First time loading 223 Rem, and I'm confused

P

ParkGunner

New member
Rating - 100%
132   0   1
Location
Sherwood Park AB
I've loaded lots of ammo in the past, but when it came time to load 223 Remington, I got confused.

Case: Picked from range, cleaned up and all the normal stuff
Primer: CCI Small Rifle
Bullet: 35 GR Hornady 224 NTX
Powder: BL-C(2)

Here's where I'm running into issues. With my other ammo, there's always lots of extra room left at the top of the casing. But when I load the 223, it overflows with powder even at the minimum charge recommended on the Hodgdon Data site. Granted, I'm trying to use the Nosler load as the Hornady load data doesn't exist there, but it shouldn't be that far off.

They recommend 26.6 -> 29.5 grains. At 26.6, there's about .3 gr of powder left, and the case has no more room. The idea of compressing the powder doesn't thrill me either.

What am I doing wrong?

side note, this is what I've loaded in the past, and am using as my "it should look like..." reference.

9mm
38sp
357mg
270win
308win
7mm RM
 
You could try 25gr and see if that's better. That's the load for a 40gr, and a Hogdon FAQ considers the 40gr and your 35gr to be about the same.
....But out of curiosity, you said it's range brass. Might it be military brass? They have less capacity in their cases due to the thicker walls. Do you have any reloading manuals to reference?
 
I bought a box of Winchester and pulled one round apart, no change, so I don't think it's 5.56.

25 grain could work, that'd give a tiny bit of room.

I have the Lyman book, but will be buying the Hornady book next time I hit Cabelas.
 
ParkGunner said:
I bought a box of Winchester and pulled one round apart, no change, so I don't think it's 5.56.

25 grain could work, that'd give a tiny bit of room.

I have the Lyman book, but will be buying the Hornady book next time I hit Cabelas.
Click to expand...

If you're willing to wait until tomorrow afteroon, I'll look it up in my Hornady and Speer books and get back to you. I'd do it now, but I'm too tired to go into my reloading room and rummage around.....
 
mhmm are you sure your using the right powder? lol i mean ive loaded a case up bl2 28.5 gr and still have some space left.
 
If it helps,

Hornady 7th edition - no listing, BL-C2 starts with 45gr bullet
Sierra edition V 5th printing- BL-C2 starts with 40's (28.2-29.4):eek:
Nosler 6- Nothing, no BL-C2 for .223
Speer number 13- BL-C2 starts with 40's (26.0-28.0)
Modern Reloading second edition- BL-C2, again 40's (26.5-28.5)

So, for s**ts and giggles I took 1 resized and trimmed to 1.745" .223 brass and filled to rim thru a 6" funnel, I'm talking max with no room for more;

Varget - 28.4gr
H335 - 32.3gr
H322 - 29.8gr
IMR4198 - 26.2gr

I don't have any BL-C(2), sorry....

The only thing the above info tells me is, my level of boredom is very strong right now. :D

add: don't worry about compressing, it's just noise :D
I ran some 70gr VLD's over 27gr Varget, it was an awful sound.
 
ParkGunner said:
I've loaded lots of ammo in the past, but when it came time to load 223 Remington, I got confused.

Case: Picked from range, cleaned up and all the normal stuff
Primer: CCI Small Rifle
Bullet: 35 GR Hornady 224 NTX
Powder: BL-C(2)

Here's where I'm running into issues. With my other ammo, there's always lots of extra room left at the top of the casing. But when I load the 223, it overflows with powder even at the minimum charge recommended on the Hodgdon Data site. Granted, I'm trying to use the Nosler load as the Hornady load data doesn't exist there, but it shouldn't be that far off.

They recommend 26.6 -> 29.5 grains. At 26.6, there's about .3 gr of powder left, and the case has no more room. The idea of compressing the powder doesn't thrill me either.

What am I doing wrong?

side note, this is what I've loaded in the past, and am using as my "it should look like..." reference.

9mm
38sp
357mg
270win
308win
7mm RM
Click to expand...

That's very odd, because when I load up my 60gr V-Max loads, I use 26.5gr of BLC(2), and it just comes up to the shoulder. Either you're measuring your powder wrong, or there's something strange with the mystery range brass you have.

P6070285.jpg

26.5gr BLC(2) in my scale

P6070286.jpg

The same powder charge in a once fired Winchester brass case, FL resized and tumbled.
 
Look at the head stamp closely to be sure you have not picked up 222 remington brass .26.5 gr of bl c2 should be about 95% fill in a 223 remington case.
 
If you're weighing on a beam balance, re-check and make sure you're not measuring exactly five grains heavy (make sure the large weight is on the "25" mark like in @Ar180shooter's photo)

@rembolt, good idea on checking .222 vs .223, that would do it.
 
ParkGunner said:
Turns out my 3 year old "dropped my digital scale". Or so my wife says when I vented and she said "Oh yea, the scale...".
Click to expand...

Umm... Sorry, I don't want to be a d!ck about this... but two things:

1. Why does your 3 year old have access to your reloading stuff?
2. Why wouldn't you check your powder charge on a different scale first?
 
Why wouldn't you check your powder charge on a different scale first?

2x Yup I calibrate my scale every time befor use and NO one has access to my reloading gear without me being present.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom