Reloading for Ruger American Ranch .556

VancouverSkiBum

VancouverSkiBum

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Hi all. Looking for info on load development for this rifle - some long range hunting rounds would be nice.


6965 5.56 NATO / 223 Rem 5cap 36.00" 1/2"-28 Thread 13.75" LOP 6.10 lbs. 1:8" RH Twist 16.12" Barrel

Please provide as much info as possible. Thank you!

Updated with loads and groups post #18 and #20. Books have been found and I am well underway to being a little personal bullet factory! thanks for the tips!
 
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Not being a smart ass.....
Pick up a quality reloading book and it will tell what you need to know.
For a 1/8 twist, check out the sections from 45 grain to 80 grain bullets.

And just because....
I load 55 grain pills over 23.5 grains of H335 in mixed brass ignited by CCI 400 primers.
This is a comfortable, decently accurate plinking round for my 1/7 16" AR.
 
What are you wanting to do with the rifle? Do you need to be able to mag feed?
With that twist rate, I would start with 80 gr hornady amax bullets or 82 gr Bergers. Start with varget powder and cci-br4 primers. They like to be seated just off the lands or about 10 thou back. It really depends on the rifle though. As far as load development procedures. There are a few ways to do it. I start low and work my way up in .5 or .3 gr increments untill I find a node. You'll likely find two nodes. I use lapua brass for a bunch of reasons. If you want to shoot long range or tight groups, check out this link.

http://www.6mmbr.com/223rem.HTML


If you're just plinking than you can likely find sometging that suits you fairly easy.
Load development is fun and tailored to your individual rifle. What mine likes and what yours likes is very likely a little different.
 
yes i know im still new to reloading and im waiting to find a deal on a book. But besides any book, Just wanted to know if anyone had developed a load for it with success yet. Cheers.
 
Get a Lyman reloading manual, I think the current one is the 49th.

I have the LEE book and its junk. All it is is just re-assembled powder manufacturer loading info presented in a haphazard way, dont bother with it. If you want that info just go to the powder companies websites and get it yourself.

Good plinking loads for the .223 usually consist of a 55gr bulk fmj or SP backed with H335.
For hunting I like a 65gr Sierra Gamepoint, or 64gr Winchester Powerpoint backed up with TAC or Reloader 15.
 
Developing the load for a Mini is no different than any other semi-auto. You must FL resize every time, watch the case lengths(trim, chamfer and deburr as required) and the OAL.
If you're very new, buy a copy of The ABC's of Reloading and the Lyman manual. The latter because it has more loads using more powders and bullet weights than any bullet or powder maker's book. The 'Reference" chapters are a good read too.
Don't know if there is such a thing as a good deal on books in Canada. You can order books from the States without ending Western Civilization though. No components at all, but equipment is fine.
I'd be thinking heavy for calibre bullets, 62's and up, for that rifling twist. Lot of choices. Match and hunting. The Lyman book should give an accuracy load for each bullet weight. Good place to start.
 
You absolutely do not have to full length resize for your rifle


sunray said:
Developing the load for a Mini is no different than any other semi-auto. You must FL resize every time, watch the case lengths(trim, chamfer and deburr as required) and the OAL.
If you're very new, buy a copy of The ABC's of Reloading and the Lyman manual. The latter because it has more loads using more powders and bullet weights than any bullet or powder maker's book. The 'Reference" chapters are a good read too.
Don't know if there is such a thing as a good deal on books in Canada. You can order books from the States without ending Western Civilization though. No components at all, but equipment is fine.
I'd be thinking heavy for calibre bullets, 62's and up, for that rifling twist. Lot of choices. Match and hunting. The Lyman book should give an accuracy load for each bullet weight. Good place to start.
Click to expand...
 
the 69gr smk behind 23.3 gr of h4895 might not be a bad choice, its a pretty hot load! so start 2.3 gr below that and work up to it, and don't load it any shorter than 2.310"
 
VancouverSkiBum

I have two AR15s and a Savage .223 bolt action and the throat is "LONGER" on the .223 Savage, meaning newer rifles have variations in throat design.

So start low and work up a load for your new rifle and stop asking about load advice from faceless screen names on the internet.

I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but one person here gave you a load of 23.5 grains of H335 and my plinking load with Lake City military cases is 25.0 grains. You will run into cases with different Rockwell hardness ratings with Federal and Remington being the softest and military and Lapua being the hardest. And then you will have primers with different thicknesses, so be safe and work up your own loads.

Your primers and brass will tell you a story and you need to learn to read these signs.

pressuresigns_zps50637610.jpg


HOLLIGER ON .223/5.56 CHAMBERS
http://www.radomski.us/njhp/cart_tech.htm
 
I didn't say 23.5 gr of h335. Don't confuse the guy. I do however agree that the OP should get some manuals and tailor a load to his rifle. You need the proper info/ know how and measuring tools to do this properly and safely.
 
Anyone try 24-25gn Benchmark with a 55gr Nosler Ballistic Tip?

or

24-25 of H335 with the same bullet? (What i think im going to go with)

or

or CFE 223 27-28

or

IMR 4895 24.5 - 25.5?

All with CCI Small rifle primers.

trying to find loads that i can get in stock at a store...

reading through the Nosler book... really like how its set up.
 
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sunray said:
Developing the load for a Mini is no different than any other semi-auto. You must FL resize every time, watch the case lengths(trim, chamfer and deburr as required) and the OAL.
If you're very new, buy a copy of The ABC's of Reloading and the Lyman manual. The latter because it has more loads using more powders and bullet weights than any bullet or powder maker's book. The 'Reference" chapters are a good read too.
Don't know if there is such a thing as a good deal on books in Canada. You can order books from the States without ending Western Civilization though. No components at all, but equipment is fine.
I'd be thinking heavy for calibre bullets, 62's and up, for that rifling twist. Lot of choices. Match and hunting. The Lyman book should give an accuracy load for each bullet weight. Good place to start.
Click to expand...

Hello McFly!!! It's a freaking bolt action rifle! LOL
 
sunray said:
Developing the load for a Mini is no different than any other semi-auto. You must FL resize every time, watch the case lengths(trim, chamfer and deburr as required) and the OAL.
If you're very new, buy a copy of The ABC's of Reloading and the Lyman manual. The latter because it has more loads using more powders and bullet weights than any bullet or powder maker's book. The 'Reference" chapters are a good read too.
Don't know if there is such a thing as a good deal on books in Canada. You can order books from the States without ending Western Civilization though. No components at all, but equipment is fine.
I'd be thinking heavy for calibre bullets, 62's and up, for that rifling twist. Lot of choices. Match and hunting. The Lyman book should give an accuracy load for each bullet weight. Good place to start.
Click to expand...

This is a bolt rifle sunray, not the mini 14.

Sunray - he's giving bad advice and making a fool of himself on CGN for 10 years and still hasn't learned a dam thing apparently.
 
jethunter said:
This is a bolt rifle sunray, not the mini 14.

Sunray - he's giving bad advice and making a fool of himself on CGN for 10 years and still hasn't learned a dam thing apparently.
Click to expand...

Someone else on CGN likened him to an errant flying seagull that dumps it's payload & quickly moves on! lol
The most maddening thing about him, he does not have the cojones to openly engage in debate or admit his mistakes.

Never even once, seen him even use the reply with quote option here. He is much like a child with a learning disability.

truth here
 
Alright! Yea!

Went to the range today with my 1st reloads. made up some 23, 24, 24.5, 25, and 25.5 gn rounds.

Shooting at 100 yards I had excellent results with my 1st type of bullet and powder purchased! Not sure on where to measure from, but seems to be around 1/2 MOA! Yea!

Seems to like 25 grains of H335 over a 55g bullet in remington brass, loaded to MAX COAL according to Nosler, with CCI SR Primers. I could not seat the bullet just off the lands because they would not fit into my magazine. Max COAL just barely fits, so I went with it.

I was using a bipod and a sand bag on the rear. Cheers!

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I use a 55 grain FMJBT and 25.5 grains of CFE 223. I have been reloading IVI cases that I bought from Budget Reloading Supply. Too bad the Mini 14 throughs the cases so violently. There is almost always a deep round dent in the case after it gets ejected.
 
Here is a scan I took of the page from the Nosler book I used to work up my load on the 55g bullet. As I said, I used the ballictic tips and H335 loaded to 25 grains and Max Coal.

Still had great accuracy with the much shorter barrel with different twist rate. I don't have a chrony to see velocities unfortunately.

tNKuNYP.png
 
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