reloading 223-AR15

[siamese4570]

I'm helping a friend get started reloading. He has an AR-15. I've reloaded all sorts of pistol and rifle ammunition, just never for an AR. What's the best powder to use as far as clean burning, good velocity, easy to meter. We trying to stay with a ball powder so it's easy to meter. Will be using 55 gr "J" boolits.

Siamese4570

[StarMetal]

I'm helping a friend get started reloading. He has an AR-15. I've reloaded all sorts of pistol and rifle ammunition, just never for an AR. What's the best powder to use as far as clean burning, good velocity, easy to meter. We trying to stay with a ball powder so it's easy to meter. Will be using 55 gr "J" boolits.

Siamese4570

Well, if it's ball powder I'd say WW748 and H335....and if you can find it surplus 844.

[coyotebait]

I get good velocity and accuracy and function with Ramshot TAC in my AR. It is my go to powder for fmj loads.

coyotebait

[Larry Gibson]

H335 or AA2230 for readily available factory powders. Both provide excellent accuracy (given the capability of the bullet). Suggest starting at 24 gr and work up to 26 gr with each stopping when things look good without pressure signs. If you've a chronograph then a velocity of 3100 - 3150 fps can be expected from a 20" AR with either powder and a 55 gr bullet. That duplicates M193 specs. I also suggest a magnum SR primer or one made for ball powders, WSRs work very well.

Larry Gibson

[jmsj]

I have been using Winchester 748 in my 3- .223 rifles. Two of them are Mini-14's, one has a 18.5" barrel and the other is 16.25" it works really well. The other is a Savage rifle w/ a 20" barrel and it is scary accurate. The Savage rifle and one of the mini-14's (custom barrel) will shoot under 1/2 moa using 748, cci small rifle magnum primer and a remington 55gr PLHP.
jmsj

[j20owner]

TAC. and my message is too short

[Frozone]

I use RamShot TAC. But AA 2230 is good too.

[Firebricker]

What about BL-C (2) in an AR thats what I was using in my mini 14 and was going to try that powder when I get my AR together. Anybody here use it ? FB

[RKJ]

I'm using BLC-2 and it does pretty good. I'm using iron sights and haven't rung it out and found the "perfect" load yet but I like it.

[zomby woof]

Go to AA2460 and never look back!!!

[dk17hmr]

I use 24.5gr of TAC in my ar15, my dad uses 25.0gr h335 in his.

I have used 23.0gr of H322 in 223 with pretty good results but TAC metered better through my Hornady powder measure.

[j20owner]

I have used [snip] H322 in 223 with pretty good results but TAC metered better through my Hornady powder measure.

This is the same for me.

[NickSS]

I have shot up something like 50 pounds of H 335 and another 64 pounds of AA 2330 in my ARs and bolt action 223s Mostly shoot 55 gr bullets with 25 to 26 gr of the stuff. Works well for me (just bought another 32 pounds of 2330 but have not shot any ov it yeat.)

[Reverend Recoil]

In service rifle competition for 75-80 gr bullets, Reloader No. 15 is first and Varget powder is second. I have used both. Either will clean the target at 200, 300, and 600 yads.

[PDshooter]

H335..........:lovebooli

[redneckdan]

a lot of commercial loaders for 'blasting ammo' use surplus 55gr FMJs and Winchester 748, H335, etc...

[school of mines]

I have had good results with WIN 748 and 55 gr FMJs in my Bushmaster AR.

[Moonie]

I've been using h4895 with 55gr fmj. As soon as my bator comes in it's time to try Unique and or attempt to PP the little things and again use the h4895.

I also load for 30-06 and 8x57 with this powder as it covers all 3.

[mj2evans]

TAC meters great and works well will 55/62g and decent in 75g match bullets too (cheap too). RL15 has worked best in heavy bullet loads for me. Don't forget you need a thick primer cup in 223 AR runs, Wolf SRM has worked well (although I think they have a primer that call the AR15 223 primer now).

[bruce drake]

I've been using h4895 with 55gr fmj. As soon as my bator comes in it's time to try Unique and or attempt to PP the little things and again use the h4895.

I also load for 30-06 and 8x57 with this powder as it covers all 3.

Sir,

You Sir, are a braver man than I when it comes to Paper-Patching Boolits. I'd be curious how you could even wrap the tiny little things.

Bruce

[mike in co]

there might be a reason accurates powder is called 2230

and 2460 and 2520

[Moonie]

Sir,

You Sir, are a braver man than I when it comes to Paper-Patching Boolits. I'd be curious how you could even wrap the tiny little things.

Bruce

Nothing ventured nothing gained. I would have to prove to myself that I couldn't do it, I do have boys with younger eyesight and fingers than I however. :lol:

[MtGun44]

Please make sure that your friend trims his brass. I have personally witnessed three .223s
blown up by too long case length.

Bill

[beemer]

I like to set up the sizer for an AR using a case length headspace guage, they are cheep and save a lot of feeding problems.

Dave

[GabbyM]

Please make sure that your friend trims his brass. I have personally witnessed three .223s
blown up by too long case length.

Bill

Does not surprise me much. When you re-size mil surplus brass which has been blown way out in oversized chambers. Which is mostly all of it. Cases end up way long. This was such a chore with my little Lyman case trimmer I bought a trim die so I could use a 2nd cut mill file 12 inch long to knock off the bulk of the neck. With no trim re-sized mil surplus brass would definitely be jamming into the throat. Plus with a self loader you'd not feel it since the spring closes your bolt.

[Larry Gibson]

Does not surprise me much. When you re-size mil surplus brass which has been blown way out in oversized chambers. Which is mostly all of it. Cases end up way long. This was such a chore with my little Lyman case trimmer I bought a trim die so I could use a 2nd cut mill file 12 inch long to knock off the bulk of the neck. With no trim re-sized mil surplus brass would definitely be jamming into the throat. Plus with a self loader you'd not feel it since the spring closes your bolt.

A standard base RCBS X-Die solves the case lengthening problem due to FL sizing and you no longer have to trim. Best FL die going for gas guns.

Larry Gibson

[StarMetal]

I like to set up the sizer for an AR using a case length headspace guage, they are cheep and save a lot of feeding problems.

Dave

Dave,

That's a damn good thing. It does save a lot of headaches before the ammo even gets to the rifle.