.223 Scary full!!

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Texanreloader

Texanreloader

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Ok, I am a little nervous, Have done lots of pistol reloads, always did minimum loads for plinking at the range. I did my first rifle round (.223) today. Using Varget. loading 26 grs just a tad over minimum for a 55gr bullet. Measured it on my beam scale and my digital scale several times. The powder is just to the bottom of the neck. Is this normal? Thanks guys!
 
Texanreloader said:
Ok, I am a little nervous, Have done lots of pistol reloads, always did minimum loads for plinking at the range. I did my first rifle round (.223) today. Using Varget. loading 26 grs just a tad over minimum for a 55gr bullet. Measured it on my beam scale and my digital scale several times. The powder is just to the bottom of the neck. Is this normal? Thanks guys!
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100%!

well at least you won’t be double charging it.
 
Texanreloader said:
Ok, I am a little nervous, Have done lots of pistol reloads, always did minimum loads for plinking at the range. I did my first rifle round (.223) today. Using Varget. loading 26 grs just a tad over minimum for a 55gr bullet. Measured it on my beam scale and my digital scale several times. The powder is just to the bottom of the neck. Is this normal? Thanks guys!
Click to expand...
Yes. Load it. Shoot it. Be amazed.
55 Sierra, 25 Varget in my AR gets from 5/8 to 3/4" regularly.
 
Yes, rifle cases are pretty full of powder even with minimum charges. Varget is a good powder but it does not settle well due to the stick form of the powder.

As said, it is ok as you have charged the case. If you tap the case, it settle the powder a little.
 
Texanreloader said:
Ok, I am a little nervous, Have done lots of pistol reloads, always did minimum loads for plinking at the range. I did my first rifle round (.223) today. Using Varget. loading 26 grs just a tad over minimum for a 55gr bullet. Measured it on my beam scale and my digital scale several times. The powder is just to the bottom of the neck. Is this normal? Thanks guys!
Click to expand...
That how you want it. Not necessarily THAT full but pretty dang full. It does a few things that get you more consistent ammo. If you are weighing every charge it’s not a huge deal. 26 gr is 26 gr no matter how you weigh it, but if that 26gr is coming from a volumetric drop then the bulk eliminates error. Let’s just say you 26 gr takes up 1.3cc of room and your drop has a +/- 0.05cc error. Your still a lot more consistent than a small charge powder that takes up say .65cc because your charge is half but your margin of error is the same.

Another good thing about bulky powders is that they keep powder close to the primer no matter what. Small charge powders may be position sensitive which causes very inconsistent ignition which means inconsistent burn and generally a lot of inconsistent accuracy issues.

Last and certainly not least is what I call the flashlight test. I used to batch load by the multiple hundreds. It was no big deal to have 500 cases in factory ammo trays lined up across the bench. I looked in every case checking for no charge and double charges. Bulky powders like that overflow and you KNOW because you can’t even set a bullet on top to seat it.

And don’t be nervous. Rifle loading is very much like pistol loading. The basics are all the same. The biggest differences are that a lot of rifle powders are stick powders that don’t meter well, you have to be mindful of overall length, and with bottlenecks it’s a whole lot harder to get bullets out that got seated too deep.
 
Texanreloader said:
Ok, I am a little nervous, Have done lots of pistol reloads, always did minimum loads for plinking at the range. I did my first rifle round (.223) today. Using Varget. loading 26 grs just a tad over minimum for a 55gr bullet. Measured it on my beam scale and my digital scale several times. The powder is just to the bottom of the neck. Is this normal? Thanks guys!
Click to expand...

I remember when I first started loading M193 clones while using 26 grains of this and that, 4895, 748 (my pet load), Varget ... can't remember some of the others having settled-in on just a couple but yeah, it's right at the top of the shoulder, bottom of the neck, and you should be fine. I have seriously loaded 100,000 rounds or more of that using CCI 41s and Wolf Magnum Small Rifle Primers (both very hot primers) and I've never had pressure signs or ejector marks or anything out of the ordinary. Always chrono right around 3100 fps, decent accuracy .... go for it, don't sweat it.

Just remember to always wear safety glasses at the range ... and good hearing protection and, if you're really worried about it, until you shoot it and are comfortable with it, wear shooting gloves.

You'll be fine. Welcome to the club.

BTW, which projectile are you using? Speer 1044s, Berry's, Armscorp, Hornady ... FMJBTs or Spitzers SPs? Most FMJ BTs, and I've used them all, they barely touch 26 grains and they definitely do not crunch. SP Spitzers sit nicely right on top without crunching ... both of them are exactly what you want.

Good luck! Take great pride in your reloads! :)
 
Texanreloader said:
Ok, I am a little nervous, Have done lots of pistol reloads, always did minimum loads for plinking at the range. I did my first rifle round (.223) today. Using Varget. loading 26 grs just a tad over minimum for a 55gr bullet. Measured it on my beam scale and my digital scale several times. The powder is just to the bottom of the neck. Is this normal? Thanks guys!
Click to expand...

Hey, quick question. From where are you pulling that data? Which manual? And again, bullet design is going to mean something to most of us when choosing a load.
 
Some manuals have information on loading density and compressed loads. There is also some good stuff on the internet. My favorite IMR 4831 loads, for 30/06 , filled the neck half way and powder was compressed. Same with some 4350 loads in the 7x57 and 257 Roberts. Not problem with some powders. I believe Nosler even shows the loading density in their manuals.
 
Blue68f100 said:
What brass mfg are you using? LC (mil) brass can have less volume than commercial. It may require a lesser powder charge. Mil brass also have crimped primers to deal with. Most require trimming too.
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Range brass. I like free. No crimps, but do trim.
 
I use a funnel to charge my brass. If you pour it near the top of the funnel it will swirl around as it goes in. This helps to pack the sticks without having to get a drop tube. I have used this method for years. As said 100% load density is a good thing. With my 22 Hornet I scoop a case full of Lil Gun, card off the top, and seat the bullet. Most accurate load I have found for 35 and 40 grain Hornet bullets so far.
 
Blue68f100 said:
There are some difference depending on year and mfg. I've seen over 3-4 gr on several occasions.
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I believe it. From what I have read though, it isn't necessary to reduce your powder charge with Lake City 5.56 the way it is typically recommended to with 7.62. I mostly load Varget into my 5.56 cases with 55 grain bullets and I don't think I can stuff enough of it in the case to go overpressure anyways-like 29.6 grains when filled to the top with a drop tube and leaving zero room for a seated bullet. Max is 27.5 gr at 49,700 CUP per hodgdon and that's compressed.
 
FEIW I decrimp all 5.56/223 brass I pick up from the range. I’ve seen too many 223 cases with a crimp whether they need it or not. I actually like some of my pistol powders now because of the case fill. If I accidentally double charged it would spill or I’d have a hard time even getting a bullet in there. Double charging 3 grains of 9mm is less disturbing than double charging 25 grains of 223, but equally catastrophic.
 
Most loads tend to do that...

IMR 4064 is memorable for me (started out on that powder in .308 Winchester) in how it makes that "crunchy" sound when seating HPBTs.
 
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