? H335 experience

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redclay

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I have been loading for several years but new to the 5.56. I have loaded H4895 and Varget with great results. Having become upset with extruded powder and its problem throwing a charge, thought I would use a ball powder. I started my loads with 23 grs H335, 5rounds in .5 grains increments. Flat primers at 23 at 23.5 primers starting to flow into anulus ring.
LC brass, CCI SR primers, Hornady 55 grn SP, C.O.A.L. 2.250 - DPMS 16in.
I had similar problems last year with CFE 223 in the .308 but no problems in 5.56 with CFE.
Anybody had similar problems with H335 and can help?
 
I haven't had that experience. My 55g load w/ H335 is 24.5 at 2.24" OAL.

Hodgdon load data for a Speer 55g SP is 23.0 to 25.3g with 2.20" OAL.

Maybe try a shorter OAL? Can you create to much pressure by being too close to the lands? Don't know for sure just asking.
 
I also load 23.5 grs of H335 for my AR with winchester SRP and have no trouble. I switched to H335 due to being able to use it in my auto disc without using that double disc kit (which i might add was junk).
 
I'm shooting a 16" Rock River. My load is a Hornady bulk 55 grain FMJBT with 24.7 grains of H-335 with an OAL of 2.25. Very clean and accurate.
 
I've loaded eleventy-zillion rounds of .223 using 25gr of H335 and 55 gr bullets. Never had any flattened primers or primer flow.
 
I've had no issues either (admittedly after only about 500 rounds using H335 - 23.5 grains/55 gr. spbt), but I'm using Remington brass, with the factory load and up to four handloads through them so far because I'm testing casing lifespan. Only problem to date is one split shoulder.
 
No problems in a few AR's with 25 grains of H335 in LC, WCC, RP, or Win brass shooting either Hornady 55 FMJ's or Spire Points. I've used both RP 7 1/2 and CCI 41 primers. Even though your overall length with the 55 SP is long it should cause no pressure problems in an AR. Hornady recommends 2.200" with the 55 SP and I seat them at 2.215" or as close as I can get. A common charge used by a lot of loaders is from 24.5-25 grains of H335 with various 55 grain bullets????
 
I'm with ZXD9. You really need to find out how close you're seating the bullets to the start of the rifling as that could explain a lot. The Hornady manual max of 23.5 gr. H335 seems a very valid recommendation.
I've went beyond that in a Rem. 700 VSSF 223 (and don't recommend it), but it has a long throat, and that covers for a multitude of sins.
 
Maybe you have a fast lot of powder or a batch of soft primers. I'd load 'em a little lighter and see how your rifle likes them. I use the same bullet over 24.0 gr, FWIW. I've never seen the need to go higher. Same load in LC or commercial brass.
 
redclay said:
I have been loading for several years but new to the 5.56. I have loaded H4895 and Varget with great results. Having become upset with extruded powder and its problem throwing a charge, thought I would use a ball powder. I started my loads with 23 grs H335, 5rounds in .5 grains increments. Flat primers at 23 at 23.5 primers starting to flow into anulus ring.
LC brass, CCI SR primers, Hornady 55 grn SP, C.O.A.L. 2.250 - DPMS 16in.
I had similar problems last year with CFE 223 in the .308 but no problems in 5.56 with CFE.
Anybody had similar problems with H335 and can help?
Click to expand...
That charge is in no way too high so something else is raising the pressures. I charge 25.0gr H335 under a 55gr bullet without problems. Check your rifle and try to find the reason the pressures are rising. (just guessing since I can't see the brass or the rifle)

OR, since you said you had the same problem last year with your 308, is it possible your scale is not weighing the charges correctly and you are really throwing more powder than you think?
 
I've been loading 24.8 gr. H335 behind the Win. bulk 55 gr. FMJ for several years now.

Shoots great.

I use the double stacked Auto-Disk and check weigh one every 20 rounds loaded, and am always within .1 gr, so no problems with the double disk set up here..... just make sure you always put the smaller of the two disks on top.

I'm using WSR primers with no troubles.
 
I now load most of my 223 with 25.5 gr H335 with 50-55 gr bullets with no issues. I would look at my scale for starters.
 
Thanks guys, I think I will invest in some certified test weights. My RCBS scale is old but what is there to wear out on a balance beam scale?
 
I've loaded eleventy-zillion rounds of .223 using 25gr of H335 and 55 gr bullets. Never had any flattened primers or primer flow.
Click to expand...

+1
I agree. Tons of ammo loaded and no issues with H335.
 
Try CCI 450 or CCI 41 primers. Calhoun's website shows the CCI 400s are a bit thinner than 400s. 41s are intended for 5.56mm are presumably are even harder/thicker.

Have you checked velocities? At 25.5 gr of H335 with 55 gr FMJBTs, I'm still significantly slower than Lake City M193. I've had no primer issues. I believe I can go higher especially considering the loads I see for WC844 in M193.
 
evan price said:
The most basic generic AR load is a 55 grain bullet and 25.0 grains of H335 in Lake City Brass with a CCI military SR primer. I use the Wolf 5.56 primers. iirc it's the military load but they use WC844 which is basically H335 with an antiflash added.
Click to expand...

Very true, and the commercial loading books stop at around 25 gr of H335 but with wildly varying velocity predictions for a given charge. The mil data sheets show several grains more of WC844 which I understand to be a military version of H335, but militarized and in non-canister lots. Not sure why there's a discrepancy between commercial and military data, but I could guess.... Still, it's quite clear there's a velocity difference. It's significant enough that I can detect a recoil difference as well.
 
CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

I started handloading 12 years ago with .223 55 gr and 4895.
I used published loads.
Later I found out that I could not squeeze much more 4895 in the case, so the load did not matter.

I loaded some H335 ammo and went to the 200 yard range.

The H335 group was inches above the 4895 group.
Obviously a big difference in velocity.

But there IS extra room in the case.
If I keep adding more and more H335 to the case, the primer will fall out.

What does it all mean?
Measuring the powder charge with H335 is important.
It has the speed-density product to wreck brass when overloaded.
 
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