Have Winchester 748, 55 grain .224 projectiles, small rifle primers and commercial/military brass that needs filled.

Sierra says; Win 748 - 25.1 gr / 2700 fps - 25.8 gr / 2800 fps - 26.5 gr / 2900 fps - 2.250" C.O.A.L. for the AR-15 system.

Looking for an accurate load that duplicates factory velocities in an AR-15/M4. Can you help?


Edit: Just found 100 62 gr projectiles... need another 748 load.

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Dave
SWCA #2465

Agree. Never had close to 1moa with 55gr fmj pills. Darn pricey Hornady stuff though is like a laser beam.

Factory velocities for 55 gr.bullets are in the 3100-3200 range. You're not going to get more than about 2900 from a 748 load using published data.
Speer does have loads with other powders that hit 3100, but out of a 20" barrel.

Why the need for speed? Go with the 748 and work up until you find the accuracy you want. You won't notice a few hundred fps slower.

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USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

Agree and would be very happy with 2900 fps. I'm not sure its doable since I'm working with a 16", 1 in 9 twist, barrel and the items I want to be able to shoot through will notice the difference in velocity.

__________________
Dave
SWCA #2465

Don't want to high jack the direction but since it was mentioned. What's the drawback to FMJ pills? Just picked up a 1000 55 gr. X-Treme bullets for half the cost of the Nosler and Sierra I have been shooting. I'm just punching holes in paper. Been using 748 and Varget and the groups are excellent. Haven't tried the new bullets yet. Loaded and waiting for range day.

In the mid 80's I loaded about 20,000 5.56 NATO, with Mil. brass, Win 55 gr FMJ, CCI sm Rifle Mag. primer, and 26 gr WW748. They did a .1" 5 shot @ 100 yard in a bolt action (out of the Mini-14, not so well). I think they were about 3050 fps. I don't know if todays primers will be up to that consistency. I never loaded 62 gr. bullets for 223, but Hodgdon.com should have a load for your needs. Ivan

"...the items I want to be able to shoot through will notice the difference in velocity."

Interesting comment.

__________________
USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

The Federal bulk pack 223's claim a muzzle velocity of 3240 fps, which I think is the same as the M193 5.56 ammo. I chronographed it at 2865 out of a 16" barrel. Max loads of BL-C(2) came in just under 3000 fps out of the same barrel. You should be able to duplicate the factory loads with around 26.2 grains of 748 if Sierra's data are correct.

The Nosler and Sierra put the holes closer together. Two inches with 55gr. FMJ is doing good. The military requirement is 4" at 100 yards.

M193 5.56 military ammo is a bit hotter than most of the commercial
military "type" ammo. Out of my 16" Colt I chronographed LC-75 at
3004 fps, F-AE at 2795 fps, PMC at 2839 fps and R-UMC at 2930 fps.
The full military equalivant load will probably require about 27.5 grs
of W748.

I load 24.4 grains of H335 with 63 grain FMJ in LC and Federal Brass with no problems. Functions is all my AR's.

This load works quite well in my SP-1 (1 in 12) and M&P 15 (1 in 8):

26.2 grains W-748
CCI-450 primer (now CCI-41)
WCC10 brass (or LC or any military head stamp)
Hornady 55 grain FMJBT bullet (no crimp)

I was pleasantly surprised the SP1 load worked so well in my M&P15. Around 2" groups with an Eotech 512 and no magnifier at 100 yards (benched of course). Haven't had a chance to chronograph yet. I don't expect match groups from my AR's so I'm quite happy Hope this helps some.

I chrono the Lake City M193 at 3106 fps average out of a 16" barrel.

Sierra's data tops out at 26.5 grs. W748 for 2900 fps. I don't know how 26.2 grs. can get higher than that!

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USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

I was trying to match the 2865 that I measured.

I have used 26.0 grains w/55 FMJ for many years....point of aim and impact is the same as my factory....the empties eject to the same spot so it must be pretty darn close.

Too cold here in Montana to set up chronograph and test velocities...but if the two above mentioned criteria are not sure I need to.

Randy

My favorite load for my Mini's and AR's was and is still 26.0grs 748, WCC military brass, Winchester small rifle primers and 55gr. bulk Winchester bullets. Nice mild load and shoots well in a lot of different guns. As a side note on the bullets, I would inspect them for base defects i.e. smeared bases where the core was not fully or uniformly run up into the jacket. I found that uniform bases were key to eliminating fliers. Also I liked to collet crimp my loads vs the usual roll crimp the seating die provides. Collet crimps are very uniform and do not vary with case length like a roll crimp will. Military ammo is collet crimped.

26.2 with 55 SGK, I get about .8MOA 5 shot groups
26 with Xtreme 55 FMJ get 1.25MOA average.
25.9 with Hornandy SP 55, just a bit better than the xtreme's.
25 with Nosler Ball-tip V 55, .45MOA 5 shot groups with this or better.

These are what work in my AR.
I could care less about speed so I only chrono the upper end loads to make sure no funny business is going on.
With W748 in my rifle accuracy is kaput at max data.

Don't have an AR anymore, I sold mine when the prices went through the roof and bought a Remington 700 with a 22" Shilen heavy barrel and target crown. Using 26.3 gr. of W748 I've shot better groups than I thought I was capable of (5 shot .157"@100 mtrs) with 3X9 Nikon Prostaff. Velocity on this load is 3215 fps.

Went to the range today with some new X-Treme 55 gr. bullets I mentioned in an earlier post. Loaded them with Varget and 748. This is my target with 748. The bottom left target is using 748 - 23.0 gr. behind a Sierra 55 gr. Blitzking. The X-Treme with 24.2 gr., bottom right, is something worth pursuing. The shot at 11:00 is just one of those that does stupid, wasn't my fault.These are at 50 yds. on windy day. These bullets are half the cost of the Sierra. The target with 23.8 gr isn't bad either, upper right.

I found out that the FMJ 55gr work great at 2750 and 3,000 fps in my 22-250. They did not need the 3800 fps maximum load to group well with a 1:14 twist.

Less powder and easier on the barrel......its a no brainer.

Go with the crimp grove with a medium crimp and let them fly !!

w748 and BLC-2