.223 AR-15 Boolit Advice Requested

[Phlier]

Son has been shooting the AR-15 like it's a 22 LR. Watching the dollar signs coming out of the end of that barrel. Loading up full length gas check bullets out of the Dillon is still too expensive.

So it's time to start casting for .223

Blammo. Lot's of it. TL preferred, but not a necessity.

Would like a mold recommendation, gents. Decent accuracy would be nice, but I'd like a six cavity mold that will rain boolits en masse for my son's 5 thirty round magazines.

This will be my first attempt at casting for a rifle.

[joatmon]

I'll be watching this thread also because all I have is 2cav, and would like a little "RAIN" also!
Thanks for posting it. Aaron

[aspangler]

The Lee 55 grain flat point works good for me 19.5-20.5 grains IMR4895. Rifle is 1-7 twist. Full function and good accuracy.

[Dusty Bannister]

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690459/point225-diameter-6-cavity-mold-c225-55-rf

Lots of threads on cast in the AR if you use the search feature. I do not know of a 22 cal TL style bullet. Any bullet can be tumble lubed though.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I use a HM² 225-62 mold
which is very close in shape to the Lee C225-55-RF (which is a clone of the RCBS).
You can install a GC and then TL the Lee boolit and you should be good to go.


Similar to aspangler, my load is about 20 gr of H4895

Shooting in a 1:9 twist AR-15 clone.


use "AR cast" in google custom search window, and you'll find hundreds of threads

[Thekid]

I use the lee 225-55-rf, and in my 1:7 twist mid length gas AR I didn't get function until I hit 21 grains of IMR 4895. I was also able to get h335 to work and BL-C(2). I powder coat my boolits but will probably play around with tumble lube and possibly pan lube.

[RKJ]

I also use the Lee 225-55-rf PC'd and they shoot fine at jacketed velocities. If you don't want to PC, you might look at Ben's Liquid Lube. It works like a charm, and isn't sticky like Alox. I haven't used it a lot but when I did there was no leading at pretty high velocities.

[Jal5]

NOE 225-55 RF over CFE223. Its gc boolit 4 cav mold. I use BLL for lube. Accuracy is comparable to manufactured ammo. Good for the targets. 1:9 barrel AR scoped. Nothing fancy.

[flyingmonkey35]

Lee mold 55gr.

I haven't worked up a load yet. But dang they ate prdy.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170206/8647f48bd4a13f7231bec0430464244a.jpg

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[Hick]

I use a Lyman 225646 for my 223 Rem-- but it's not an AR-15. The 225646 can be gas-checked and I have run it up over 2000 fps so far with only GC and Ben's tumble lube, with no leading. You can do this for less than a nickle a load.

[1988-4551]

The lee website shows a gas check on their bullet, does anyone ever load these without a gas check and what velocities do you push it to? Thanks

[Phlier]

Lot's of great information here, guys, thanks a lot!


Lee mold 55gr.

I haven't worked up a load yet. But dang they ate prdy.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170206/8647f48bd4a13f7231bec0430464244a.jpg

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Flyingmonkey, are these PC'd boolits also GC'd?

[flyingmonkey35]

Lot's of great information here, guys, thanks a lot!



Flyingmonkey, are these PC'd boolits also GC'd?
Not yet but i do have gas checks for them. I want to try both.

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[Harter66]

NOE 225-55RF @62 gr is my choice . It's only a 5C but the bullet works well in a 223/556 AR and a 222 bolt gun . 18.0 in the 222 and 20.0 in the 223/556 of H322 delivers 2650 in the 222 and just over 2750 in the 223 sized .2255 and checked with Hornady checks . It takes nearly an hour to get through 10# of 75-25 WW-1/20 but it's a pile of WQ bullets .

[RKJ]

The lee website shows a gas check on their bullet, does anyone ever load these without a gas check and what velocities do you push it to? Thanks

I powder coated some with Smoke's powder and shot them at mid range velocity from a Rem 700 (22" Sporter weight barrel) Sorry I don't have the velocity but all my loading stuff is out in my shed. Anyway, they were pushed at around 2500 or more with decent accuracy and no leading with the PC and no GC.

[Phlier]

NOE 225-55 RF over CFE223. Its gc boolit 4 cav mold. I use BLL for lube. Accuracy is comparable to manufactured ammo. Good for the targets. 1:9 barrel AR scoped. Nothing fancy.

That post has three major points in it:

1. NOE -love Al's molds
2. CFE-223- meters like water from a Dillon powder measure. I sprinkle CFE-Pistol and CFE-223 on my corn flakes.
3. BLL- Use the stuff darn near every day.

Thanks, Jal 5

[Dan97526]

Tagged.

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[Lloyd Smale]

question for you guys that got them to run in your ARs. Did you size to 224 or 225?

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I size 'em to .226

[flyingmonkey35]

I loaded 10 rounds each of hr335 24 grains.

With gas checks all over the paper at 25 yards.

W/o. On the paper.

Tons of smoke after each shot.

Really odd as a 55 copper plated bullett puts them all in the same hole.

Never give up never surrender

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[Lloyd Smale]

thanks for the help

[6bg6ga]

Sorry but I simply cannot see the merits for cast in an AR-15/223. This round was meant to be a fast round and to de-ball it in order to save a few dollars doesn't seem logical to me. A lot of work and their so darn small and so easy to drop on the floor.

Casting for the 300 blackout however does peak my interests.

Carry on maybe you'll get my interests up for trying it in the .223.

[Lloyd Smale]

tell you my reasons my friend. Guys on here like smoke are getting cast bullets to speeds that will easily run the action and still getting good accuracy. Now I will never totally replace all my 223 ammo with cast bullets but my thoughts is it would sure make cheap plinking ammo for those days you just want to go out and blow off 500 rounds. The difference is 60 bucks or more for 500 ball bullets or 10 bucks for 500 gas checks and a bit of my time. Also ive seen it when you couldn't buy 5.56 ball bullets at any price anywhere. Luckily I have as stash but it wont last forever and I find myself leaving the ars at home because I don't want to burn up all my ammo and bullets. I wouldn't really call a 55 or 60 grain bullet at 2800 fps deballing it. With coated bullets those speeds can be reached without leading. I would have to guess that a load like that is every bit as effective on something living as factory ball ammo. As a matter of fact if your using a flat point cast bullet it would probably be more effective. Then the second project I want to do with cast in the ars is loaded 100 grain cast to subsonic levels that will still run my action. Ive got a 5.56 can and in all reality its about useless to me now because nothing I load subsonic will run and action.
Sorry but I simply cannot see the merits for cast in an AR-15/223. This round was meant to be a fast round and to de-ball it in order to save a few dollars doesn't seem logical to me. A lot of work and their so darn small and so easy to drop on the floor.

Casting for the 300 blackout however does peak my interests.

Carry on maybe you'll get my interests up for trying it in the .223.

[6bg6ga]

tell you my reasons my friend. Guys on here like smoke are getting cast bullets to speeds that will easily run the action and still getting good accuracy. Now I will never totally replace all my 223 ammo with cast bullets but my thoughts is it would sure make cheap plinking ammo for those days you just want to go out and blow off 500 rounds. The difference is 60 bucks or more for 500 ball bullets or 10 bucks for 500 gas checks and a bit of my time. Also ive seen it when you couldn't buy 5.56 ball bullets at any price anywhere. Luckily I have as stash but it wont last forever and I find myself leaving the ars at home because I don't want to burn up all my ammo and bullets. I wouldn't really call a 55 or 60 grain bullet at 2800 fps deballing it. With coated bullets those speeds can be reached without leading. I would have to guess that a load like that is every bit as effective on something living as factory ball ammo. As a matter of fact if your using a flat point cast bullet it would probably be more effective. Then the second project I want to do with cast in the ars is loaded 100 grain cast to subsonic levels that will still run my action. Ive got a 5.56 can and in all reality its about useless to me now because nothing I load subsonic will run and action.

Thanks for your explanation Lloyd. If I had a mold I'd give it a try.

[Phlier]

I powder coated some with Smoke's powder and shot them at mid range velocity from a Rem 700 (22" Sporter weight barrel) Sorry I don't have the velocity but all my loading stuff is out in my shed. Anyway, they were pushed at around 2500 or more with decent accuracy and no leading with the PC and no GC.

Very nice. Good to hear guys are able to shoot them without checks.

[Phlier]

I loaded 10 rounds each of hr335 24 grains.

With gas checks all over the paper at 25 yards.

W/o. On the paper.

Tons of smoke after each shot.

Really odd as a 55 copper plated bullett puts them all in the same hole.

Never give up never surrender

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I'd be willing to bet it's because you're shooting them in the cold part of Utah. You'd probably better come down to the warm part of Utah for continued testing.
Make sure you bring extra boolits. ;)

[zubrato]

I size to .225 but I wouldn't personally recommend cast 223 other than for satiating your curiosity and doing something considered difficult.
I use the mp 70gr molds, 18.5gr h4895. It's great for shooting ar500 steel at distances that would otherwise damage the steel, but a magazine in short order is way too smokey from lube, and the powder required to obtain accuracy and function in an AR gets the rifle extremely hot. 2 mags of steady fire gets the rifle hotter than nonstop bump fire mag dumps with H335.

Having said that, the accuracy was pretty good, and I still bring a mag or two with me if I feel like shooting AR500 steel at 25yds, or stinging the **** out of my eyes ;)


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[flyingmonkey35]

I'd be willing to bet it's because you're shooting them in the cold part of Utah. You'd probably better come down to the warm part of Utah for continued testing.
Make sure you bring extra boolits. ;)
Yea but it was at a indoor range. Soooo.

Ill have to plan atrip.

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[Harter66]

I was concerned initially about cast in ARs after some difficulty in an SKS . I have about 700 casual accuracy testing rounds through 1 in 6.8 with no suggestion of gas system congestion , in fact it is still slightly over gassed . The same applies to a 223/556 .
Even if it does ruin the gas tube , it takes like 20 mins and a gas tube is $10-15 unless you have some specialty tube .

Proficiency training is also a different situation than that of life and death or field service .

[JeffG]

question for you guys that got them to run in your ARs. Did you size to 224 or 225?

I'm sizing to .225 for my M&P.

[Lloyd Smale]

maybe you guys that had trouble with smoke and gas tube fowling should give coated bullets a try. It should cure those problems and allow full power or near full power loads. I cant comment on accuracy yet because I haven't done it but guys like smoke here have and had good results. Ive got 4 5.56 ars to try them in so I should get a pretty impartial result. Wont be doing it till the snow goes though and that will be a while up here.

[flyingmonkey35]

maybe you guys that had trouble with smoke and gas tube fowling should give coated bullets a try. It should cure those problems and allow full power or near full power loads. I cant comment on accuracy yet because I haven't done it but guys like smoke here have and had good results. Ive got 4 5.56 ars to try them in so I should get a pretty impartial result. Wont be doing it till the snow goes though and that will be a while up here.
Mine were powder coated. + some gas checked. Still smokey.

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[Jal5]

question for you guys that got them to run in your ARs. Did you size to 224 or 225?

Mine are sized 225 and using 2 coats of BLL for lube really were not smoky. These are just cast from range scrap plus tin and AC so not really hard either. I plan to try water quenched and some COWW this spring.

[Lloyd Smale]

wonder whats causing the smoke. Your load is stout enough to burn the powder. What causes smoke with cast bullets is the lube and your not using any. .
Mine were powder coated. + some gas checked. Still smokey.

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