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11/19/2015 4:52:05 PM EDT
Been reloading 308, 50BMG and 44 mag. Getting ready to do 223/5.56 with Hornady 75 gr A-Max for the 1st time. Looked at hodgdon reload site to see what powders to use. Am familiar with varget, 8208xbr, 4064 and 4166 and have reloaded with these in 308. The others I have not. I have all 4 powders already so if possible, want to use one of them. What would be a good powder for a carbine AR for the 75 gr A-Max?
11/19/2015 4:56:15 PM EDT
[#1]
Varget and 8208 should give performance, but be aware that bullet will not fit in a magazine.
11/19/2015 4:57:03 PM EDT
[#2]
The 75gr Amax is too long to fit in an AR mag.
11/19/2015 4:57:05 PM EDT
[#3]
You won't be able to load those to mag length.



You should look into 77gr Sierra Tipped Matchkings, better bullet, and can seat them to mag length.




My favorite powder is XBR 8208 in those loads.
11/19/2015 6:18:45 PM EDT
[#4]
24gr Varget, 22gr IMR4064, about 0.020" jump (OAL should end up between 2.400-2.500"). Be sure the seating stem doesn't do anything funky to the ogive or tip.



ETA: when single-loading, insert round into the chamber before dropping bolt to prevent bending the bullet in the neck.

11/19/2015 6:24:35 PM EDT
[#5]
So to long to fit. that blows. I use 8208 for my short barrel 308. Great powder. Actually will be teaching brother in law reloading and he needs to keep cost down. Found the A-Max on sale. Will look for another bullet. Thanks.
11/19/2015 6:25:43 PM EDT
[#6]
You can load them to mag length, provided you trim to 1.73 and use a finer ball powder (Ramshot TAC). I have already loaded 50 for accuracy testing, but I'm not expecting anything great, however, I'll know for sure this weekend.
11/20/2015 12:55:06 AM EDT
[#7]
Probably need to work on your skill set before helping others.  You need to understand bullets that are appropriate for AR's and what are not meant for magazine length use.  One should consult reloading manuals for hints on best options for powder and then relate that to what you have on or can purchase.

Just cause you want least expensive does not mean it is a viable option.
Look at Nosler Pro Shop for blemished bullets for cheap bullets like the 69gr or 77gr OTM.  If you are going to load for volume use look at ball powders for easier measurement.  TAC works great with heavier bullets in the 223.

11/20/2015 1:38:35 AM EDT
[#8]
hornady 75gr bthp is a mag length loaded round. Also fairly economical for a heavy bullet. 23.8 varget is what I load for both the A-max and Bthp.
11/20/2015 11:55:28 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote History
Quoted:
You can load them to mag length, provided you trim to 1.73 and use a finer ball powder (Ramshot TAC). I have already loaded 50 for accuracy testing, but I'm not expecting anything great, however, I'll know for sure this weekend.
View Quote

Post what you find out. Just interesting to here folks who try stuff instead of just reading. I don't plan to get an AR15, prefer my AR10's and 308 bolt's. To each his own.
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