I am looking at the load data on the Ramshot website and I am confused. They have data for 223 and 5.56. For the same 55gr bullet it has different data. What is going on which should I use? For the 223 load data is 22.4-24.9. For the 5.56 the load data is 23.7-26.3. My concern is I am throwing consistent charges at 23.3 for commercial brass so do I need to up the charge if I am using LC or WCC military brass? Also I am using Wolf small rifle magnum primers and shooting these from a 14.5in bbl. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
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greyling22
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I use 24.2 grains of x-term under a 50 grain bullet. It's a very accurate load in my mini-mauser.
I also use 22.5 grains under a 55 grain bullet in my AR. That's a very accurate load too. I'm using mix headstamp 556 and 223 brass and a wolff SRP. 16" barrel.
a 556 is loaded to higher pressures than a 223, and the 556 has a slightly different chamber than a 223, but the brass is basically the same. You notice there are no different 556 and 223 die sets.
There is no need to go way up to max loads, especially with that shorter barrel. All you're going to end up with is a bigger fireball. Anything from 22-26 grains should be fine in a 556 chamber. Start low and work up until you have accuracy.
I also use 22.5 grains under a 55 grain bullet in my AR. That's a very accurate load too. I'm using mix headstamp 556 and 223 brass and a wolff SRP. 16" barrel.
a 556 is loaded to higher pressures than a 223, and the 556 has a slightly different chamber than a 223, but the brass is basically the same. You notice there are no different 556 and 223 die sets.
There is no need to go way up to max loads, especially with that shorter barrel. All you're going to end up with is a bigger fireball. Anything from 22-26 grains should be fine in a 556 chamber. Start low and work up until you have accuracy.
longdayjake
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Its not so much the brass but the chambering. The 5.56 chamber can handle more pressure than a .223 chamber. That is why you can load it hotter.
Thanks for the input. I was using (I found out after the fact) a 21.5 charge and got super accurate results but that was under the minimum charge recommendation. I thought I would try the next highest setting on my Lee powder disk measure and that gave me a charge weight of 23.3. I looked at the load data and saw the two different types. So basically since my AR is chamber for 556 the max I should go is 26 grs and anything between 22.4grs and 26grs should be okay? Regardless of the brass type?
blarby
Member
Yep.
Pressure on the low end wont be a problem- gas volume and cycling might.
And thats where the arguments are gonna start.
I'd work up your load using 1 type of brass, and not assume it will perform exactly the same in another.
greyling22
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if you have super accurate and the gun is cycling I'd stop right there. more powder won't gain you anything but maybe a few feet per second and cost you more $.
Most of my loads are at or slightly below starting load. I don't go way under, but a little under is in most cases, not a problem at all.
Most of my loads are at or slightly below starting load. I don't go way under, but a little under is in most cases, not a problem at all.
Thanks for the help. I think I will go back to the 21.5 charge. After all I loaded a thousand+ rounds and shot them all with no problems so why change it. Thank you for clarifying everything. It just dawned on me when I decided to change the charge weight that LC brass needed to be reduced by 10%. So that is where the confusion set in.
greyling22
Member
the real advantage to steering clear of max loads is that it covers a multitude of sins. You get an odd case with less capacity, not a catastrophe. accidentally load with mag primers, probably not going to be an issue.
http://www.6mmbr.com/223rem.html You can see on the chart about 23% of the way down that LC brass varies year to year in terms of capacity and weight, and that it is not really any different than any other brand of brass. I can't tell a lick of difference in accuracy or velocity between LC brass, remmy brass, or win brass.
Unless I am doing some sort of super precision shooting, I don't even bother with sorting by headstamp any more. When my el cheapo palmetto state AR upper put the first 5 rounds it ever fired of my blasting ammo, (midsouth varmint nightmare 55grn, mix headstamp brass, wolff primer, 22.5grn xterm dispensed by volume) in 3/4" at 100yds with a 7x scope I gave up on trying to get too hung up on what brass I was using. If MOA is good enough, and you are staying around starting loads I would never look at headstamp again.
http://www.6mmbr.com/223rem.html You can see on the chart about 23% of the way down that LC brass varies year to year in terms of capacity and weight, and that it is not really any different than any other brand of brass. I can't tell a lick of difference in accuracy or velocity between LC brass, remmy brass, or win brass.
Unless I am doing some sort of super precision shooting, I don't even bother with sorting by headstamp any more. When my el cheapo palmetto state AR upper put the first 5 rounds it ever fired of my blasting ammo, (midsouth varmint nightmare 55grn, mix headstamp brass, wolff primer, 22.5grn xterm dispensed by volume) in 3/4" at 100yds with a 7x scope I gave up on trying to get too hung up on what brass I was using. If MOA is good enough, and you are staying around starting loads I would never look at headstamp again.
Just load to 223 specs and work up your most accurate (smallest group/consistent) load. I've never once, in over 30 yrs reloading, found my best load in 5.56 pressure territory. Back off when you see pressure signs.
I much prefer a slow hit over a screaming fast miss every time.
The reason they came up with 5.56 in the first place was to meet a requirement devised by the little-gun-haters that the bullet had to penetrate a steel helmet at like 6 million meters or some such. The little-gun-promoters just started overloading the 223 until it had enough energy to penetrate at whatever that range was. But always remember-you'll never penetrate that steel helmet if you can't hit it.
I much prefer a slow hit over a screaming fast miss every time.
The reason they came up with 5.56 in the first place was to meet a requirement devised by the little-gun-haters that the bullet had to penetrate a steel helmet at like 6 million meters or some such. The little-gun-promoters just started overloading the 223 until it had enough energy to penetrate at whatever that range was. But always remember-you'll never penetrate that steel helmet if you can't hit it.
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