Need some input on reloads

[45R]

I've been reloading mostly for .308 since the start of the year. A few months ago I started reloading for .223

Here are the specs

FL resized with RCBS .223 dies
Brass chamfered and deburred
Primer pockets either swaged or reamed.

55gr Hornady FMJ BT
25.7 gr Winchester 748
Mixed .223 and 5.56 brass
Remington 6 1/2 primers
COAL around 2.235-2.240
They chrono perfectly at 2800 FPS and matches the same zero I use for factory PMC. (Actually the goal was to duplicate this round since the rifles all like it)


The problem is the cases ejected super dirty. This has been out of both carbine and rifle gas systems 3 different ARs. LMT, Colt, FN barrels

Any suggestions? Thanks Stevec223. I'll give that a shot. I have a feeling that will solve the problem

[1HitaQuita]

Maybe try a different powder

[stevec223]

That is almost my exact load... My differences are:::: i use cci 41 or cci srm primers... And 25.9 grs. of Win 748... And a medium crimp with the lee tc die... Im not sure if the rem primer your using is a mag primer,,, but i have read in a couple of reloading manuals Win 748 is reccomended with mag primers... My brass (and rifle ) stay very clean using my load... Hope this helps... Cheers...

[JMP]

It's sort of the nature of the beast with semis. The dirt should tumble out, just make sure you don't have dented cases after firing. I don't let my good brass near a semi.

[mark501w]

Try boosting your load a little for a better seal.

[Hvac_dude]

2.35 holy crap. Any cycling issues?

[baih777]

According to my Hornaday book. COL should be 2.200

[Hvac_dude]

According to my Hornaday book. COL should be 2.200

That's minimum I take it? I have shot mine anywhere from 2.23 up to 2.27 with no issues. 2.35 sounds too long doesn't it?

[45R]

Sorry guys. It was 2.235-2.240 for COAL.

[dabibbee]

Your brass look like it is a headspace problem or evidently not sealing against the chamber. Carbon is getting almost all the way back to the case head. Check brass for correct headspace. According to the Hornady's load manual you should be upward of 3100fps. Is the gas port partially blocked?
Is the bullet jammed into the lands which could cause blowback? When this happened to me it was a headspace issue. Best of luck.

[1HitaQuita]

That's minimum I take it? I have shot mine anywhere from 2.23 up to 2.27 with no issues. 2.35 sounds too long doesn't it?

I've shot my 223 loads all the way out to 2.500" and had no problems with cycling.

[45R]

All brass checked out okay through my Wilson .223 headspace gauges. Factory ammo shoots out of my gun pretty clean. I don't think the bullets are jammed into the lands as PMC s the same length.....this is why I am stumped.

[45R]

That is almost my exact load... My differences are:::: i use cci 41 or cci srm primers... And 25.9 grs. of Win 748... And a medium crimp with the lee tc die... Im not sure if the rem primer your using is a mag primer,,, but i have read in a couple of reloading manuals Win 748 is reccomended with mag primers... My brass (and rifle ) stay very clean using my load... Hope this helps... Cheers...

I believe this will get it squared away. Thanks again!

[ar15barrels]

The problem is the cases ejected super dirty. This has been out of both carbine and rifle gas systems 3 different ARs. LMT, Colt, FN barrels

Any suggestions?

Your pressures are too LOW to seal the cases in the chamber.
2800fps is really slow for 55gr bullets.
I load 55gr FMJ-BT bullets to 2950fps from my 17" barrel which is still quite slow compared to M193, but makes the bullets match the trajectory of 62gr M855 from a 14.5" M4 barrel.
Almost every low magnification BDC reticle sight is setup for that trajectory.

[mark501w]

Think of the case as a gasket, your gasses are searching for a place to go ,the case isn't sealing against the chamber so the gasses are walking down the side of the case before it seals. Continue to develop your load watching for pressure signs .