.223/5.56 with Surplus Powder

tappedandtagged · Jun 11, 2012

My source for ammo at around .33 cents a round has dried up. I did the math, and if I use surplus pulled powder and bullets, then I can get my cost down to .18 cents a round.

Here's what I plan on doing, see if it sounds good to yall-

Pulled W884 powder from Wiedners ($85 per 8lbs)
Wolf small rifle primers ($16 per 1K)
Pulled M885 bullets from fsreloading.com ($73.95 per 1K)
Lee Pacesetter dies from fsreloading.com ($22.48)

I plan on using H335 data and starting 10% below their start and work up to the velocity I'm looking for, which I will gather from chrono'ing my factory m885 ammo.... All the while checking for pressure signs.

One thing of note: Wienders reccomends the Wolf Magnum primers for 5.56 and hot .223 loads as it has a thicker cup for the higher presuures. Would these be better for my application?

Edit: Rifle is a Stag Model 3. From what I understand, this is the same gun as the S&W optics ready carbine. Chambered for 5.56, 16" chrome lined barrel running a Bushnell holosight made by EOTech before they parted ways.

ryanjames170 · Jun 11, 2012

if your looking to Duplicate the M855 YES because 5.56 works at a bit more pressure then 223 dose

armadillo · Jun 11, 2012

I find that I use about 1 gr more 844 to get the same velocity (chronographed) compared to a max load of H335. My tests were with bullets from 40-55 gr.

I also tried standard CCI primers against Remington 7 1/2 (for BR cartridges) with both powders. H335 was OK with standard primers, but 844 did not perform well unless I used the hotter primers. Those were the primers I had handy and I have not tried others.

MichiganScott · Jun 11, 2012

CCI-41 primers have a less sensitive magnum primer mix made specifically for semi-auto rifles. If Wolf recommends their magnum primers for similar applications, use them.

jerryh60 · Jun 12, 2012

tappedandtagged said:
My source for ammo at around .33 cents a round has dried up. I did the math, and if I use surplus pulled powder and bullets, then I can get my cost down to .18 cents a round.

Here's what I plan on doing, see if it sounds good to yall-

Pulled W884 powder from Wiedners ($85 per 8lbs)
Wolf small rifle primers ($16 per 1K)
Pulled M885 bullets from fsreloading.com ($73.95 per 1K)
Lee Pacesetter dies from fsreloading.com ($22.48)

I plan on using H335 data and starting 10% below their start and work up to the velocity I'm looking for, which I will gather from chrono'ing my factory m885 ammo.... All the while checking for pressure signs.

One thing of note: Wienders reccomends the Wolf Magnum primers for 5.56 and hot .223 loads as it has a thicker cup for the higher presuures. Would these be better for my application?

Edit: Rifle is a Stag Model 3. From what I understand, this is the same gun as the S&W optics ready carbine. Chambered for 5.56, 16" chrome lined barrel running a Bushnell holosight made by EOTech before they parted ways.

I'm sort in the same spot as you are. The cost of 5.56 has gone up to the point to where reloading makes more sense. Which means I'm a died in the wool newbie on reloading. I have lurked here and read all the awesome posts from all of you folks, and have learned so much.

I'm going the same way you are with the surplus powder and pulled bullets from Wideners. I think your 10% below H335 is a very good place to start. I had read that you should be around 7% to 10% below that listed for the 223. I will be following your posts and hope you keep us up to date as to how it works.

I got the Lee classic turrent, but the powder drop uses their disk which measures in volume (cc) instead of grains. It does give you the factor for converting grains to cc. But I plan on spending the next few days or week checking the disks just to see what the powder drop actually is. I trust Lee, but I want to make sure of exactly what each one that I will be using is going to give me. Better safe than sorry.

ArchAngelCD · Jun 12, 2012

Since you are thinking of buying Wolf primers I would suggest using the Wolf 223 primers with WC844 powder.

Also, it's not a good idea to go 10% below the starting data for H335. Start and the min charge and work up, 10% below the starting data will be much too light a charge and "might" not be safe.

jerryh60 · Jun 13, 2012

ArchAngelCD said:
Since you are thinking of buying Wolf primers I would suggest using the Wolf 223 primers with WC844 powder.

Also, it's not a good idea to go 10% below the starting data for H335. Start and the min charge and work up, 10% below the starting data will be much too light a charge and "might" not be safe.

Thanks for that input and your right. It might not be enough which creates another problem. The info gained here by us newbies is the very best.

Culina · Jun 14, 2012

+1 on the Wolf .223 primers, the SR primers will work but the cup is copper. I also heard that Wolf primers will no longer be available and will be replaced by the Tula brand, Wolf was just a subbrand anyhow, Tula also has a specific .223 primer. I might add that they are popular with highpower shooters since they are known for their accuracy and the price isn't half bad either.

.223/5.56 with Surplus Powder

tappedandtagged

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ArchAngelCD

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