Powder for .223

[thomashoward]

Question; what powder do you use for .223 to duplicate the XM193 load I was thinking about 748. My Mini 14 NRA will not shoot anything less than XM193 or Remington. It will go bang but will not work the action. XM hammers it downrange.I'm gonna need at least 3200 ft sec.

 

[thomashoward]

deleted double post

 

[john traveler]

WW 748 will work fine, as will several other medium burning rate rifle powders. It's gas port pressure that makes the load suitable, not muzzle velocity, although the two are related.

By the way, the proper designation is "M193" for the formerly standard 55 grain BTFMJ ball round. The Mini-14 is designed for this, and will also work well with heavier bullets because it has a faster rifling twist rate than the formerly standard 1-in-12" twist rate used in the M16A1 service rifles.

 

[Amici]

Ruger's Mini rifles are not known for accuracy. Quite the opposite, in fact; so bad the latest president of Ruger ordered them improved. Hence that mass damper on the muzzle, or whatever Ruger is calling the cyst on the new versions.

If you want to load .223, try a powder made specifically for it: Accurate 2230. It is excellent for 55-grain bullets and will also do 62-grainers well. I prefer 2520 for the 62-69 grain bullets.

It also meters FAR better than Reloder 7, although that is also a good choice for the 55-grain bullet.

 

[Bruce51]

ThomasHoward, There was a post awhile back where the member was having the same problem. Perhaps a search may still turn up that thread.I have never chrongraphed 748 loads but all the loads I tried in the mini were all in the 3,000 fps range with 55gr bullets. That includes 22grs of IMR4198. 26grs of BLC2 and 26.5grs of IMR4895. I clocked a factory Poonson load at 3280fps so I know that velocity is possible. If you are able to make 3200fps with 748 in a mini please let us know. Bruce

 

[gbrady]

we load a lot of rounds per year(50 to 60 K) and 27.2 gr. of BL-C2 is one of the best loads for 55 gr. bullets out of two bolt action rifles and one dpms panther that we have on hand. It cronys at 3280 plus or minus 10 fps, and it meters perfectly for progressive presses.

 

[Paul105]

gbrady,

Are you using military cases with the BLC-2 load?

TIA,

Paul

 

[gbrady]

Paul, sorry it took so long to answer, our cases are winchester and remington. For military cases we reduce the load 10 %

 

[kennyb]

imr 4198 works very well for me

 

[gbrady]

hodgdon's wed site has IMR Winchester and Hodgdon loads and their pressures . It would be a good place to start

 

[jsd30]

I guess I'm behind the curve, old school, or whatever

, but I still use H335 for the 55 - 62 gr bullets.

 

[Paul105]

gbrady,

Thanks,

Paul

 

[Skip Sackett]

Originally posted by gbrady:
we load a lot of rounds per year(50 to 60 K) and 27.2 gr. of BL-C2 is one of the best loads for 55 gr. bullets out of two bolt action rifles and one dpms panther that we have on hand. It cronys at 3280 plus or minus 10 fps, and it meters perfectly for progressive presses.

This is my experience as well. I have a DPMS "kit" gun with a 1 in 9, 20" barrel. With the heavier bullets I get MOA groups.

What Amici has said about the Ruger rifles is true. I haven't heard anything good about their accuracy since they first came out. If you can get into the AR platform you can improve that accuracy a good deal, of course trying to find one right now is a bit of a problem!

My normal load for the 223 is with Varget and a 69gr bullet. If loading on a progressive press though, this can be a bit of a problem because of case fill and the auto-index feature on my XL650.

I went with BL-C(2) for that reason.

 

[nitesite]

Originally posted by gbrady:
Paul, sorry it took so long to answer, our cases are winchester and remington. For military cases we reduce the load 10 %

Hmmmm.. That was an important point worth clarifying for the rest of us. I know that my BL(C)-2 55-gr AR loads never approached 27.2-grains but that's because I use LC brass and #41s and don't try to max anything out.

Do you have a method for sorting by headstamp some 50K~60K pieces of brass before you load them? That sounds like quite a chore!

 

[Skip Sackett]

This is from their web-site:

55 GR. SPR SP Hodgdon BL-C(2) .224" 2.200" 25.5 3069 37,200 CUP 27.5 3313 48,500 CUP

I think, and I will have to check, that my load is somewhere in the middle of that data.

 

[nitesite]

Originally posted by smith crazy:
I think, and I will have to check, that my load is somewhere in the middle of that data.

Yep, mine is lower than their MAX by 10%.

Hodgdon used a universal receiver, a 24" test barrel and Winchester cases with standard small rifle primers for their published data. I am using military brass, magnum primers and an AR-15.

I agree, Skip, with your lower than MAX approach. Those MAX loads should be examined very closely before anyone attempts them. I like Sierra's load manual with separate sections for bolt rifles and service (gas) rifles. I wish more load manuals used real guns and made the distinction for bolt guns vs. semi-autos.

 

[Paul105]

The Speer Manual #14 (their latest) shows 27.0gr BL-C2 as MAXIMUM with their 55gr bullet. This was using IMI cases, which they state are made to military specs. They used a CCI Mag primer, and achieved 3,138 fps from a 22 inch Ruger M77 MKII.

The following link shows case capcity by manufacturer. What's interesting is how little difference there really is (excluding the old lot of Lapua). Just keep scrolling down until you get to the chart.

http://www.6mmbr.com/223Rem.html

The above is posted for reference only. Most folks will be best served sticking with published data from reliable sources using stated components, always starting with the lowest load shown, and staying below MAX.

Probably the best way for the average reloader to stay out of trouble is with a chronograph.

FWIW,

Paul

 

[Skip Sackett]

For this "range fodder", mass storage type of ammo, I don't separate head stamps which is another reason for the reduced charge. In the Dillon XL650 it is just easier to "dump" a bunch of brass in the hopper and produce ammo.

I know this has got some of you folks (Mostly those with OCD!) cringing. That's OK, it's for my firearms, not yours.

 

[John R]

I use AA-2230 for the 223, works very well.
I'm now trying some H-4895 to see how it works

 

[JD 500]

Paul - Cool link above. Thanks.