Working on first reloads

[BuRu]

I love h322. It was consistent and accurate for me in a bolt gun or AR at 21.5gr.

It's definitely slow running, but it's great for the range out to a few hundred yards.

That's good to hear. We'll see how they work out. Thanks.

[ar15barrels]

Hello Fellow Calgunners,
I'm new to reloading and am working up my first 223 loads. I will be using RMR 55gr FMJBT, H322 powder, Federal SRP and once fired brass that I have full length sized and trimmed to 1.750. I checked in the Hornady Handbook, Lee Modern Reloading book as well as Hodgdon's website and have decided on the following loads (5 each).
21.0gr
21.4gr
21.8gr
22.2gr
22.6gr
23.0gr
The COL will be 2.200". I am not sure if I will be using a 16" 1/9 556 NATO barrel or 18" 1/8 223 Wylde barrel. I don't have a chronograph to check my velocities. I would appreciate any tips or point out errors you see on my part. Am I missing something or do you have suggestions on powders or bullet weights?

Does the cannelure end mostly under the end of the case mouth at 2.2"?
If not, seat those bullets so that 2/3 of the cannelure is covered by the case mouth and then lightly crimp the case necks into the cannelure.

I bet that closer to 23 is going to be better than the lighter loads.

Cartridge          : .223 Rem. (SAAMI)
Bullet             : .224, 55, Hornady FMJ-BT w/c 2267
Useable Case Capaci: 25.931 grain H2O = 1.684 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.200 inch = 55.88 mm
Barrel Length      : 16.1 inch = 408.9 mm
Powder             : Hodgdon H322

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 0.87% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-08.7   90    21.00   2627     843   36800   9431     90.1    0.923
-07.8   91    21.20   2653     859   37812   9545     90.7    0.912
-07.0   92    21.40   2678     876   38860   9656     91.2    0.900
-06.1   93    21.60   2704     893   39935   9766     91.7    0.889
-05.2   94    21.80   2730     910   41041   9874     92.2    0.877
-04.3   95    22.00   2756     928   42179   9981     92.6    0.866
-03.5   96    22.20   2782     945   43350  10085     93.1    0.855
-02.6   97    22.40   2808     963   44555  10187     93.6    0.844
-01.7   97    22.60   2834     981   45796  10288     94.0    0.834
-00.9   98    22.80   2860     999   47075  10385     94.4    0.823  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   99    23.00   2886    1017   48391  10481     94.8    0.813  ! Near Maximum !
+00.9  100    23.20   2912    1036   49746  10575     95.2    0.803  ! Near Maximum !
+01.7  101    23.40   2938    1054   51143  10666     95.6    0.793  ! Near Maximum !
+02.6  102    23.60   2964    1073   52565  10754     96.0    0.783  ! Near Maximum !
+03.5  103    23.80   2990    1092   54065  10840     96.3    0.773  ! Near Maximum !
+04.3  103    24.00   3017    1111   55588  10923     96.7    0.763  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     99    23.00   3046    1133   58085  10646     99.2    0.751  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     99    23.00   2686     881   39703   9809     86.7    0.891

[BuRu]

Does the cannelure end mostly under the end of the case mouth at 2.2"?
If not, seat those bullets so that 2/3 of the cannelure is covered by the case mouth and then lightly crimp the case necks into the cannelure.

I bet that closer to 23 is going to be better than the lighter loads.

Cartridge          : .223 Rem. (SAAMI)
Bullet             : .224, 55, Hornady FMJ-BT w/c 2267
Useable Case Capaci: 25.931 grain H2O = 1.684 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.200 inch = 55.88 mm
Barrel Length      : 16.1 inch = 408.9 mm
Powder             : Hodgdon H322

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 0.87% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-08.7   90    21.00   2627     843   36800   9431     90.1    0.923
-07.8   91    21.20   2653     859   37812   9545     90.7    0.912
-07.0   92    21.40   2678     876   38860   9656     91.2    0.900
-06.1   93    21.60   2704     893   39935   9766     91.7    0.889
-05.2   94    21.80   2730     910   41041   9874     92.2    0.877
-04.3   95    22.00   2756     928   42179   9981     92.6    0.866
-03.5   96    22.20   2782     945   43350  10085     93.1    0.855
-02.6   97    22.40   2808     963   44555  10187     93.6    0.844
-01.7   97    22.60   2834     981   45796  10288     94.0    0.834
-00.9   98    22.80   2860     999   47075  10385     94.4    0.823  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   99    23.00   2886    1017   48391  10481     94.8    0.813  ! Near Maximum !
+00.9  100    23.20   2912    1036   49746  10575     95.2    0.803  ! Near Maximum !
+01.7  101    23.40   2938    1054   51143  10666     95.6    0.793  ! Near Maximum !
+02.6  102    23.60   2964    1073   52565  10754     96.0    0.783  ! Near Maximum !
+03.5  103    23.80   2990    1092   54065  10840     96.3    0.773  ! Near Maximum !
+04.3  103    24.00   3017    1111   55588  10923     96.7    0.763  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     99    23.00   3046    1133   58085  10646     99.2    0.751  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     99    23.00   2686     881   39703   9809     86.7    0.891

Thanks Randall, I'll check the cannelure. From the data you provided going over 23gr is possible although dangerous so I take it this is when the chronograph would come in handy. what do I look for in the data the chronograph provides to help me steer clear of problems?

[ar15barrels]

Thanks Randall, I'll check the cannelure.
From the data you provided going over 23gr is possible although dangerous so I take it this is when the chronograph would come in handy.
what do I look for in the data the chronograph provides to help me steer clear of problems?

Look at the velocity to correlate to pressure.
I posted a Quickload simulation, not actual tested data.
The simulation I posted above is for a 16" barrel so compare the velocity you are getting and my simulation will show you where you are on pressure.
Best accuracy is often found around 50,000psi with your components which will correlate to around 2925fps with your 16" barrel or around 3000fps in your 18" barrel.
Max pressure is 62,000 or 55,000 depending on which standard you choose to use.
50,000psi is a moderate load either way.
Loads under 40,000psi may have problems cycling some rifles.

Here is an 18" simulation using the 62,366psi limit for 5.56 instead of the lower 55,000psi limit for 223 Remington.

Cartridge          : 5.56 mm NATO - 5.56 x 45 mm
Bullet             : .224, 55, Hornady FMJ-BT w/c 2267
Useable Case Capaci: 25.624 grain H2O = 1.664 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.200 inch = 55.88 mm
Barrel Length      : 18.0 inch = 457.2 mm
Powder             : Hodgdon H322

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 0.847% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-08.5   94    21.60   2803     960   40832   8679     93.2    0.936
-07.6   95    21.80   2829     978   41976   8768     93.7    0.924
-06.8   96    22.00   2856     996   43152   8854     94.1    0.912
-05.9   97    22.20   2882    1014   44364   8939     94.5    0.901
-05.1   98    22.40   2908    1033   45613   9021     94.9    0.890
-04.2   99    22.60   2935    1052   46899   9102     95.3    0.878
-03.4   99    22.80   2961    1071   48208   9180     95.7    0.867
-02.5  100    23.00   2987    1090   49589   9256     96.1    0.857
-01.7  101    23.20   3014    1109   50995   9330     96.4    0.846
-00.8  102    23.40   3040    1128   52445   9401     96.8    0.836
+00.0  103    23.60   3066    1148   53939   9470     97.1    0.825  ! Near Maximum !
+00.8  104    23.80   3092    1168   55481   9536     97.4    0.815  ! Near Maximum !
+01.7  105    24.00   3118    1188   57072   9600     97.7    0.805  ! Near Maximum !
+02.5  106    24.20   3145    1208   58712   9661     97.9    0.795  ! Near Maximum !
+03.4  106    24.40   3171    1228   60403   9719     98.2    0.786  ! Near Maximum !
+04.2  107    24.60   3197    1248   62148   9775     98.4    0.776  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba    103    23.60   3218    1265   64784   9406     99.9    0.765  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba    103    23.60   2866    1003   44142   9049     90.2    0.903

[RiskyBusiness]

If you ever get a chance to experiment with varget and your 55gr bullets you'll really like it. Impossible to overcharge and incredible accuracy

[trailblazer87]

OP, I am in the Fresno area, I have a chronograph and a range if you are in the area.

As for .223, I use CFE223 powder myself for that and 308.

[ysr_racer]

Thanks for the offer Brad, I'll keep it in mind. I was just looking at the Caldwell Ballistic precision chronograph. Still got to check out reviews though.

Just order this chrono, and be done with it. I use mine all the time, and it works great. Download the app, and it will dump the data to your phone

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FTJYQ9Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_.W96Fb84ZKKXZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

[Fjold]

When you buy your chronograph, you don't want it to read like this:

[ar15barrels]

When you buy your chronograph, you don't want it to read like this:

I'm going with 22-250 ackley and a 35gr vmax or ntx.

[BuRu]

Thanks Randall, I'll compare data when I get to try them.

If you ever get a chance to experiment with varget and your 55gr bullets you'll really like it. Impossible to overcharge and incredible accuracy

I'll check varget out. thanks

OP, I am in the Fresno area, I have a chronograph and a range if you are in the area.
As for .223, I use CFE223 powder myself for that and 308.

Thanks for the offer. If I drive up there I'll let you know. I have CFE223. I'll give that a try too.

Just order this chrono, and be done with it. I use mine all the time, and it works great. Download the app, and it will dump the data to your phone

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FTJYQ9Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_.W96Fb84ZKKXZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

This chronograph would work better then the Caldwell one? Not to much of a price difference to get one.

When you buy your chronograph, you don't want it to read like this:

Frank, I hope I don't.

[BuRu]

I got home late today and decided to make a dummy round. The COL is 2.240, it looks like I seated the bullet in enough to crimp to the cannelure. I chambered it in to my rifle and it came out with the scratches on the bullet. The top scratch is from the seating stem, the ones closes to the case mouth are the ones that happend when I chambered it. Is this normal or should I make another round at 2.200 COL? Sorry for the bad picture.

20201229_161121~2.jpg

[ar15barrels]

I got home late today and decided to make a dummy round. The COL is 2.240, it looks like I seated the bullet in enough to crimp to the cannelure. I chambered it in to my rifle and it came out with the scratches on the bullet. The top scratch is from the seating stem, the ones closes to the case mouth are the ones that happend when I chambered it. Is this normal or should I make another round at 2.200 COL? Sorry for the bad picture.

[ATTACH]969667[/ATTACH]

Load up another dummy at 2.22" OAL.
Mark up the bullet with a black sharpie so the whole bullet is black.
Chamber and extract the case and take a picture that's in focus without reflections and post the good picture.

[lordmorgul]

This chronograph would work better then the Caldwell one? Not to much of a price difference to get one.

[RiskyBusiness]

I seat my 55gr at 2.200. I've had better accuracy with shorter coal than longer but it's up to you to figure out what your barrel likes

[BuRu]

I made another dummy around. Brass is at 1.750 and I seated the bullet at OAL 2.200. I still get the scratches on the bullet. The way I chamber it is load it in the magazine and release the BCG. Picture below, hopefully its clearer. Any thoughts? This has been on my 16", I might try on the 18" Wylde just to see.