Reloading For My Ar .556/223 HELP!

Rusty Black

Rusty Black

New member
I bought some 55 gr Hornady vmax and H4895 powder and C I 400 primers....ive looked in a few of my reloading manuals and there a few differences...loads range from 23.0 to 26.0 grains with a coal of 2.200 up yo 2.260 max coal....one manual said 25.0 min and 26.o max and coal was 2.200...where can I get a good recipe ans data for this bullet...Hodgon says I can use speer sp data...but coal is confusing!
 
i generally use the bullet manufacturer's data.

according to hornady 9th edition (page 152) hornady 55gr vmax should be seated to 2.260" COAL
however... there is no powder data for H4895 for the 55gr loads.


IMR4895 (a DIFFERENT POWDER) lists min/max charges at 22.7 and 25.1 grains respectively.
varget is 22.8-26.4gr min/max

both of those powders have a VERY similar burn rate to H4895, so your 23-26gr spread is going to be right in the ballpark.

the best - and safest - way would be to do a full load workup from 23.0 to around 25.0 in .5 grain increments (23.0, 23.5, 24.0, etc) and start low and shoot up. as you approach the upper end watch for signs of pressure - flattened/cratered primers, etc and stop when you see them.

every firearm's chamber is a little different, so your rifle will tell you whats safe and where to stop. watch those primers and remember is always better to be safe than sorry.

hth.
 
I called Hodgon last Friday and was told to use the speer soft point data.....with H4895 powder and set the coal at 2.200,so I reloaded 10 with 24 grains and 10 with 25 grains and coals were set at 2.215....?
 
Pretty much all (any caliber) AR15 your COL can be 2.250" and no issues feeding, chambering, hitting lands. 99% of AR15 magazines will run 2.250-2.260" COLs.
The 2.200" COL is so every .223/5.56 round will feed no matter the AR15 its used in.
You can play with your COL starting at 2.200", best is to check your chambers COL with the bullet you are running and go from there.
EXAMPLE:
My AR15 chambers max to lands COL with the 55g vmax is 2.287".
I seat them at 2.250" since at 2.287" they will not fit into the magazine.
 
Not trying to be an a++ but did you just pick the 24 and 25 gr out of a hat or have you worked up the load and found that those 2 shoot well out of your ar. I try to go in is smaller increments than full grain jumps.
 
All my AR rounds start at 2.260 to fit the mag. As for charge weight, I simply look for an average start weight with the correct weight projectile I plan to shoot. Then I work up, keeping an eye out for pressure. Pretty standard load development, with the exception of the OAL...ARs are loaded just like bolts for me.
 
Originally Posted By: deaddogwalkinNot trying to be an a++ but did you just pick the 24 and 25 gr out of a hat or have you worked up the load and found that those 2 shoot well out of your ar. I try to go in is smaller increments than full grain jumps. No I got them out a Hodgon reloading book and also called Hodgon and was told,that I could use speer soft point data with Hodgon powder.I reloaded 23.5 up to 25 grains...half grain in between...coal is 2.215,cases 1.750.
 
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My bad RB. I thought you just loaded 10 up for 24gr and 10 up for 25gr. Hope you get it dialed in. My ar with 55gr NBT really likes either H335 or benchmark.
 
Watch them 25gr loads using cci400 primers, you might pin hole them primers, under max loads they work fine, but when you get some good pressure they can not handle it and blow.
 
Im problay going to stay at 25 grains for my max...but I'll be adjusting the coal to see where the AR s sweet spot is...im guessing right at 2.260 mags max.I want to perfect this 55 vmax between 200 and 300 yards that's what im looking for.
 
Originally Posted By: MGYSGTI never load at 2.260 C.O.L. I have found that some mags don't like it. I always use 2.255 and am never disappointed. Good point...I'll keep an eye open on that...right now they fit perfect but that's my max.
 
Ok worked my way to 26.5 grs and it was excellent...alittle under 1/4 " with 5 shots with a flyer and set the coal at 2.200 with that kinda accuracy should,I start adjusting the coal closer to my rifling?
 
With groups like that why? unless you keep getting flyers, otherwise if it ain't broke...............Originally Posted By: Rusty BlackOk worked my way to 26.5 grs and it was excellent...alittle under 1/4 " with 5 shots with a flyer and set the coal at 2.200 with that kinda accuracy should,I start adjusting the coal closer to my rifling?
 
Originally Posted By: Rusty BlackOk worked my way to 26.5 grs and it was excellent...alittle under 1/4 " with 5 shots with a flyer and set the coal at 2.200 with that kinda accuracy should,I start adjusting the coal closer to my rifling?

I would not but I would go shoot five groups back to back with that load for final evaluation before I decided it was the be all to end all.

Greg
 
Originally Posted By: pahntr760How does one have a 1/4" group with a flier? I took 5 shots...first 3 shots were touching...4th shot flew 2 inches low and to the left...5th was low also...only loaded 5 with the cfe223 powder...so I measured the 3 shots.I'll do some more of that load and shoot more of them...Does that answer your question or you just confused?
 
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