.223 and Win 748

[wcwhitey]

I have a question for anyone who uses Win 748 for their .223/5.56 loads. I currently use 26.2 grains for 55 FMJBT and 26.0 grains for 52 Sierra HP Match. Brass is either LC or Winchester and primers are either Winchester SR or Remington 6 1/2. How much can I reduce the loading and still have reliable function in an AR? The match load is dead on and I have no intention of messing with a good thing but the 55 FMJBT is just a economy/plinking load so the more from a pound I can get the better. As always, thanks in advance. Bill

P.S. the guns are a Bushy A1 and DPMS Sweet Sixteen.

 

[NuJudge]

I shoot 26.5 gr 748 and Sierra 52SMK's, and occasionally my bolt does not lock back after the last round. If you are shooting 26.0, you are already using less than I can get away with.

CDD

 

[dodge]

I use 27 grs with a Sierra 53 gr HP match and it works real well in my AR. Locks back everytime at the end of the magazine. In my Remington 700 VLS I use the same load but with a Hornady 50 gr. V-Max.

 

[Galil5.56]

Used 27 grains and a 55 FMJBT to mimic a M193 loading in an IMI Galil ARM. Perfect functioning (what's new ), very accurate, and very vigorous ejection... Empty cases fly almost as far as the bullet.

Gotta love WW748 in the .223, it's classic!

 

[GooseGestapo]

A better option to reduce costs would be to change to one of the military surplus powders such as WC-846.

Instead of $20/lb in 1lb containers, you can get it for ~$8lb if you buy in bulk.

www.gibrass.com
www.patsreloading.com

 

[Johnny B]

My target load for my AR is 25.1 grains of 748 behind a 55 grain FMJ bullet with a Winchester primer. The accuracy at 100 yards is quite impressive; I have shot 1" groups ("group", I should say; it happened all of once) at that distance with iron sights. I started out about 24.2 grains because it was the first load I had tried in .223. That load cycled the action just fine but was very sooty, so I upped the charge and it burns very clean.

 

[paperpuncher49]

I have gone as low as 24.2 gr 748 with any number of manufacturers 55 gr FMJ and Speer 55 gr SPs. Occasionally my bolt does not lock back after the last round, but that doesn't bother me since I am plinking, not defending my life or those around me. My AR cycles reliably. At 25.2 gr it always locks back after the last round, but it has a tendency to sling the empties much further. Since I shoot in a cut through the woods in my back yard, this results in a lot more lost brass if I don't take steps (hang a sheet or put a large box facing the ejection port) to capture the empties. But what relaibly functions in one AR may not in another. Best to load maybe 6 rounds (2 groups of 3) at lower and lower charges until you find what your AR can digest without burping.

 

[rg1]

One of my plinking loads was 26.4 grains of Win748 with 55fmj bullets. Reliable in all AR's and easy on brass. You say you're using RP 6 1/2 primers? They are really not recommended for high pressure 22 caliber loads. RP 7 1/2 is recommended as they have a thicker cup and will withstand higher pressures. Just what I've read anyway. 25.9 grains of 748 is totally reliable in my AR's with 55fmj but velocity is down to approx. 2800 fps in a 20" barrel.

 

[CZ57]

748 is hard to beat, but if you haven't tried it, X-terminator will give you some very good loads, as well.

 

[wcwhitey]

RG1, the .020 cup of the 6 1/2 is the same as CCI 400 and thicker than the Federal (.019). You are correct in that standard primers in small rifle are probably not the best choices for higher end loadings which I try to stay away from. My numbers may be off but the standard primers are said to be good to 56,000 PSI above what .223 generates in these loadings.

CZ57, I have seen the Ramshot powders for a while, I am attracted to them because of the $12 per pound price. I have not been able to find any real data for them, I would love to give them a try with some solid recipes. I think that cheap plinking ammo is gone for a while. Have to give cheap alternatives a chance, I am sure I can do better than Russian ammo for cheaper.

http://www.jamescalhoon.com/primers_and_pressure.php

 

[strat81]

Ramshot Load Data:
http://www.ramshot.com/powders/

I've heard that Ramshot TAC is another good one for .223.