calling all 223 experts

[sof 0]

Okay, I'm in the process of doing my first 223s and I've cleaned, decapped, case formed, neck sized, chamfered and deburred, pocket reamed, cleaned and uniformed, case tirimmed, and recleaned, and now I'm ready set my lengths on the seating die. I trimmed the cases, it recommended 1.750 as the trim to size and mine are more like 1.748, and when I loaded my Hornady FMJ 55 grain bullets to a col of 2.250 as per the books, the case neck is about 1/2 to 3/4 mm shy of the canelure. My buddy recommends seating it to the canelure which is going to yeild a col of about 2.185. What say the loaders on the forum?

Oh yeah, gun is 556 and these are 223 so it already is going to have a bit of a jump to the grooves. If you want me to go all out on this don't just leave me high and dry, tell me the proper way to get the right length.

Thanks for the advice.

[effd27145 0]

I load to 2.20 coal with a case length of about 1.75, some shorter some longer by about .01 and I'm either normally right on the cannelure or a little of it is exposed. Play around with the data, don't just use one source. Look up multiple loads and start working up your own based on that data. Just remember with powder always start %10 below the max load.

I don't get too crazy with my loads, as long as I am getting the accuracy that I like with no signs of over pressure I stick with that load

Currently doing 23.9 gn of H335, case length of 1.75 and coal of 2.20 w/ 55gn fmj and cci small rifle primers


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[effd27145 0]

And also, I in no way consider myself an expert on reloading but just from my general experience over the last 6 months of doing it that's what I have come across

 

These are my latest loads using the above posted data showing how much cannelure is exposed.

 

 

 

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[T Bill 649]

55FMJ w/c Hornady heads load to 2.20" (Hornady spec).  SAAMI spec trim length is 1.740 to 1.760.  Seat it to the cannelure you will be fine.  I always seat to the cannelure 25 grains W748 and Winnie primers, great middle of the road load. YMMV  FYI, middle of the road loads save brass.  Find the least amount of powder to give you the best accuracy.  That groundhog won't know if its fiying 100-200 fps or so less than max and you'll get more reloads out of the brass before you cut it down for 300 Blackout.

[Vlad G 345]

Set it to the middle of the cannelure. That way any variation of case length will still fall in it.

[sof 0]

Again, thanks.

I also decided to seat the bullet to the middle of the canelure.

I usually start any caliber or new powder at the low end of the range, about .2 grain above minimum in case I under charge somehow (seems liike no matter how careful I am occasional stuff happens)., I'll be using Hodgdon H4895 for the first run after which it'll be either Benchmark or Winchester 748.

Funny though no matter what bullet I use, the data always seems to be for a different one in my resourses. Like if I'm using FMJ in 55 grain the book/site has data for SP or if I use RN they list FN. Being a noob to this I may be overthinking it, but I wish there was a good book to tell you how to compensate, like this much less powder at a shorter col equals the same pressure as that much in a longer col and so on. I want to be careful but short of asking you guys there doesn't seem to be a good sourse on some of this stuff.

[sof 0]

Oh yeah, and I really feel like I need a chrono and a good vise to get the best results. I kind of like good hard evidence rather than just trying to judge a loads accuracy and quality by instinct since Some days my shooting sucks and some it doesn't regardless of the ammo. Once I know it's a good load I can live with my inconsistency. Good excuse to shoot more practice rounds.

[carl_g 568]

I load to 2.20 coal with a case length of about 1.75, some shorter some longer by about .01 and I'm either normally right on the cannelure or a little of it is exposed. Play around with the data, don't just use one source. Look up multiple loads and start working up your own based on that data. Just remember with powder always start %10 below the max load.

 

I don't get too crazy with my loads, as long as I am getting the accuracy that I like with no signs of over pressure I stick with that load

 

Currently doing 23.9 gn of H335, case length of 1.75 and coal of 2.20 w/ 55gn fmj and cci small rifle primers

 

 

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What kind of velocity are you getting with that load?

Last time I chronoed my 223 with h335 was 24.9 gr with 55gr extreme fmjbt, cci srp, with a coal of 2.225. I was averaging 2645 ft/sec.

I also seat to mid cannelure.

[Rob0115 1,105]

I seat to the top of the cannelure. I've used several different powders with cci #41 primers. H335 25 grains, IMR 4895 25 grains, VV n140 24.2 grains, CFE223 26, 26.5 (best for me) and 27.

 

Always check reloading data.

[T Bill 649]

In 223 55 grain FMJ, HP, SP can all be loaded with the same charge without much effect in performance.  I find the ball powders measure best for this application, however H4895 has been used in 223 reloads for a long time with no problems.

[effd27145 0]

What kind of velocity are you getting with that load?

Last time I chronoed my 223 with h335 was 24.9 gr with 55gr extreme fmjbt, cci srp, with a coal of 2.225. I was averaging 2645 ft/sec.

I also seat to mid cannelure.

 

I haven't started to chrono loads yet, Ive only been loading for 6 months and I am just shooting out of my lightweight 16 inch midlength right now, that is the load that I have found sufficiently reliable and accurate for my current needs with no signs of overpressure. I may start an SPR build soon and when I do that ill be getting more into the velocities then I am currently.