Reloading .223/5.56 for an AR15

Does anyone have any tips or helpful info on reloading for an AR?
Have reloaded for many other rifle calibres, .204, 22 Hornet, 7/08, 30-06, 308 etc...but have no experience loading for an auto?
I have some small base dies on my watchlist as this would be the first step...
I was using the Hornady 75g Match ammo but only have a few boxes of this left. This was a great round in my Colt, it was accurate and had enough horsepower to put down reds at sensible distances and found it deadly on pigs so ideally would like to load something similar to this so have been looking over the Sierra 69 & 77g projectiles which look like they might suit?
I have easy access to all ADI powders along with the other usual suspects but what have people had good success with?
Any opinions or info much appreciated!

2208, OAL inside of magazine length and get a progressive press so you can load less and shoot more.

I have a stack of 2208 on hand so that works.
Are there any tricks with primers.in terms of harder cup etc? Im using WLR and Fed match small rifle atm...
What is a good brass to be using?
Cheers!

27gns 2208 with 55gn proj. and a chamber gauge is really handy as are small base dies.

JP Chamber Case Gauge, .223
If it goes in the gauge OK it wont jam in the gun :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dirtyhabit

I have a stack of 2208 on hand so that works.
Are there any tricks with primers.in terms of harder cup etc? Im using WLR and Fed match small rifle atm...
What is a good brass to be using?
Cheers!

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I thought the primer problems were with tube fed magazines like the 30-30. I use cci so I wouldn't know about soft cup problems.

Sent from my GT-I8190T using Tapatalk

Just finished working up an AR load using Barnes 62gr TSX with 2206H. Also have a very accurate load with 2208 and 69gr TMKs. Not sure how the TMKs would go on animals though.

Im loading 25 grains of 2206h with sierra 65gr gamekings and 69gr match

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dirtyhabit

Does anyone have any tips or helpful info on reloading for an AR?
Have reloaded for many other rifle calibres, .204, 22 Hornet, 7/08, 30-06, 308 etc...but have no experience loading for an auto?
I have some small base dies on my watchlist as this would be the first step...
I was using the Hornady 75g Match ammo but only have a few boxes of this left. This was a great round in my Colt, it was accurate and had enough horsepower to put down reds at sensible distances and found it deadly on pigs so ideally would like to load something similar to this so have been looking over the Sierra 69 & 77g projectiles which look like they might suit?
I have easy access to all ADI powders along with the other usual suspects but what have people had good success with?
Any opinions or info much appreciated!

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One of my ARs likes the 75gn HPBT steel cased ammo.
You can get the projectiles and handload them too, otherwise the 65gn Gamekings are good, the Hornady 68gn HPBT and the new Tipped 69gn and 77gn Matchkings, leave the old style HPBT Matchkings for paper or bunnies.

Key things with semis is more headspace by bumping the shoulder back more than what you would have for a bolt action.
Check the primers are seated properly, ie not sticking out.
Hard primers are not a requirement, I used soft Fed Match primers for some of my loads, in fact hard primers with a real light after market trigger will give you ignition issues.
I find the AR feed ramps on the barrel/bolt lugs scratch the case necks and lead to split necks faster than on a bolt.

2208 is a bit bulky for 75-77gn projectiles, you can fit much in the case if loading to fit an AR magazine, so prefer 2206H.

I've never bothered crimping ammo, not even for my semis.

Cheers Dogmatix, some great info to digest there. Yep just found some of the Hornady 75g projs so may just start there. Cheers mate!!!

2206H gives better speed in sub 18" tubes

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Originally Posted by Beavis

2206H gives better speed in sub 18" tubes

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For a short (12.5") barrel would BM2 be better again? or is 2206H the go? running Hornady 68gr BTHP's

Lots of handy info in this thread,

Cheers,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by matto1234

Im loading 25 grains of 2206h with sierra 65gr gamekings and 69gr match

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Snap. And 25gr with some Hornady 55gr SP for just plinking & fun rounds as they're cheap as.

16 inch bbl so roger that on the faster powder...

Mines a 14.5inch barrel , havent calculated any speeds yet

I'm running a 16" .223 match chambered Walther barrel, so gives me good speed, ie 2900 fps with 65gn GKs.
Also running a 11.5" 5.56 chambered Colt barrel. Speed is down, only 2500fps with the 65s, as only loading to .223 specs and for accuracy (0.5 MOA). Could go faster, just haven't gone for a new powder yet or loaded up the 55gn GK HPBTs.

Buy a case guage.
These are a must. I use this type for both 223 and 300 blackout.
Sheridan Engineering - Slotted Ammunition Gauges

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ben-tard

For a short (12.5") barrel would BM2 be better again? or is 2206H the go? running Hornady 68gr BTHP's

Lots of handy info in this thread,

Cheers,

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You would need to try it and see. Conventional wisdom is the shorter the barrel the faster the burn rate you should use. Supposedly the powder that gives the fastest speed in a long barrel will give the fastest speed in a short barrel, generally mean a slower burning powder. I think the truth is somewhere in between. From what i have observed personally 2206H is a good go to powder if you desire decent velocity in a shorter barreled .223.

With 68gr HP, 26gr 2206h

16"~ 2850fps
14.5"~2800fps

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Beavis

You would need to try it and see. Conventional wisdom is the shorter the barrel the faster the burn rate you should use. Supposedly the powder that gives the fastest speed in a long barrel will give the fastest speed in a short barrel, generally mean a slower burning powder. I think the truth is somewhere in between. From what i have observed personally 2206H is a good go to powder if you desire decent velocity in a shorter barreled .223.

With 68gr HP, 26gr 2206h

16"~ 2850fps
14.5"~2800fps

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Couldn't get any 2206h last time I was buying powder, got a couple of tubs of cfe223 instead. Thoughts on that? I haven't loaded any yet, would be behind 55gr corelokts for goats, 55gr campro fmj for service rifle. Have about the right amount for the projectiles I had sitting waiting at the time so shrugged and thought why not. It does look like it'll go through a thrower a bit nicer than the noodles of doom 2206h that my Lyman didn't like.. I'll do my goat stuff through the auto dispenser though, low enough numbers.

I wasn't terribly thrilled with CFE 223. Got pretty much the same results as I did with 748 and H335. Found it's real messy shit that sticks to everything. Velocity at max charge is low. Murom primers dont ignite it very well at all.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tommy

Couldn't get any 2206h last time I was buying powder, .

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Try Broncos Sports in Tauranga, $65/500gr container
Broncos Outdoors - Hunting - Fishing - Camping - Aparrel

and they ship.

Full Length Size each time for a nice smooth feed.
Crimp, only because someone told me too. May not be necessary if bullet seating nice and tight. Its probably more for if you don't end up firing for whatever the reason(say just shot something) and need to clear chamber to make safe, last thing you want is bullet stuck in barrel.
Don't bother chamfering, can if you wish. Trim to close enough.

Hunting load 65gr Seirra GameKing's 24gr BM2 COAL 2.25" for a 1/7 twist 5.56 chamber 16" Barrel, somewhere around 2720 fps?

Super accurate load
Hornady 75gr HPBT 21gr BM2, very accurate like .3" groups, but slow 2400 fps. Load long to mag will allow
Would be worth a play around with these as did test groups up till 23grs book max and none over 1.5" but the low loads accuracy is just so flattering didn't know rifle was even capable of this.

Note: a 5.56 chamber is slightly longer than .223 or a .223 Wylde
As mentioned above a chamber case gauge, 55 gr bullets are no hassle but if you are trying to load longer and more accurate 65g+ (insert disclaimer:don't try this at home) in a safe direction you really need to try feed some from magazine and into battery as rifle action is designed to work. Working action slowly can be misleading and perfectly good ammo not feed.

Ar mags are of varying lengths on the inside with the metal ones being able to load out a bit longer normally. Someone should design a hybrid lower and some longer mags!
Hope some of this helps.

Hornady 55gr S.P 25gr or more specific 25.3gr BM2 (around 2900fps) found best but just couldn't get loads going in same league as above ones for accuracy unfortunately

Hi I am shooting a Rock River Arms 20" Predator. My recipe is 23.8gr AR2208 under Hornady 75gr HP Match at 2560fps this shoots 3/4moa consistently and has allowed me to take rabbits out past 500m. My light load is 24.2gr BM2 under Sierra 60gr HP at 2850fps with the same accuracy. Both are loaded as long as will fit in the mag. Full length sized using Redding neck bushing dies. Fed match primers.
Have fun