Working up my first .223 loads

[tdohowe]

Spent another relaxing evening at the reloading bench. I'm enjoying this more than I imagined.

I'm using Berrys .223 55gr fmj bt
W748 powder
Cci #400 primers
Mixed once fired brass
Trimmed to 1.750
OAL 2.255

So far I have loaded the following

25.5 gr
26 gr.
26.5 gr.

Does this sound good? Should I load some a little light and some a little heavier?

The difference in min and max loads in all the books has me puzzled so I shot for the middle of the road. I have seen min charges as low as 23 and 26 grains. And max charges between 26.3 and 28.

[tdohowe]

Does any one else load the same bullet/ powder combo? What has worked well for you?

[highpower790]

With a mixed lot of brass I would stay on the low end of the charge spectrum.

[tdohowe]

My mistake.
99% of my brass is federal once fired by me.
I just looked again at all the stamps. Everything I loaded so far is federal..
Looks like my six year old son sorted all the brass by head stamp when he deprimed and tumbled it for me. I found a bag of mixed head stamp brass under my bench.
Damn that kid is good to me.

[kalapa]

According to Lyman 49th, W748 ranges from 25-27.8 gr @ 2.260"

Should be good to go

[scotty99]

I've loaded thousands of rounds of 55 grainers with 27 grains of 748. It's a good basic load.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[baih777]

Spent another relaxing evening at the reloading bench. I'm enjoying this more than I imagined.

I'm using Berrys .223 55gr fmj bt
W748 powder
Cci #400 primers
Mixed once fired brass
Trimmed to 1.750
OAL 2.255

So far I have loaded the following

25.5 gr
26 gr.
26.5 gr.

Does this sound good? Should I load some a little light and some a little heavier?

The difference in min and max loads in all the books has me puzzled so I shot for the middle of the road. I have seen min charges as low as 23 and 26 grains. And max charges between 26.3 and 28.

if you decide to go a little higher. do it in .3 increments. when you get near the max load data .5 is too much of a jump.

[6.5Grendelfan]

What is the max COAL for your chamber and that bullet? Do you have access to a chronograph? All chambers are different.

[tdohowe]

I haven't measured the chamber on the rifles. I might have to pick up a chronograph soon. I will definitely be measuring the chambers a sap.

[6.5Grendelfan]

To be safe, I wouldn't reload anywhere near max without knowing one of those two - max COAL and velocity. COAL to be sure you're not jamming into the lands, and velocity as an indirect measure of pressure. You can always look for signs of high pressure on your brass - flattened primers, ejectors/extractor marks, but that's not always the best method.

Have fun and be safe.

[bsumoba]

Chambers will normally have a long enough freebore that a loaded round OAL at max magazine length with any bullet, will not reach the lands. You can certainly try to measure it if you like though.

IMO, load the 55gr bullets at the cannelure, assuming your bullets have one, then work up your loads. If it doesnt have one, you could certainly follow some book COAL for 55gr bullets, then work up your loads there.

I use W748 with 77gr SMKs loaded to max OAL for a magazine in my Larue and it is a tack driver. Varget is also good for the heavier grain bullets.

55gr bullets, H335 or Benchmark are my favorite powders.

[Paseclipse]

That's a little on the high side for starting out. It's safest to start low and work up.

The Hornady manual lists 22.7-26.6 grains of win 748 with 55 grain bullets. I'm currently working up the same load and the range I'm sticking with is 23.5-26.2 grains in .3 grain increments.

Do yourself a favor and get a few manuals. Best to have published data to work with.

[tdohowe]

I currently have the Speer and Lee manual. I was also using th data off the Winchester website.

I will load some lighter rounds when I get home this evening.

[Paseclipse]

I currently have the Speer and Lee manual. I was also using th data off the Winchester website.

I will load some lighter rounds when I get home this evening.

That's a good start for manuals. They'll at least get you in the ball park range.

Another really good manual to get is the one Hornady publishes because it has sections dedicated specifically to service rifles.

[tdohowe]

I just can't believe the differences in min and max loads between the different recourses. I will see if I can find the Hornady book today.