.223 Overall Length Question in AR

[NYY]

for just plinking..55gr bullets, what OAL do you have set for your use? I know the MAX length is 2.26. The Federal xm193 that WORKS for my AR is 2.25. Is that what i should copy?

[WRENCHHEAD]

you mean cartridge length? case length is the just the length of the brass case.

[joelogic]

Yes. +1 on its OAL, overall length.

[NYY]

my bad. ill fix it. OAL. back to topic?

[joelogic]

Answer is still yes. 2.25" or the cannalure if you are going to crimp.

[XDRoX]

I load to 2.23". Just because that's a cool number for the round

[rg1]

Hornady 55 gr. FMJ bullets have a blunt rounded tip shape. Overall length for them is from 2.200-2.230". Other 55 fmj bullets have a more sharply pointed tip and they usually have an overall length at 2.250" like your Federals. It can depend on the particular bullet you're using.

[NYY]

Hornady 55 gr. FMJ bullets have a blunt rounded tip shape. Overall length for them is from 2.200-2.230". Other 55 fmj bullets have a more sharply pointed tip and they usually have an overall length at 2.250" like your Federals. It can depend on the particular bullet you're using.

ah i see. much appreciated

[GeoffLinder]

Anywhere from 2.220" to 2.250" is about right for 55gr. If there is a cannelure, just seat till cannelure is centered on case mouth.

[ejhc11]

I noticed my boxes of Hornady bullets the length can vary between .001-.004 due to the tips being deformed or not.

[damndave]

I load my 223 to 2.25"

[joelogic]

I noticed my boxes of Hornady bullets the length can vary between .001-.004 due to the tips being deformed or not.

That's why the ogive is the most accurate place to measure from.

[level 10]

2.250

[One78Shovel]

2.220

[Metal Monster]

I asked myself a similar question when I first started reloading. "What OAL should I use?" for my AR. What I knew was that the closer the bullet was to the lands (where the rifling starts in the barrel) the better it would shoot because it would lessen the vibration issues.

So, I seated bullet on an empty case (no powder, no primer, no crimping) at an OAL of approx 2.265" then loaded the dummy round in the chamer and slammed the bolt on it and remeasured at a new OAL of exactly 2.250". Then, I used that cartridge to adjust the seating die and seated subsequent rounds at that length (but really 2.248 to 2.253 because of bullet tip inconsistencies).

At the range it shot really well (< 0.75" @100 yds) with 3, 5, or 10 shot groups consistently (fully supported). With other reload specs and factory ammo, I was getting 1" to 4" shot groups at 100 yds at best.

That's my story...it worked for my set up but as you know every barrel is manufactured different but it looks like others on this thread have already concluded 2.250" is the magic number for their set up.

SPECS: LMT AR rifle - 16" barrel, 1:7 twist; Hornady 75 grain BTHP bullets; 22.5 grains Varget, and no crimp (this bullet has no cannalure anyway). Lee dies. RCBS Rockchucker.

Good luck and have fun.