Anyone use Pistol Powders for AR-15 Pistols?

[tabealer]

Has anyone looked into / knows about using pistol powders in AR-15 Pistols (.223/5.56)?

I was just looking at the ballistics (velocity/trajectory) and some pictures of the muzzle flash associated with these. I thought, there has to be a better way. The FN 57 uses a small (30 gr. more/less) .224 bullet and a relatively large case (roughly 1/2 the case capacity of a .223/5.56). Velocity around 2400 fps out of a 10" barrel (Wiki #s).

I am a noob reloader and probably don't understand the issues involved with the pressure curve and enough powder in the case for complete burn/consistent ignition....

And before anyone jumps to any conclusions, I have not yet acquired an AR pistol but it is on my to do list. And no, If it was possible, I don't think I would do it because I might mix it up and send it through a rifle instead which by my thinking would be a KaBoom instead of a bang.

 

[Randy1911]

All I can say is, if it is not in a well known published reloading manual, I would not try it. Pistol powders have a much faster burn rate than rifle powders.

EDIT: I just checked all of my reloading manuals and could not find any pistol powders listed for 223 Rem.

 

[Walkalong]

It's been done, but is not really for beginners. Some tout Blue Dot for it. I have used 700X, and Trail Boss is being used to download rifle calibers these days.

You could get in to trouble with pistol powders in .223 quick, fast, and in a hurry.

 

[ants]

Will it cycle an AR pistol? I kinda doubt it. If you find a published load, try it.

I only got one pistol powder load to cycle a 20" AR15 rifle reliably. It was the max load of 2400 with 55fmj formerly published by Alliant. They took it off the books, probably because too many people complained that it would not cycle a semiauto. I could never get that load to cycle a 16" carbine.

The issue is not velocity. It's serviceability.

 

[rcmodel]

All of the AR-15 pistols have gas ports tuned to work with full power rifle ammo.

Fast pistol powder would anly over-stress the action due to the different pressure curve in the barrel.

At any rate, whatever rifle powder gives the best velocity in a rifle, will also give the best velocity in a pistol.

rc

 

[tabealer]

Thanks for the responses. I knew there was probably a good reason for it.