Load check for Hornady (224 Diam) 55 Grain FMJ BT bullets

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Schwing

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I am new to .223 so this is my first load for them. I am using H335 with the Hornady 55 grain FMJBT bullets here:


https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...iameter-55-grain-full-metal-jacket-boat-tail#

According to my Hornady handbook it lists a range of 20.8 to 23.2

According to my Lyman 49th it is 24.3 to 27 (with a 55gr jacketed spt)

According to the Hodgdon website it is 21.4 to 22.8 for a 55 grain sfire and 23-25.3 for a 55 grain spr sp.


I have been burned by Hornady load data before and ended up with squibs at the starting load data so I don't think 20.8 is ok. On the other hand, I have read all over the internet that people are using 24-27 grains with 25 being the most common.

This will be for my S&W Sport2. If anyone has any thoughts or input, I would appreciate it. I am far from new to reloading but these variations for .223 have me scratching my head. Thanks.
 
This question/discrepancy comes up often.

I have loaded the Hornady data from the lowest to highest and had no issues with the lower (using H335)

Also if you look at Speer data, they use a Mag primer with H335.

That said if using Hornady data use the mid rate to start if you want oo just use Hodgdon data. They all work and the difference using a slow powder is not enough to "blow" anything up The low data will just be the lower velocities and no the max that an AR is capable of. I personal see no reason to shoot "service" rifle loads for just messing around at the range.

I posted in a thread on this some time ago.
 
The second question I forgot about was crimp or no crimp. It seems like the majority do not crimp. These bullets do have a cannelure so it seems counter intuitive not to crimp though.
 
Usually I'd say no crimp but since there is a cannelure you can if you feel so inclined. I don't think i makes much difference, the vast majority of my .223 AR rounds are not crimped even when I load those. Mostly I don't want to readjust the die.
 
Do your own workups but I think Hornady data is anemic. Tested in their bolt action 26" barrel with their components, I don't know. Aggravating to me that Hornady has used the same data for 55 grain bullets with the same components and rifle in the last few manuals. The most popular bullet with the most popular powder and not even tested in the most popular rifle, the AR15. I'd recommend trusting Hodgdon data. A good starting point is 22.5 grains but you'll find a good load that your rifle likes between 24 and 25 grains. I'd consider Hodgdon's max at 25.3 a safe maximum Don't recommend loads with H335 and 55 grain bullets in the 26 and definitely not 27 grain range. Depends somewhat on primers used, brass brand used, and rifle. I lightly crimp 55 fmj's but you may need to vary oal with Hornady's 55 grain bullets to get the case mouth to match the cannelure on the bullet. I normally seat them from 2.218" to a maximum of 2.230". A recommended length for crimping is case mouth in the middle of the bullet cannelure. Again, seems the most popular charge weight with 55 grain bullet and H335 is between 24.5 and 25 grains with many saying 25 grains is their best load. I shoot the same 25 grain charge in different AR's and my one bolt action rifle with no issues.
 
I have a note in my load book stating that Hornady load data for the H335 is way off on velocities, like 400+fps. My AR-15 has a 24" bull barrel so it should be show where in the ball park. All my crony data matches the Sierra data the best. I shoot a lot of those cheep bullets using LC brass. I tweak the loads by small changes in AOL. For this to work you have to sort your brass by year and adj accordingly. In most all cases I get less the 1 moa accuracy out of very cheap bullet.
 
The Sfire data is always seems to be lower. Never shot them but I believe this is because the bullet is longer than most any other bullet of the same weight. (Different bullet construction).

You will probably find a sweet spot somewhere between 24 and 25gr of H335.
My Mini 14 and AR had different favorites but I settled on about 24.4gr for both.
Since I was loading plinking ammo with mixed brass I wanted something with some room to spare from a "MAX" charge.
 
Schwing said:
I am new to .223 so this is my first load for them. I am using H335 with the Hornady 55 grain FMJBT bullets here:


https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...iameter-55-grain-full-metal-jacket-boat-tail#

According to my Hornady handbook it lists a range of 20.8 to 23.2

According to my Lyman 49th it is 24.3 to 27 (with a 55gr jacketed spt)

According to the Hodgdon website it is 21.4 to 22.8 for a 55 grain sfire and 23-25.3 for a 55 grain spr sp.


I have been burned by Hornady load data before and ended up with squibs at the starting load data so I don't think 20.8 is ok. On the other hand, I have read all over the internet that people are using 24-27 grains with 25 being the most common.

This will be for my S&W Sport2. If anyone has any thoughts or input, I would appreciate it. I am far from new to reloading but these variations for .223 have me scratching my head. Thanks.
Click to expand...

The Hornady data is lawyered down and low. The Lyman data is right at the upper end, 27gr is way high. The Hodgdon data is a little low, but really close to what most people see.

Ive tried a ton of loads from top to bottom with H335 and 55gr FMJBT's, but most peoples, myself included, best loads are somewhere between 24.5 and 25.5. My accuracy is best at 25.2.
 
I would go with the powder distributors data, ie, Hodgdons online data.
23-25.3 for a 55 grain spr sp.
Click to expand...

The sinterfire (sfire) bullet
21.4 to 22.8
Click to expand...
has more bearing surface (friction), and will use less powder. You cannot compare it to a jacketed bullet.


You are loading for a standard 55 Gr jacketed lead bullet (FMJ), so use the data for the similar 55 Gr jacketed bullet, the soft point. (SP)


But it can be confusing, and aggravating. :)
 
Walkalong said:
I would go with the powder distributors data, ie, Hodgdons online data.

The sinterfire (sfire) bullet

has more bearing surface (friction), and will use less powder. You cannot compare it to a jacketed bullet.


You are loading for a standard 55 Gr jacketed lead bullet (FMJ), so use the data for the similar 55 Gr jacketed bullet, the soft point. (SP)


But it can be confusing, and aggravating. :)
Click to expand...
yup, I just loaded a bunch at 24.5 w/ 55 gr fmj. Hodgdon data shows sfire and Bar TSX which I believe are copper and or frangible bullets? (usually lower load weights)

In any event, 55 gr FMJ, 24.5 gr of H335 @2.20 works well for me! Right on the H 335 bottle it shows 55 grain up to 25.5 or there abouts if I am remembering correctly. I am getting ready to try a little heavier, just to see if there is improvement over 24.5.
 
It is silly that Hodgdon does not have load data using a 55 gr. FMJBT, the most common bullet used for 223.

Hornady data does seem a little on the low side.
 
Hodgdon data for 55 grain bullets testing the Speer Spire Point works for Hornady 55 FMJ's and other 55 gr. bullets also. Velocity in Hodgdon's tests matches velocity with Hornady 55 FMJ's in 20" AR's. Your results with your components may differ. Still start low and work up. Lyman manual and Speer manual data is too hot, Hornady manual very weak, Hodgdon and Sierra data is more realistic. Nosler data for their 55 gr. bullet lists 23.0-25 grains of H335 maximum.
 
I can share this much. While not the 55 grain FMJBT I have been loading the Hornady 52 grain BTHP Match bullets over 26 grains of H335. When shot from my bolt gun with a 26" barrel and 1:12 twist the accuracy is superb and my average velocity is 3445 FPS. The brass is LC 97 on my last loads. I have also loaded 26.1 grains of H335 under the Sierra 53 grain HP bullets. LC 11 brass and averaging around 3366 PPS same rifle.

Anyway, I have always found the Hornady load data to be on the light side.

Ron
 
In response to your crimp question, get a Lee factory crimp die.
I load 25gr of H335 under a hornady 55gr sp. shoots very well and handles all of my 223 needs just fine
 
I should probably give an update here. I had very few problems from start to finish for this caliber. I loaded up 5 rounds of each:
22.5
23
23.5

I figured I would start low both for my own peace of mind as well as seeing if I had any cycling issues there. All loads cycled perfectly. The biggest problem I had was that I was only able to get them out to about 20 yards where I was shooting and was using iron sights so it wasn't a great test. All of the holes were touching on all loads and they pretty much mirrored my factory loads that I have at that range. For me 1/2-3/4 inch groups even at that range is pretty good. I am not nearly as proficient with long guns as I am with hand guns.

I am going to mount a scope on it this weekend and do the same loads again out at 100 yards on a rest to get a better idea.

Frankly, I am extremely happy with the gun. I have to say I have never seen the appeal in the AR platform. Having owned one for a couple of weeks and having had some fun loading for it, I think I get it now.
 
I should probably give an update here. I had very few problems from start to finish for this caliber. I loaded up 5 rounds of each:
22.5
23
23.5
Click to expand...

@ 50 yards using a 3x scope 23.5 in my AR were touching. A nice low power load for me. Ultimately like ArchAngel I landed at 25gr under a 55gr bullet. Seems to be the best 100 yard grouping I can get out of my 16" AR. No pressure signs @ 25 for me. work your way up and if you like where you are at you are good.

-jeff
 
Loads for the FMJBT should always be safer than the same weight flat-base due to less barrel contact with bullet bearing surfaces. This being said, I've loaded about half a biskillion 5.56 w/H335 and 26grns under the 55 FMJBT with great performance. The Military Equivalent load used to be exactly this...but they changed the H335 formulation a while back and supposedly it's a bit faster now...so the charge should be reduced a bit. 25.4 sounds about right and 25 probably a safe and effective charge with new powder. My stash is old stuff so I can't comment on the new powder.
 
25gr is my go to load for ARs.

22.5gr H335 is my 3gun load and is extremely accurate.....BUT, my rifle is tuned for the load.

It shoots great in several other ARs ranging from 8.5" barrel up to 18".

I did try some in a brand new build a couple weeks ago. It is a 14.5" mid length gas with a heavy buffer and while it did cycle all of them, I could feel the action was sluggish.

All of the above with Hornady 55gr FMJ, and or 55gr Wolf projectiles between 2.235"-2.245" depending on the load/bullet combo
 
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