OAL for - Speer .224 Diameter Bullets - 55 Grain TMJ 22455TMJ

[film495]

Speer .224 Diameter Bullets - 55 Grain TMJ 22455TMJ
H4227
H335

I am looking to make a few dummy rounds with these bullets, with the intention of loading with of these powders I have in the near future. I am trying to find H4895 so I can do some reduced loads to develp a plinking round, but don't have any yet - so, working with what i have.

I've been looking through my reloading books, and several of them are a bit on the old side, and I haven't found any OAL specific to this bullet. I look at Hodgdon's online reference, but am not sure what I could use there for load data. Looking for tips. I'm not loading this weekend, just looking to make up some dummy rounds and keep working out my process.

some specs for the specific bullet
Ballistic Coefficient .250
Sectional Density 0.157
Bullet Weight 55
Bullet Length In 0.725in. / 18.42mm

 

[film495]

I think the bullet I have has the same weight, lenght, BC, and SD as this, Gold Dot Rifle Component Bullet .224 Part # 22455GDB, which I think is what Hodgdon is referencing in their online tool, but not sure.

BULLET WEIGHT
55 GR. SPR SP
Starting Loads Maximum Loads
Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
Hodgdon H335 0.224" 2.200" 23.0 3,018 40,800 CUP 25.3 3,203 49,300 CUP

 

[Skeptic13]

COL to me is not an exact science. The magazine length for .224 is 2.26" however I have found that I have issues with some magazines at that length. If you are shooting bullets with a cannelure then it is safe to seat so that the rim of the case is within the cannelure which helps with crimping. The Speer TMJ doesnt have one so for you it isn't a consideration. I load a hornady 60 gr soft point at 2.225. I load my 55 gr FMJ at about 2.220. The farther in you seat the bullet the more pressure you will generate which can be a factor to consider. All of hodgdon data for 55gr bullets and H335 show COL as 2.18 - 2.20 so that should be a safe range to start. Then if you want to you can play with the COL to see if you get better performance at a longer or shorter length. If you are loading plinking ammo though I am not sure that is worth the effort.

 

[bullseye308]

Pretty much any 55 grain bullet I have loaded has been to 2.20” and unless you are working on an accuracy load for a bolt gun that should get you started. See how it works and adjust as necessary.

 

[film495]

I did a few dummy rounds to 2.20" as an aside the battery in my modern caliper died, so - I dug out my grandfather's old manual one, and it worked good - now that I know how to use it - it makes the electronic one seem kind of hokey and gimmickey and pointless - other than to sell batteries.

so, pretty good. need a few more tools to land, a finished cartrdige gause and I got a primer pocket checker from ballistic tools, which I'm interested to check out, just a go, no go, but I have a lot of crimped brass, so - I think that will be worth having to see when I've got the crimp removed and not spend too much time on them. Then to do some plunking in my rifle chamber, and - then onto maybe doing a few live rounds should I feel ambitious.

 

[Reloadron]

I assume the cartridge is a 223 Remington? Should that be true then a Speer Part #1044 FMJ BT is loaded to a COL of 2.215 inches and the bullet has a BC of 0.269. That taken from my old Speer #12 manual. That's with a case trim to 1.750" not that it matters much as to COL.

Ron