Newbie Help Reloading .223

[vvortex3]

Hello, I just loaded my first batch of .223 and am concerned that I seated them too deeply.

I am using Berrys' 55gr boat tail bullets and Hogdon CFE223 powder.

Hogdon's website says to load 26.0 grs of powder and seat at 2.200 COL for 55gr SPR SP bullets. I can't find any information on my specific bullets but I seated my boat tails to that length and they seam a bit shorter than the other military ammo that I have. Will this be unsafe to shoot?

What is the proper powder load and COL? My Hornady manual does not cover Hogdon CFE223 powder.

[alpha_romeo_XV]

I've been using CFE223 lately. I got good accuracy with 25g with 55g Hornady HPBTs seated at 2.25 OAL. Did you look on the Hodgdon website http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/ That shows 27.4g max load for 55g and CFE223

As far as the seating depth its not a critical as some people think. You got the extreme limits of too long to fit the magazine and so short its not being held by the case neck. At 2.20 I would shoot them w/o concern.

I didn't know Berrys was making jacketed bullets. What kind of price?

[NapalmCheese]

It's a cannelured 55 grain FMJ-BT, just seat them to the cannelure and call it a day.

Will it be catastrophic if you seat short? Considering you're 26 grain charge is a starting load for other 55 grain bullets I'd say you don't have a problem.

Next time, just seat the the cannelure in properly trimmed cases for 55 grain FMJ unless you're specifically trying to find a better seating depth.

[pacrat]

I've been using CFE223 lately. I got good accuracy with 25g with 55g Hornady HPBTs seated at 2.25 OAL. Did you look on the Hodgdon website http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/ That shows 27.4g max load for 55g and CFE223

As far as the seating depth its not a critical as some people think. You got the extreme limits of too long to fit the magazine and so short its not being held by the case neck. At 2.20 I would shoot them w/o concern.

I didn't know Berrys was making jacketed bullets. What kind of price?

OP,............^^^WHAT HE SAID^^^
n't
aplha romeo...........Berry's does make Jacketed bullets. And they sell them from time to time.

https://www.berrysmfg.com/product/Berry's-223-bullet

underlined denotes edited changes, didn't properly read my own link

[NapalmCheese]

I didn't know Berrys was making jacketed bullets. What kind of price?

https://www.berrysmfg.com/product/Berry's-223-bullet

I've never used them being more of a 75 HPBT or 70 VLD fan.

[racinjason233]

The berry brand boolits have a lower cannelure then others but your load is great. I also run 25 grains of BLC-2 seated at 2.200”. It’s a great plinker load. Shoot what you made with no worries.

[Divernhunter]

You are fine just go shoot them----AFTER this virus thing passes!

[vvortex3]

Thank you all for the help and making me less afraid of trying this first batch. I have many more components to create more bullets and I suppose I should probably not seat the bullets so far after this batch. If i'm understanding correctly I should seat future batches to the cannelure?

Right now I'm just starting out by trying to make functioning cartridges and have no specific goal. Even my shooting level amounts to basically just plinking so far.

As far as Berry's jacketed bullets...I got them from Nachez because they were running some deal ammoseek but it was nothing special. I really overpaid on this first batch of components just to get my hands on something to start playing with this progressive press.

Here is a picture of the bullets from my first batch:

[JackEllis]

I use standard dies and whatever garden variety bullets I can find at a good price in my .223s and my .243. It's not unusual for me to see variations in OAL of 0.005-0.10 inches without touching the die. Those loads shoot well enough for practice ammunition.

Your cartridges look fine. Go shoot 'em.

[avcrew]

If you ever want to pull the bullet out a little, use an impact bullet puller. The one that looks like a hammer. Whack it just enough to push the bullet out a millimeter or two, then re-seat to your desired OAL.

[NapalmCheese]

If i'm understanding correctly I should seat future batches to the cannelure?

For blasting grade 55 grain FMJ-BT, just seat to the cannelure. For anything else seat to the OAL listed for that bullet.

[vvortex3]

Thank you so much, you all are very helpful. It's a lot to take in at first.

[racinjason233]

Loaded some Berry boolits yesterday and they look exactly the same as yours with the same COL. fine job by you. Load mags and head to the range. Welcome to the new rabbit hole of reloading. Which progressive press did you get?

[vvortex3]

Got the Hornady AP. Yes it's a rabbit hole...

[vvortex3]

Just fired my first batch of .223, you are right the deep seated bullets didnt matter much. They increased the velocity by about 150fps average. As for my properly seated rounds, I got the fellowing:

Berry's 55gr FMJ boat tail bullets
26.0gr Hogdon CFE223 Powder


Barrel: "16" 4150CMV, chambered in 5.56 NATO, with a 1/7 twist, M4 barrel and a carbine-length gas system. The M4 profile barrel is melonite QPQ, salt bath nitride coated"
Velocities in AR-15:

2614, 2629, 2616, 2549, 2574, 2594, 2599, 2464, 2544

Average: 2575.9

Spread: 2464 to 2629fps (165fps range)

How is this? Seems like a pretty big spread but what do I know? Would this make a good plinking round? I have components for about 300 more if this looks good. Should I modify anything?