AR-223 reloading question...

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toad67

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Have a couple of AR's that I've had for quite a while. One has 90 rounds thru it, and the other is still NIB. Since I'm not really an AR guy, and they're not worth any more than I payed for them, I figured that I might as well just shoot them.
Both guns have 16" pipes, one has a 1:8 twist, while the other has a 1:9 rate. I have 2,000 55 gr FMJ's, 8 pounds of H335 and a bunch of CCI 41's.
Since the barrel lengths are the same, do you guys think that it's possible to load some that will shoot decent in both guns? Not looking for sub-moa, just something that is acceptable for plinking.
 
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Do you really think the difference in a 1:8 vs.a 1:9 twist is going to make any difference in a 55 gr FMJ "plinking" load...?

Should probably be unmeasurable. Even with sophisticated equipment.

Cheers!

P.S. per Hodgdons, 23.0 to 25.3 gr should get you there (and back)...
 
...as far as loads...start at bottom and work up. there will come one that will probably shoot realy well with the other ok. Stop there. I have 2 short ones and they both shoot my 24 in Varminter Bushmaster loads acceptably well. You may find one that does great in both...good luck...BTW there are other powders that may work better than H335.
 
Load them and shoot them....no discernable difference until you reach much heavier bullets.

Randy
 
STORMINORMAN said:
Do you really think the difference in a 1:8 vs.a 1:9 twist is going to make any difference in a 55 gr FMJ "plinking" load...?

Should probably be unmeasurable. Even with sophisticated equipment.

Cheers!

P.S. per Hodgdons, 23.0 to 25.3 gr should get you there (and back)...
Click to expand...
I didn't think it would either, but I just thought that I'd throw it out there, since I've never reloaded for 223.

Skeet 028 said:
...as far as loads...start at bottom and work up. there will come one that will probably shoot realy well with the other ok. Stop there. I have 2 short ones and they both shoot my 24 in Varminter Bushmaster loads acceptably well. You may find one that does great in both...good luck...BTW there are other powders that may work better than H335.
Click to expand...
There may be better powders, but I have an 8 pounder of H335 that I don'r have much use for otherwise....
 
If you Google “H335 powder uses”. This pops up:


“This spherical powder originated as a military powder and is perfect for the 5.56 NATO/223 Remington. Multiple applications can be found in the 222 Remington and other varmint cartridges. Prairie dog shooters will find this a favorite, as J.B. Hodgdon has for years!”
 
H-335 is my 223 load with 50 grain Blitzking. Check Sierra's manual for the 55-grain load, it should do very well for you! I think the use Remington 7 1/2 primers, if you can find them, they would be best.

My 55gr 223 load was with around 26.0 WW748/ CCI Sm. Rifle Mag./ mixed brass, this load shoots 1/2 MOA in everything I've tried it in! Except the Stainless Mini 14 I loaded it for! My FMJs were surplus from the ARMY when they switched to 62 grain green tip. In 1984/5 I loaded 20,000, still got about 3,000 left and a box of 1000 projectiles. In 1984 they were $8/1000, primers were $7.50/1000 by the 5000 case. 748 was about $56/8 pound can. Fired brass was 4 cents, I dried up Central Ohio for awhile soaking up 20,000. Handloading was about 2.5 cents a round cheaper than PMC factory FMJ! That was about 21 or 22%.

My loading dies in the 80's were a set of RCBS Small Base. I gave them to an ex B-I-L for his M-4 clone and use The Black Box RCBS (Taper Crimp) for my AR loads and a Redding Competition die set for Bolt Guns.

Ivan
 
Newer powders have come along, but often they offer no advantages over what is already available. The late Bob Hagel, one of our premier gunwritwers did much load development and experimentation. H335 was his favorite powder for use in the .223 for the then-standard slow twist barrels and 55 grain bullets. That information is somewhat dated, but since you have plenty of H335, you should be able to work up some good loads. Best to use book data, however, to verify data from an Internet forum.
 
243winxb said:
55 gr fmj are not the best for accuracy. Blasting ammo. Load & shoot.
Click to expand...

Generally a very true statement. I don't use them, but with 2,000 as the original poster stated he had on hand, might as well do some serious load development and get the most accuracy possible from the bullets.
 
rockquarry said:
Generally a very true statement. I don't use them, but with 2,000 as the original poster stated he had on hand, might as well do some serious load development and get the most accuracy possible from the bullets.
Click to expand...
That was my thought, since I have them, as well as all the rest of the stuff, I might as well load them up.
 
I have no doubt that, with proper juggling of propellant charges, will work just fine.
 
IMG-20240114-133638746.jpg

I play with it a little bit.
It's not a grail caliber but it's so prolific, it shouldn't be ignored.
My cast load is similar to a 22hornet in power, and operates well with an Odin gun works light adjustable buffer
 
I load from....

...2200 (and lower) to 3000 fps with 55 and 63 grain bullets for my two ARs. Both shoot just great. The twist rate you have in both barrels are best for heavier bullets. I have 1:7 so my minimum bullet weight is 55 gr. Your's should be similar. I am SURE that you can find a load that will shoot well in both rifles. If for some reason no, you can tweak the springs and the buffer weight to suit. Have fun. I shoot targets and plink
 
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Small base die sets...some people shooting semi autos may need them. The only time I really needed SB dies was when someone gave me about 3500 308 cases. Thunk I was rich...machine gun fired ammo. after getting about a 1000 that would work correctly I sold the rest to the scrap yard The only rifle that brass fit loaded normally was an Indian Ishapour SMLE
 
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