H335 Newbie question

[skavert]

New to reloading and have a question on starting and max charge using H335. I know this has been covered in many threads, but was hoping for one last green light.

Case: LC
Primer: CCI #41
Powder: H335
Bullet: Hornady 55gr FMJ

I've checked the Hodgdon site as well as Speer #14 manual, but none list Hornady bullets. Is a starting load of 24.0 and max of 26.0 the same for all FMJBT bullets? My plan was to start at 24.0 and work up by .2 until I reach 25.0, or should I start lower? Also keeping the COAL to 2.200. Please let me know if you see any issues with this plan.

Also checked the cases with a Dillon case gauge. All fall within limits, but some brass looks to be just flush with the minimum surface. Are these cases safe to reload? Just looking for last minute advise before getting started. Thank you!

[rsrocket1]

My 55g fmjbt's have a cannelure and I simply seat the bullet to the center of the groove. This gives me an average COL of 2.243" but the important thing is uniform seat depth. You will be fine at 2.20" COL. My most accurate load was at 25.0g H335 with standard CCI SRP's which got me right around 3030 fps with a 20" AR barrel. Using a standardized case will help you find a consistent load. I noticed that using common headstamps gave me the most consistent velocities but for range blasting, it's all "good enough".

You are good to go with starting at 24.0g. No need to waste time with a lower charge. I also agree that 25g should be the stopping point as 2.26" is the standard COL and 26g with a 2.20" COL may be pushing it.

[bsumoba]

H335 and Benchmark are my two favorite "bulk" .223 powders for 55gr and they both are at 25gr.

* work up your own loads *

[DazedandConfuzed]

+1 for the 25gr.+

[Lucky Scott]

My load is also 25 gr. with a 55 gr. bullet

[anyracoon]

Yep! Just cranked out another 400 rounds of 25gr H355 with a 55gr Hornady FMJBT.

[Divernhunter]

It is nice to have all cases at the same length. It will be fine to load cases that still fit the gauge.

[cindynles]

I've found 23.8 gr of H335 with 55gr Hornady FMJBT to be a nice and accurate plinking load. I'm getting 2800 fps with this load out of an 18" barrel and it will shoot just under 1" groups at 100 yards off the bench.

[ar15robert]

24.5 works well with my 1x9 twist 20 inch barrel with a 55 grain fmj

[Eljay]

I do 25.0gr H335 with 55gr FMJs. It's pretty much a classic load.

[mark501w]

I use 25 doesn't spill when indexing my machine

[skavert]

Thanks for all the feedback!

Do you generally drop powder right into the case or into the pan and funnel into case? Finding that it gets pretty messy when dropping into the scale pan. Any recommendations on a funnel that works well with .223 with little to no spillage?

[mark501w]

Straight out of the powder measurer ,funnel for compressed loads or weight check

[SByota]

Another user of 25 grains of H335 with 55 FMJ's. Thousands of rounds through lots of different rifles

[Finish it]

I use 25 grains of H335 with 55's too