Load check - 223 Remington and AA2230

[Shrinkmd]

I loaded up the following:

WCC04 once fired cases (by me) sized, trimmed to 1.740" and then resized in the X-die (regular, not small base), Wolf 223 primer, Hornady 55gr fmjbt bulk bullet, and 22.5 gr of AA2230, seated to OAL of 2.206" with a light taper crimp. Does this sound right?

I have checked various data sources, and several list 22.5 gr as a starting load for 55gr bullets, so I went with that. I will later load up the same load in some PPU08 5.56x45 brass and compare the loads.

I can't believe that new Prvi M193 is up to $360 a case. I figure my reloads should run about $160 or so per thousand. Not bad, eh? I am really tempted to use my LNL AP for these, as making up a big batch on the single stage is a pain.

Do people really see a big difference in runout and accuracy using the single stage compared to the progressive? For blasting ammo under 300 yds, that is?

 

[Walkalong]

I load all my .223 on my LNL. It is sufficiently accurate to 300 yards. (I don't have a really accurate .223 anymore) I also load my .222 Mag ammo on the LNL. It will shoot 1.5" or better groups at 300 yards (Sako HB) with that ammo. I could not really detect a difference back in the day when I compared ammo loaded on my single stage vs ammo loaded on my old Projector.

Speer #13 shows AA 2230 and 55 Gr bullets with a min of 24.0 & a max of 26.0 Grs for 3017 & 3233 FPS.

 

[Shrinkmd]

According to Loaddata.com, for starting charges:

Accurate's data - Nosler 55 SBT - 22.5 gr - 2773
Sierra - 23.3 gr - 2700
Lyman 49th - Sierra Jacketed SPT 22.5 gr - 2891

(sorry, forgot to include the different barrel lengths)

Anyway, I decided to go for the minimum listed charge because I have heard that the 5.56 cases tend to have a drop less capacity, as well as the Wolf 223Rem primers being a bit hotter. So I will chrony these loads out of my 20" 1:9 Bushmaster HBAR and we'll see what we get. Should be a nice, safe light load, eh?

 

[Walkalong]

Should be no problem at all.

 

[geigersd]

Lyman's Manual shows a trim length of 1.750" Is your being below that going to have an effect?

 

[Sunray]

22.5 grains of AA2230 is the starting load for a 55 grain bullet, for sure.
http://www.accuratearms.com/data/Acc Guide v3.3 version.pdf
"...regular, not small base..." Depends on your rifle. Semi-autos, lever actions and pumps require either an SB sizer or a Full Length sizer every time. You can neck size for a bolt action.

 

[Shrinkmd]

Yes, that PDF states that the 55gr minimum charge is 22.5 However, they list OAL on that bullet (not the Hornady bullet) as 2.230. I seated a bunch to 2.206 (since Hornady said their minimum OAL is 2.200 for that bullet, although they don't list 2230 as a powder choice in their manual. My loads are nicely in the middle of the cannelure at that OAL.

So, will I be safe firing these charges? Or should I pull the bullets and reseat a bit longer? I am below Accurate Arms OAL on a different bullet, but above Hornady's for the bullet I am actually using. I am shooting over a chrony, so if the numbers are way off I can obviously quit right away.

For a 20" barrel, what velocity would I expect? The data in that file lists a 24" barrel.

Thanks again!