Highest suggested .223 load/pressure?

[send it_hit]

I've worked up some different loads to go test out. I've loaded from between 23.8 and 25.0 grains of r-15 powder into with once fired Federal, PMC, and Prvi Partizan brass, using 77 and 80 grain SMK HPBT, and CCI #400 small rifle primers.

I'm searching for the maximum suggested load, and I'm seeing so many different suggestions. I want to be sure I'm not loading dangerously. On Alliant's site, their suggested load for 77g SMK's using R-15 goes up to 24.1, but that's with Fed. 205M primers... Does that mean 24.1 is the max to be loading at before you reach dangerous numbers, or is that just the suggestion?

The heaviest bullet I will be loading is 80 grain... is there a magic number at which my ammo will become dangerously high in pressure? I've stopped at 25.0 until I figure it out, just in case.

[XDRoX]

Unfortunately you're asking a question that can't be answered on a forum.

Maximum loads are unique to each individual gun and components. There are just too many variables. In order to truly find the data that you're looking for you'd need the same primers, powder, bullets, brass (including times fired), and gun. It would be almost impossible to find. Even if you did find your exact combination of materials elevation and temperature could come into play. This is why you see such a variation of max loads from source to source.

The proper way to find a max load is to work it up. Slowly bump up your charge until you see signs of pressure and then back the charge down a little. A chronograph is also key.

Loading to max is very dangerous. A little too much powder or a little bullet setback can lead to undesirable results. So be careful.

Sorry if this sounded too Just trying to help.

[send it_hit]

Unfortunately you're asking a question that can't be answered on a forum.

Maximum loads are unique to each individual gun and components. There are just too many variables. In order to truly find the data that you're looking for you'd need the same primers, powder, bullets, brass (including times fired), and gun. It would be almost impossible to find. Even if you did find your exact combination of materials elevation and temperature could come into play. This is why you see such a variation of max loads from source to source.

The proper way to find a max load is to work it up. Slowly bump up your charge until you see signs of pressure and then back the charge down a little. A chronograph is also key.

Loading to max is very dangerous. A little too much powder or a little bullet setback can lead to undesirable results. So be careful.

Sorry if this sounded too Just trying to help.

doesn't sound at all, very helpful. thank you.

all that said, for a .223, 25.0 doesn't sound TOO outlandish, does it? but i definitely will take into account this advice. i'll be getting to the range on wednesday, so i'll fire everything, and check the brass carefully.

thanks again!

[NotEnufGarage]

Another factor is your rifle. Is it chambered for .223 Remington, 5.56mm NATO or .223 Wylde? All will accept .223 rounds, but each will handle different pressures.

[XDRoX]

doesn't sound at all, very helpful. thank you.

all that said, for a .223, 25.0 doesn't sound TOO outlandish, does it? but i definitely will take into account this advice. i'll be getting to the range on wednesday, so i'll fire everything, and check the brass carefully.

thanks again!

I've never loaded with R-15, so idk. I've loaded up to 25.5gr of TAC, which barely fits in the case.

You should see flattened primers way before a kaboom, so I'd just keep an eye out.

[rsrocket1]

XDRox is right and is in fact very helpful if you know how to reload safely. Never start out by trying max loads figuring "it ought to be safe". All reloading manuals and instructions books say to start at a lower load and work your way up.

More importantly, are you looking for a max load for your gun without concern for accuracy? Is a 3-5" group at 100 yards "good enough" for you so long as it's going as fast as possible? If so, then yes, start at 22 grains for the 77g smk as suggested here and work up until you reach 24g, or you see signs of pressure.

Another hint: CCI primers are harder than most and will not flatten until you are really up there in pressure. Secondly, if you are seating the bullets to 2.26" I don't think you are going to be able to load much more than 22g without crunching the powder.

For the 80 grain, start with 20.8g and don't exceed 23.8g.

Even though the Sierra data says don't exceed this, QL predicts that at 23.8g, you're getting 66,600 psi. The .223 is rated at only 55,000 psi so you may cause problems especially if you blindly start at some published max load. Just because it's written somewhere doesn't guarantee that it's a safe load and a load that doesn't blow up isn't necessarily a safe load, you might be causing excessive wear on your gun by exceeding its expected pressure rating over and over again which may cause premature failure.

Start low, as you work your way up, look for the best groups then fine tune the load.

[send it_hit]

XDRox is right and is in fact very helpful if you know how to reload safely. Never start out by trying max loads figuring "it ought to be safe". All reloading manuals and instructions books say to start at a lower load and work your way up.

More importantly, are you looking for a max load for your gun without concern for accuracy? Is a 3-5" group at 100 yards "good enough" for you so long as it's going as fast as possible? If so, then yes, start at 22 grains for the 77g smk as suggested here and work up until you reach 24g, or you see signs of pressure.

Another hint: CCI primers are harder than most and will not flatten until you are really up there in pressure. Secondly, if you are seating the bullets to 2.26" I don't think you are going to be able to load much more than 22g without crunching the powder.

For the 80 grain, start with 20.8g and don't exceed 23.8g.

Even though the Sierra data says don't exceed this, QL predicts that at 23.8g, you're getting 66,600 psi. The .223 is rated at only 55,000 psi so you may cause problems especially if you blindly start at some published max load. Just because it's written somewhere doesn't guarantee that it's a safe load and a load that doesn't blow up isn't necessarily a safe load, you might be causing excessive wear on your gun by exceeding its expected pressure rating over and over again which may cause premature failure.

Start low, as you work your way up, look for the best groups then fine tune the load.

i'm shooting out of a .223 chambered bolt action, so 5.56 is a no-go. i'm not looking for a max to hit higher speeds or anything. just trying to find the most accurate load for 100yds, and have no idea if thats low or high. so i figured i'd cover the spectrum, so long as the highest i load is still safe.

ps, the 25.0 i loaded DID begin crunching when i seated the bullets (my oal is 2.305", or 1.910" from the ogive using a comparator. just a hair inside what will fit my magazine. figured i'd try that and then maybe seat a little deeper after i try these.) i see compressed loads are common... so i guess i just need to be watching for pressure signs like youre all sayin. i have a hunch the 25.0 rounds aren't going to perform the best anyways.

[rumblebee]

For MY Tikka (T3 CTR in .223), I've worked up a load to 24.5gr of Varget, COL: 2.243 (mag length), 77gr SMK with a CCI primer. It's shooting very well....work your loads up and look for any pressure signs

[Ahhnother8]

The CCI 400 primers will show pressure very early on. They will smear flat and/or crater with pressures that are quite a ways below max. You can change primers and add a lot more powder before reaching a true max load.

[Gunsrruss]

80gr Bullets

Ok, lets do be safe. I have found 80 gr bullets do well at 2.435 OAL. I bought an upper from a High Master shooter. He also sent me a dummy round ( 80gr ) with it. Said I needed to load all my 80's the same. Out of 200 points I usually get a score of 186 to 194 with this OAL. I also reload and am using 24.5gr of WCC846 or BLC-2. It's a good ball powder that meters very well. I also reload 75gr Hornady match. I use 24.5gr of 846 or BLC-2 with an OAL of 2.255 or in that area. I also use the Pact dispenser and scale plus the Redding competition seating die. The seating die is important. The tips of bullets are not very consistent from bullet to bullet

[send it_hit]

Ok, lets do be safe. I have found 80 gr bullets do well at 2.435 OAL. I bought an upper from a High Master shooter. He also sent me a dummy round ( 80gr ) with it. Said I needed to load all my 80's the same. Out of 200 points I usually get a score of 186 to 194 with this OAL. I also reload and am using 24.5gr of WCC846 or BLC-2. It's a good ball powder that meters very well. I also reload 75gr Hornady match. I use 24.5gr of 846 or BLC-2 with an OAL of 2.255 or in that area. I also use the Pact dispenser and scale plus the Redding competition seating die. The seating die is important. The tips of bullets are not very consistent from bullet to bullet

never considered that. i use lee dies, so i have a fair amount of trust in there

[brl0301]

doesn't sound at all, very helpful. thank you.

all that said, for a .223, 25.0 doesn't sound TOO outlandish, does it?

You may want to sit down and reread a few reloading books. There are a lot more factors that go into the max charge than just the caliber you are loading. Maybe you just worded that oddly but that comment kinda scares me. You should never be loading over max printed loads that you havent worked up yourself. Accoridng to the LEE manual, 25gr is over max for a 75gr bullet and may be way overpressure w the 80gr bullets.

[1lostinspace]

Another factor is your rifle. Is it chambered for .223 Remington, 5.56mm NATO or .223 Wylde? All will accept .223 rounds, but each will handle different pressures.

That was my next question

[Pthfndr]

just trying to find the most accurate load for 100yds

If you're only going to shoot 100, or even 200 yards, I wouldn't waste the time, money, powder on 77 or 80 grain bullets.

Try the Sierra 52gr or 69gr HPBT bullets. Or even the Sierra 55gr spire point boat tail for that matter. All are extremely accurate at short range as wind is not an issue.