DPMS AR15 first range trip

[Jal5]

Purchased this basic AR in 223/556 right after Election day. Today was my first range trip. Using Ultramax 55 g j-words I had it zeroed in at 50 yds in no time. Vortex Strikefire worked fine. At100 yds my groups open up but I need more practice. In all it was a lot of fun. Now I need to get my reloads worked up.

[MtGun44]

ARs are generally very accurate rifles. Stock triggers can be pretty bad, but
there are lots of good aftermarket upgrade triggers.

Bill

[Love Life]

I'm glad you had fun. The AR is an outstanding platform. Especially in 5.56. Very low recoil, fast to get on target, and keep on target, accurate, and just plain fun. What powder are you planning to use? Mine likes Benchmark and BLC-2.

I have the M4 carbine version and it will hold on a human shaped target out to 500 yards all day long if I do my part. Just plain old fun!

[EMC45]

I like Varget and IMR 4895 in the AR.

[Tazman1602]

Another vote for Varget with heavier bullets! Love my AR's!.....and my Mini's, and my Marlins....and my Rossi.....it just never ends....

Art

[xacex]

My bolt actions, and lever gun have been getting dusty lately. I got the AR bug a while ago, and been playing around with some fun calibers like 300 AAC Blackout, and 50 beowulf. Glad you joined the madness before it is to late. Now start collecting gobs of high capacity magazines, and once fired lake city brass for your bench.

[Jal5]

Not sure what powder I will use and powder is scarce on the shelves around here right now, lots of election day buying I guess. I have Re7 and h4350 in rifle powders and Unique, Bullseye, and 2400 in pistol powders. The jacketed bullets are Sierra 55gr varmint type. Joe

[EDK]

Look up Jeff Bartlett(somewhere in Ohio) and buy some inexpensive surplus powder. HIGH TECH is about 20 miles from me in Saint Looie and I need to buy more components for my ARs and M1As. I buy the cheapest J words I can find for the .223.

[Jal5]

Bartlett is in Kentucky, I will probably order at least the jacketed bullets from him. With the hazmat fee added in for surplus powder that gets expensive unless I can find a couple of guys from my club to join in the purchase. Joe

[Nok Doc]

The AR is a great platform! I own 4 and shoot them all frequently, All of them like the Varget and BL-C(2) powder as long as I'm loading a 60gr or heavier bullet. The 2 Colts are Match,My oldest is a Nato 5.56 and a 1/7 twist wich needs at least a 60 gr. bullet or the boolit comes appart before it reaches the 100 yd destination. I have done alot of reading on the reloading for the different twist rates since then...23 years past and now my daughters are shooting and having a good time shooting...It's a family thing! Keep your powder dry

[Jal5]

No .223 ammo or jword bullets to be found anywhere right now!
I think I will buy a mold and start down that road, although I have ready many posts and lots of opinions about lead boolits and the AR platform.
Joe

[Gunnut 45/454]

Jal5
Even if you start down the Boolit path your going to need different powders! I use IMR4895 for my cast load- 55 gr Lyman GC. With 18.7 gr you should get full fuction in your AR. I have been working with higher loads but I'm down to 21 gr in that work up as accuracy has gone to heck past 2100 fps. Exceptable for 50 yard work but what's the point if you can't hit anything past 100 yards!
Now the 18.7gr load -man sized target out past 200 yards -no problem! Heck yote at that range -done deal!

[Jal5]

I have some H335 , that should be somewhat comparable to H4895 which I have seen recipes for this size lead boolit in AR platform too.

[kweidner]

h335 and varget is all I use. tried 8208xbr but keep going back to what has worked for decades. Only reason I use Varget at all is for it's temp stability.

[Jal5]

What mold should I be looking for with this 1:9 twist rifle? chamber is .223 and Nato sized. Joe

[Jailer]

What mold should I be looking for with this 1:9 twist rifle? chamber is .223 and Nato sized. Joe

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?178427-Third-Run-for-MiHec-22-Nato-brass-four-cavity-solid

[Jal5]

How would that compare to the NOE
NATO mold ?

[runfiverun]

they'll be quite similar.
we are working on a duplex type mold, slanted to the quicker twist barells in the regular mold section too.

[Screwbolts]

I have both The Mihec Nato mold and the NOE 225-55 gr. they both work well in the 5.56 chamber. I am starting to like the Mihec Nato boolit better in the 5.56 because it was designed for the 223 neck lenght, and 5.56 chamber. The only way you can seat the NOE without exposing a grease grove above the neck is by pushing the check below the neck inside the case. I prefer the NOE for my 222.

I have 2, 16" DPMS uppers 1x9s that shoot either boolit equally well. I also have a 20" 1x12 upper that seems to like the Nato better. I just seat the Nato to just cover the grease grove, that leaves the check in the neck of the case.

I load 21.5 gr of WC844, this is supposed to be very similar to your H335. it cycles the actions perfectly and and shoots clean. (Both Kill coyotes dead, longest shot to date 235 yards w/ NOE) 21.5gr is 2375 FPS out of 16" and 2550 PFS out of 20" my tubes. I have pushed the NOE out of 16 barrels at 2850 FPS with Re15, no leading with either LBT blue, or current Speed Green. I size both to .225, gator Checks from Blammmer. I load 21.5 gr because that allows me to get 2500+ loads out of every 8 pounder.

My Family has also shot several K of the NOE boolits threw DPMS Oracle uppers.

I believe "AltHeating's" Armalite Rifle is a 1x8 and it loves the NOE 225-55. I thinks he is now the owner of 3 NOE 225-55 molds Check the group by discusion area for that info.

Al just ran a run of the molds and as of the AM there were 2, 5 cavities still left. I wish My Mihec was 5 or better yet 6 like my 47gr BRP Hornet Mold.

I recommends 5 cavities, the mold stays hot like a dream and drops perfect Boolitz using straight COWWs.

[Jal5]

Thanks for all the details screwbolts, that really helped. Joe

[Jal5]

Screwbolts you used the 22 Gator checks from Blammer on the NOE mold? I thought that the max. shank size for the gator checks is 0.214 per the order page, but the NOE 225-55 mold dimension at the shank is larger, 0.225 according to the drawing
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?119293-225-55Gr-FN-(MX3-22)&highlight=NOE+225-55
Joe

[Screwbolts]

Screwbolts you used the 22 Gator checks from Blammer on the NOE mold? I thought that the max. shank size for the gator checks is 0.214 per the order page, but the NOE 225-55 mold dimension at the shank is larger, 0.225 according to the drawingHi Jal5, that is not the boolit I use or have and unfortunately the shank diameter is not listed on the drawing you referenced
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?119293-225-55Gr-FN-(MX3-22)&highlight=NOE+225-55

Joe



This Boolit: http://noebulletmolds.com/orders/catalog/index.php?cPath=24&osCsid=dpb76str0viba5f54trv80a560

there are some 3 and 4 cavity left

[Screwbolts]

The boolit you linked to is of the Late, Don Eagon,(spelling) design. the one I have is the IMHO improved RCBS clone NOE 22-055 FN



Here is a post to the original Mihec Nato buy thread, it links to the original discussion thread. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?144981-MiHec-22-Nato-brass-four-cavity-solid

[Jal5]

I somehow got the two mixed up.
The one I ordered yesterday is the link you just mentioned:
NOE 225 55gr FN GC 4 cav based on the RCBS 22-055 FN mold

Is that the one you have and do the checks for 22 by Blammer work ok with them?
Joe

[Jailer]

Screwbolts you used the 22 Gator checks from Blammer on the NOE mold? I thought that the max. shank size for the gator checks is 0.214 per the order page, but the NOE 225-55 mold dimension at the shank is larger, 0.225 according to the drawing
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?119293-225-55Gr-FN-(MX3-22)&highlight=NOE+225-55
Joe

That dimension, .225, is the rear driving band diameter not the gas check shank diameter.

[Screwbolts]

Gator checks work perfectly on both the Nato and NOE, and My Treasured BRP 225-46 hornet boolit. they go on with an ever so slight snap and stay put while the go to the lube sizer.

In the past before I used Gators I had to anneal the Hornadys to get them to go on. I now only buy Gators from Blammer.

Ken

[Jal5]

Great thanks for all your help.
Joe

[Jal5]

Ordered some of Blammers checks today and got the NOE mold in the mail. It really is a work of art! Cannot wait to try it out. Joe

[rockrat]

My AR likes 2015br and I am planning on trying Ramshot TAC (works great in my 223 bolt guns)

[Del-Ray]

Tac works great. I use it with my mk262 clones.

77gr Sierra MK, with crimp groove. And a bunch of primed LC cases I bought from Grafs. Crimped in sealed primers, with the sealant in the neck. Awesome loads out of my Bravo Company 14.5" midlength upper.

Grad my OCD causes me to buy them before the election. I figured there's a lot of stupid people in America, and I was proven right.

[Screwbolts]

Tac and cast in the Armalite Rifles are a match made in heaven! Several friends and brothers Load 21.5 of Tac with my Boolitz. Just shy of 2400 FPS out of 16" barrels.

Tac also ignites perfect with Wolf Primers.

This is with the NOE 225-55 FN. or the Mihec Nato.