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.223 Load combo.

4K views 17 replies 14 participants last post by  Maddmaxx 
#1 ·
My niece and her husband bought a S&W M&P AR15 with a 16" barrel, and I'm going to load 200 rounds of .223 Rem. for them with the Hornady 68 gr. BTHP (#2278) with Winchester SRP's and I have five different powders to use. I don't have a gun chambered in .223 to test them in (Hard to believe.) and have not ever loaded these bullets, and they live about 100 miles from me so I have to ship the loaded ammo to them and won't be there to see the results. The folks at Hornady suggested to use Sierra's AR15 load data for their 69 gr. BTHP Match King bullets.

The powders I have are and loads considered are;
Ran Shot/TAC = 25.5 gr.
Hodgdon/Benchmark = 23.0 gr.
Accurate Arms 2520 = 25.1 gr.
VithaVuori/N140 = 25.2 gr.
Winchester/748 = 26.1 gr.

Has any one used any of these bullet, primer and powder combination in a .223 AR15.
 
#4 ·
I have a ladder test loaded up right now for my 1:7 twist Wylde .223 (69 grain bullet over Win 748 powder) and will be shooting it later this week, hopefully Thursday.

The Hornady #9 manual does not even show a load for the first three powders you list and it has the maximum load for N-140 at 25.1 and 748 at 25.8 so your proposed loads are over maximum (at least according to #9). Recheck your manual on those loads.

Another thought that came to me - when I first started loading .223 (years ago) I had the bullet seat/crimp die down a tiny bit too far which caused the shoulder to flare out just enough to NOT allow the cartridge to fit in the chamber. From some of the threads I have red here over the years, that is a pretty common occurrence. Before you load up 200 rounds, you might want to find a .223 chamber to "plunk test" your reloads.
 
#5 ·
The 69 gr bullet is wonderful in 1 to 7 twists from my experiments.
I settled on 62 grain though where the cost and accuracy were weighed. I have about 2000 rds made up, mostly with BLC-2. Also about 500 steel core 62 gr in my ammo locker. These steel core "green tips" are SHTF rounds only, not for the range (except testing accuracy) :)
 
#6 ·
Are you listing max load or consider loading these loads?
I only did a quick check but the loads you listed look to be max loads and the TAC load is over max as well as the AA 2520 load. (it's a 5.56 load you listed, not .223rem as per their manual)

I would load a middle of the road charge with whatever powder loads best, like the AA2520 since it is a ball powder it measures very well.
The powders listed are pretty slow so even a min. charge will have no issue cycling an AR.

I don't know the Winchester powder and did not check that one.
 
#7 ·
I am ignorant to the twist rate in that rifle. As far as "what is the best bullet and powder combination" goes - it all depends on the twist rate. Some rifles love the lighter (55 grain or so) bullets - and some rifles hate it. Same for the heavier bullets.

As far as powder goes - I have only used H-335 and BLC (2) in this caliber.

You are in a pretty tough spot: in order to work up a load, you would have to be there and go thru the standard work-up process - firing different weights of charges and recording the results. Having to ship your ammo and have someone else do the testing is something that approaches the impossible. The best you may be able to do is to produce "shootable ammo". Sounds to me like you are about to spend money on 'premium' bullets just to make ammo that goes "bang". If I were in your shoes - I think I'd convince the owner of that rifle to settle for ammo that you can load with cheaper 55 grain FMJs - loaded in military brass to military specs. Makes more sense to me to do it that way - but it's your time and money.
 
#9 ·
He says (last sentence, first paragraph), "The folks at Hornady suggested to use Sierra's AR15 load data for their 69 gr. BTHP Match King bullets."

So I don't see where it matters what Hornady's book says. It's what SIERRA'S book says that counts.

Can't help you on your question. All I've ever loaded for that was 55 grain, and the only powder of those listed is 748.
 
#11 ·
If Sierra has the data and I wanted data Hornady didn't have, I'd do it in a heart beat. Start low and watch for pressure working up. On the down side if it blows up in your face, Sierra will say the data was for Sierra bullet's, not our fault. Not sure what Hornaady would say but they have no control over the loading so they are not to blame either.
 
#12 ·
I'm surprised that Hornaday recommended using Sierra data but lots of things surprise me nowadays.

I assume from your post that you have 200 rounds to play with, one bullet size/type, one primer type, five powders and you are fixed within those parameters. This is complicated by the fact that you don't have the rifle with which to do function tests, you don't list the twist rate and you won't be able to be there when the ammo is tested.

Personally I'd pick one or two powders at the most, be sure you're starting low and work up towards max in increments. Full length resize and load to a factory COAL minus a smidge just to be sure they fit the magazine, those are some long bullets.

Record keeping is hard enough when you work alone, this long-range romance will make it more difficult. Separate and label each load, and have your niece keep the brass separated and labeled so that you can identify the loads as you inspect them after they are shot. Also have them label and keep each target separate for comparison.

Good luck.
 
#14 · (Edited)
Firstly, thanks for all your responses.

The S & W, M & P, AR-15 has a 1-9 rate of twist and I have loaded and shot the Sierra 69 gr. BTHP Match King in 1-9 AR-15's with sub 1' 100 yard results but with only Ram Shot, TAC.

I know I can't predict accuracy from my niece's gun, but I was more interested in function and safe pressure. The only reason I'm loading the Hornady 68 gr BTHP is that I found an online deal for 500 of these bullets.
 
#16 ·
I use those same exact same bullets in my AR with an 18" barrel and a 1:8 twist rate with excellent results, however I use Hogdons CFE223. I also could not find reload data for the 68 grains, but I used the load data for the 69 grain bullets myself, from Hogdons website, and came up with a really good load. theyre good bullets-I take heads off of prairie dogs at 400+ yards with them.
 
#18 ·
I load 55gn with Win 748 at 25gns and chrono at about 2700fps.

Here is the max load for a 69gn. From the Hodgson site.. It did not show a starting load.

Winchester
Powder 748
Bullet Diameter .224"
C.O.L. 2.235"
Starting Load
Grains
Velocity (ft/s)
Pressure
Maximum Load
Grains 24.5
Velocity (ft/s) 2,870
Pressure 51,500 CUP
 
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