.223 reload seems wrong

[djslik]

I just loaded my first batch of .223 Remington and it seems that there is so little powder that you can hear it shaking around in inside the casing. I have the OAL length right at 2.2 inches based on my Hornady book and double checked with some other manuals. I have a 55 gr copper jacketed bullet and I'm using 17.6 gr of IMR 4198 to start off with. Should I be worried about this or will it still perform correctly. This is my starting load batch and I'll move up or down in grains depending on how it performs.

[ocabj]

Many charge weights result in you being able to shake and hear the powder.

But looking at the manuals, 17.6gr 4198 for a 55gr is under minimum weight. I'm sure it'll be ok to fire, but you will probably end up increasingthe charge weight another full grain or so.

[bohoki]

the only way you wont hear the powder shaking around is if it is a compressed load and i don't make them

check your measure so you are getting at least 20 grains of whatever you are using and it should be enough to get the bullet out of the barrel

[ocabj]

check your measure so you are getting at least 23 grains of whatever you are using and it should be enough to get the bullet out of the barrel

WHOA! 23gr of 4198 is over maximum for a 55gr bullet in .223.

DO NOT USE 23gr OF 4198 WITH THE 55gr!!!

[Darklyte27]

hearing powerder shaking is normal. even commercial bought ones.
You dont need it to be 100% full to shoot.

My Lee book says starting load for my Varget powder is 25.5 and never exceed 27.5

[djslik]

Agreed on the maximum load for IMR 4198. I will start off small since the brass is also milsurp once fired. That means thicker side walls and more pressure in the same casing as opposed to commercial. I don't mind starting off small and then building up. How much do you guys usually go up each time in grains? 0.5 grains is what I'm thinking but let me know what you guys think.

[ocabj]

I usually do .5 gr because a difference of .1 or .2 gr just isn't much of anything. You get .1 variation just in combination of scales and powder measure technique.

[djslik]

Thanks for the help guys. Now I just need to get some feedback at the range.

[Fjold]

One thing:

The minimum load for a 55 grain bullet with IMR4198 is 18.8 grains. (According to www.Hodgdon.com)

It is not recommended to go below minimum recommendations with rifle powders because you can get detonation of the powder (instead of burning). This can cause serious damage to your rifle and maybe your hands and face.

Almost all of my handloads rattle when I shake them except for my compressed loads.

[markw]

My book gives a start load of 19 and a not to exceed of 21 for IMR 4198.

[djslik]

Hmm I just checked Hogdons site and confirmed the 18.8 starting load. I'm worried that my load is a little light. Maybe I'll take the averge of the two and start off with 18.2 grains of IMR 4198. Thanks for the heads up on that one. Hopefully I won't get any detonation.

[B.D.Dubloon]

When I first heard powder shaking around in a cartridge, I thought it would be underpowered. It was in surplus fmj 7.62x54r ammo, and the kick nearly knocked me over. I think that's just how some bullets are.

[Blacktail 8541]

Hmm I just checked Hogdons site and confirmed the 18.8 starting load. I'm worried that my load is a little light. Maybe I'll take the averge of the two and start off with 18.2 grains of IMR 4198. Thanks for the heads up on that one. Hopefully I won't get any detonation.

Do not start below the listed start loads! Some powders like to detonate or have very erradic burning with to low of charge weights. Ammo & Powder makers spend extreme amounts of $ working up this data with the correct equipment.

[Darklyte27]

time to pull some bullets and reload!

[djslik]

So here is my dilemma. I have conflicting information from several different handbooks. How do I make an educated guess as to who is actually right? I mean since I am using IMR 4198 I would assume the website to be correct. But does that mean that Hornady's latest reloading manual is wrong? This must come up a lot, but how do you determine the correct starting load that is not dangerous?