Care to share your favorite 5.56mm/.223 load recipe

[paramil]

If anyone would be as so kind, I am looking for a good load for a short (16 inch) barreled 5.56mm carbine utilizing LC brass.

M855 isn't doing it at 500yds for me.

I have reloaded plenty of 7.62x51mm/.308 cartridges, and have a solid load for my rifle, but now that I have ventured into the world of small rifle primers and cannelured bullets I am at the mercy of more experienced shooters/re-loaders.

Thanks to all in advance, help is much appreciated.

 

[lancetkenyon]

50gr. VMax
25.5gr. Benchmark
Rem 7 1/2 BR Primers
LC brass
3100fps from my 16.5" gas gun
3400fps from my 24" gas gun

69 SMK
25.0gr. Varget
Rem 7 1/2 BR Primers
LC brass
2650fps from my 16.5" gas gun
3033fps from my 24" gas gun

Both loads easily hit a 12" steel out to 600 yds. The 69s can go to 700 yds. on a calm day easily.

 

[240nmc]

24.5 RL15
Rem 7.5 BR primers
69 HPBT M 200 yds
77 HPBT M 300 yds
75 AMAX 600 yds

Works for me for many years in the HP circles.

 

[dariof]

55 GR V-Max
Win Small Rifle Primers
24.5 GR. TAC
SD of 7
ES of 13
2850 fps

 

[Motor10]

Lake City Brass
77 Grain CC Noslers
23.3 gr IMR XBR 8208
7 1/2 Bench Rest primers
2550 FPS from a 14.7" LWRC

This is by far the most accurate load I have ever put through an AR. Drilling steel at 750 yards, even had my girlfriend hitting steel at 500 and 750 with this load. Velocity would be much better with an 18" barrel.

 

[leadbullet]

55 FMJ with 24.5 gr of H335 or ram shot TAC

 

[JGorski]

20grs H4198 or RE7 under any 55 grain bullet in military brass.

 

[BoilerUP]

77gr Nosler CC @ 2.255" COAL
23.5gr 8208XBR
Any brass (generally use RP)
CCI-450

2670fps from 18" 1:8 BHW rifle gas barrel.

 

[diggler1833]

69gr SMK
LC '08 brass
25.5gr RL-15
CCI Small Rifle
2.280 COL

Damn, I have this one memorized.

 

[forrestgump01]

55 grn v- max
25.8 grn varget
LC brass ( works well in any brass)
Wolf small rifle primer

 

[CharlieNC]

69SMK : 25.0 Varget : any brass and primer so far : good to 700 yd before running out of scope on 20" Savage

 

[texas_vet00]

69SMK
23.8 TAC
CCI BR-4
LC Brass
2.250 COL

 

[paramil]

Awesome, whats happening is that I like the M855 out of my full length ARs; however its not performing the same way out of my carbines. Trying to still use the BDC in my ACOG and standard iron sights so I am trying to get a load that will simulate the M855 ballistics in a full length gun for my carbine. Does that make sense?

 

[M14 Shooter]

77 SMK 24.1 Grains RL-15 LC Case Wolf SRM Primer

77 SMK 23.2 Grains IMR 8208 LC Case Wolf SRM Primer

Regard ,Mike

 

[Graham]

Care to share your favorite 5.56mm/.223 load recipe

80gr JLK VLD
24.5 RE15 or 24.0 H4895, whichever is available.
Any brass.
Any primer.

 

[CharlieNC]

Just worked up a new load today using IMR4064, since I found 10lb of it last month. 75 Hornady BTHP Match bullet with 24.0 gr powder gave very wide vertical node in my 22" barrel, and the horizontal dispersion was also minimized there. I had been working with Varget with these bullets, but the IMR is giving less variable results overall.

 

[JGorski]

Just worked up a new load today using IMR4064, since I found 10lb of it last month. 75 Hornady BTHP Match bullet with 24.0 gr powder gave very wide vertical node in my 22" barrel, and the horizontal dispersion was also minimized there. I had been working with Varget with these bullets, but the IMR is giving less variable results overall.

Funny you should mention that, just pulled a 75gr HP Hornady from a Hornady case, primer never lit, weighed the powder, ball of course, and it was 26grs, so now I'm wondering what Hornady uses for that load?

 

[CharlieNC]

I am working on these using LC brass and it is full with 24.0gr IMR4064 that is at the lower OBT node, which is wide and flat. I did take the trials to the upper OBT node at 25.2gr with no pressure problem, but it was quite compressed at 109% full. With a Quick Load calculated velocity of 2785fps at the lower node, that should be right at supersonic at 1000yd so I will work with that before pushing it anymore.

 

[pinsandpitons]

55 FMJ with 24.5 gr of H335 or ram shot TAC

What kind of speed are you getting from this?
Vel?
Barrel length?
bolt or semi?
Mixed head or...?

I'm only getting 2830 from 24.0gr H335 under 55FMJ out of a 16" semi. (BTW federal 55FMJ is 3100)