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

[2ndtimer]

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 .

Works for me:
Ramshot TAC 24.5 gr, RP 7 1/2 primer, LC or Norma case, Hornady 62 gr HPBT 22 Caliber .224 Diameter 62 Grain BTHP With Cannelure 1500 Count by Hornady

Waste of time: 4198 powder gave me mediocre accuracy and less than mediocre velocity. 55 gr FMJ bullets, fun for blasting or mag dumps, but mediocre accuracy and performance on target. The Hornady 62 gr HPBT I use are only a little more expensive when bought in bulk and provide far superior performance.
You will soon tire of weighing and trickling powder charges with 3031, 4895 and Reloder 15, although all should work reasonably well. Once you start loading in volume, you will probably find a ball powder much easier to throw with a powder measure. I like TAC, but others work well too. H-335, W-748, Accurate 2230, 2460 and 2200 among others. IMR-8208XBR is a nice compromise, as it meters almost as well as a spherical powder, but is less sensitive to temperature changes.
For ultimate accuracy with a 1 in 9" or faster twist, the Sierra 69 gr Match King bullet is a favorite, along with Berger's. I am too frugal to use those very often. I also have had good luck with the tipped bullets from 40 to 60 gr in weight (V-Max, Z-Max, Ballistic Tip). haven't tried the more expensive Sierras.
I have had decent results with all the primers, WSR, Federal 205, CCI-400, 450, BR-4, Wolf 223, S&B and RP 7 1/2. The only problem I have experienced with the CCI-400 is that they will show pressure signs at 5.56 NATO level loads (extremely flattened primers), where the CCI-450 and RP 7 1/2's still appear fine.

 

[boatbum101]

Most have told me to avoid 4198 . It & 3031 have been touted as original powders etc. I've used TAC in a 7.62 X 51 & it did well with 147 FMJ M80 ball clone , rifle preferred BL-C2 with 168's . H4895 & 3031 already on hand along with RL15 so why not . If I start loading a bunch I'll definately get a progressive & yes a ball powder does make life easier . Gun's an M4 , I aint gonna be loading match ammo for it . Cartridge seems to be pretty straightfoward to load for . Just about any powder from 4198 on the fast end to RL15/4064 on the slow end & good bullets from 55 to 70grs should come up with some usable loads . As long as they're capable of minute of piney woods rooter & if needed for more dire use that'll work .

 

[TMan51]

Midsouth carries bulk supplies of Hornady Bullets. The 55gr BTSP is an excellent range bullet for offhand/kneeling/sitting practice. Very few shooters can exceed the accuracy potential of a developed load. They also have a very good 62gr BTHP that's just as accurate, and Hornady indicates the design intent was for a bullet suitable for critters larger than groundhogs. For serious target work, the legacy 68gr BTHP is tough to beat. I buy all three in 500/1000 quantities, and they all shoot great in my 1:7/1:8/1:9 twist barrels. The 68gr BTHP's are not particularly expensive as match bullets go, maybe the least expensive in bulk. I like and use Sierra 65gr GK's, but not for just banging away at the berm, and in my AR's they don't stand out above the bulk 62's. The FMJ bullets, also from Hornady are excellent.

I use CCI 400/450 primers as I have JP Spring Kits with reduced weight springs that are not totally reliable lighting up the tougher primers.

Powders that work well: AA2460, AA2015, BL-C2, W748, and be sure to try CFE 223, it does reduce copper fouling and accuracy with my limited testing has been a winner. There are about a hundred other powders that will work just fine, I have not bothered with a new powder myself for ages, until CFE 223 hit the shelves.

Brass? I'm a dedicated brass buzzard, and have lots of PMC, Fiocchi, LC, and Federal that the nice guys at my club leave on the ground. I pick up at least a thousand of each every year. (Free brass, like free beer, is the best). It gets sorted, tumbled and rinsed in detergent and dilute vinegar, and run through my RCBS SB die, trimmed if needed, (most of the time not). It all works just fine.