What's your preferred components for 5.56 / .223 AR 15 handloads

[boatbum101]

Am going to start dabbling with this in a bit . I did get a set of RCBS comp small base dies . Barrel is 1 in 7 . Consensus seems to be LC or Starline 5.56 cases , Rem 7 1/2 or CCI # 41 primers . I do have H4895 , IMR 3031 & RL 15 on hand . Have also heard W 748 , RS TAC , CFE 223 , H 335 & 322 mentioned . Tell me what has worked for you & what is a waste of time .

 

[bigedp51]

I load Lake City 5.56 cases with 25.0 grains of H335 one grain below max with a Hornady 55 grain FMJ for practice blasting ammo. Below are good powder choices and loads.

 

[rockquarry]

I use either CCI 400s or 450s, H4895 powder and Sierra 65 GK bullets. The 65 GK equals or exceeds the accuracy of the 69 MK in two unmodified Colt ARs with 1 in 7" twist barrels. I only shoot to 200 yards, however. The 69 MK is likely a better bullet if you're shooting 300 yards or more, but I have more appropriate guns if I'm going to shoot any distance.

A close second to the 65 GK load is a 68 Hornady BTHP Match bullet and either H4895 or TAC. I've never been able to get this bullet to equal the accuracy of the 65 GK, but it's close and costs about 30% less.

Same brass is certainly best as mixed brass may or may not give good results if you have much interest in accuracy. However, not a hard and fast rule here - shoot some groups with the mixed brass and with brass that is from the same lot or at least has the same headstamp. Chronograph and compare results.

 

[wyo-man]

Varget with 55 gr. bullets is very popular. TAC is a good choice, too.
Your barrel twist will also work with slightly heavier weight bullets.

wyo-man

 

[andy52]

I use lake city brass for all my 5.56/.223 loads, Federal primers and AA#2460 which is a twin of 748. Bullets are just a matter of trying what works best in your rifle. Cheap FMJ .55gr bullets are fine for just general shooting but I have found them to be inconsistent when in comes to accuracy. Most of my ARs favor Sierra 65 gr SBT Gamekings, they're a little pricey but when you can shoot 5 round groups at 100 yds with all bullets touching they are worth the price.

 

[rg1]

I keep it simple. Hornady 55 FMJ's with H335 powder and RP 7 1/2 primers. I use mainly Remington and LC cases. Powder charges with H335 from 24.5 to 25 grains. Hornady's 55 gr. SP I load the same as FMJ's. Follow Hodgdon data and their max is 25.3 grains. For longer range I like either Sierra or Nosler CC 77 gr. hollowpoints using Reloder 15. These combinations shoot well in all AR's I've shot. H335 and 55 grain bullets is probably the most popular load for AR's.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

I use CCI 41 or Rem 7 1/2 br primers.
If I'm loading on the Dillon, CFE 223 gets the nod. I haven't found a bad load yet with this powder..And the barrel cleans up very easily.
The most accurate powder I've used in my AR is Varget with Sierra 69 gr MK or 65 gr GK. It also shoots Hornady VMax bullets from 40 to 60gr quite well.

 

[SMSgt]

What's the purpose of your loads? Range fodder or one-hole 100-yard groups?

Most of my .223 AR loads are range fodder. Generally 55-grain FMJs over IMR-4198. For my purposes, I don't bother separating brass and haven't found small-base dies necessary. Everything chambers and ejects fine with standard .223 RCBS dies.

For accuracy concerns, I switch to my Rem 788 that shoot better than my AR ever will--just not as fast.

 

[rockquarry]

One important and inexpensive tool for putting together AR loads ... a case gauge. Many get by without one and most cases will chamber without checking the rounds through a gauge. But if you want 100% reliability in chambering, get a case gauge and use according to instructions, especially if you use brass of unknown origin, like range pickup brass.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

For an AR-15, I use LC brass, CCI primer, 26.6gr. WW 748, & Win 55gr. FML/BT out of my 1994 Bushmaster AR-15A4 (20" barrel, 1-9 twist, removable carry handle) with Veri-x iii 4.5-14x40mm, yields 5 shot 1/4" or less @ 100 yards.

For bolt action 20" barrel 1-12 twist, WW brass, Rem 7 1/2 primer, Sierra 50 gr. Blitzking, 27.3 gr H335 Yields 1"+/- at COAL 2.250! Yields 0.100 5 shot group when bullet just touches lands (2.320 COAL in my rifle.) The seating depth makes all the difference!

Ivan

 

[boatbum101]

Plan on sticking with new or 1X fired in my rifle . Only place I could find virgin unprimed LC cases they were more than new Starline 5.56 cases . Case gauge & Dillon primer pocket tool just came in today . 55gr M193 I got & 100 each Fiocchi 55 BT & PMC Bronze 55 SP . So I believe I'll load bullets in the 60's . Seems there's some debate about Varget & 55gr bullets increasing gas port errosion , but Varget does quite well with heavier bullets . Going to stick with the stick powders already on hand & possibly might have some of the other around here somedangwheres .

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

There were about 4 million Lake City NATO 5.56 brass marked LC 09 released then. These were a run for the M-249 SAW, and have a thicker web. They are stronger than any Starline or LC match brass, and rival Lapua "Match" brass with the internal band! They are what I exclusively use for my 1000 yard 223 load in my Savage Target Single Shot. 75gr Berger VLD or Hornady A-Max (Discontinued), either bullet same performance. 26.0 Varget, Rem 7 1/2 primer. COAL 2.461, group: 3" @ 1000 yards Veri-x iii 8.5-24x40 Warning: THIS LOAD HAS BEEN KNOWN TO LOCK-UP AR ACTIONS!!! FL sized and crimped heavy with Lee FCD.

Ivan

 

[Nevada Ed]

1:7 barrels will generally shot better with the heavier bullets
while the earlier 1:14 barrels did well with the lighter 52 gr bullets.

Try to find a box of 65 or 77 gr bullets and see that turns up.
You can always try a 55gr but the heavier bullets should work out........
plus less wear and tear on the weapon.

 

[Old&Retired]

For range fodder I use Berry's 55 gn FMJBT; either CCI or Winchester SRP and IMR 4198 (19 gn). Shoots very well out of my 1:9 16" barrel. Brass is either Fiocchi or Hornady once fired or mixed range brass.

 

[boatbum101]

For my intended use I'm going to focus on loads that'll be good for hunting / homested defense out to 100yds . So I'm going to start with bullets from 60 - 69grs . Gun is an M4 16" 1 in 7 twist . I don't want a varmit bullet so my first pics are Fed Fusion , TBBC , Nos BSB or Part , Speer GD & a couple of others . Just have to see what'll be acceptable from my rifle . Vast majority of game around here are feral hogs ( deer are too small to shoot ) so I want a tough bullet for when I don't get my preferred behind the ear shot .

 

[H Richard]

I have found Varget a great powder not just for varmint loads but everyday loads in the AR. A cheap but accurate bullet is the 55 gr Midway Dog Town HP. Easy 1/2" to 3/4" groups at 100 yds.

 

[rockquarry]

1:7 barrels will generally shot better with the heavier bullets
while the earlier 1:14 barrels did well with the lighter 52 gr bullets.

Try to find a box of 65 or 77 gr bullets and see that turns up.
You can always try a 55gr but the heavier bullets should work out........
plus less wear and tear on the weapon.

No firm rule on this; it pays to try a variety of bullets. Don't be surprised in finding a 1 in 7" barrel that will shoot 50, 52 or 55 grain bullets more accurately than it shoots 65 -75 grain bullets. I've used good quality bullets, not the cheap 55 grain FMJs, though some of these might work okay.

 

[Moe Mentum]

Hornady 55 grain bullets, over 25.5 grains of W748, range pick up brass mixture of .223 and 5.56... I tried H335 but had a huge muzzle flash that was distracting. I also use W748 for reloading .308 and 7.62 Nato.

 

[LostintheOzone]

One important and inexpensive tool for putting together AR loads ... a case gauge. Many get by without one and most cases will chamber without checking the rounds through a gauge. But if you want 100% reliability in chambering, get a case gauge and use according to instructions, especially if you use brass of unknown origin, like range pickup brass.

I'll second the case gauge. Also trim your brass. A case gauge is the fastest way to see if your brass needs to be trimmed or culled. I don't load for an AR as I don't have one but I load for a Mini 14 and a bolt rifle. 24 grs of AR Comp, 55 gr Hornady bullet and CCI SR primer. That's my load. Some people like harder primers but I've never found a reason to use them. I use nothing but LC range brass (brass rat) and sell the rest. I shoot a lot of .223/5.56. Standard RCBS dies work fine.

A note about 1/7 twist. You may find that your AR likes heavier bullets, some do, some don't. Start with 55 and work up if you want the best accuracy. All of my rifles are 1/9 twist on purpose.

 

[Univibe]

Hornady 55 grain FMJ bulk bullets.

LC brass.

CCI # 41 primers.

25.1 grains of Ramshot TAC powder.