Yep another FNG trying to reload for the AR 15 questions.

[Bud8808]

Hello all, greetings from the still snowy Michigan. I have used these forums a lot for info on reloading, gear, optics and so on and appreciate the knowledge base here. Just started reloading and I have successfully loaded for my .270 bolt gun but now want to start some 5.56 rounds. Most of my brass has been fired in my weapon or my wife's. They are identical S&W MP-15s chambered for 5.56. I went to set up my dies today and I have resized a few pieces of brass but i failed to buy an ammo checker and I cant seem to find what the min and max case headspace is for this chamber. I measured my IMI 5.56 M193 55grn unfired ammo and I get 1.4520 to 1.4540. My once fired IMI brass measures 1.4595 to 1.4610. I resized some brass and I mostly get around 1.4530 but I had a couple come out as small as 1.4505. Am I getting it right here. In a bolt gun bump the shoulder put the brass in see if it fits cant really do that with the AR. I do know my once fired brass will not chamber. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[John Glidewell]

did you try searching forum. Or how about the sticky for the AR 15?

5.56 AR Only Loads

Post your 5.56 AR Loads here Ill Start off 23.6gr 8208XBR 77 SMK 1xLC Brass 205M 2710 20" WOA

www.snipershide.com

 

[spife7980]

Bullets dont have headspace. Headspace is the difference in the case shoulder and the chamber shoulder. No idea what an "ammo checker" is.

Keep the brass segregated. I promise you s&w isnt keeping tight enough tolerances to blindly say that both match and mix brass without first comparing measurements between the two. If you try to get a consistent number from inconsistent brass then youre gonna have a bad time.

Seems like you are supplying measurements for the shoulder set back, make it .002 smaller than your fired brass. Doesnt matter what some book spec says, what matters is what comes out of your rifle. If they are coming out fired as 1.460 then size it to 1.457 for the semiauto and see if it chambers. You most certainly can do that with an ar as youve already proven to yourself with that the fired brass doesnt comment.

 

[Bud8808]

did you try searching forum. Or how about the sticky for the AR 15?

5.56 AR Only Loads

Post your 5.56 AR Loads here Ill Start off 23.6gr 8208XBR 77 SMK 1xLC Brass 205M 2710 20" WOA

www.snipershide.com

yes i have looked I am watching the video from Elfster 1234 on headspace. My biggest concern is this is a semi auto just want too make sure im not going to far on the bump on my brass and that i can get it too chamber.

 

[MarshallDodge]

Like you, I have found that brass fired from an AR can be a bit difficult to get to size consistently. Annealing, consistent lube, and the way you operate your press can help but it depends on what your end goal is.

I would take the average of your fired brass and use that number, minus .003, to setup your sizing die.

 

[redbullitt]

Sometimes a small base die can help, or even a modified shell holder... depending on how shitty the brass you have is.

Lots of messy once fired brass can have springback issues, needing a little extra attention. Can be easy as be sure to hold press closed for a few seconds to needing to also mod the shell holder...

Sounds like you have known brass, so were i you, id simply make some dummy rounds and try in your rifles once you think you have it figured out. Think like plunk test in pistol. After that a feed and cycle test of dummy rounds can tell you more. If hanging up, sharpie the whole cartridge and retry to show where the issue likely is. You should be able to come up with a size that will run OK enough in both for first firing, then keep brass separate for each rifle for best results.

Unless you have some bad chamber issues, the .003 under fired mentioned above should work well. Your fired cases are great info... use it. The book values are guide posts, as is the ammo checker die. Those numbers should set you down near min spec. Probably fine for your rifles, but the fired brass wont lie!

 

[RMD45]

I have resized fired 5.56 NATO brass with .223 REM dies without an issue. I highly suggest you work to get components before diving full-send on equipment. Primers would be first goal, then powder, then projectiles.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I have resized fired 5.56 NATO brass with .223 REM dies without an issue. I highly suggest you work to get components before diving full-send on equipment. Primers would be first goal, then powder, then projectiles.

223 and 5.56 brass have the same outer dimensions so there isn't such a thing as a 5.56 die.

The difference between them is in the powder charge, and sometimes bullet choice.

 

[FLIGHT762]

O/P, your S&W Rifles are not match Rifles. Set you F/L die up to bump the fired case shoulders to about 1.455" (from you listed measurements). Make a couple of dummy rounds (no primer or powder) to be 100% sure they chamber easily in both Rifles. Bumping your cases to -.005" is not going to cause issues.

Since I have about 6 - AR-15 type rifles that have 223 Wilde, Colt and 5.56 NATO chambers, I set my F/L 223 die to shoulder bump close to SAAMI 223 minimum to be 100% sure they chamber in any of my rifles. I don't care about case life. If I get 4-5 loadings, I'm good with that. Primer pockets get loose before I get any case case head separations.

If you were using a Match rifle with a high grade barrel and Lapua brass, then I would take more precise fired case measurements and shoulder bump the fired cases to -.003".

Sometimes when you're getting various bumping measurements, it can be caused by inconsistent case lube application. I've found for bulk reloading, the Alcohol / Lanolin case lube works best for me.

 

[RMD45]

223 and 5.56 brass have the same outer dimensions so there isn't such a thing as a 5.56 die.

The difference between them is in the powder charge, and sometimes bullet choice.

Powder charge and bullet choice is enough difference too.

 

[Bud8808]

Yall are awesome thank you all for the feedback. Im using RCBS .223/5.56x45 SB T/C die set. I have the CCI 41 small military primers. I also have CCI 450s, Winchester Small Rifle, GM205m. Powders I have CFE223, IMR3031, Win 748 Ball, Ramshot TAC, H322 and Varget. Yeah I bought what I could find to fit 5.56 and some cross over to .308 as well. Bullets are Bobs 55grn fmj, Hornady 60grn Vmax and 55grn SP. I know its a bit all over the place but when powder was short i wasnt sure what I would be able to find. That is what im working with.

 

[MarshallDodge]

For those bullet weights, I would go with H322. H335 and A2230 are good ball powders for the 55-60 grain bullets.

Find some heavier, 69 or 77 grain bullets for the other powders. Don't expect much for accuracy from the 55 FMJ.

 

[Bud8808]

For those bullet weights, I would go with H322. H335 and A2230 are good ball powders for the 55-60 grain bullets.

Find some heavier, 69 or 77 grain bullets for the other powders. Don't expect much for accuracy from the 55 FMJ.

Those are my plinkers. I have seen some decent accuracy online with bobs bullets. Just want something to practice with and have fun. Thank you for all the advice and help.

 

[Bbracken667]

Loading for an AR is somewhat similar to loading for a semi auto pistol. Other considerations become so much more, such as feedability. If you can run commercial ammo without problem, you can use that as your guide. Then you can tweek to satisfy other aspects such as accuracy.