223 55 Grain Loads

[Delaware Ken]

I'm planning on loading up some 55 Gr 223 loads for a 16" barrel, 1 in 9 twist. I've been looking at the Sierra SPT or the SBT bullets. The reason I'm going with the 55 Gr is because I've got a Leupold Mark AR 3X9 Scope headed this way which is calibrated for 55 Grain 223/5.56 NATO loads.

Anybody have a load that they have worked up which would at least give me a good place to start that would be compatable with the scope? I have the Lyman and Sierra Relaoding manuals, but a lot of times first hand info works out better than the manuals.

Any help would be very much appreciated, Ken

 

[shootinxd]

Welcome to the forum Ken,I have beenusing 24.5 grn of accurate 2230,clean andfast.

 

[JimKirk]

I'm shooting 55 gr Sierra's out of a 16" DPMS Sweet Sixteen with 23.4 grains of Reloder 10X for a velocity of 2860 FPS. These are not real fast, but with the 16" barrel takes a good hit on velocity. Factory 55 gr loads averaged only 30 FPS more when I shot both loads over the chronograph, so I'm not loosing too much compared to factory rounds.

Jimmy K

 

[Randy1911]

Here is a link that shows commercially loadabe military loads. You might try loading one of these.

http://www.frfrogspad.com/miscellq.htm#duplicate

 

[steve4102]

I like ball powders, easy to meter. AA 2230, Tac and X-Terminator are my favorites.

 

[SSN Vet]

25 gr. of H335 is a trusted old favorite for many

I load it with good results...

can't go wrong with it.

 

[JonB]

25gr H335 here too. 16" 1 in 9 twist, RRA AR-15

 

[Runningman]

Another vote for 25.0 H335 with a 55 grain bullet.

 

[rjbishop]

24.2 gr of H4895 is a very accurate load in my 16" Colt.

 

[X-Rap]

That 335 must push a lot of those 55gr. pills, its my favorite.

 

[Delaware Ken]

Thanks for the help. Looks like 25 grain H335 will be a good place to start.

Ken

 

[ole farmerbuck]

I agree with JimKirk on the rl10x. Very accurate. When and if i ever run out of H335, i'll start using my 10x

 

[Damon555]

Don't start with that load....In my opinion you should start at least 1 grain lower and work up to 25 in your rifle. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that load but it could be a whole different ball game in his rifle.

Just load 5 @ 24....5 @ 24.5 and 5 @ 25 and make sure there is no sign of pressure.

 

[X-Rap]

Good point and we shouldn't take it for granted that loaders will always start under a suggested load and work up.
That is a max load in some books so definitely drop down some to start, Damons suggestion is good.

 

[cheygriz]

I've had my very best luck with 26.0 gr H335, (which was formulated for the 5.56 originally) and accurate 23-23.5 gr. of 2230. Don't start with those loads, work up to them!

But BL-C 2, and most of the MilSurp powders in the same burning range work very well also.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

I've had my very best luck with 26.0 gr H335, (which was formulated for the 5.56 originally) and accurate 23-23.5 gr. of 2230. Don't start with those loads, work up to them!

But BL-C 2, and most of the MilSurp powders in the same burning range work very well also.

Yep, that BL-C2 at 28.5gr in my Savage is a p-dog getter!

 

[DIM]

Try 26.1 gr of Varget and 55 gr VMax loaded .005 of the lands, in my Rem SPS it keeps 0.2" 5 shot group

 

[Skip_a_roo]

Varget is a great powder for the 223, no doubt about it. When I load on my XL650 though, maximum charges tend to "slosh" out of the case if I'm not paying attention. I went to BL-C(2) because it meters well and gives the next best velocity and is available locally. I am down around 26gr though.

FWIW

 

[DIM]

Last week I tried 26.5 grains of H335, wasn't bad same 0.2" groups but it really shortens brass life, so I tried to lower my load to 25.3 gr as the result my groups open up to 0.42"

 

[HOWARD J]

I had good shooting with 23 gr. of H322
At $26 per #--I never used it again.
I stick with H335

 

[DBR]

335 is an excellent powder but temperature sensitive. Loads developed when the weather is cool can be a bit hot when the temperature goes up. Same holds true for ammo left in a hot chamber or in the sun or in the car.

I like 322 for <=60gr and TAC for >60gr. Neither of these powders are very temp sensitive. Where I live temps can be anywhere from -10* to 100* so this characteristic matters to me. YMMV