[Ridgerunner665]

There is a major shortage of reloading data for the 5.56x45.

I know...use 223 Remington data. It will work, but they are weak loads...the 5.56x45 is a hotter round...easily capable of going 1 to 3 grains over max loads for a 223 (depending on which powder you are using)...I have been working up some loads for my AR15 and will add them shortly. Every single one is well over the published max load for a 223 Remington. All have been THOROUGHLY tested...by me.

Anybody else have any loads to share???

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Winchester brass
Federal 205M match primers
Hornady 60 grain V-MAX bullet
26 grains of Reloder 15 (over the published max for a 223 chamber, but worked great in my 5.56 chamber)
2.255 OAL with a decent taper crimp (these bullets don't have a cannelure)
2750 fps
5 shot 100 yard group measured 7/8 of an inch. (pure coyote destruction)
I'm going to try 26.5 grains with this bullet...but haven't done it yet.

AND

Winchester brass
Federal 205M match primers
M855 62 grain FMJBT (AP) bullet
26 grains of Reloder 15 (over the published max for a 223 chamber, but worked great in my 5.56 chamber)
2.300 OAL (this is a little over the listed max OAL of 2.26, but worked fine in my gun....looong bullets)
2780 fps
5 shot 100 yard group measured 1 1/16"
26.5 grains is out of the question for this bullet...there is no more room in the case...its packed.

Both of these loads are compressed loads...if anybody decides to try them, start at 24 grains and work up slow

All rounds were fired from a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 (16 inch, chrome lined, 1 in 9" twist)

I haven't loaded any of the 62 grain Barnes Triple Shocks yet...next week maybe...

 

[Bud White]

I haven't really fooled to much with the 223 i have been using H335 its accurate in my Bushmaster can't say the load off top of head though .

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Lots of people use the H335...it works...but it is a little temperature and position sensitive.

I'm trying to figure out how to get 3000fps from a 62 grain bullet fired from a 16 inch barrel...the ammo companies use blended powders to do this (either that or they are flat out lying with their advertised ballistics)...I am getting closer.

I may get 3000 fps from 26 grains of Reloder 15 with a Barnes 62 grain Triple Shock bullet (I have 100 of these...can't wait to try them)...but I'm waiting on good weather...at 76 cents per bullet...I want to test accuracy and velocity all at once.

 

[Bud White]

Why are to trying for 3000FPS?

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Because it should be possible...And just for the hell of it...learning.

I'm going to deer hunt with my AR (its legal here)...and I want all the speed I can get, as long as it doesn't adversely affect accuracy.

 

[Bud White]

I don't believe much in the published Figures ammo makers put out..

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I don't believe much in the published Figures ammo makers put out..

Me neither...

But the military requires 2,974 fps from their M855 round (62 grain armor piercing bullet)....that is from a 16 inch barrel. I thought I'd try to duplicate it with a powder more suitable to hunting (they use ball powders)...maybe I can , maybe I can't...but it sure is fun to try.:dancingbananna:

 

[Bud White]

For sure if you have the time and Range to shoot it at to test..

 

[Ridgerunner665]

For sure if you have the time and Range to shoot it at to test..

I do...this is about all I do when I'm home on the weekends. Brock loads some for me through the week....but I do the initial firing (just in case).

 

[Bud White]

Wish i had a long range close but .. course that would make me buy a chrono instead of using a guys i know

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Wish i had a long range close

I have a few thousand acres of nothing but hills and hollers for a backyard...not all mine (I only got 228 acres) but I can use it all I want.

 

[Bud White]

Very nice ..

What other powders are you going to try ..

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Varget, N-135, N-140 planned so far...we'll just have to see where it leads...I'm not sure yet if I need a faster or slower powder...short barrels are funny that way.

 

[Bud White]

Yes they are .. I would try something slightly slower than you are using now

 

[Ridgerunner665]

That would be Varget

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Oh..I almost forgot...

A max load of 22 grains of Reloder 10x under a 60 grain V-MAX bullet will barely function my AR...they fed fine but will not lock the bolt back (very slight short stroke)...I'm going to try 22.5 and 23 grains when I get a chance. 2614 fps

Reloder 10x is the most consistent powder I have ever used in anything...10 shots with an extreme spread of 2 fps.

 

[Bud White]

That is pretty Consistent

 

[SatCong]

I run ACC 2230 powder, behind 55 grain pill and LC brass.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I run ACC 2230 powder, behind 55 grain pill and LC brass.

How much powder??? How many fps???