Reloading for AR15

joe-nwt

joe-nwt

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My search skills are probably weak. Anyway, I am about to start reloading for my AR, box stock DPMS Oracle. Been reloading for 20+ years for both handgun and rifle. Have lots of different suitable powder, primers etc.

Any advice on any specific do's or don'ts I should be aware of?
 
joe-nwt said:
My search skills are probably weak. Anyway, I am about to start reloading for my AR, box stock DPMS Oracle. Been reloading for 20+ years for both handgun and rifle. Have lots of different suitable powder, primers etc.

Any advice on any specific do's or don'ts I should be aware of?
Click to expand...

Some companies give specific loads 5.56 military vs .223...the 5.56 being loaded to higher pressures
 
Well the Oracle is rated 223/5.56 so as long as I start lower I should be OK? Will start with 223 brass anyway.

I was thinking more along the lines of burn rates, primer cup thicknesses, that sort of thing.

Do I need to use FMJs?

But thanks for the reminder!
 
Just remember that feeding for a semi can be more finicky. Might take a bit to find a bullet that’ll seat itself well without causing FTF. Soft polymer tip projectiles can get disformed on feeding so often times fmj is the way to go. Besides you can only really target shoot with an AR so unless you like the BC of a polymer tipped projectile you’re best off with an FMJ or BTHP. Consider adding a crimp, again for added strength of the finished ammo to withstand the more violent semi auto feeding through an AR compared to the more gentle feeding through a bolt action.

Other than those considerations, should be the same steps.
 
joe-nwt said:
Well the Oracle is rated 223/5.56 so as long as I start lower I should be OK? Will start with 223 brass anyway.

I was thinking more along the lines of burn rates, primer cup thicknesses, that sort of thing.

Do I need to use FMJs?

But thanks for the reminder!
Click to expand...

I believe right now I am using 24.2 grains of 3031 under a hornady 55 grain fmj-bt
 
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Hodgdon H335 meters well. Especially in a progressive press. Make sure you crimp as well.
Avoid plated bullets and stick to fmj. Plated will come apart if pushed too hard. Brass prep is less critical, but you should try to keep in a range of capacity. One heavy piece with less case capacity will create an unwanted pressure spike.
 
I use 23.6gr of 748 pushing a 69 Sierra HPBT projectile out of my Colt HBAR with 1/7 twist
Not very economical but very accurate for this rifle.
My other AR rifles I just shoot 55gr bulk ammo
 
I use H335 with Campro bullets. 3' groups from a a SW mp15. Currenlty building a BCM lower with BCM upper/MRA barrel, handguard, flash hider. Hoping to get to .5 MOA. (Pipe dreams)

I've crimped and not crimped and had 0 issues feeding. I did a test to see if accuracy changed with crimp vs not crimped. But I didn't record it correctly so I need to hit the range again. There was a 1' difference between the 2, just not sure which one I shot better :bangHead:
 
My favourite plinking load is 55gr Hornady SP over 23gr of H335, your choice of primer (I like S&B primers). I use a small base sizing die and crimp my bullets. Groups around 1.5" at 100 yards in my 16" 1:9 chrome lined bbl'd AR15.
 
I only bought an AR for the first time a few years ago and I've been reloading for it from the beginning. I've been using small base dies even though some guys say you don't need them, but I haven't had any issues at all out of several thousand rounds now with the small base dies.

I use a fairly common load, 25.0 gr H335 and a 55 gr FMJ bullet, currently I've been shooting the Barry's 223 bullets. Also, some say to watch your primers to avoid slam fires, although I don't claim to know enough about the problem to comment.
 
joe-nwt said:
Any advice on any specific do's or don'ts I should be aware of?
Click to expand...

Not really. The direct impingement gas system means that powder burn rate has to be kept fairly close to the middle for best functioning, otherwise load for it the way you would load for anything, worry about changing anything up only if you encounter problems.
 
Thanks gents. Lots of good tips.

mac100 said:
I use 23.6gr of 748 pushing a 69 Sierra HPBT projectile out of my Colt HBAR with 1/7 twist
Not very economical but very accurate for this rifle.
My other AR rifles I just shoot 55gr bulk ammo
Click to expand...

Yeah, bulk ammo is really handy but reloaders gotta reload.;)

Thanks again.
 
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