Reloading for the AR platform

[CALI SHOT DOC]

I've watched tons of videos and have read tons of posts on calguns and various other sites regarding reloading .223 Rem but I still have a few questions that I hope you guys with more experience can answer.

I have a M&P15 Sport, 16in 1/9 twist barrel and a Dillon 550b. I've been loading 9mm for a few years now and am just getting into loading .223
For 223 i'm using S&B SRP, mix brass, H335 and 55gr Berry's FMJ-BT at 2.230" COL (i also have hornady 55g z-max)
I did a ladder test of 5 rounds each from 22gr-25.5gr going up every .5gr

@100 yes my best group was with 23.5gr and 25gr. Had no fte or any issues.

I've read the go to load for 55gr with H335 is 25gr.

My question is what should be my COL? My hogdon book says to load to 2.220" with a max load of 23.5 and my lyman book says to load to 2.260" with a max of 26.5 (i believe, don't have the book in front of me). I've seen some say load to magazine length and others to the middle of the cannelure which is kinda what i did. I've also read that some like to seat the bullet to somewhat compact the powder so it's not really loose.

What are your thoughts on the COL for the AR platform? Any tips for loading 223?

Any advice would be great. Thanks as always!

[Metal God]

2.260 in the max period do to mag length . Not sure why they suggest 2.265 those will hang up in the mag .

Hornady manual shows 2.250 for the 55gr V-max

25gr is my load for the Hornady 55gr FMJBT with CCI #400 primers , mixed years LC brass

[baih777]

I loadem at mag length and book length. see which gives the best group. I do both to save me a few trips to the range.
try 52gr with that 1/9 twist. I shoot the Hornaday 52gr A-Max

[mjmagee67]

I've been loading 223/5.56 with 25gr H335 and 55gr FMJ's for years it is my goto plinking round. I just seat to the canneluar. I've used Hornady, Extreme, and No Name bulk fmj for the load and never had an issue.

I've also used the Hornady 55gr SP's with the same load. The SP's are more accurate but harder to seat on my progressive because they are flat base.

[anyracoon]

Yep!
25gr H355, 55gr FMJBT and seated to 2.25"

[CALI SHOT DOC]

Thanks

[Squidward]

Most books indicate a minimum overall length and reloaders typically tailor loads to their gun. However, it's important to also tailor loads to your magazine (with regard to OAL) as magazines are not all the same. For example, a round that feeds from a NATO/STANAG mag may be tool long for proper feeding from a Magpul mag.

[stormvet]

Middle of the cannelure myself, depending on the round COL will change somewhat. I don't have my log in front of me, but I believe my last load of 556 was 2.20-30 with 25 grans of benchmark. I don't load for extreme accuracy, most of my 556 shooting is with zero power red dot optics.

[dragon7]

2.22 - 2.23 COL, HORNADY FMJ 55 gr, 24 gr H335 is my goto load. All my ARs shoot really well with it. If I'm trying for better accuracy I have tried using one head stamp (RP in a recent range trip) for my brass and found some success trying that.

[6mmintl]

Load out to 3.260", get the bullet closer to the lands, add .2 grains more powder to offset more volume. Do not crimp.

Some mags are as big as 2.280" always load .010" shorter

[MarkG35]

I usually load to 2.250 OAL.That's with PMAG's.

[micro911]

I check the bullet seating depth with the comparator. Once I find out the max seating depth, I check the max magazine length. The mag length is usually a lot shorter than the max seating depth. I seat the bullets as far out and still fit all my magazines. I have good accuracy with it.

[Jeff213]

I go with 2.250 for all my .223 because I know it will fit in my ars and it still shoots well through my savage bolt action

@2.260 I have had trouble with the rounds hanging up in 10 round pmags, not @2.250 though.

[tanks]

One other thing you could do is to measure the OAL of rounds that your AR and magazines like and duplicate that.