.223 reloading issues

[sorensen440]

What have I gotten myself into (Reloading)

Its a disease like many others in the shooting sports

[Nodda Duma]

Hornady's reloading manual (7th edition) calls out a max load of 24.9 gr for their 68 gr BTHP and a starting load of 22.7 gr using Varget. This is in a 20" 1:9 twist service rifle (Colt AR-15). Cartridge OAL is called out at 2.250".

I'm not sure if Sierra's calls out loads specifically for service rifles, but I know Lee's doesn't. IMO, it's good practice to double check to make sure that the load data referenced is specifically for a service rifle, and not just bolt action .223 Remington data.

-Jason

[ar15barrels]

As it turns out the other reason for the compression was that the hornady 68gr. is almost .10" longer than the 69gr. sierra MK.

This is why load data is bullet specific.

[Rhys898]

well, the sierra manual differentiates between ar15 and boltgun, the lee manual differentiates between rifle and handgun. The load I was trying for was from the sierra ar15 section from their newest edition and is actually listed as the "Accuracy Load" for 69gr bullets.

Jer

PS DAMN those 75gr A-MAX's are LOOOOOONG you cant even load them to mag length without the bearing surface on the bullet being below the top of the case neck. Guess I'll be making good use of the bob sled single feed block.

[Jicko]

Check our .223 sticky post.

http://calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=54716

Post #47 got a fix for your ogive mark problem.

Go read every post in that thread.

[ar15barrels]

well, the sierra manual differentiates between ar15 and boltgun, the lee manual differentiates between rifle and handgun. The load I was trying for was from the sierra ar15 section from their newest edition and is actually listed as the "Accuracy Load" for 69gr bullets.

The main difference between the data is usually the velocity, based on barrel lengths.
I'll bet the powder/pressure data is similar across the different guns.