First time reloader, please help with load for .223

[Blank Zero]

Hello all,
I am a first time reloader, and as I begin my first load, I am wondering can you guys take a look into my load and tell me if it is safe? This is a first load ever, so I guess fit more into plinking purpose.

I am using the below

Brass: .223 Remington
Bullet: 55 Gr Sierra boat tail
Powder: Hodgdon Varget
Primer: CCI #41

I am thinking of making 10 different load, each with about 5 cartridge, below are my load

1: 22.5 Gr
2: 23.8 Gr
3: 24.3 Gr
4: 24.8 Gr
5: 25.1 Gr
6: 25.4 Gr
7: 25.8 Gr
8: 26.2 Gr
9: 26.5 Gr
10: 26.8 Gr

When i test these load, beside from grouping, what else should I look for? Also, I have a chrony, so what speed should I aim for?

Thank you so much in advance for your help,
Blank

[Chief-7700]

What source are you getting your reloading data from? I always use three different reloading manuals while working up loads.
Lyman's 49th Edition:
Varget
Start 25.0 grains=2977 FPS 34,700 CUP Pressure
Max 27.8+ grains=3346 FPS 51,400 CUP Pressure
55 Grain Jacketed SPT
2.260 OAL

[Blank Zero]

Hello Chief,
I am using the data that I compare from Lyman, speer, hornady and lee.... Also, I was suggested that always start with 10% under the start load, and never to get to the max load. Do you always set your load at 25?

[killshot44]

BZ, I found that I had the best groups with 24.0gr of Varget with Sierra Blitz Kings (20" HBAR 1/9)
Over about 24.5 they opened up so I backed down. 24.0 chrono'd at 2,540 avg.
I'd recommend you tighten your spread to perhaps 23.0 to 25.0 with loads also at .25gr increments.

You've got the right idea going.

[Nodda Duma]

Just to add to what Killshot says above, note that the increments he suggests are ~1% of the total load. This is a good rule of thumb for initial work up of a load. At ~25 gr, you increase load in .25 gr increments. At ~50 gr loads (as for 30-06 or .308), increment by 0.5 gr.

Also suggest that when you take those loads out to shoot for best grouping, set up all your targets, and then shoot one round from each load set at its respective target, then repeat. In this way you'll actually mitigate the effect of increasing barrel temperature (as opposed to shooting all the rounds for one load set while the barrel is still cool, and shooting all the rounds for the final load set while the barrel is at its hottest).

My load is 55 gr FMJ, military brass, CCI #41, and 25 gr of H335. Consistent steel pinger at 600 yards.

-Jason

[Bongos]

My load is 55 gr FMJ, military brass, CCI #41, and 25 gr of H335. Consistent steel pinger at 600 yards.

-Jason

Pretty consistent for my AR also, 25.3 gr is MAX for AR.

To the OP, if you are shooting an AR, the loads are slightly different to a bolt gun. I checked your numbers with Varget and it looks fine.

What I do suggest is be careful with your powder measurer and do not assume you are getting the same powder charge every time. Varget is stick powder and even with my $200 Redding Powder Bench measurer, it can have a variance of +/- .5 gr. If you have not bought the powder yet, for 223, I would recommend ball powder like , 748, BL-C2, and H335.

If you are using an AR, know your barrel's rate of twist.
1:9 will be great with 55gr up to 69gr bullet
1:8 this is what competition shooters used and is usually a custom build
1:7.7 this is the Cat's Meow and is Custom
1:7 is current military issue for the MK262 round, great with 75-77gr bullets, I'm still testing it with 69gr with no success.

[Blank Zero]

Thank you so much guys,
At Bongos: I do shoot an AR and my rifling rate is 1:8. This is my first run ever, so I run with 55 gr, what do you recommend for the 1:8?

[ar15barrels]

I am using the data that I compare from Lyman, speer, hornady and lee....
I was suggested that always start with 10% under the start load, and never to get to the max load.

That was a BAD suggestion.
You should always start 10% under the MAX LOAD.
Reducing below the start load can be just as unsafe as going past the max load.

[Blank Zero]

Thank you AR15, but if you read my post again, I do start with 10% under the starting load

[ar15barrels]

Thank you AR15, but if you read my post again, I do start with 10% under the starting load

You are doing it WRONG.

You should start AT the starting load which should be 10% BELOW MAX.

DO NOT START 10% BELOW
THE STARTING LOAD.

That can be unsafe with some powders.

Read about the "pressure wave phenomenon".

http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/121741-undercharge-blows-up-model-64-need-explanation.html

[Nodda Duma]

Yes, Max Load is *not* equal to Starting Load.

-Jason

[Zeke003]

Yeah Randall there knows his stuff. You look at the MAX load then REDUCE by 10% and that's your STARTING load and you work up from there.

[LGB Loader]

That was a BAD suggestion.
You should always start 10% under the MAX LOAD.
Reducing below the start load can be just as unsafe as going past the max load.

Beat me to it, Randall.

Starting 10% under the starting load is definitely a big huge No-No.

Please listen to this advise.

LGB

[Ahhnother8]

Hello all,
I am a first time reloader, and as I begin my first load, I am wondering can you guys take a look into my load and tell me if it is safe? This is a first load ever, so I guess fit more into plinking purpose.

I am using the below

Brass: .223 Remington
Bullet: 55 Gr Sierra boat tail
Powder: Hodgdon Varget
Primer: CCI #41

I am thinking of making 10 different load, each with about 5 cartridge, below are my load

1: 22.5 Gr
2: 23.8 Gr
3: 24.3 Gr
4: 24.8 Gr
5: 25.1 Gr
6: 25.4 Gr
7: 25.8 Gr
8: 26.2 Gr
9: 26.5 Gr
10: 26.8 Gr

When i test these load, beside from grouping, what else should I look for? Also, I have a chrony, so what speed should I aim for?

Thank you so much in advance for your help,
Blank

I did a similar test yesterday in Lincoln, CA:

Brass: Winchester
Bullet: 55 gr Sierra Blitzking
Powder: Varget
Primer: CCI 450
Upper: Compass Lake Engineering
Barrel: 20" / 1:7.7 Krieger - heavily fluted to make weight for sporting rifle matches
Temperature: 90 degrees

26.00 gr / 2969 fps / .905" group
26.25 gr / 2999 fps / .980" group
26.50 gr / 3027 fps / .930" group
26.75 gr / 3057 fps / .655" group 4 shots in .310" group
27.00 gr / 3096 fps / .755" group
27.25 gr / 3117 fps / .455" group

All 5 shot groups. It was a bit breezy in Lincoln yesterday, and it kept switching from 3 to 6 o'clock. The 27.25 grain load showed some ejector marks on the casehead. Although it shot a nice round 1/2 MOA group, I would not use this load in the Summer months. I know that is the max load, so I will back down to the 26.75 grain load and use it for 100-200 yard competition. These loads are highly compressed. I prefer lightly compressed, but this will work just fine. I think that 27.50 grains would be full to the top of the case, before seating the bullet.

These loads are fine in MY barrel, with MY lots of brass, primers, bullets, and especially powder. Yes, they ALL vary lot to lot!!

Lane

[Bongos]

Thank you so much guys,
At Bongos: I do shoot an AR and my rifling rate is 1:8. This is my first run ever, so I run with 55 gr, what do you recommend for the 1:8?

With my 1:8 RRA 16", the H335 25.3gr /55fmj will yeild .5" groups
the same load in my LWRC 1:7 16" M6A3 with the piston in the off position, yeild 2"-2.5" @ 100 yards