Help with .223 load?

[Bill92869]

I want to load .223 using BLC-2 and the 55gr Barnes MPG bullet. Only loading data I can find is online at Loaddata.com who wants $30 for the privilege. Does anyone have access to that site that can (and would be willing) to help me with that load?

[joelogic]

Just use 55gr FMJ data, start low and work up.

[ar15barrels]

Call Barnes and ask for data specific to the bullet and powder.
Any bullet maker will have that sort of info to give out for their bullets.

[Bill92869]

Bumslie has just PM'd me the desired info, thanks to him.

Joe, I guess I should have specified the 55gr MPG is much much longer than the typical 55gr bullet. Add to that the fact powder density is already near max with BLC-2 in a .223 AND that my brass is military which has less case capacity and "starting low with regular 55gr" is not a good idea.

AR15barrel, Your advice is spot on......but as usual I need to get these reloads done before Monday when they're open.

Thanks to all on CalGUns for the help!

[Shoot-it]

You over thinking it start about mid way and load up slowly.

[Bill92869]

Shoot - it, thanks for the intelligent advice. Always a good idea to experiment with metallic cartridges, what's the worst that could happen? Perhaps it will make for a good YouTube video when you trash your gun and/or lose half your hand.

[AreWeFree]

I'd like to understand this better just for personal knowledge. Is it primarily the longer length, reduced weight, or the different material used that makes it unsafe to reference load data from bullets with similar characteristics?

For instance, if you have a 55gr at .8" could you build up from a reduced load for a bullet with a similar length?

I know the weight, bullet shape, and seating depth also must be taken in to account, but can you correlate data based on these factors?

[Bill92869]

Are we free - In my opinion, it is relatively safe to use components of very similar dimensions/construction/weight if you start out on the light side of a load and slowly work up monitoring for signs of excessive pressure and of course while searching for the most accurate and consistent load. In my case I am using a "non-lead" bullet as required by California for hunting in the area I will be in. The conventional lead bullet is much shorter, and to get the same bullet weight using lighter material my bullet is much longer. Where this can become a serious issue is when the bullet is seated in the case. If the significantly longer bullet causes reduced case capacity for the powder, depending on several factors, this may cause a serious over-pressure situation. Please be clear, I said may not will. In some cases this will not be much of a concern, in others is can be dangerous. With some of the 9mm handgun loads I have done over the years it is critical to seat the bullet no further than specified as the chamber pressure spikes from the reduced case capacity. The bottom line is this: You are working with gun powder. Take unnecessary risks and you can end up the subject of another YouTube video.

[AreWeFree]

Are we free - In my opinion, it is relatively safe to use components of very similar dimensions/construction/weight if you start out on the light side of a load and slowly work up monitoring for signs of excessive pressure and of course while searching for the most accurate and consistent load. In my case I am using a "non-lead" bullet as required by California for hunting in the area I will be in. The conventional lead bullet is much shorter, and to get the same bullet weight using lighter material my bullet is much longer. Where this can become a serious issue is when the bullet is seated in the case. If the significantly longer bullet causes reduced case capacity for the powder, depending on several factors, this may cause a serious over-pressure situation. Please be clear, I said may not will. In some cases this will not be much of a concern, in others is can be dangerous. With some of the 9mm handgun loads I have done over the years it is critical to seat the bullet no further than specified as the chamber pressure spikes from the reduced case capacity. The bottom line is this: You are working with gun powder. Take unnecessary risks and you can end up the subject of another YouTube video.

Awesome, thank you for clarifying.

I misunderstood and thought the problem was related to to relationship between bullet length and weight (Edit: or material), making it very unsafe to draw inference from charge data for other bullet length/etc.

Now I see it is because of the long bullet/weight and seating depth making decreased case capacity which increases pressure. (Also I'm assuming the longer bullet has increased friction which adds to pressure)

For the record I don't want to be a youtube star, so I don't deviate from published data

[Bill92869]

Now you're getting it! In fact, regarding your second statement, the guy at Barnes bullet (whom I called for info) said the same thing about the increased surface area and resulting friction being a factor in the overall load.

Ditto on the YouTube comment.....ME NEITHER.

[mark501w]

Get a book get lots'a books get away from the cyber media go to a good book store & buy from the outdoor section. 55's are 55's com pair data start low & work up . After a while you'll get feeling for your gun & the powder your using.

[Bill92869]

Mark501w - with all due respect, you really don't know what you're talking about. The bullet in question cannot yet me found in all the many books I researched. It will be in the soon to be released version of Barnes bullets reloading manual. And to say 55's are 55's......your ignorance on reloading is scary.

[mark501w]

37 yrs worth of successful ignorance quality safe functioning ,accurate .233 ammo . Dude it's not rocket reloading! In all fairness to you start low & work up for your gun.

[ZRen]

Soo.. Did the guy at Barnes give you some load data? Or did he just agree with you on The extra surface area increasing friction and tell you they have a book coming out at some point?

[Bill92869]

Zren - He actually had load data and faxed it to me for my barrel (M4 16") twist rate (1/7) and using Military brass vs commercial. He said they we just about ready to publish they're next reloading manual so a lot of the info is not yet published on their web site. What surprised me though was that the starting and highest loads were greater than with the standard bullet, the opposite of what I would have expected.