT kissing the lands
Win Brass
26grns of Benchmark
Fed 205M

55grn BlitzKing, NBT, VMAX kissing lands
Win Brass
25.5 Benchmark
Fed205M

60grn VMAX kissing lands
Win Brass
25 Benchmark
Fed205M
 
  • Like
Reactions: SPAK
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

26.5grns W748
FedGM205 Primer
Remmy Case
55grn V-Max
3100 FPS from 1-12" twist 18" bbl
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

20" MSTN SuperSAM Upper 1-8" twist (Lilja 3 groove barrel)
Lapua Brass
Rem 7 1/2 Primers
80 SMK (.015" off lands)
24.6 gr V140
2750fps

I shoot the identical load with 77gr BT Bergers (loaded to 2.25 OAL) and get 2780fps
 
  • Like
Reactions: Heretic
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TrapperT</div><div class="ubbcode-body">20" MSTN SuperSAM Upper 1-8" twist (Lilja 3 groove barrel)
Lapua Brass
Rem 7 1/2 Primers
80 SMK (.015" off lands)
24.6 gr V140
2750fps

I shoot the identical load with 77gr BT Bergers (loaded to 2.25 OAL) and get 2780fps </div></div>

How is your 200-300yd accuracy with this load? I am mostly interested in the heavier bullet loads for several reasons, distance and effective energy at distance for target elimination (coyotes potential mt lions)
Thanks
 
  • Like
Reactions: VGK SHOOTER
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

55grn VMAX
Win Brass
26.4 Varget
CCI 400

This load gives me avg. vel. of 3067 fps and an SD of 8 out of a 1/9 22" factory tube.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Aimsmall55
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Lapua Match brass
Federal Match primer
RL-15 23.6 grains
75 grain Hornady A-Max
2.385" coal


Winchester brass
Federal Match primer
RL-15 24 grains
75 grain Hornady BTHP
2.25" coal


Lapua Match brass
CCI BR primer
RL-15 24 grains
75 grain Berger VLD
2.365" coal
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

20" Rockriver Varminator(predator/varmint hybrid)
1:8 twist
Win brass
OAL standard
AA2520 24.7
77smk

69gr bullet (seems not to care about make)
26gr AA2520
2950fps
my standard load
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

20" White Oak Barrel
1:7 twist
Wylde chamber cut

24.5 grains RE-15
Lake City case
Federal Match primer
75 Hornady BTHP
2.255"

Awesome load but will flatten primers for me, be careful.
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Hornady 2nd firing brass
WSR primer
27grs Varget
50gr Vmax Moly
2.230"
3310fps out of a 26" 1-12 boltgun
mild pressure and outstanding accuracy!
 
  • Like
Reactions: BirdEyes
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Bushmaster 1/9 20" hbar

Winchester brass
Wsr primer
23gr AA2230
68gr bthp Hornady
2.25"
No chrono yet?
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Noveske 18" 1:7 poly rifled MK12Mod0

LC Brass, once fired
24.0-24.5gr Ramshot TAC
77gr. Nosler OTM
CCI #41 primers
2.25"
24.0=2730fps, 24.5= 2780fps



Note- I do not get any pressure signs with 24.5. however, the Noveske 5.56mod0 Match chamber may be looser in the body. Start low and work up. 24.0 yielded a nice dime sized ten shot group at 100 the first time out, but I wanted more velocity within the safe pressure boundary. Also, I do not crimp mine. I believe it can add to the pressure so start low and work up with a crimp if that's your thing.
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Sierra 69 gr HPBT
26 gr BL-C(2)
Velocity 2930 from Savage 12FV 26" 1:9 barrel
ES: 42
SD: 12
Fed 205 primers

Edit to add: Bullet seating was done with an RCBS precision mic at +0.040

Note: I loaded these with range brass that was only resized and not trimmed. Consistantly shot 1/4" 5 shot groups at 100 yards.
Powder threw very consistant so once I set the throw and confirmed throw consistancy, I just threw the powder with out trickling up like I normally do with Varget.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RMB
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Call me lazy. I c'n' pasted my thread on 'another' forum with a few changes.

Long story short.

I remembered seeing a thread re: Varget and .223 loads.

I had some 65gn Sierra's lying around.#1395 from memory,the only 65gnr they make (as far as I know).

I loaded up some with 24gns of said Varget. I gave them a shot, all 5 of them. Shot pretty well.I went back to the shed and loaded some more with 25gns. I had no idea really what the recommended dose of Varget for this projectile was. Info is hard to come buy.

The 5shot group results are below.
e766eddb.jpg


Rifle is an AR15 with an 18' barrel. See my sight AR15Hunter for details. The scope I was using is my usual 1-3 power CQT scope. Not exactly target shooting stuff. The centre dot fits inside that 3" square at 100yds. I would end up sighting in the final load to group inside that dashed circle. Which then means everything that falls inside the centre dot on the CQT scope is hit out to about 250-300yds depending on pill/velocity. Basically a 3" PBR if you like (that area behind a deers eye)

The 24gns of Varget and 65gn Sierra cronied around 2600fps. Unfortunately I didn't get to crony the 25gns of Varget load. My crony suffered a fall. My AR sights are about 3" above the bore line and I had lowered the front rest to play with a mates rifle. Forgot to adjust the rest back up again.

e766edee.jpg


Pretty terminal.

Hope this helps someone else wanting to try out the Sierra 65gn pills. FYI.

Had an email from Sierra today re the 65gn pill [asking about Benchmark and Varget powders]
"We used a starting load of varget at 22.8 grs. up thru a max load of 26.3 grs.With Benchmark,try a starting load of 22.0 grs. up thru a top of 24.2 grs.Velocities runs about 3050 FPS on the top end from either load."

I loose a bit of fps because of short barrel.

Its a starting point anyway. Will update as load develp continues. The day I played with that load I was actually trying to get the new Barnes 62gn projectiles to work. With no real joy (again). It was blowing about 10knots and I was trying to fire in between puffs.

Hi btw.

****************
I just finished cronying the 25gn loads. 2723fps [10shot av.] New crony works well
grin.gif
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

25.6 of H4895
60gr Vmax
seated to 2.31
with a federal 205
3100 fps out of a 22" Steven 200 w/timney trigger
.91" center to center for a 10 shot group
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

LC 91 virgin brass
80 Berger VLD Moly in the lands
Old lot (96, 97) of N540 25.9, 02 and 03 lot about 26.5 to get sweet spot velocity - 2830 to 2900 in a service rifle
CCI 450 Magnum
Velocity in a service rifle Wylde chamber 2900
Velocity in a 28 inch Wylde built match rifle 3050

Using the match rifle I won the TX state championship 1K iron sight in 97 with the load. Sold the upper to a friend who did not have a good rifle, he won the same match in 98 with it. The load works and very accurate and safe in our rifles. Still shoot the same load.
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

With .223 reloading for very long range the questions are always:

What twist bbl?
What bullet?
What chamber?

Assuming 80 grainers, they really need a 1 in 7 twist to be reliably stable all the time (like in cool weather).
90 grainers need a 1 in 6.5, which may put you on the limit of how fast you can spin a bullet to make it work.

OAL figures are not useful unless they are chamber specific, and even then are approximate due to throat wear. Jump information, however, can be very useful: VLD's, like Berger and JLK, should be seated to the lands; SMK's don't care that much.

If you get thoroughly confused and want a place to start, take whatever brass you have, load 24.5grs of RE-15 or 24.0 of H4895 behind an 80gr SMK a bit off the lands, and go from there. the load you get should shoot well enough, with low enough SD numbers, to give you a benchmark from which to refine an execellent load. If either of these loads do not work in your rifle, seek help (for your rifle).

In my Derrick Martin standard chamber 22" Douglas 1 in 7 bbl, an 80 SMK seated to the lands with 24.5 of RE 15 gives me 2850fps, and 24.0 of H4895 gave 2875fps and an SD of 6 (!!) last time I chrono'd. Both loads will shoot sub MOA out to 600 plus, stay supersonic at 1000, and are capable of better performance than my skill level can consistently deliver at 1000.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Redfisher60
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

AR - 16" RRA UTE2 5.56 heavy barrel, mid-length, 1/9

55 gr Hornady
25.5gr H4895
Lake City cases
Win primers

Pretty good copy of M193, although I think it's a little slower, but it's wicked accurate.
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

24" DPMS "Panther Bull"

Shoots well enough to hit a 4.54-5" plate at 720 yards, and bugholes at 100-200:

75 grain Hornady match
22.8 grains Varget *mild load*

68 grain Hornady match
24.5 grains Varget *CAUTION, HOT LOAD*


The 68 grain load killed my gas rings in about 200-300 rounds. The 75 grain load is now what I use.

ETA: 223 of course
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Hornady 75 grain A-Max
23.0 W748
Winchester brass
Winchester std small rifle primer
oal 2.390

Hornady 50 grain V-Max
27.0 W748
Winchester brass
Winchester std small rifle primer
oal 2.200

Rock River Arms A4 varmint, 24" barrel, 1/8 twist. Both loads shoot sub-moa.
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Which of the above mentioned powders is a ball powder?

Im going to load 1000 rounds for plinking using Hornady 55g FMJBT and do not want to weigh them. I just want to use a powder drop.

Thanks,
Julian
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

748, BLC-2, AA2230, AA2520, and TAC are all ball powders. TAC will be a little slow for 55 grain but is sister Ramshot exterminator is more inline with the burn rate also a ball powder. I have used all these. Hd good luck with most al of them. The AA powders did seem to have something in the gun gas that made my eyes water, but the AR I was shooting it from was way gassed anyway.
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Berger 80gr Moly VLD
23.40 gr RL-15
Lapua Brass
CCI BR-4 Primer
8 twist Shilen select match
2850 fps
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Rem brass

68gr Hornady BTHP
24.3 IMR4895
CCI primers
2.260" COL
2950 fps - measured on a 20" barrel
(need <span style="color: #FF0000">at least</span> 1:8" barrel for this)


69gr SMK
24.7 IMR4895
CCI primers
2.260" COL
2970 fps - measured in a 20" barrel

No signs of over pressure on my rifles, although you better start a 6-8% lower.
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Time for me to contribute again………
Following information derived from Colt HBAR Elite lower, shitty factory trigger, 30” Lilja straight tube, 3-groove, 1:7 twist barrel, Badger free-float hand guard with 362 rounds down the tube. Loads were shot over an Oehler 35P with screens set at 15 feet. Unless otherwise noted temp was 50 degrees with variable cloudiness, 3-5 wind. Shooting was done at 100 yards to compare known 100 yard zeros. Testing was done on the ground with Harris pod with claws. All rounds were loaded into new prep’d and trimmed Win brass .015 off the lands with -.004 neck tension. 5-shot groups were used for testing. A better trigger needs to be purchased if I decide to keep shooting this one in FTR.

75 Hornady BTHP Note: shot at 70 degrees, mag length
25 grains Varget, BR4 primers
M=2877, E=7, S=3
This is a damn accurate short range load but gets it ass kicked pretty well at 600

75 Hornady BTHP Note: shot at 70 degrees, mag length
25 grains RE15, 205M primers
M=2945, E=19, S=8
Screaming…….but not as accurate

77 SMK Note: shot at 70 degrees, mag length
25 grains Varget, BR4 primers
M=2880, E=25, S=10

77SMK Note: shot at 70 degrees, mag length
25 grains RE15, 205M primers
M=2950, E=24, S=11

78 Berger non-VLD
25 grains Varget, BR4 primers
M=2941, E=61, S=25
Kick Ass load……………………..5 shots touching cloverleaf

78 Berger non-VLD
24.5 grains RE15, 210M primers
M=2907, E=37, S=14
Sucked

80SMK
25 grains Varget, BR4 primers
M=2896, E=43, S=9
Very good load

80SMK
24.5 grains RE15, 210M primers
M=2877, E=22, S=9

80 Amax
25 grains Varget, BR4 primers
M=2912, E=33, S=23

80 Amax
24.5 grains RE15, 210M primers
M=2900, E=38, S=15

80 Berger VLD Note: shot at 70 degrees, mag length
25 grains Varget, BR4 primers
M=2878, E=48, S=19
I suck as loading in or near the lands so accuracy sucked also

82 Berger non-VLD
25 grains Varget, BR4 primers
M=2922, E=29, S=13
Too fast for this bullet…will try around 2800

82 Berger non-VLD
24.5 grains RE15, 210M primers
M=2862, E=20, S=8
Too fast for this bullet…will try around 2800

90SMK
23.5 grains Varget, BR4 primers
M=2675, E=48, S=16
Decent accuracy but I don’t know why I wasted my money

90SMK
23.5 grains RE15, 210M primers
M=2678, E=59, S=9
Decent accuracy but I don’t know why I wasted my money

 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

35 gr Vmax moly in bore burnished with Lyman Moly bore Cream, pushed by 15 gr of Blue Dot, 3500 fps. Sub .5 moa, but will not cycle AR15s.

You many be tempted to do 18 gr for 4100 fps, but don't do it.

To shoot 1,000 rounds and stay accurate without bore cleaning, keep it down to 3500 ~ 3600 fps.
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

LC Brass trim to 1.750
60 grain Vmax
27C Varget
400 CCI primer
Seated 2.25
Lee Factory 1/2 turn crimp

1.54" 10 shots 200 yards

Rifle DTI 20" AR15
1:9
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

My practice load
Lake City brass
26 grains of TAC
Golden West 62 grain w/cannelure
WSR primer
Use Lee Crimp
OA: 2.245

Match Load
Lapua Brass
24.5 grains of Varget
Berger 73 grain VLD
BR Primer
no crimp
OA: 2.245

Match load for my son's RR NM
Lapua Brass
24 grains of N 135
BR Primer
Berger Moly 73 grain VLD
No Crimp
OAL 2.245
 
  • Like
Reactions: blister
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Rem 700 LTR, factory 1 in 9" BBL.

23.5gr ADI AR2208. (Varget)
Fed cases (ex GMM).
WSR primers.
69gr SMK.

Groups between 0.3 and 0.5 MOA, depending on how good a day I'm having...
Chrony'ed at 2650fps, +/- 15fps, 25 Deg C day at 150' AMSL.

 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Free floated RRA 1/8 SS upper

23.5 grs. IMR4064
75 gr. Hornady
Virgin Guat brass
WSR primer
2769 FPS AVG


ETA a 20 inch barrel and produces submoa groups at 100 yards. I will be going oout further soon...
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

AR15 20" Bushmaster

22.0 gr RE-7
55 gr Blitzking
LC Case
CCI Benchrest Primers

Straight out of Seirra Mannual - Most accurate I have found out of 100's of combinations. Good info here, I have a couple of Berger Match bullets I am fixin to load up soon. Thanks guys.

crimping=lessthandesiredaccuracy
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

I can finally contribute to this post.

Remington 700 SPS 20" BB

19.0 gr IMR 4198 "Book"
60 gr V-MAX
Rem case
205 primers

Shot a .4 three shot group at 100yds off a bipod yesterday.
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Rock River 20"1 in 8"Rel-15 24.1grns ,LC-brass cci-br4,75grn horn hpbt,2.250.2780fps-7 shots at 100 .436
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

Both using LC brass trimmed to 1.750" and CCI BR4 primers.

Rifle:

DTI AR15A2
20" Wilson Arms HBAR 1:9 RoT 6-groove 5.56 chamber, <span style="text-decoration: underline">NOT</span> free floated
RRA lower
RRA National Match 2-stage trigger

Winchester 55gr FMJBT
25.5gr Ramshot TAC
2.260"
LEE FCD die used
3,100 f/s
1-2 MOA @ 100 yards

Hornady 52gr BTHP Match
26.0gr Ramshot TAC
2.250"
3,220 f/s
.75-1 MOA @ 100 yards
 
  • Like
Reactions: MarshallDodge
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Blve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ok guys have a Cooper 1-14 comming, using LC brass lets hear some loads for this twister. </div></div>

26 grns of BenchMark and 50grn VMAX or BlitzKings kissin the lands.
 
Re: Loads for .223- 5.56

223- 1/9 Douglas XX

R&P brass
75AMAX kissing the lands
24.0 Grns of BenchMark
Fed205M
2975FPS

R&P brass
75AMAX kissing the lands
23.6 Grns of BenchMark
Fed205M
2930FPS