5.56 loads

[richmac]

Hi Fellow Shooters
I am interested in anybody that has done some chrony tests on 5.56 ammo 80 grain projectiles.
I am running 2206 powder and getting 3030 f.p.s. The load I am using is 25 grains.
I would like some feedback on anyone else that has fiddled or tried anything to get the best tight groups with a 556.Your comment would B appreciated ...Rich

[Mark Hamersley]

Hi Rich

I've been using 25.2gn AR2208, Remington brass, Federal primers with 80gn Sierras (moly coated), approx 20 thou off the lands. Load gives 1/3MOA groups and 2940 fps over the chrony through a 1:8T MAB CM barrel on an Omark action. I haven't used 2206 so can't comment on that.

I sorted cases by weight, deburred flash holes and uniformed primer pockets as well, all charges weighed individually.

When starting out I went from 24 to 25.5gn powder in 0.5gn increments and found 25 and 25.5gn produced the best groups. I went back and covered 25 to 25.6gn in 0.2gn increments and settled on 25.2. This worked well for me but each rifle is different. Note that these loads are over the maximum listed in the ADI Manual so be careful and watch for pressure signs. Your MV seems to be on the high side to me.

I've just rebarrelled so when I get some spare time I'll go through the process again.

Good luck with yours,


Mark Hamersley

[Cliff Austen]

I got my tightest group with 23 grains of BM2 using Federal Gold Match Primers velocity 2800fps.
Cheers
Cliff

[bully_eye]

Not a .223 shooter but know a few getting good results with 2206H.... not legal for FS but worth a try. Can't help with loads though.... sorry

[Chris Burdett]

ADI 2206H is legal I use it with .308W.
It,s in SSR,s

[bully_eye]

My ignorance as an FO shooter Chris. Nevertheless I say give it a go in your 223.

[Chris Burdett]

The ADI Guide gives 24gn. 2206H as max, thats in a 24" barrel we go a bit more in longer barrels

[littlebang556]

Hi Rich,

I have been shooting exclusively with the .223/5.56 since 2000 and began with a clapped out Omark with a 1:10T S/S 26" Maddco (FINALLY RETIRED IT AFTER 14000 ROUNDS). Load was 25.5 of 2206 using 69 grainers in ADI 92 brass and Federal Match primers with a M/V of 3085fps. I had quite a lot of 100's with this combination out to 700yds.
Still using Omark but a 30" Kreiger 1:7.7T S/S.
Started off using NON MATCH Lupua brass with Rem 7 1/2 primers but couldn't get enough powder in them and had sad pressure problems but a reduced load of 24.2 gns of 2206H let me score a 100.13 at 600 yds. This load just did not cut it past this distance though.
I went back to my old ADI brass only to find out that the primer pockets had been flogged.
Currently using Winchester brass with Rem 7 1/2 primers 24.8 of 2208 25thou off lands but feel I need a couple of tenths more powder.
Past loads:2208
24.5 = 2833 +/- 19
24.6 = 2848 +/- 17
24.7 = 2918 +/- 14
24.8 = 2923 +/- 11
24.9 = 2931 +/- 7 I did have one batch that had a ZERO deviation.
Will test loads until I reach 2950 but suspect 25.2 will be maximum.
THERE IS VERY LITTLE ROOM LEFT IN THESE LOADS AND THEY ARE OVER THE MAXIMUM SUGGESTED LOADS SO I WOULD RECOMMEND STARTING AT THE LOWER LIMITS AND WORK UP A SAFE LOAD WHILST PAYING ATTENTION TO ANY SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE PRESSURE.

Average weight Winchester brass = 93.2 grains. $0.35 ea
Average weight Lapua Match = 94 grains. $0.90 ea
If you know the weight of any other brass I wouldn't mind knowing.

I am full-length resizing and trimming to 44.5mm every time as well as sorting into batches of 1/2 grain increments. Primer pockets checked for burs and any build-up and removed when required.
Each powder measure is weighed on a Lyman Pro 500 and tricked.

69 grain factorys of which I had just 4 were:
3034
3025
3024
3051

Regards
Rob

[littlebang556]

Has anyone out there had much experience with PMC brass.
A mate of mine just gave me 25 to try out.
First I weighed them and they were +/- 0.5 grn with the average being 93.4 grn. By culling just 2 or 3 the average came down to +/- 0.4 grn.
With a bit of effort I was able to load them with 25.2grn of 2208 without the familiar crunching sound so often heard with this small calibre.
Am currently getting my bolthead and F/P revamped and have not tried these loads but will let all know of the results after a visit to the range.
Any info on this brass would be apreciated.
They come at a great price and look like good brass.

Regards

Rob A

aka

littlebang556

[littlebang556]

As promised, listed below are some figures for PMC reloads.

I tried 25.1gn of 2208 first and after a few rather high velocity shots had great results.

3044-3044-3011-3024
2989
2992
2991
3001
2993
3006
2999
2992
2994
2991
3006

Indead this load turned out velocities of very little deviation but they are still a bit on the hot side for myself (2950fps would be a nice point to settle on). No extraction problems were encountered with this load nor did the load flash back past the primer.

2206H was a whole different story though and being a slightly faster powder, in hindsight should have started a bit lower but had previously tested loads of not much less.
I only managed to fire 2 rounds before I had a primer go walkabout causing my bolt to be inopperable . Velocities for these 2 loads were 3042 & 3046 WOW... HOT HOT HOT, some 90-100fps faster than I had hoped for.

I will get back to the range again soon for some more testing along with some group shooting and will let all know how things go.

Wishing everyone a merry xmas and a safe and prosperous new year.

Rob A

[Paul Janzso]

I have a TIKKA TACTICAL 223 (5.56) which has a 20inch barrel and I use Rem. cases, Rem 71/2 primers and 26gn of 2206h for 2900fps with 1/3min accuracy.

Cheers
pest bird

[littlebang556]

26 gns must be difficult to squeeze into the cases. Please tell me if your loads are compressed.

Regards

Rob A

[jlorimer]

Hello Richmac, I have been playing with 223's for about 6 years, and found that every barrel had to have a different load. My advice is to use the 80 gn Sierras mollied,fully preped Winchester brass, and start with 25 grains AR2208 with the projectile 15 thou. off the land, and work upwards in .2 gn increments.

Satisfactory loads I have encounted that work well, using the above mentioned was 25.2, 25.4, 25.5, 25.6. At present I am loading with 25.6 gn AR2208 with mollied 80gn Sierras in a 28" Naddco barreled Omark action, using Remington 71/2 BR primers. It shoots exceedingly tight, and walks all over the .308's up to 800m, however I feel the .308's have got the edge at 900m.

With the 25.6gn load the primers are not flattened at all, and, the pockets remain firm out to about six reloads. Do not try these loads without using mollied bullets, and remember, every rifle is different, so be on the safe side and work up a load, don't take a punt, it never works, and you could end up doing damage.

I've tried AR2206, but was not happy with the grouping. I have not tried AR2206H, but, I feel this might be the powder to use, according to burning rate. Hope this is of some assistance.

[Paul Janzso]

Yes they are compresed loads and the 80gnr's are just off the lands.
I tried Lapua brass but they have less case capacity than the Rem brass.
Does any one know if winchester brass or ADI brass has more capacity than Rem?
Cheers
pest bird

[bully_eye]

Apparently Lapua have new match 223 brass with greater capacity than their previous brass so might be worth checking out as well.

Michael