I'm getting different load data from my speer #14 manual than I am from the Hodgdon website for .223 remington. Which one should I trust more? The speer manual says max of 23.5grs and Hodgdon says a max of 26.5grs of BL-C(2). The manual also recommends a magnum primer with this powder. Will a standard primer work?
.223 load data
- Thread starter potatobed409
- Start date
Re: .223 load data
I use the Hodgdon load with 55 NBTs and Midway's 55 gr dogtown bullets in my DPMS Sweet 16 with no problems.
If you are using Speer bullets, then I would start with their load and work up.
Loading books frequently disagree and some of the old ones from the 60s & 70s have loads that are downright unsafe.
I use the Hodgdon load with 55 NBTs and Midway's 55 gr dogtown bullets in my DPMS Sweet 16 with no problems.
If you are using Speer bullets, then I would start with their load and work up.
Loading books frequently disagree and some of the old ones from the 60s & 70s have loads that are downright unsafe.
Re: .223 load data
Many manuals recommend a magnum primer to properly, fully and reliably ignite ball powders. Standard primers work OK for ball powders when it's warm out, but they also reduce pressures, so a primer switch may explain the load discrepancy.
The max load in your rifle will depend on a lot of things, not the least of which are chamber dimesions and case capacity. Pay attention to what brass they were using when they made the load recommendation. It matters because of the effect of case capacity on pressure.
Work up in .5 grain increments. Look for pressure signs. If no pressure signs develop - assuming an AR rifle here - there will come a time when you blow a primer (few AR's give you reliable warning before that). Then back off a full grain and see if you blow another primer. If not, then maybe you can safely get .5 grain more, and maybe not.
Blowing primers is NOT a safe way to do load development in an AR. That's not what I am saying. Your load should never blow primers, even with hot ammo under the sun.
And keep the ball powders out of the sun, especially when pushing heavy bullets, because your load can become very, very unsafe under those conditions.
Many manuals recommend a magnum primer to properly, fully and reliably ignite ball powders. Standard primers work OK for ball powders when it's warm out, but they also reduce pressures, so a primer switch may explain the load discrepancy.
The max load in your rifle will depend on a lot of things, not the least of which are chamber dimesions and case capacity. Pay attention to what brass they were using when they made the load recommendation. It matters because of the effect of case capacity on pressure.
Work up in .5 grain increments. Look for pressure signs. If no pressure signs develop - assuming an AR rifle here - there will come a time when you blow a primer (few AR's give you reliable warning before that). Then back off a full grain and see if you blow another primer. If not, then maybe you can safely get .5 grain more, and maybe not.
Blowing primers is NOT a safe way to do load development in an AR. That's not what I am saying. Your load should never blow primers, even with hot ammo under the sun.
And keep the ball powders out of the sun, especially when pushing heavy bullets, because your load can become very, very unsafe under those conditions.
Re: .223 load data
With the ball powder not igniting very well. would you recommend a different powder that was not so temp sensitive. It is for a remington bolt gun. I will be shooting the 69gr match kings.
With the ball powder not igniting very well. would you recommend a different powder that was not so temp sensitive. It is for a remington bolt gun. I will be shooting the 69gr match kings.
Re: .223 load data
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: potatobed409</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm getting different load data from my speer #14 manual than I am from the Hodgdon website for .223 remington. Which one should I trust more? The speer manual says max of 23.5grs and Hodgdon says a max of 26.5grs of BL-C(2). The manual also recommends a magnum primer with this powder. Will a standard primer work? </div></div>
What projectile are you using, what brass and what rifle? This all matters to where your loads should be. I would not use a std primer.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: potatobed409</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm getting different load data from my speer #14 manual than I am from the Hodgdon website for .223 remington. Which one should I trust more? The speer manual says max of 23.5grs and Hodgdon says a max of 26.5grs of BL-C(2). The manual also recommends a magnum primer with this powder. Will a standard primer work? </div></div>
What projectile are you using, what brass and what rifle? This all matters to where your loads should be. I would not use a std primer.
