Time to load for the ARs... need help

Slug870

Slug870

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Hey all,

Well I'm about to start loading for my ARs; and this is new to me. I reload for about six hunting and or Precision rifles, so it's time to get the black babies into the loop. So here are my questions;

1. Can you recommend a powder to start?

2. Should I worry about tweaking seating depth with AR ammo?

3. Will the cheap ass Lee seating / crimping die be sufficient? I can't see having to use my Forster Ultra-Micrometer seating die for AR rounds...

4. I'm loading 1F IVI 5.56 brass. I have the Dillon Super Swage, and the RCBS small base sizing die; and will be getting the Wilson .223 case gauge shortly... any other hardware recommendations?

As always, I thank you for your help as well as any and all helpful insight.

Cheers!
 
I am fairly new to reloading, but here is what I am doing.

I use 24.5 grains of H335 powder with Campro 55gr BT FMJ projectiles. Trim the brass to 1.745 and use the suggested 2.260 OAL from Campro.

I have an RCBS small base sizing die I use to size the brass. I have the Lee sizing die, but have never used it.

Lee bullet seating die & factory crimp die to crimp.

I double check each load with a Lyman case gauge to make sure everything looks good.

These run flawlessly through my M&P15.
 
I full length size with regular dies and have never had issues so your Wilson small base die should be even better.

H335 powder for ease of metering and for bullets up to 60 grains it's hard to beat...I use Varget for anything over 60 grains and don't bother to trickle.

If you use quality precision bullets you will get precision results...If you use el cheapo bullets you will get the same results as shooting surplus ammo...Nothing wrong with a Lee seating die but the higher end dies don't hurt either...I have never crimped and have never had a problem.

Seat bullets so the round fits in your magazine is all I do.

If you have been using surplus ammo up till now...You will be very happy you started reloading for your AR when you see your accuracy increase.

I have a heck of a time going back to shooting surplus ammo after shooting hand loads in my AR's...Cause I like to make little cluster groups and hit things at long range.
 
My service rifle load that has worked well for me, as always double check the data:

69gr SMK
BLC2 powder 24.5gr
IVI brass
2.260 OAL
CCI small rifle primer
Light crimp with Lee factory crimp die

Produces 2650fps in my 20"1/7 Stag arms model 4 and the hold overs on my Elcan spectre DR match up perfectly out to 500m

Only ever used the regular RCBS dies and never had a stoppage in a couple thousand rounds. Nice gentle recoil impulse as well, not snappy feeling.
 
I'm having great success with imr xbr8208 and 77 grain smk
Rcbs fl die set. Go with factory seating depth due to magazine size, and feeding with be reliable.
Crimping is optional if you have enough neck tension, most likely you won't need to crimp. If you want to though,
I recommend the lee factory crimp die.
Freedom.
 
Are you loading for accuracy, economy, availability or some other reason?

All of my AR loading is 55 FMJ for blasting ammo. I don't use small base dies, but they aren't RCBS either. H335 is a great powder for the application. I have tried the Lee factory crimp die but now have given up on crimping altogether.

The toughest thing is ballistics. You should be able to get to .223 ballistics but the usual advice is don't try getting to 5.56mm ballistics as a home loader. The cartridge runs too close to max pressures at the best of times and it's not safe to try to get there without a calibrated pressure transducer.
 
I use all that awful horrible Lee turret equipment including the Quick Trim die set up that adjusts in 0.001" increments. (30K+ of various rounds so far...)

So far many 55gr Campro with some 52 and 55gr Hornady bullets. No noticeable difference at 100yds, a factor of 3 in price.

Using published maximum 5.56 data for Ramshot Tac, I extrapolated for H332, H335 and Benchmark.

Similar test using published maximums for .223 Rem. All seated to 2.250" with is 0.080" off the lands but anything over doesn't fit in the mags.

Bottom line, this is a very versatile and forgiving round that can use a vast array of powders successfully so don't feel constrained because the super secret magic powder you want to try isn't available.

PS - buy some kind of a trimmer. depending on the brass and how hot, I see 0.000" to 0.009" growth per firing
 
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Hornady 55 gr Bulk bullets= H335 25.0gr, 748 25.8 gr. both are on the 3000fps on my 18'bbl (223 wylde 1:8 )
Hornady 75 gr bullets = Vhitavouri 135 23.5gr= 2850fps
Forester FL sizing Die, Dillon Seating Die, No Crimp
JP case Gauge, Hornady Headspace Gauge( datum) and Sinclair Shoulder Bump Gauge , Sinclair Bullet Comparator Insert ( use to measure OAL/ via Ogive)
 
The best powder is varget, but it's expensive.

You might want to try IMR 4064. Not the best or the most popular powder, but there's a bright side: canadaammo will probably start selling it in bulk. Their price is about 25$/lb, and shipping is included if you buy for 200$ or more. There's no beating that price (varget often cost 45$+/lb). So if you can load with 4064, you'll be all set up when canada ammo start selling it in bulk.

If you use campros at 0.12$/bullet, and suppose primers are 0.04$ each, then powder is the only component on which you can reduce price. If you suppose 25gr of powder, you make 280 rounds/lb. That's 0.16$ when using varget, 0.09$ when using D4064 (if/when it comes out).

If you're going for expensive components like Hornady/Barnes bullets that cost 50¢ a piece, then forget that and use varget of cfe223 or other more expensive powders, it won't make a difference.
 
Some things to consider:

What is the end use application? target, plinking, competition like 3 gun
What type of chamber do you have? The AR has the widest range of sizing so you really need to identify what is in YOUR rifle.
What weight of bullet? powders will have weights best suited for... more info.
What volume of loading? target and low volume... plinking and bulk.. Progressive or single stage?
What type of gas port size vs gas block?
What the accuracy goals?

Load to mag length... there is no plan b here unless you are going to single feed

make sure you are sizing to work with the chamber on your rifle. oversizing will lead to case failure and that is all sorts of grief you don't want. So you can't decide on the dies to use until you measure a few fired cases based on your chamber NOT some gauge.

If the rifle is feeding properly, crimping is not necessary but please check.

Answer the above and you can make better choices on how to proceed.

Jerry
 
AR15 Load Development by Brian Pearce

Handloading the AR-15 .223 with 1-in-12 twist Part I
https://www.loaddata.com/articles/pdf/loaddevelopment4lowres1.pdf

Handloading the AR-15 .223 with 1-in-9 twist Part II
https://www.loaddata.com/articles/pdf/loaddevelopment5lowres1.pdf

Handloading the AR-15 .223 with 1-in-7 twist Part III
https://www.loaddata.com/articles/pdf/loaddevelopment6lowres.pdf

AR15.com Reference for .223 Remington Load Data
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/342957_AR15_com_Reference_for__223_Remington_Load_Data.html
 
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Mystic Precision said:
Some things to consider:

What is the end use application? target, plinking, competition like 3 gun
What type of chamber do you have? The AR has the widest range of sizing so you really need to identify what is in YOUR rifle.
What weight of bullet? powders will have weights best suited for... more info.
What volume of loading? target and low volume... plinking and bulk.. Progressive or single stage?
What type of gas port size vs gas block?
What the accuracy goals?

Load to mag length... there is no plan b here unless you are going to single feed

make sure you are sizing to work with the chamber on your rifle. oversizing will lead to case failure and that is all sorts of grief you don't want. So you can't decide on the dies to use until you measure a few fired cases based on your chamber NOT some gauge.

If the rifle is feeding properly, crimping is not necessary but please check.

Answer the above and you can make better choices on how to proceed.

Jerry
Click to expand...


Question? does crimping increase accuracy?
 
In the testing I've done a consistent crimping can and will improve upon reducing deviations in velocity, and benefits by eliminating the possibility of bullet set back, something that good bullet retention with sizing alone cannot offer.
Additionally, in the tests I've done, the crimp offers no detriment to finished round concentricity or accuracy.

Bullet set back in an auto loader is a real and always present risk - not crimping for one is risking stoppages at the least and creating a dangerous condition at the worst - especially if you load with a ball powder whereby the powder doesn't completely fill the case, and allows room for that bullet to be pushed back down the neck.
 
I crimp my AR reloads for the opposite reason as well, bullets creeping forward when feeding into the chamber. It is a pretty violent action and works as a kinetic hammer bullet puller so if you rechamber that round after unloading for whatever reason, it may cause a jam or stick in the rifling. I have noticed this creep in both my AR and my M14 when I had it. The Lee factory crimp die took care of this problem for me when using SMK's w/o the cannelure.
 
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