223 Rem brass dirty (reloads) after firing in my AR-15

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roadcarver

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I have started to reload for my AR-15 chambered in 223 Remington.

I notice that the brass being ejected out of the rifle, the extractor groove looks to have some black soot around it.
My reload data:
21.2 gr using IMR 4064
55gr FMJBT CamPro projectile
Mixed brass
Lee FCD
S&B SRP

Could it be that my loads are of low pressure that it is not sealing the chamber tightly enough that some of the gasses are escaping back?

I thought initially that my bolt and rifle were dirty. After cleaning the rifle, bolt and BCG it still has the same effect. This was out of two uppers with two different BCG assembly.

My next step is to increase my load to another .5 gr.

Another thing that i also notice that sometimes my bolt does not stay open after firing the last round. Could be another indicator of powder charge on the low side?

TIA for any tips/advice.
 
Your choice of IMR 4064 is too slow a powder for your bullet weight and your chamber pressure is below 30,000 psi.

Below is my practice load for my AR15 rifles, and 10,000 psi below max pressure.

percentburn-b_zps50905a17.jpg


Your load below and you turned your AR15 into a .22 Hornet low pressure carbon maker, and over 25,000 psi below max pressure.

.223%20low%20pressure_zpsnph7sdmw.jpg


Pick a faster powder that works well with shorter barrels like H335 or in that ball park.

Below was printed in the American Rifleman around 1982 and newer powders are now available. As you can see 26 grains of H335 is used below, I used 25.0 grains of H335 and using mixed .223/5.56 cases for blasting ammo and keeping the pressure safe and well below max.

PagesfromReloadingSemiautoRifles-a_zps2223be91.jpg
 
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Most folks who are shooting .223/5.56 are into high volume reloading where ball powder charges can be thrown from a meter. I always liked H335 with 50-55 gr bullets and found W748 or BLC2 to be great with 68/69gr bullets.

For 55gr bullets you can try IMR3031 which works great. Its a "loggy" powder, like IMR4064, so charges have to be individually weighed.
 
purple said:
Most folks who are shooting .223/5.56 are into high volume reloading where ball powder charges can be thrown from a meter. I always liked H335 with 50-55 gr bullets and found W748 or BLC2 to be great with 68/69gr bullets.

For 55gr bullets you can try IMR3031 which works great. Its a "loggy" powder, like IMR4064, so charges have to be individually weighed.
Click to expand...

How much BLC-2 are you using for 68-68 gr pills. I just picked up some and haven't tried it yet
 
roadcarver

Below is from the Hodgdon's 2015 annual reloading manual and a article on "Substitute Powders for the .233 Remington".
All the loads below are for a 16 inch AR15 rifle.

AR15%20alt%20loads_zpsvjyjkzdo.jpg


During the initial Remington testing of the M16 rifle IMR-3031 was used with the 20 inch barrel of the M16. The military later decided to use double base ball powder in the M16 rifle and today H335 is one of the most popular powders

The author stated the loads above were not designed to push the envelop, meaning cheaper lower pressure practice loads.

I have never used IMR-4064 in either of my AR15 rifles and some powders can be very dirty at lower chamber pressures. Meaning the bolt carrier group and the receiver will get dirty faster from the cyclic gasses.

My 16 inch carbine has a mid length gas system that I ordered to be less effected by the burn rates of the powders. Meaning most AR15 are over gassed and the bolt can start moving to the rear while pressure is still in the barrel and the case is still pressed to the chamber walls. So watch out for case head swipes and chewed up rims as you work up your load.

223plot_zps09faf288.jpg
 
PitBull1973 said:
How much BLC-2 are you using for 68-68 gr pills. I just picked up some and haven't tried it yet
Click to expand...

Duplicating NATO cartridges (cloning) Make sure you click on the "Reloading Link Portal" for all the reloading data.
http://www.223reloads.com/home/223-5-56-info/223-5-56-reloading/duplicatingnato


69 GR. SIE HPBT Hodgdon BL-C(2) .224" 2.235" 24.5 2833 40,600 CUP 26.5 3029 50,100 CUP

http://www.223reloads.com/home/223-5-56-info/223-5-56-reloading/68-70gr-223-load-info

NOTE, 52,000 cup or 55,000 psi are the max SAAMI pressures for the 5.56 NATO the same as the .223. 62,000 psi is the European CIP standard measured at a different point on the cartridge "BUT" all three pressures are the same and just measured three different ways.
 
bigedp51 said:
Duplicating NATO cartridges (cloning) Make sure you click on the "Reloading Link Portal" for all the reloading data.
http://www.223reloads.com/home/223-5-56-info/223-5-56-reloading/duplicatingnato


69 GR. SIE HPBT Hodgdon BL-C(2) .224" 2.235" 24.5 2833 40,600 CUP 26.5 3029 50,100 CUP

http://www.223reloads.com/home/223-5-56-info/223-5-56-reloading/68-70gr-223-load-info

NOTE, 52,000 cup or 55,000 psi are the max SAAMI pressures for the 5.56 NATO the same as the .223. 62,000 psi is the European CIP standard measured at a different point on the cartridge "BUT" all three pressures are the same and just measured three different ways.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info
 
roadcarver said:
I have started to reload for my AR-15 chambered in 223 Remington.

I notice that the brass being ejected out of the rifle, the extractor groove looks to have some black soot around it.
My reload data:
21.2 gr using IMR 4064
55gr FMJBT CamPro projectile
Mixed brass
Lee FCD
S&B SRP

Could it be that my loads are of low pressure that it is not sealing the chamber tightly enough that some of the gasses are escaping back?

I thought initially that my bolt and rifle were dirty. After cleaning the rifle, bolt and BCG it still has the same effect. This was out of two uppers with two different BCG assembly.

My next step is to increase my load to another .5 gr.

Another thing that i also notice that sometimes my bolt does not stay open after firing the last round. Could be another indicator of powder charge on the low side?

TIA for any tips/advice.
Click to expand...

Annealing the cartridge will promote the expansion of the brass sealing the chamber.
 
One of the best (and cheapest) .223 powders I've used is a commercial grade Olin ball powder from the late Tom Higginson called X2924. Tom was selling this back in the 1994-96 time frame. I spoke to his ballistics consultant before I bought a bunch of it and established that it had a burn rate between BLC2 and W748.

I think I must have bought 70-80 lbs of it to share with gopher shooting friends. It worked very well with 50-55gr bullets in bolt rifles and with 68/69gr match bullets in an AR15 HBAR. If folks ever see it around don't hesitate to buy it.
 
I have a AR15 A2 HBAR, a AR15 carbine and a Savage .223 with a 1 in 9 twist and it has a longer throat than either of my AR15 rifles. Meaning it can be loaded warmer than the AR15 rifles.
 
I use H335 and I have never had that issue in any of my ARs. I always set up the L&L AP to the lower side to make sure there is never a chance for an over charge. Switch powders if your increase doesn't work.
 
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