[scooter.maclusky]

Before I get into reloading this caliber is there any preferences anyone has for powder or bullets?
I'll probably get Redding dies.
Barrel twist is 1 in 7 so minimum 55gr up to 75gr bullets will be my preference.
Can one powder do it all or do I need to to try several for each different weight?

 

[hal]

Try vargent powder and hornady 75 gr , also the 80 gr will work very well in a 1-7 twist.
Start out a little under than the perscribed load and work up, I shot high power for 20 years and found out that each rifle has its own favorite for powder weight. and most liked a milder load. If you use 55 gr bullets don't be suprized if some of them never make it to the target, a 1-7 twist will spin the jacket off sometimes. Good luck

 

[MZ5]

748 for me and mine.

I agree that some 55s will be torn apart by that fast a twist. Others will be fine. Darkker has summarized some good rpm info (that's what tears bullets apart), but I think it might be on another forum. Search for a post on the topic from him; he either put the info on this forum, or linked from here to where he put it.

 

[Darkker]

F.Y.I. Varmint Bullet RPM Limits - Shooters Forum

Another vote for 748 for all weights you want.
I found much cooler barrel temps shot for shot, compared to using Varget.

 

[429421Cowboy]

If you are going to be loading for a mini or an AR, where you intend to use high volumes of ammo, you might consider looking into miltary surplus pull-down powder and bullets. Good way to load alot of rounds, ususally you buy it in lots of 8lbs or more. Also you might check into factory seconds from Nosler or Sierra, that is another source of bulk bullets that will make good plinking ammo, and every penny counts when it lets you shoot more!

 

[429421Cowboy]

Update-
Widener's has SMP-844 for $85/8lbs, can't hardly beat that.
Also 55gr FMJBT M193 .223 bullets at $435/5000

 

[scooter.maclusky]

Update-
Widener's has SMP-844 for $85/8lbs, can't hardly beat that.
Also 55gr FMJBT M193 .223 bullets at $435/5000

Thanks...!!!

 

[CHX77]

I don't have years of experience to share, but have been reloading these for a few months with good results using Winchester 55 grain FMJBT bullets, Accurate 2230 powder, CCI #41 primers, and Lake City brass. I started with Accurate's suggested starting load and it has worked so well that I haven't bothered to try increasing the powder charge. I'm shooting them in a Daniel Defense AR15 with a 1:7 twist. All have cycled reliably and my groups are much tighter than when I use new Lake City XM193.

 

[firemanbud17]

I use hogdon cfe223 with whatever brass and cci small primers and mid south shooters varment nightmare bullets for plinking and target with my AR and hogdon varget and nosler brass with Barnes tsx for accuracy

 

[Spike12]

I use H335 and have great results... 4198 in a pinch.

Be sure you're loading 5.56NATO or .223 and used in the correct barrel.

THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. Just like 7.62NATO and .308 Winchester are not the same.

 

[429421Cowboy]

Also bear in mind that military brass is thicker than civvy brass, alot of us like G.I .38 spl brass but you hit max sooner because of the thicker case ie reduced capacity.

I won't tell anyone what to do on the case of trying to interchange 5.56 vs .223 rounds in a given gun, that has as many opinions as any other hot topic. But i personally reguard them the same as any other ammo combo that isn't right for the gun, just because it goes bang doesn't mean it "works" persay...

 

[StandingTall]

Also bear in mind that military brass is thicker than civvy brass, alot of us like G.I .38 spl brass but you hit max sooner because of the thicker case ie reduced capacity.

While that is true for 7.62/.308, that is not the case with 5.56/.223



223 Rem + 223 AI Cartridge Guide within AccurateShooter.com

 

[Darkker]

Be sure you're loading 5.56NATO or .223 and used in the correct barrel.

THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. Just like 7.62NATO and .308 Winchester are not the same.

Here we go again...........

The Brass is interchangable. CAN( notice I didn't say IS) the brass be SLIGHTLY different? Yes, ANYTHING that is a different stamp, lot, day, CAN be different.
The Dies are the same, regardless of capacity(not case weight, CAPACITY) outside dimentions are the same. The INDIVIDUAL round pressures are allowed to be higher on the 5.56 Vs 223. But the average is the same, Reference any of the TM's floating around. The specific readings are done differently, and the numbers CANNOT be the same because of it. Moreover SAAMI warns against NATO in SAAMI chambers, BUT DOES NOT warn against CIP 223....Which IS THE SAME AS NATO; anyone else notice the issue there?
The 5.56 Vs 223 HAS a longer throat(leade) spec than the 223; NOW, but started as the same. Standard QC passed ball ammo in a SAAMI spec barrel will not have an issue jamming the lands. VERY long OAL ammo in a VERY short SAAMI barrel CAN(not does) have a problem.

The 7.62 Vs 308 has ONLY EVER had one spec. Dies are the same, "spec" pressure is the same, brass is the same. Again CAN there be a capacity difference? Again read above.

IF you have a MAX load, or an inconsistent OAL, or a powder that doesn't respond well to temp changes; AND you change brass, or ANY OTHER COMPONENT, YES you can have an issue. Don't confuse changing components without work-up with: The brass is different, and can't be used!

Because of this very issue I talked with Nosler, Hornady, and after a lot of chasing, Remington.
ONLY Hornady admitted to "shooting for .001" thicker case walls on the 5.56. The rest told me it was all the same, excepting the headstamp. All agreed that the brass material was the same, as was the annealing process between headstamps. The above posted capacity chart, is the third different that I have now seen; all agreeing that any differences are standard lot variations.

Remember this definition:

"Interchangeable - capable of replacing or changing places with something else; permitting mutual substitution without loss of function or suitability; "interchangeable electric outlets" "interchangeable parts"

Are they the same? Possibly not. Are they interchangeable? Yes.
Any decent reloader knows when something is substituted, to test it FIRST. That way ANY minor difference is totally irrelevant.

 

[StandingTall]

My post above is purely about case capacity, nothing else.

Point is that you do NOT have to worry about reducing your charge amount due to case capacity in military 5.56/.223 NATO brass. I am speaking strictly about perceived reduced case capacity in military brass.

Because it is a well known issue with military 7.62/.308 NATO brass, many assume it is the same with 5.56/.223.

 

[Sr40ken]

If you're loading ANYTHING near top you best back off or at least be careful if you change ANY component.
There are tests out there that show there isn't that much difference b/t the two(factory loads) when fired out of a true 5.56 chamber. The wives tales about 5.56/.223 gets old and boring. I think Accurate has the best load data when actually running .223vs5.56 pressures and Sierra second. jmho

 

[Darkker]

I will take my lashings for a bit of a hijacking...
Here is some info for the 308. It is the SAME argument as gets used with the 223/5.56. Brass is brass. Different manu/headstamps are different, so the capacity CAN be as well. It means NOTHING more than that.

The Rifleman's Journal: Cartridges: 1000 Yard .308 Case Capacity and Other Problems

Brass capacity .308 (Win Brass & Laupa& Federal Brass) (Page 1) - Handloading Techniques - Remington Model 700 Forums

 

[StandingTall]

nvm...not going to hijack this any further...

 

[laidlerj]

I've used Win 748 for most of my .223 reloading, since it is reported to run a little cooler; more recently, I've switched to Hodgden CFE223 to see if it will reduce the amount of copper fouling.

Jim

 

[Yurko]

My standard load is 26 grains of Hodgdon Varget with a 55 grain FMJ.
OAL at 2.225.

I hope this helps.
Happy Reloading

 

[264Win]

223/5.56x45

I have had good luck accuracy wise with TAC and hornady v-max . Started mid recomended range and using 58 & 60 gr. v-max not much difference in group size barrel is 1 in 8 twist.