To Re-Load or Not???

[tight0023]

Well I loaded up my first rounds today. Only wanted to load a few so I can rest shoot them. I started with 23.6 grains of X-terminator. I'm using 5.3 grains of Unique for the .45 acp. Hopefully I can make it to the range this week.

 

[oneyeopn]

There is something very appealing about freshly loaded rounds I have to admire your patience, when I start loading I just seem to try to load everything in sight. LOL

p.s. I am reloading some rounds to take my nephew Pdog hunting this evening after he gets off of work and I broke out some of my Dogtowns...I guess I forgot just how big the hollow point is, compared to the Hornady BTHP Match bullets I have it is about 3 times larger.

 

[tight0023]

There is something very appealing about freshly loaded rounds I have to admire your patience, when I start loading I just seem to try to load everything in sight. LOL

p.s. I am reloading some rounds to take my nephew Pdog hunting this evening after he gets off of work and I broke out some of my Dogtowns...I guess I forgot just how big the hollow point is, compared to the Hornady BTHP Match bullets I have it is about 3 times larger.

Yeah I just want to make sure everything goes well with these rounds before I do a couple hundred more. Have a great time tonight.

 

[oneyeopn]

The Wind came up so I didnt get to go, dang but as soon as it warms up tomorrow I am heading that way....I also loaded up some 55grSPSX Hornady's at a couple of different loads, plus I need to go finish my test series...So much to do, not near enough time...LOL

 

[rebs081]

I thought I would post this here as well as in the reloading forum for you Sport owners.
I am loading lake city 223 brass with a cci 400 primer, 24.9 of H335 powder, 55 grain Hornady spire soft point bullet and a coal of 2.255, the accuracy is excellent 1/2 " groups at 100 yards.
The Hornady book says coal for that bullet is 2.200, I tried that and the accuracy dropped way off, why ?

If I loaded a coal of 2.200 would I be able to match the accuracy by using less powder ? By seating the bullet deeper in the case to get the coal of 2.200 that would leave less space inside the case so would less powder give me the same pressure and velocity and accuracy ?

 

[GMC man]

I thought I would post this here as well as in the reloading forum for you Sport owners.
I am loading lake city 223 brass with a cci 400 primer, 24.9 of H335 powder, 55 grain Hornady spire soft point bullet and a coal of 2.255, the accuracy is excellent 1/2 " groups at 100 yards.
The Hornady book says coal for that bullet is 2.200, I tried that and the accuracy dropped way off, why ?

If I loaded a coal of 2.200 would I be able to match the accuracy by using less powder ? By seating the bullet deeper in the case to get the coal of 2.200 that would leave less space inside the case so would less powder give me the same pressure and velocity and accuracy ?

the reason the OAL for 5.56 is Overall length 57.40 mm (2.260 in) which is what our rifles are chambered for so .06 would be a large jump.

 

[rebs081]

the reason the OAL for 5.56 is Overall length 57.40 mm (2.260 in) which is what our rifles are chambered for so .06 would be a large jump.

I am just trying to find and anser as to why my best accuracy is at 2.255 when the hornady book says to load at 2.200 ?

 

[GMC man]

I am just trying to find and anser as to why my best accuracy is at 2.255 when the hornady book says to load at 2.200 ?

I would think the difference is the books like mine list for .223, and our 15's are 5.56 which are slightly different http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.56×45mm_NATO btw that's some nice shiny brass you have

 

[rebs081]

Does anyone have any first hand experience with the Varmint nightmare 55 grai from midsouth shooters in their AR 15 ? Have you been able to get 1/2" groups at 100 yds ?
I have been trying with the Hornady 55 gr soft points and cannot get any consistent groups with them, there is always a flyer or two in every group. I have been trying different powder charges and seating depths to no avail. I am giving up on Hornady soft points. I have great accuracy with their 55 gr Vmax though.
The dog town 55 gr soft points give me great accuracy also but are a little pricy.

 

[oneyeopn]

I finished my test series with the CFE223 powder and 55grVmax bullets. CCI#41 primers.
1. The powder is a little temperature sensitive, the difference between 40degrees and 80degrees is a little over 100fps with it running slower as it gets colder.
2. It is reasonably accurate @ 50 yards from 25gr on up. To do 200 yards you need to load at a minimum 26.8gr. At this point accuracy is good.
3. With a 16" barrel, once your loads pass 27.6gr the powder doesnt get completely burned, velocity and group size suffer and fouling increases tremendously.
4. 27.4 had the best groupings with .5 inches @ 100 yards with an average velocity of 2980fps
5. Hornady 55gr SPSX (super explosive) will completely shred apart pretty quickly after leaving the barrel at 27.4. At 26.8 to 27gr it is running around 2800fps and is really accurate.
6. Dogtown 55gr FBHP bullets prefer a load of 27gr.
7. Armscor 55gr FMJBT bullets become inaccurate after 26.8gr
8. When you dont get all of the powder burnt, it really fouls your rifle to the point where you can see the fouling building up around the holes in your BCG. And it doesnt take very many shots to do it.
I am getting all of this on a spread sheet with graphs that I will post but this is a rough synapses of my testing with CFE223 and some different bullets. I still like the powder I just wish there was more reloading data for it. I feel I have narrowed down the range in which to load my rounds. I hope this helps someone else.
I thought I should add the standard disclaimer, these are my loads and I take no responsiblity for them (I dont have alot to take if someone sued me) LOL

 

[Maddmax]

I finished my test series with the CFE223 powder and 55grVmax bullets. CCI#41 primers.
1. The powder is a little temperature sensitive, the difference between 40degrees and 80degrees is a little over 100fps with it running slower as it gets colder.
2. It is reasonably accurate @ 50 yards from 25gr on up. To do 200 yards you need to load at a minimum 26.8gr. At this point accuracy is good.
3. With a 16" barrel, once your loads pass 27.6gr the powder doesnt get completely burned, velocity and group size suffer and fouling increases tremendously.
4. 27.4 had the best groupings with .5 inches @ 100 yards with an average velocity of 2980fps
5. Hornady 55gr SPSX (super explosive) will completely shred apart pretty quickly after leaving the barrel at 27.4. At 26.8 to 27gr it is running around 2800fps and is really accurate.
6. Dogtown 55gr FBHP bullets prefer a load of 27gr.
7. Armscor 55gr FMJBT bullets become inaccurate after 26.8gr
8. When you dont get all of the powder burnt, it really fouls your rifle to the point where you can see the fouling building up around the holes in your BCG. And it doesnt take very many shots to do it.
I am getting all of this on a spread sheet with graphs that I will post but this is a rough synapses of my testing with CFE223 and some different bullets. I still like the powder I just wish there was more reloading data for it. I feel I have narrowed down the range in which to load my rounds. I hope this helps someone else.

Sounds like you are getting it dialed in.

 

[Maddmax]

I am loading lake city 223 brass with a cci 400 primer, 24.9 of H335 powder, 55 grain Hornady spire soft point bullet and a coal of 2.255, the accuracy is excellent 1/2 " groups at 100 yards.
The Hornady book says coal for that bullet is 2.200, I tried that and the accuracy dropped way off, why ?

I think you found you're sweet spot for the jump at 2.255. 2.200 "sounds" like too long a jump and less powder might not be good. The "good book" say anything about less powder and shorter OAL ?

 

[GMC man]

I just finished loading my test rounds from 26- 28 grains in .2 increments for the next time out at the range now I just need to get there lol.

I just got off work Tuesday at 4 pm and went 910 miles round trip to get my sons car in South Carolina and got back at 3 am, he said it had a fire but he ran her without water its totaled and then had to go to work that night at midnight for a 16 hrs double shift. been a bit busy

 

[tight0023]

I just finished loading my test rounds from 26- 28 grains in .2 increments for the next time out at the range now I just need to get there lol.

I just got off work Tuesday at 4 pm and went 910 miles round trip to get my sons car in South Carolina and got back at 3 am, he said it had a fire but he ran her without water its totaled and then had to go to work that night at midnight for a 16 hrs double shift. been a bit busy

That's a lot of traveling! I am going to shoot my first reloads tonight in my M&P 15 and .45acp. I only have about 30 rounds, if all goes well I'll be reloading a few hundred more this week. I will report back here tonight.

 

[oneyeopn]

GMC man, get yourself some rest, the range will still be there and if your too tired you cant really concentrate like if you were well rested. I understand about your son, I had a brother (God rest his soul) who didnt realize that you probably should check or change your oil. Needless to say that motor was not rebuildable.

 

[tight0023]

Well they all went bang! I just ended up shooting the M&P 15. I had about 20 rounds of my reloads and 120 of new PMC. I was putting up 1" groups at 25 yards. That's as far as the local indoor range goes. I came home dropped the dirty brass in the tumbler and reloaded about 100 more rounds of the brass I already had prepped. I'm very pleased with the results using Hornady 55 gr FMJ BT, 23.6 to 24 grains of X-Terminator and CCI small rifle primers.

Our friend is having a baby shower on 12-1 so all the guys are going to go shooting for that day. I'll be able to test my loads from 100-200 yards then.

 

[stavman11]

Sounds Like a GOOD weekend for sure

Ill be out Tomorrow testing a few Rounds... Changed up my Process so wanna be sure all is as Good as before.. Bullet seemed a bit tighter than before.. but could be just from no Lube on anything now.....

Fun Times all....

 

[VTvibe]

so I just got a press, scale and a powder loader from a friend... I know I need dies but besides that what am I missing? ( besides obvious primers, bullets powder) I will be loading 223 and 9 millimeter mostly.

 

[arjay]

A good reloading manual or two.

 

[JaPes]

so I just got a press, scale and a powder loader from a friend... I know I need dies but besides that what am I missing? ( besides obvious primers, bullets powder) I will be loading 223 and 9 millimeter mostly.

Cases & a method to clean them. Tumbler, ultrasonic cleaner, etc...

A digital caliper to measure case length & cartridge overall length.

A case gauge & trimmer (especially necessary for .223 Remington).

A primer pocket cleaner.

If reloading military crimped brass, a primer pocket reamer or a primer pocket swager.

Case lube. Necessary for .223. If you use carbide pistol dies, lube is not necessary for 9mm.

Powder pan & funnel.

If you're going for absolute accuracy in powder charge, a powder trickler to get you to that last 10th of a grain.

A reloading manual. Even better, two manuals from different publishers.

A bullet puller. Kinetic or otherwise.

If I think of any more, I'll let ya know.