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Posted: 1/26/2011 4:40:56 PM EDT
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Hey everyone. A little background first. I am not new to reloading, grew up reloading with my dad for all sorts of calibers (rifle and pistol), however, they were all for revolvers and bolt guns; never for an AR or semi-auto. Today,we live 600 miles apart and I am heading his way this weekend due to a family death. I was thinking that I could catch up on my empty brass and reload this weekend. I know the proper way for first time re-loads is to work up loads, as we have done this for every gun my dad owns, and it will allow me to find a load that works in my AR. So, this weekend, we will not have time or means of testing any worked-up loads for my AR, but I have 1200+ rounds that I want to TRY to reload. Does or will anyone give me a safe and middle of the run recipe for .223? Powder types and availability will not be an issue as we are close to the reload shop. I want to run 55 grain FMJ.
Brass is Lake City, '09 an '10 once fired. I know about the military crimp, and my dad just picked up the RCBS primer pocket swagger so I can deal with that. If it matters, here are the gun specs: 16" middy barrel, BCM auto BCG, carbine buffer. Again, I know this isnt the way I should be doing it, but I have zero reloading components and my old man is set up for anything and I figured I would take advantage of the shop while I was home. Thanks for any help you guys could throw my way. *edit to add bullet type* |
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Sierra Bullets AR15 loads
Kinda a tough question to answer. Here is a PDF to use to get a general idea. 55gr FMJ is about as standard a load as they get. |
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One of my favorite loads is 25gr of Benchmark which is a full power load but runs great in my 16" BCM middy(SS410 barrel), I get good groups with Hornady 55gr FMJ and great groups with 55gr V-Max.
Another favorite is 25gr H335 but I prefer Benchmark since it groups better and meters very well for a short stick powder. all loads are in newer(08-09) WCC or LC brass with Rem 7 1/2 primers at 2.250" COL. |
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Look up in the tacked "load data base" thread, pick one, load a few, fire them and if your gun doesn't blow up, load the rest. Or, pick a manual and pick a middle of the road load and load them up. If it's just a plinking load(not a precision load), you should be fine. I would suggest picking a ball powder so you can accurately us a powder drop. 1,200 rounds is a lot to get done in a weekend if you've never loaded bottle neck cartridges before(it's a lot if you have). Is the brass prepped already? You mentioned crimps, so I'm guessing not.
What you should do is take your rifle, spend the weekend prepping the brass and nailing down the load and then have your father ship you the finished product once he's done loading if for you 
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| I'm sure you're aware that the cases need to be trimmed to length also. 1.750"-1.760" max case length. Most often powder used seems to be Hodgdon H335 powder. You'd need 5 pounds for 1200 rounds and having a little left over. Only primers recommended for AR's are Remington 7 1/2, CCI 450, or CCI 41 Arsenal primers. Don't use any others!!!!! I'm not familiar with the new foreign primers such as Magtech or the Russian primers. It's usually recommended as you know to work up loads for your rifle but I'd feel comfortable to recommend H335 at a charge of 24.5 up to a maximum of 25 grains with 55 FMJ bullets. One of the most used and popular loads is 25 grains of H335 and Hornady's 55 FMJ bullet seated to mid-cannelure or a oal of 2.220-2.230". Some other 55 FMJ's have sharper points and mid-cannelure will put you at an oal at 2.250" which should be maximum for any 55 fmj bullet. Some don't crimp their AR loads but I do recommend a light bullet crimp. Your choice. Make SURE all primers are seated flush or below especially for an AR. Watch your LC brass closely for any signs of stretching or defects. H335 loads with the charges above cycles all my different style AR's perfectly, carbine, mid-length, standard, and match. Just be careful with your approach and I would load a few rounds starting a little lower and shooting them 1st just to be sure they are safe in your rifle. You won''t have any problems with 55 FMJ's with H335 powder though. There are other good powders for AR's with 55 gr. bullets but H335 would be my 1st choice. |
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