I havent measured the chamber but the case is to spec and I have the Cannelure a little bit into the case but not by much for the crimp. the Winchester bullets may be a tad short I didnt measure them.
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To Re-Load or Not???
- Thread starter stavman11
- Start date
Same here. My OAL is 2.220" with a Hornady 55gr FMJ-BT seated to the middle of the cannelure.
-Bill
I had a original 55 grain LC new brass case that was damaged and not safe so I saved the bullet. here are the specs.
total length------------ 0.735
length from tip to cannelure -- 0.490
width------------------ 0.222
winchester bullet spec.
total length----------- 0.749
length from tip to cannelure-- 0.481
width------------------ 0.221
total length------------ 0.735
length from tip to cannelure -- 0.490
width------------------ 0.222
winchester bullet spec.
total length----------- 0.749
length from tip to cannelure-- 0.481
width------------------ 0.221
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My Lyman book says the OAL on a 55gr fmjbt is 2.260, My Hornady book says 2.200, My Hodgdon says 2.200 and my Lee says anywhere from 2.162 to 2.260 depending upon the powder. I find this variation in OAL to be a bit disconcerting.
My Hornady V-Max 55gr OAL is 2.211 My Dogtown 55 gr Hp are 2.230 and my Armscor 55gr fmj are 2.234. I tend to use the cannalure as a guide. dont know what is right or wrong but I need to buy a chamber length gauge if I get anymore serious about accuracy. the Books are all over the place!!
My Hornady V-Max 55gr OAL is 2.211 My Dogtown 55 gr Hp are 2.230 and my Armscor 55gr fmj are 2.234. I tend to use the cannalure as a guide. dont know what is right or wrong but I need to buy a chamber length gauge if I get anymore serious about accuracy. the Books are all over the place!!
philevans
Member
hornaday, vol 1, 2000, for 5.56x45mm uses 2.250 as oal.
hornaday, vol 1, 2000, for .223 Remington uses 2.260 as oal.
complete reloading manual for 223(ar-15) says oal is 2.260.
extra bullet jump may not be good for accuracy, only experimenting will tell for your unique chamber/powder load/bullet weight-length.
presently, i'm comfortable with ~.005 jump for 55-69grs using 25gr CFE or Varget. with the sport, so far, my best 5 shot group is .668moa(60 gr A-max, 24.0 Varget, 2.255 oal) - continuing to experiment.
hornaday, vol 1, 2000, for .223 Remington uses 2.260 as oal.
complete reloading manual for 223(ar-15) says oal is 2.260.
extra bullet jump may not be good for accuracy, only experimenting will tell for your unique chamber/powder load/bullet weight-length.
presently, i'm comfortable with ~.005 jump for 55-69grs using 25gr CFE or Varget. with the sport, so far, my best 5 shot group is .668moa(60 gr A-max, 24.0 Varget, 2.255 oal) - continuing to experiment.
I went out to the garage and loaded a few rounds at 2.250" OAL. I have to seat the bullet just below the cannelure. Unfortunately I don't know when my next range trip will be so I just hope I remember to test these rounds when I do get to shoot again. haha
-Bill
-Bill
Phil my Hornady Book 8th Edition 2010 doesnt list 5.56x45, it lists .223 rem. and .223 rem (service rifle)
.223 rem. 2.260
.223 rem. service rifle 2.250
What do you do when the cannalure wont let you seat out that far or do you not even worry about the cannalure?
Bill so you werent in the cannalure ring? Did you do a crimp or just the roll crimp done by the bullet seating die?
I think I am getting more confused. I had assumed that the cannalure was there for the brass to crimp into. This means I have to study some more. Guess I could take my reloading manuals with me while I am out deer hunting. I saw quite a few deer today and yesterday but where we take them to get processed wasnt open so I was very hesitant on pulling the trigger.
.223 rem. 2.260
.223 rem. service rifle 2.250
What do you do when the cannalure wont let you seat out that far or do you not even worry about the cannalure?
Bill so you werent in the cannalure ring? Did you do a crimp or just the roll crimp done by the bullet seating die?
I think I am getting more confused. I had assumed that the cannalure was there for the brass to crimp into. This means I have to study some more. Guess I could take my reloading manuals with me while I am out deer hunting. I saw quite a few deer today and yesterday but where we take them to get processed wasnt open so I was very hesitant on pulling the trigger.
Grover, if I seat the bullet to the middle of the cannelure I get an OAL of 2.220". This is the length of the1100 rounds I already have loaded.
I only loaded 30 round this afternoon. Twenty are right at 2.25". The other ten are 2.246 - 2.248".
-Bill
I only loaded 30 round this afternoon. Twenty are right at 2.25". The other ten are 2.246 - 2.248".
-Bill
philevans
Member
oneyeopn:
i've not loaded many bullets with a cannalure(both pistol and rifle).
i've depended upon the full length resizing stricture to hold the bullet correctly. if auto, then i'd look into crimp.
when i have made a mistake and use inertia puller to dislodge a bullet, it takes more than several hard bangs on an oak stump.
So the longer ones are below the cannalure ring. I was reading in my Modern Reloading by Richard Lee and he says that the Lee FCD makes its own cannalure in Jacketed and Lead bullets. I was just thinking that maybe trying to find bullets that have a cannalure on them was sacrificing accuracy for the ease of not using the FCD. It makes you go hmmmm! That Lee book has a lot of great information in it, this subject is the basis for Speer not recommending using Lee dies with their bullets. It all has to do with bullet pull, the amount of force required to pull a bullet from the brass. If there is not enough bullet pull the powder doesnt build all the pressure that it can and if there is too much it makes too much pressure both affecting accuracy. I am still studying it and there seems to be so much more to learn, I feel like I have just barely scratched the surface.
Phil I also bought an inertia puller and found that I hurt myself banging on concrete to get the bullets to pull...LOL I broke down and bought a Hornady cam-lock puller for my press and still with some of the ammo it is pretty tough to pull the bullet. I have only bought two collets for it, I bought it to pull all that South African 7.62 ammo I had, but I have since sold it. I have the 30 Cal collet and the 22 Cal collet. I have learned that I sometimes have put too much crimp on a bullet and I need to back off a little. But I also have stopped buying my bullets with cannalures, except for the Armscor 55gr FMJ that I let everyone else shoot. ($9 a hundred)
this is a great conversation...I am learning from all of us!
I don't have an issue with seating the bullet with the full cannelure exposed. Even at the 2.220 length I get sub-MOA 5-shot groups at 100 yards, but I'll be a happy camper if the 2.250" reloads are even more accurate. 
OP
stavman11
Member
Double post.... too excited to go play
....
....
OP
stavman11
Member
Weather is GREAT
Optimism is high
New loads, Toys and FUN to be had and tried... Now just gota see if any washes are washed out... and New desert Rivers to Cross, ta get to my Desert shooting spot... lots of rain/Monsoons last 3 days so me be a Futile trip...
Wish me luck guys... Hope ta have a report later
....
Optimism is high
New loads, Toys and FUN to be had and tried... Now just gota see if any washes are washed out... and New desert Rivers to Cross, ta get to my Desert shooting spot... lots of rain/Monsoons last 3 days so me be a Futile trip...
Wish me luck guys... Hope ta have a report later
....
this thread is starting to get long. we need to restart it somehow before the moderators move it to the reloading section. I thought I would spend more time in the lounge but I just dont seem to and the reloading section unless you are loading for wheelguns you dont get much help. Anyway ya'll think about it and figure out a way.
OP
stavman11
Member
I think it has been successfull and not moved due to the on Topic and Off Topic Posts and Conversations..
Its not fully a re-loading thread But Talks about Loading, Shooting, AR's, and Other things
My $.02 anyways
I hope it stays Here..... I dont hit the Lounge area at all... i am here and 15-22 thread and thats IT...
Weather is cooling down.... means MORE SHOOTING!!!! which in turn means MORE RELOADING
Time ta look into 9mm Loading I think
Its not fully a re-loading thread But Talks about Loading, Shooting, AR's, and Other things
My $.02 anyways
I hope it stays Here..... I dont hit the Lounge area at all... i am here and 15-22 thread and thats IT...
Weather is cooling down.... means MORE SHOOTING!!!! which in turn means MORE RELOADING
Time ta look into 9mm Loading I think
Stavman I do not disagree, not at all, this is one of those threads I read and reread occasionally. I just wanted to voice a concern after the new purchase thread.
So its raining today and pretty muddy where I go hunting. I will go back out in my old 4wd later but am getting ready to load the 75gr Amax's and wondering what length people load them to. In my books it seems like I have lots of options but I dont think I want to load them into the rifle one at a time. But maybe that is the best thing to do. Looking for advice from people who have loaded and shot these.
So its raining today and pretty muddy where I go hunting. I will go back out in my old 4wd later but am getting ready to load the 75gr Amax's and wondering what length people load them to. In my books it seems like I have lots of options but I dont think I want to load them into the rifle one at a time. But maybe that is the best thing to do. Looking for advice from people who have loaded and shot these.
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I asked the admin to sticky this thread for us.
I went to the range today and got a pleasant shock at the 100 yard line. I normally have to go -17 clicks down with the handloads I had to go -24 clicks.
54.9 grain bullet
25 grain cfe 223 powder
CCI 41 primers
BTW my mom gave me a nice present for helping her up in PA its a stoger couger 40 cal pistol
I went to the range today and got a pleasant shock at the 100 yard line. I normally have to go -17 clicks down with the handloads I had to go -24 clicks.
54.9 grain bullet
25 grain cfe 223 powder
CCI 41 primers
BTW my mom gave me a nice present for helping her up in PA its a stoger couger 40 cal pistol
Attachments
I asked the admin to sticky this thread for us.
I went to the range today and got a pleasant shock at the 100 yard line. I normally have to go -17 clicks down with the handloads I had to go -24 clicks.
54.9 grain bullet
25 grain cfe 223 powder
CCI 41 primers
BTW my mom gave me a nice present for helping her up in PA its a stoger couger 40 cal pistol
GMC man; How do you like the CFE223, I have found it to be great in everything I load with it. Just wondered cause I dont come across many people trying it out? Great Pistol, does your mom want to adopt another child
?
OP
stavman11
Member
I may have ta try some Larger Grain Bullets.. Not Sure why besides..... Why Not
looking at 9mm gear for my lee Pro 1000.....
Can get the Turret, Die, Powder Loader, etc for about $100... can get ANOTHER Pro 1000 for 9mm for less than $179 Shipped...
Think I may do that... add about 4 Mags....... and My Winter is DIALED
having 2 presses makes some Prep Work as well as Loading easier.....
side Note...
My Shooting area is under question... so Going to Cabelas for a BLM Land Map to be sure I am Ok... Some Locals have me wondering.......... WISH ME LUCK!!!
....
looking at 9mm gear for my lee Pro 1000.....
Can get the Turret, Die, Powder Loader, etc for about $100... can get ANOTHER Pro 1000 for 9mm for less than $179 Shipped...
Think I may do that... add about 4 Mags....... and My Winter is DIALED
having 2 presses makes some Prep Work as well as Loading easier.....
side Note...
My Shooting area is under question... so Going to Cabelas for a BLM Land Map to be sure I am Ok... Some Locals have me wondering.......... WISH ME LUCK!!!
....
GMC man; How do you like the CFE223, I have found it to be great in everything I load with it. Just wondered cause I dont come across many people trying it out? Great Pistol, does your mom want to adopt another child
I fired 150 rounds and the BCG was as clean as if I only fired 10 rounds and was sooo easy to clean up in fact the range is going to start to carry CFE223 as they were also impressed by it and when I got home it took half the time to clean the rifle.
I have a great mom
storeyteller
Member
GMC and Oneye, what other powders have you used and how does the cfe223 satck up in the accuracy dept?
carpriver
US Veteran
why not reload
I see there are a few other Lee equipment users on this forum. I have been using a Lee Classic turret press for about 5 years, I load mostly for pistol, 9mm, 40 cal 45 acp 45 colt 44mag 357mag and 38 cal. I like that I have a turret set up for each caliber. i reload for my .556/223 AR4 like others have said the prep work take a little longer. I reload because I shoot a lot and I enjoy the process, shoot,reload repeat. It's a hobby. I bought Lee equipment when I started reloading because that was what I could afford at the time. I can upgrade now but why should I, The Lee equipment works well and if it ain't broke why replace it.
I see there are a few other Lee equipment users on this forum. I have been using a Lee Classic turret press for about 5 years, I load mostly for pistol, 9mm, 40 cal 45 acp 45 colt 44mag 357mag and 38 cal. I like that I have a turret set up for each caliber. i reload for my .556/223 AR4 like others have said the prep work take a little longer. I reload because I shoot a lot and I enjoy the process, shoot,reload repeat. It's a hobby. I bought Lee equipment when I started reloading because that was what I could afford at the time. I can upgrade now but why should I, The Lee equipment works well and if it ain't broke why replace it.
I am a new re loader and CFE223 is the first powder I used as grover recommended it.
As far as accuracy goes I think its great and much better then the factory loads and the Freedom reloads I have used.
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philevans
Member
i'd like to see it stay here.this thread is starting to get long. we need to restart it somehow before the moderators move it to the reloading section. I thought I would spend more time in the lounge but I just dont seem to and the reloading section unless you are loading for wheelguns you dont get much help. Anyway ya'll think about it and figure out a way.
its easy to refer to where it is.
break it into A&B if necessary.
i've shot a bottle and a half of CFE - is a clean burner.
i still go back to varget. even though 4895, blc2, arcomp, reloader15, has gone through my sport.
storeyteller
Member
I'm a Varget man as well, but have tried IMR4895 H335 and Benchmark. Some of 'em do better with certian wt. bullets but not others. Varget will git 'er done with all of 'em though. Just wondering if the CFE223 was getting good groups and with what bullets. I would much rather clean a little more after shootin' bullet holes in bullet holes than clean a little less and have >MOA groups. Groups are what I'm after! If I wanted my gun to stay clean, I'd leave it in the case.
I changed my OAL to 2.248 and its right under the cannelure so next trip to the range I will see if it tightens my groups up.
as far as accuracy goes with CFE223 with winchester 55 grain FMJ BT's yesterday at the range I was putting a lot of the rounds almost in the same holes at the 50 yard line and 100 yard line if the target wasnt moving as much I think it would have been better but the range is allowing tannite to be used and its trashing the target bases. but heres my targets
as far as accuracy goes with CFE223 with winchester 55 grain FMJ BT's yesterday at the range I was putting a lot of the rounds almost in the same holes at the 50 yard line and 100 yard line if the target wasnt moving as much I think it would have been better but the range is allowing tannite to be used and its trashing the target bases. but heres my targets
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I changed my OAL to 2.248 and its right under the cannelure so next trip to the range I will see if it tightens my groups up.
as far as accuracy goes with CFE223 with winchester 55 grain FMJ BT's yesterday at the range I was putting a lot of the rounds almost in the same holes at the 50 yard line and 100 yard line if the target wasnt moving as much I think it would have been better but the range is allowing tannite to be used and its trashing the target bases. but heres my targets
I just got back from the range and shot my test rounds. I had rounds with OAL of 2.220", 2.248, 2.250, 2.258 and 2.260. I shot two 5-shot groups of each from 100 yards with sandbags and was disappointed to see no significant difference in group sizes.
I got a pair of 1/2" 4-shot groups but one was with the 2.220" OAL and the other was at 2.248". The total spread for five shots for both groups was right at 1".
I also found a spontaneously generated .30 cal hole in my target. hahaha
