M&P15-TS Handload Recommendations

[maximumhax]

I bought a new M&P15-TS!! and I am looking for any other handloaders out there. What kind of rounds are you loading up?

Bullet gr:
Bullet Type:
Powder Type:
Powder gr:

I was reading around and didn't find much info, but I did read a thread about using heavier bullets on this AR as it has the 1:7 twist barrel.

I am looking for any loads you guys are cooking up, but I am looking for:

cheap plinking loads 100-150yrds
target loads 100-200yrds
and also a varmint load 100+ yards

Also where are you buying your brass and projectiles? I know some of you will post some crazy cheap plinking reloads that are $0.05/shot and not post where you get those insanely cheap projectiles!

What range are you getting with this rifle for varmints? I've read that effective range for the .223/5.56 is about 250yards for varmint? Seems low?

Thanks for all your input!

 

[oneyeopn]

What range are you getting with this rifle for varmints? I've read that effective range for the .223/5.56 is about 250yards for varmint? Seems low?

I havent started reloading yet but have started collecting the materials. As far as Brass, I am buying nothing now but reloadable brass, for instance Monday I get 1000 rounds of Federal, Plus I have about 250 rounds of different stuff with reloadable brass cases.
I havent decide what powder to use yet, but I will use CCI small rifle primers.
Bullets, Hornady V-Max 55 grain boat tail and Nosler 60 grain Ballistic Tip Spitzer Boattails I have 100 of each so far. I am just going to try experimenting and see what works, there are some 70 and 80 grain bullets that I want to try. I have a set of Lee Dies brand new ready to be used and I have a lee classic press. My Dad has a turret press that he doesnt use and I am going to see if I can set it up and use it. I can be very precise with my classic press, I load all of my 8x57's and 45 long colts presently and have made some really nice accurate loads but I have learned that you dont always have to load to the max although I do have some compressed loads that I like. This will be another of lifes learning experiences!! Also I shoot pdogs over 200 yards and they still dont make it back to their holes!!

 

[crracer_712]

For cheap plinking loads, you are going to have a hard time reloading for less than the cost of steel cased ammo.

Your Target and Varmit loads should probably be the same, reload for targets, if you do it right, you'll see a world of difference in 3 shot groups with your reloads than you will with some of the cheaper brass commercial loads. Your reloads will be more consistent with the higher end commercial loads that cost a LOT more than the econimcal rounds that will shoot 2 to 3" groups (the economical rounds, not the higher end stuff).

I was shooting a box of Winchester in my 30-06 tonight and best I was coming up with was 3-4" groups, with only one shot in the bullseye. Switch to 3 rounds of my reloads and laid all 3 round in the bullseye, touching each other. For my 30-06, I use IMR 4530 and for bullets, I was using some cheap 180 grain soft points from Midway, cases were whatever I had from previsouly shot commerical ammo (although I have a box of 100 new brass, just never used them). I don't recall the actual cost of my reloads, but I do know they are a little cheaper than the 20.00 box of commercial reloads.

When I load for 223 (I don't have the dies right now), I'll look in my book for loads that utilize a powder that I like with a weight that I want to use, and I'll just work it up from the books recommendation and see how it goes.

 

[maximumhax]

So looks like $4.59 per 20rnds of cheap steel ammo for plinking.

My dad has a 22-250 and uses the 55gr vmax bt for varmint, I know he uses the vmax bt, but not sure on the 55gr, I think they have a 70gr as well. But I think he does use the 55gr.

So maybe I will order some of the 55gr vmax bt and try working up some loads with them. I see there is 90gr bullet out there too for longer range, may have to grab a box of those to do some testing.

I will probably be using CCI 400 primers for my .223 loads. Looks like those are what everyone recommends on other sites. I usually use cheap wolf primers in my 9mm and .45ACP pistols, but was reading about possible slap fire on AR's because the firing pin is free floating and may tap the primer when feeding and set it off. Same article mentioned possible primer piercing as well. So I think I'm set on using the CCI 400 as they have a thicker case and aren't as sensitive.

 

[oneyeopn]

So looks like $4.59 per 20rnds of cheap steel ammo for plinking.

My dad has a 22-250 and uses the 55gr vmax bt for varmint, I know he uses the vmax bt, but not sure on the 55gr, I think they have a 70gr as well. But I think he does use the 55gr.

So maybe I will order some of the 55gr vmax bt and try working up some loads with them. I see there is 90gr bullet out there too for longer range, may have to grab a box of those to do some testing.

I will probably be using CCI 400 primers for my .223 loads. Looks like those are what everyone recommends on other sites. I usually use cheap wolf primers in my 9mm and .45ACP pistols, but was reading about possible slap fire on AR's because the firing pin is free floating and may tap the primer when feeding and set it off. Same article mentioned possible primer piercing as well. So I think I'm set on using the CCI 400 as they have a thicker case and aren't as sensitive.

I use CCI primers on everything I load, they just seem to work well

 

[crracer_712]

Now see, I have always used winchester, and they have always worked

Actually, I have used some CCI, I just generally buy what ever is cheaper between the two (when I have a choice), or which ever the LGS has in stock when I don't buy online.

 

[arizona98tj]

Reloading joke: So.....what's the best thing a stripper can bring to a party?
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A whole bunch of friends!

10 rounds per stripper clip = plenty of range practice time.

 

[crracer_712]

that's a lot of reloading!

 

[oneyeopn]

wow...I never even thought about that!!

 

[maximumhax]

@arizona98tj

WOW!! That's a lot of ammo! 2,300+ rounds it looks like!!

Well I just ordered some Lake City once fired brass.. 3,000pcs $165

Just bought:
100pc 60gr vmax $16.17
100pc sierra 60gr HV HP varmint $14.30
100pc sierra 65gr HV SBT GameKing $17.05
50pc sierra 77gr HPBT MatchKing $12.67

So I will be using these for my testing.
H4895 is the powder I'm looking at, but not 100% sure on that.

 

[oneyeopn]

I have 1 1/2 lbs of IMR4895...guess its time to go to the load charts...and get ready to make some accurate ammo. Just looked it up on IMR's site. 25.2gr (c) with a 60 grain Hornady V-Max gives me 3052 ft per sec Muz Vel. Using H4895 with 26 gr gives me 3175 and using a 55 gr reg bullet with 26 grains of H4895 give 3315...gonna have to research this more using the H4895 and a 55 grain bullet doesnt compress the powder but a 60 grain does. and with my IMR4895 all the loads appear to be compressed According to some charts I was reading a 1-8 barrel twist destabilizes after about 3260 ft per sec, so I need to stay under that velocity

 

[gunfighter48]

15 years ago I was loading 26grn of Varget with a 60 grn Hornady hollow point bullet and getting 5/8 in groups at 100 yards. The rifle was a Olympic Arms PCR with a 20 in heavy barrel, not a bull barrel and had a Busnell 4X12 scope. If i remember correctly it had a 1 in 8 twist. The enclosed picture is of 30 rds fired unsupported at 25 yrds. I found a box of my hand loads, about 3 wks ago, from 15 years ago and they shot great, even if the shooter can't do so good anymore!! These were shot with my M&P Sport with a Primary Arms M3 red dot sight.

 

[oneyeopn]

15 years ago I was loading 26grn of Varget with a 60 grn Hornady hollow point bullet and getting 5/8 in groups at 100 yards. The rifle was a Olympic Arms PCR with a 20 in heavy barrel, not a bull barrel and had a Busnell 4X12 scope. If i remember correctly it had a 1 in 8 twist. The enclosed picture is of 30 rds fired unsupported at 25 yrds. I found a box of my hand loads, about 3 wks ago, from 15 years ago and they shot great, even if the shooter can't do so good anymore!! These were shot with my M&P Sport with a Primary Arms M3 red dot sight.

Still dang sure 1MOBG

 

[maximumhax]

@oneyeopn
I can't find the thread, but was talking about cheap ammo and you were asking about .223 vs 5.56 and someone mentioned an article. I think I found the article he was talking about.

223 Rem + 223 AI Cartridge Guide

has some loads I'm going to try as well.

But as far as I've found .223 pressure is 50,000 max and 5.56 is 60,000 max... So you can load your 5.56 hotter than your standard .223

You can run .223 ammo through 5.56 barrel, but can't run 5.56 through a .223 barrel, may have too high of pressures.

Speaking of high pressures.. this is what happened to me this weekend:

HiPoint .45 blew up on me.. had an undercharged bullet get stuck in barrel then ran a regular charged bullet through it... BOOM..

 

[oneyeopn]

@oneyeopn
I can't find the thread, but was talking about cheap ammo and you were asking about .223 vs 5.56 and someone mentioned an article. I think I found the article he was talking about.

223 Rem + 223 AI Cartridge Guide

has some loads I'm going to try as well.

But as far as I've found .223 pressure is 50,000 max and 5.56 is 60,000 max... So you can load your 5.56 hotter than your standard .223

You can run .223 ammo through 5.56 barrel, but can't run 5.56 through a .223 barrel, may have too high of pressures.

Speaking of high pressures.. this is what happened to me this weekend:

HiPoint .45 blew up on me.. had an undercharged bullet get stuck in barrel then ran a regular charged bullet through it... BOOM..

Wow are you alright? I have that same pistol and I love it but dang man....I always visually check my powder before I load the projectile...I can see that it really is a good thing to do. Also let me know how your .223 reloading goes as far as accuracy!!

 

[maximumhax]

Yeah I'm fine, thanks. Well I had 5 bullets under charged doing some testing. 230gr pushed with 2gr. bullseye.. didn't make it out the barrel Was going for a slow slow load.. was wanting around 400-500fps.. so I went below minimum. Then followed by 230gr pushed with 5.5gr bullseye... and blew my gun up.

But gun was great, even shot 230gr FMJ @ 100 yards @ an old 8" metal bell and was ringing it easily.

Most of my supplies have been shipped for the .223 just waiting on them. I still need to grab dies. Probably just pick them up at local shop as I don't think I will find them anywhere online significantly cheaper.

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

Max: Glad to hear you're okay. Looks like that could have really stretched your trigger finger.

 

[oneyeopn]

Yeah I'm fine, thanks. Well I had 5 bullets under charged doing some testing. 230gr pushed with 2gr. bullseye.. didn't make it out the barrel Was going for a slow slow load.. was wanting around 400-500fps.. so I went below minimum. Then followed by 230gr pushed with 5.5gr bullseye... and blew my gun up.

But gun was great, even shot 230gr FMJ @ 100 yards @ an old 8" metal bell and was ringing it easily.

Most of my supplies have been shipped for the .223 just waiting on them. I still need to grab dies. Probably just pick them up at local shop as I don't think I will find them anywhere online significantly cheaper.

I picked up dies and a case length gage ( I still measure them) from reloaders choice for about $35 off ebay, LGS doesnt carry reloading supplies

 

[SSgt M]

Kaboom sucks, no matter the gun. Atleast you ok.

 

[maximumhax]

Finally worked up some loads and had some range time with them. The loads I've tested so far was:

*$0.276/shot*-60gr Hornady V-MAX + 25gr H4895 + WSR + LC09 Brass (Estimated 3155fps)
*$0.257/shot*-60gr Sierra HV HP Varminter + 25gr H4895 + WSR + LC09 Brass (Estimated 3155fps)
*$0.281/shot*-65gr Sierra Spitzer BT GameKing + 24gr H4895 + WSR + LC09 Brass (Estimated 3000fps)
*$0.360/shot*-77gr Sierra HPBT MatchKing + 23gr H4895 + WSR + LC09 Brass (Estimated 2750fps)

The *Price/Shot* is for everything; brass, primers, powder, and projectiles.

The 65gr Sierra and 60gr V-MAX did the best groups at 100yards. I still need to test 55gr V-MAX, 55gr Sierra ballistic tip, then maybe try almost same loads using Varget powder instead of H4895