223 load recommendations for Colt AR

1976 Colt SP1, 1 in 12 twist, 55 gr bulk Hornady, IMR 8208 XBR @ 22

Shoot irons @ 100-300 yrds, if I do my part it'll clack a 12" gong @ 300 all day long.
 
there's a plethora of loads for the 223- but you've probably got a 556 judging from the twist- WHAT DOES IT SAY ON THE BARREL OR RECIEVER?
the 55s are meant for the 1/12 twists or possibly 110-1/14- you won't get great groups out of it, but it's really SET UP FOR 62 GRAIN or HEAVIER bullets.
I have a listing in my old speer manual for a 70 grain travelling at 28oo fps, but they were using a mini14- 1/12 twist- 25 grains of 748- Iwere I u I would look up the loadings for the 556 and compare- esp the "modern" as on post 89 556- that way you'll get your best groups
 
there's a plethora of loads for the 223- but you've probably got a 556 judging from the twist-post 89 556- - the 55 grains are set up for the 1/12-14 twist- the mini that was used in the 80's had a 1/10 twist- not the best rifle for testing/accuracy buit speer was PRESSURE TESTING ANYWAY, SO IT DOESN'T MATTER - now on to what you have- 1/7 twist- while 55 grains will work, you're PROBABLY better off with 62 or HEAVIER grain bullets as that's what it's set up for - the 55s will have "acceptable- ie pieplate size GROUPS, BUT THE 62S do THAT MUCH BETTER- like we're talking quarter sized at 300- now I know that's going to ruffle a lot of feathers, but that's my observations since 89- and that's a colt ar15a2 with scope- 12x- now my speer manual has a listing for 70 grain bullets out of a mini 14 - 25 grains of 748- 1/10 twist and that's what I use- magnum primers of course
 
t-star said:
there's a plethora of loads for the 223- but you've probably got a 556 judging from the twist- WHAT DOES IT SAY ON THE BARREL OR RECIEVER?
the 55s are meant for the 1/12 twists or possibly 110-1/14- you won't get great groups out of it, but it's really SET UP FOR 62 GRAIN or HEAVIER bullets.
I have a listing in my old speer manual for a 70 grain travelling at 28oo fps, but they were using a mini14- 1/12 twist- 25 grains of 748- Iwere I u I would look up the loadings for the 556 and compare- esp the "modern" as on post 89 556- that way you'll get your best groups
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I shoot 55 grain bullets over 27 grains of W748 using a CCI450 primer into an inch or so all day with a 1 in 7". That loads shoots well in anything I have tried it with and with any twist.
 
sorry - didn't mean to post 2x0.- just passing on my experiences- and Dillon also has published an article on the 556 - now granted. every rifle is different but his conclusions were the same as mine
 
62gr fmj hornady bulk
24gr IMR4895
CCI small rifle primer

Is my load for my 1:7 ARs 100m and above.

Would have to dig up my other load for 55gr hornady bulk.

Both loads are used to shoot and hit a figure 11 from 0 to 400m, the 62gr giving tighter groups
 
I use WC 735 surplus powder from Higginson, but they are sold out. Something like H335, BL-C(2), or W748 will work well.

55 grain FMJ projectiles shoot absolutely fine from a 1:7 barrel in my experience: better than 2 MOA from a regular chrome-lined barrel. You don't really need the longer/heavier bullets if you are only shooting out to 200 yards.
 
I loved that WC735 powder for 5.56 load, but Higginsons says it has gone the way of the Dodo bird to never return. I should have bought another 20lbs of the stuff when they had their last shipment. Sorry for the thread hijack ...
 
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