5thSFGroup
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Do you think that I should just go back to recommended loads for the H335? What about continuing to use the H335 on a 75 grain bullet?
H335 Powder and .223
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rcmodel
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Yes I do, although a slower powder like Varget might be a better choice with heavy bullets.
Hodgdon lists H335 powder with bullets all the way up to 80 grain Serra Match Kings, although the pressure window is only 2.5 grains from Starting to Max loads.
20.0 grains = 39,700 CUP.
22.5 grains = 50,000 CUP.
For 75 grain VLD bullets, they show Start = 21.0.
Max = 23.0.
I still think whatever happened was a loading error of some kind.
Over-charge for some reason?
Or seating too deep, reducing case capacity?
Or seating too long with the bullet jammed into the rifling?
Or defective brass?
Or an AR-15 with a short throat .223 match chamber instead of a 5.56 NATO chamber?
rc
Hodgdon lists H335 powder with bullets all the way up to 80 grain Serra Match Kings, although the pressure window is only 2.5 grains from Starting to Max loads.
20.0 grains = 39,700 CUP.
22.5 grains = 50,000 CUP.
For 75 grain VLD bullets, they show Start = 21.0.
Max = 23.0.
I still think whatever happened was a loading error of some kind.
Over-charge for some reason?
Or seating too deep, reducing case capacity?
Or seating too long with the bullet jammed into the rifling?
Or defective brass?
Or an AR-15 with a short throat .223 match chamber instead of a 5.56 NATO chamber?
rc
handloader357
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Just a thought, but are you sure the bad rounds actually had 60 gr bullets seated on them?
Tim the student
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I'd be interested in hearing what it turns out to be. OP, please keep us updated.
5thSFGroup
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I am positive that the bullets were 60 grain. I do have a tight barrel...1 in 7. The more I think about what rc has stated, the more I believe there was a bridge powder problem. I loaded these on a friends RCBS powder dispenser and his is very well used and fairly old...lots of miles on it.
Yesterday, I loaded a few at home, using a brand new RCBS dispenser....standard load per Lyman and the rifle did fine. I did notice the brief window on the H335 powder between starting and max load....very accurate rifle but definitely a tight barrel.
Thanks again to all for the info.
Yesterday, I loaded a few at home, using a brand new RCBS dispenser....standard load per Lyman and the rifle did fine. I did notice the brief window on the H335 powder between starting and max load....very accurate rifle but definitely a tight barrel.
Thanks again to all for the info.
ReloaderEd
Member
Outside temperature can play a factor which I had happen with a 243 winchester, norma brass new and a hot day of about 98 degrees. I fired the load in cooler weather, had good groups and no pressure signs. We to a fun bench rest shoot and worked up the same load in the norma brass. Everything seemed ok then I looked at a few fired cases on the bench, primer pockets were larger than normal with the primers laying out on the bench. .4" group at 100 yds too, came in 14th place.
You definitely have a hot batch of powder. It happens with hogden. I have used H335 and it seems to get hotter with age. It is the only powder that I had reloaded with that has been associated with split case necks in annealed cases. go figure
Settle on a good powder and stick with it. blowing primers is dangerous to you,
You definitely have a hot batch of powder. It happens with hogden. I have used H335 and it seems to get hotter with age. It is the only powder that I had reloaded with that has been associated with split case necks in annealed cases. go figure
Settle on a good powder and stick with it. blowing primers is dangerous to you,
5thSFGroup
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H335
That was great information. I was using powder that my friend had stored outside. The day we used it, it was 99. I keep my powder in a cool environment and in a moisture controlled invironment...the problem load was not from that environment.
What powder do you rec for .223. The two lbs of powder I have left were stored in a shop and are now at my house and stored in A/C indoors.
That was great information. I was using powder that my friend had stored outside. The day we used it, it was 99. I keep my powder in a cool environment and in a moisture controlled invironment...the problem load was not from that environment.
What powder do you rec for .223. The two lbs of powder I have left were stored in a shop and are now at my house and stored in A/C indoors.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
5thSFGroup,
If you're not sure you want to continue using H335 then I suggest using Varget. I have used nothing but H335 in my .223 ammo until yesterday. I loaded up some 55gr GameKings with 25.0gr of Varget and proceeded to shoot a sub 1/2 MOA group @100 yards and just under a 1 MOA group at 200 yards. The 100 yard group measured only 0.425", I never got that using H335. I'm a convert and I'm lucky enough to have 2.5lbs of Varget with the same lot number as the ammo I built yesterday!!!
If you're not sure you want to continue using H335 then I suggest using Varget. I have used nothing but H335 in my .223 ammo until yesterday. I loaded up some 55gr GameKings with 25.0gr of Varget and proceeded to shoot a sub 1/2 MOA group @100 yards and just under a 1 MOA group at 200 yards. The 100 yard group measured only 0.425", I never got that using H335. I'm a convert and I'm lucky enough to have 2.5lbs of Varget with the same lot number as the ammo I built yesterday!!!
335 is temperature sensitive. Pressures can go up considerably if the cartridge gets much above 100* F. (this info is from the Hodgdon tech)
For bullets 60gr and above TAC is a good choice. It is not temperature sensitive (this info is from the Ramshot tech) and it meters better than Varget.
For bullets 60gr and above TAC is a good choice. It is not temperature sensitive (this info is from the Ramshot tech) and it meters better than Varget.
Mule
Member
Is it posssible some Clays was inadvertently dumped in with the H-335?
For your own safety, do not use any more powder from that container.
If it were me, I would verify my scale for accuracy.
I would also mike the bullets. If oversized, could be creating high pressures.
For your own safety, do not use any more powder from that container.
If it were me, I would verify my scale for accuracy.
I would also mike the bullets. If oversized, could be creating high pressures.
snuffy
Member
Ridiculous! H-335 is a shiny, black, flattened ball powder. Clays is a dull gray flake powder. 5thSFgroup says he has used clays for pistol, I'm sure he knows the difference in appearance.
Seconly, if you were to put that much clays in a .223, 5thSFgroup would be badly injured, and his rifle would be destroyed. Just how does one single charge of clays get in the middle of a loading session???¿
Third, if one bullet was oversized enough to cause higher pressure, it wouldn't have chambered.
Think before posting. It wouldn't hurt to read the entire thread so you could know that half of what you said is impossible.
In my experience, H-335 has always flowed through my measure like water. I would never think it could bridge like an extruded/stick powder can/does.
Mule
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Note to self....Snuffy knows EVERYTHING!!!!!!
chineseboxer
Member
Bullet set back??
5thSFGroup
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Sorry about the delay in posting. I have loaded more 60 grain bullets with H335 and fired them without any problem...at all. I used the recommended low end setting...23.3. I loaded these off of my equipment and inspected each case with a flash light before pressing the round. I also used my powder. The previous powder was from a friend.
The day that the problem arose, it was hotter than hell outside and the bullets had been loaded by a friend's equipment.
Snuffy is exactly right, the two powders do not look similar at all. I never leave powder in my dispenser. I clean the equipment after each use and never leave even small amounts of powder in there.
I have another friend who mentioned Ramshot as well. I may give it a try. I would hate to throw out the H335 that I have. It seems that most people are satisfied with it.
I think that I will give Ramshot a try after I use up this H335.
The day that the problem arose, it was hotter than hell outside and the bullets had been loaded by a friend's equipment.
Snuffy is exactly right, the two powders do not look similar at all. I never leave powder in my dispenser. I clean the equipment after each use and never leave even small amounts of powder in there.
I have another friend who mentioned Ramshot as well. I may give it a try. I would hate to throw out the H335 that I have. It seems that most people are satisfied with it.
I think that I will give Ramshot a try after I use up this H335.
There's a lesson in here somewhere. I never use equipment or components unless I can personally vouch for their origins. Did you smell the powder that you got from your friend before you used it? Powder does go bad, especially when not stored correctly.
As a side note, I assume that those 75s you were loading were Hornday BTHP projectiles. If so, and you get some TAC, those were stupid accurate in my AR with a relatively mild charge of TAC. Of course, you should always work up your own load, but in my rifle 22gr of TAC with a Remington 7.5 primer in LC cases made for very small groups.
As a side note, I assume that those 75s you were loading were Hornday BTHP projectiles. If so, and you get some TAC, those were stupid accurate in my AR with a relatively mild charge of TAC. Of course, you should always work up your own load, but in my rifle 22gr of TAC with a Remington 7.5 primer in LC cases made for very small groups.
Not buying it w/o photos of everything including the powder. Not calling you a liar. Just stating at this point that is the only thing that will call out the obvious. Your situation has something visual that will be obvious to outside observers.
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