Looking for .223 55 grain load for AR

[the judge]

I am looking for a good load for my .223 16" AR with 55 grain FMJ's. Any suggestions?

I am starting to load up my own for practice sessions, leaving the factory stuff for matches and courses. The cost of factory ammo is getting crazy!

 

[enfielder]

I found my best shooting was with H322, 55gr Hornady FMJ's, Lake City 5.56 brass, or Winchester .223 brass and CCI 450 primers.

Sierra's data lists 22.5 to 24.3 H322 for the 55 grainers.

My loads for LC brass was 24.0gr which was giving me an average velocity 2978 fps and standard deviation was 13.92 fps out of a 20" barrel.

I would still suggest starting at 22.5 grains and going from there, for all the usual reloading do's and dont's.

I tried H335, Varget, IMR 3031, IMR 4895 and IMR 4064 but found H322 to be the cat's beehind. Meters well, consistant velocity/deviation and excellent accuracy.

I shall now put on my flak vest and helmet and wait for the incoming........

 

[manitou210]

I see some fellows using benchmark with 55grdoing very well, just got some but not tryed yet i like win 748 with 53gr mk

 

[medicstimpy]

deleted

 

[Frigoman]

...

 

[Paulinski]

Related question. Do you fill 5.56 brass the same amount of powder as .223 brass.

I have bunch of Lake City 5.56 brass that I want to reload, so far I have been using .223 Winchester brass with 25.3 gr of Varget and 69 grain SMK.

 

[gaudzy]

26gr of BL-2C worked pretty good for me

 

[Janeau]

H-335 has worked the best for us with 55 FMJ's

ya..true...

 

[enfielder]

Related question. Do you fill 5.56 brass the same amount of powder as .223 brass.

I have bunch of Lake City 5.56 brass that I want to reload, so far I have been using .223 Winchester brass with 25.3 gr of Varget and 69 grain SMK.

I increased my load with Winchester commercial brass 2 tenths of a grain to get the same performance.

Lake City 24 grains
Win Comm 24.2 grains

 

[Sniper1]

Hello, I'm about to reload .223 for my AR (16" midlength, chrome-lined, 1:9 twist)
Materials:
- 55gr Hornady soft points (also have a hundred 68gr HPBT to try out).
- Winchester once-fired brass
- Win small rifle primers
- WC-735 powder

My press is the Lee Pro 1000 and the dies are The Lee Pacesetter set.

So what are your recommandations for load weight and OAL ?

Thanks!

 

[jdman]

marking this page for future refrence. i also have 55 grain SP, 748, lee loader, bushmaster 1/9 twist. 20 inch BBL