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5.56 case length with bullet problems now!

shepherm

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 16, 2006
87
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West Oklahoma
I just trimmed 50 rounds of LC 5.56 and was thinking maybe I trimmed to much. I am loading for a 5.56 AR15 and read the Hornady manual and it says 1.750, is this right for 5.56?
 
Re: 5.56 case length

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shepherm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">the Hornady manual and it says 1.750, is this right for 5.56? </div></div>
Yes. The 223 and 5.56 are the same externaly. The 5.56 runs at about 62K PSI, and the 223 Rem runs at about 52K PSI, which is the main difference.
 
Re: 5.56 case length

Thanks for the quick reply! I now have another problem!! I trimmed the cases and started to measure powder for working up a load. Buy the way I am using Hornady BTHP 68gr, LC07 brass, cci 400, and Varget. I started at 24 grs and went up by .2 but when I got to 24.4 grs you can see what looks like a seating mark on the bullet. When I get to 25.8 grs you can really fill the mark made when seating them.
 
Re: 5.56 case length

It is just below the tip and it is a groove not just a mark like I first said. Here is a picure of the loaded bullet:
DSC_0162.jpg

Thanks again
 
Re: 5.56 case length

Shepherm, I had the same problem with Varget and .223. It was filling the case too full and the bullet was getting marked because it was compressing the powder. I switched to Benchmark and that resolved the problem.
 
Re: 5.56 case length

Thanks deisel

Dang I was hoping you were not going to say that! I have about 26 lbs of varget that I use for the 22-250 and was going to use it for the 223 and 308 also. I was wondering if that is why hornady does not go that high on the varget charge in their book but hodgdon data does.
 
Re: 5.56 case length

I had posted a Varget question on another website. My book says 27gr is max load for 223 and I thought there was noway to get that much powder in there. The guys suggested along drop tube or vibration to settle the powder.
 
Re: 5.56 case length

Try H-335, it meters great(at least thru my Dillon)and about 25grs. seems to work for me. YEAH, I load the old 55grn FMJ bullet but I have 2, 5gal buckets of them to burn up.
Respectfully,
LG
 
Re: 5.56 case length

Ok I cleaned my seating die and it made it much better (there was some stuff in it). I also forgot I just got a x-die set from midway in last week( I ordered it February 12th) so I took the seater out of it and tried it. It seems even better, but it leaves a scratch on the bullet. I may try to smooth out the new seater stem and see if that does away with the scratch. Either way it is a lot better than it was! Thanks for everyone’s help.
 
Re: 5.56 case length

I made my own drop tube out of an old pen body. It is about 5" in length and works great. I have not tried to seat a bullet yet but the powder is about 1/8 to 3/16 lower than without using the tube.
 
Re: 5.56 case length

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bfoosh</div><div class="ubbcode-body">try a powder drop tube, they work quite well.... </div></div>
They work to get about an extra grain or two in, but are a pain in the arse to use. I go to a faster powder (less charge weight) or a ball powder when you get overly compressed charges.