OAL for .223 in AR mags

[scott_r]

Do you guys load to the specs in manuals? Im finding them long for my LAR 15 pistol mags. Im loading them to this length 2.260 but find them hard to load easy and have had some broken ballistic tips.

Cheers!!

 

[tiriaq]

Seat the bullets until the cartridges fit the magazines properly?

 

[Greg_VP]

I usually go to 2.23 OAL and have no issues. As per the Hornady manual, 2.25 is the max OAL for .223.

 

[scott_r]

I usually go to 2.23 OAL and have no issues. As per the Hornady manual, 2.24 is the max OAL for .223.

Interesting, Nosler manual states no shorter the 2.260 ?? They also have Varget max load as 25 grs. which won't even cycle my XCR. Other manuals say max load is 27.5 which would probably cyle my loads.

Cheers!!

 

[KDX]

What do you have the gas setting on?

 

[acrashb]

Do you guys load to the specs in manuals? Im finding them long for my LAR 15 pistol mags. Im loading them to this length 2.260 but find them hard to load easy and have had some broken ballistic tips.

Cheers!!

The official max length is, as you stated, 2.260. But given manufacturing variances in mags and oal variance in your loaded rounds, I find 2.250 to be the max I can use and still load into and feed from the mag reliably.

 

[Greg_VP]

I should have made my statement a tad more clear.... the Hornady manual has a section on loading for the AR15 specifically, and it lists 2.25 as max OAL.

And it lists 24.9 as max Varget load. Keep in mind an AR operating system is vastly different from the XCR, so powder loads required will obviously vary.

This is another good resource, however it's specific again to AR rifles.

http://accurateshooter.net/Downloads/sierra223ar.pdf

 

[KDX]

That's a good link. Thanks.

 

[scott_r]

What do you have the gas setting on?

Had it set on 4. I increased some load 27.5 and it worked great, no problems and good accuracy.

Cheers!!

 

[KDX]

If your rifle is broken in, try your gas setting at 2.

 

[scott_r]

If your rifle is broken in, try your gas setting at 2.

I got a few hundred rounds down the pipe. I think Its broken in. I tried it on all setting and it would not cycle the rounds properly. I upped the charge a bit and it worked fine. Ive heard that military rounds are alot hotter then bolt gun rounds to ensure it functions...no sure if its true or not.

Cheers!!