H335+CCI41+55gr FMJBT: anyone got a lot of experiences with this combo?

[Jicko]

"A lot of experiences" <- loaded and fired thousands of them.... in various conditions (temp)

.... can comment on its accuracy? and performance?

.... can recommend your recipe (ie. gr of H335) and brass?

Thanks~

[ar15barrels]

"A lot of experiences" <- loaded and fired thousands of them.... in various conditions (temp)

.... can comment on its accuracy? and performance?

Send me your gun and thousands of rounds of it and I'll let you know how it does.
Every gun is different.
What works well in mine might not work well in yours.

[Bug Splat]

Randalls right. Every gun is different and even powder lots can be different. I've shot that load above for years using LC brass (thats the only 223/556 brass I reload) and used the same amount of powder every time, 1/2gr short of recommended max load. It shot great for years. A few months ago I bought a few pounds of H335 and loaded up 800 round. First trip to the range and I had over pressure signs not just in my AR my also my brothers. I stopped shooting and went home to inspect. I thought maybe my charge was off but I checked 10 random rounds out of the bunch and all were right on. I had to pull all 780 rounds, resize the neck and reload at a full gr less. I have no idea why the powder is so hot but it was. That's the last time I load up that big of a batch like that from a new lot of powder without testing first.

The best combo is the one you work up and test for your gun. All three of my 223 rifles like a different load and all three hate the other rifles loads. One likes 40gr v-max, one likes 55gr v-max, and the last loves 69grSMK. Guns are more picky than women

[freonr22]

Really? wow! damn. this sucks, I am going to work up a load in 2 different calibers for each ar? x 3 x load developement and set aside the ammo for each? not cool imho

[Bug Splat]

Really? wow! damn. this sucks, I am going to work up a load in 2 different calibers for each ar? x 3 x load developement and set aside the ammo for each? not cool imho

Please understand that I am VERY VERY VERY picky about accuracy. When I say one rifle does not like a load I'm talking about 1.5 inch groups at 100 yards. To me that is just bad. I expect at least 1/2 MOA or better from my rifles. I use 55gr FMJBT load for plunking. I will run through at least 5 different bullet types and all weights before I settle on a load. Once I pick a load I work on seating depth starting at the lands and moving back every .010.

It takes months to find the right load but when you do, its like butter. mmmmmmm

[Jicko]

What works well in mine might not work well in yours.

Understood.

That's why i said.... your recipe and your experience.... i didn't ask about your recipe and my experience, right?

I am just doing data-gathering... not planning on just loading thousands of rounds in your recipe without the regular testings...

[gau17]

i use LC07/08 brass trimmed to 1.75. Full sized with redding/remington 7 1/2 primers/ Hornady 55 grain FMJ/ 24.8 H335 24.0 for plinking.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

I use what ever brass I can get my hands on(trimmed between 1.750-1.752)... CCI400 or Wolf SR primers. 25.0gr H335

[Gunsrruss]

Load

Hi Jicko, what NRA said is good. You don't want to load 55gr with h335 at anything less than 25gr. You might even be good at 26gr, but 25 is safe.

[gau17]

Jicko -

See what your gun likes. start somewhere 24.0 to 26.0 grains. work your way up in .3 grain increments. you will probably see your groups getting tighter towards 25.0 grains. Shoot 5 round groups. look for presure sign as you go up. BE SAFE.

+1 Randal.

[Someoneelseok]

Jicko -

See what your gun likes. start somewhere 24.0 to 26.0 grains. work your way up in .3 grain increments. you will probably see your groups getting tighter towards 25.0 grains. Shoot 5 round groups. look for presure sign as you go up. BE SAFE.

+1 Randal.

It's a good combo. M41's hardened cup against the FF firing pin. M41's are magnum class primers, which I think helps H335 burn better (ball powders are supposedly harder to ignite). ball powders also meter quickly and accurately.

Follow gau's advice and find your rifle's sweet spot. I found my rifle's sweet spot with this combo, it works perfectly for me. You'll see the groups get tighter around 25gr, and then as you approach overpressure, your groups will widen.

[Jicko]

Thanks for all the info, I am not just developing this load for one gun, this batch of ammo will probably be used among as much as 10 guns (varying from 14.5" to 20"). All having 5.56NATO chamber.

So, this load development is more like developing a commercial load. I need to make it hot enough to give some uniformly acceptable performance, while I need to make it mellow enough to be universally safe.

So far, I had tried 25 and 26gr of H335 (and some variations), and even @ 26gr, it will not be able to go as fast as XM193; so I think I am going to give up on making it XM193 equivalent.... I think it may be difficult unless I am starting to crimp the primer, etc... and these days (cold) are probably not the best days to do this testing... since... mid-summer usage maybe too dangerous....

I think I will go back and test a batch of 25 and 25.5 and 26 H335 across multiple weapons... and pick a middle number.

What I can scarifice is a little accuracy... as long as it can make like 2MOA, I am gtg....

We have enough "same lot" components to make 10-15k rounds or more...