Quick Recipe Question

[sfonelson]

Yesterday I loaded up 100 .223.
I checked my three manuals and couldn't find the exact recipe, but the Hodgdon website had exact specs. Here's what I loaded up

24.5gr of H4895 under SMK 69gr.

Starting load was 24gr, and max load was 26gr compressed. I've double and tripled checked, and I'm spot on with the COL, wieght, everything, but something just doesn't sit right.

Normally, when you go up in grains in bullets, you use less powder, or so I've noticed. Last week I loaded up 23.5gr H4895 under 55gr Nosler BT's. It just seems weird that I would have more powder in a larger bullet.

Does this look right? Does anybody else have experience with this recipe?

TIA!

[rsrocket1]

I think you're OK with the 24.5g H4895 if your COAL is 2.35" or longer, but I would not try 26g unless working up very carefully and watching for signs. Hodgdon says 26g generates only 49.7kpsi while QL says 26g generates 70.8kpsi. The .223 is rated for only 62kspi.

Sierra says 25.5g of H4895 is the max for a 24" bolt .223 and even that is a touch over the CIP max pressure. The AR-15 .223 Sierra Load data says 24.5g H4895 is the max for 69g HPBT SMK's.

If you already shot the 24.5's and saw no problems, I would work down from there and look for an accuracy node. If not, I would work up from about 22-23.

[sfonelson]

Thanks!

Yeah, I'm in the beginning stages of my reloading career, so I don't think that I am going to use max loads anytime soon. I just want something safe that goes bang. I prefer to keep my hands, face, and firearm intact.

The manual that you are referring too is IMR4895, not H4895. They are similar, but still different enough.

I think you're OK with the 24.5g H4895 if your COAL is 2.35" or longer, but I would not try 26g unless working up very carefully and watching for signs. Hodgdon says 26g generates only 49.7kpsi while QL says 26g generates 70.8kpsi. The .223 is rated for only 62kspi.

I just read the second part of your post where you said that H4895 is max load for the cartridge. On the link it actually specifies IMR 4895, not Hodgdon (H4895). I know it's similar, but it's actually not the same. I saw that too, which is why this is kinda confusing. I think that H4895 is a faster powder, but I could be wrong.

Sierra says 25.5g of H4895 is the max for a 24" bolt .223 and even that is a touch over the CIP max pressure. The AR-15 .223 Sierra Load data says 24.5g H4895 is the max for 69g HPBT SMK's.

If you already shot the 24.5's and saw no problems, I would work down from there and look for an accuracy node. If not, I would work up from about 22-23.

[rsrocket1]

Oops, you're right on the AR15 page, I added that because I found it after looking at the bolt action load data (the first link that actually does state that 25.5g of H4895 is the max load for 69g HPBT SMK's on p.231). I would guess you are using this in an AR. Yes, IMR 4895 is more potent I believe, so the AR info is not applicable.

I've settled on 25g H335 with 55g fmjbt's for my 20" AR (25.3g was the published max). I started on the low end at 23g and they cycled fine, but the grouping was mediocre. I was getting much better groups with factory ammo so I knew it wasn't the gun. Sure enough, I worked up to 24 then 25 and at 25g, the groups shrank down to <1" and when I chrono'ed it, the speeds matched the factory ammo. I could have tweaked it to the nearest .1g, but the gun/bullets now shoot better than I do so there is no point .

[sfonelson]

Yup, I just noticed that now too on the .223 bolt action. And yup, this is for my AR.

I'm just shooting with my irons so I'm happy to just hit the black area on the target at 100 yards.

Thanks for the advice!

Oops, you're right on the AR15 page, I added that because I found it after looking at the bolt action load data (the first link that actually does state that 25.5g of H4895 is the max load for 69g HPBT SMK's on p.231). I would guess you are using this in an AR. Yes, IMR 4895 is more potent I believe, so the AR info is not applicable.

I've settled on 25g H335 with 55g fmjbt's for my 20" AR (25.3g was the published max). I started on the low end at 23g and they cycled fine, but the grouping was mediocre. I was getting much better groups with factory ammo so I knew it wasn't the gun. Sure enough, I worked up to 24 then 25 and at 25g, the groups shrank down to <1" and when I chrono'ed it, the speeds matched the factory ammo. I could have tweaked it to the nearest .1g, but the gun/bullets now shoot better than I do so there is no point .

[SixPointEight]

Was 23.5 the listed max on those other bullets?

Powder charge is dependent on weight as well as several other factors, including the length of the bullet bearing surface etc, so a GENERAL rule would be use less powder for a heavier bullet. However it's not always true.

I've stuffed H4895 behind a 68/69gr bullet before, worked up to the max listed in hodgdons online resource with no issues. With that said, always work up your load. Just because 26gr is safe in my rifle doesn't mean it will be in anyone else's.

[sfonelson]

No, 23.5gr was the starting load for those other bullets. I haven't worked up a load with those, and I don't really plan too. They are just for plinking. If I remember correctly, I think it was 25 or 26gr was max load for my 55 grainers.

Was 23.5 the listed max on those other bullets?

Powder charge is dependent on weight as well as several other factors, including the length of the bullet bearing surface etc, so a GENERAL rule would be use less powder for a heavier bullet. However it's not always true.

I've stuffed H4895 behind a 68/69gr bullet before, worked up to the max listed in hodgdons online resource with no issues. With that said, always work up your load. Just because 26gr is safe in my rifle doesn't mean it will be in anyone else's.