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Posted: 9/17/2026 9:35:47 PM EDT
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There wasn't anything recent about this topic so I figured I'd start another post. This is my first time reloading with a stick powder and running into compressed loads. Components used: .223 Lapua brass, VV N140, 77gr Berger OTM. I'm trying to replicate the Berger factory 77gr load that Ultimate Reloader tried to recreate with about 24.7gr of N140. I loaded up 10 rounds with a velocity ladder and used the lowest charge weight to set my seating depth (2.255"). I then loaded up the rest and ended up with a depth of 2.265" on a lot of them even after adjusting the seater down slightly. As far as I can tell, the bullets are not deformed. I also loaded up 5 rounds of 24.3 and 24.7gr and they also measured 2.265". The loads are obviously compressed, but should I play around some more with it? VV itself lists the max charge of 25.0gr, which is less than what I'm using for a majority of those. Just a FYI: This is my first time dealing with this, so I have some things to learn... |
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Your Lapua cases probably have a lower interior volume than the brass used for the testing that produced the data you're using. It sounds like you're also loading to magazine length, so you're on the short end of seating depth to begin with. You probably need a different powder that gives you similar velocity/pressure with less case fill. |
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I would load it up. The V140 data in front of me uses Lapua cases. The maximum charge weight is 25 grains, compressed with this bullet. https://vihtavuori.com/reloading-data/reloading-data-tool/#/imperials/1/7/Berger/-1/77 Vihtavuori's current burn rate chart: https://vihtavuori.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Vihtavuori_BurningRateChart_Tabloid.pdf Compressed loads are not inherently dangerous, they're desirable when a full case eliminates position sensitivity. Withouth over pressure. I'm tight, so burning gunpowder by the case full puts a burr under my saddle, but the accuracy is generally worth the cost, and you are shooting premium bullets in this case, so cost is secondary. |
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Compresses loads are common with extruded powder. Not an issue if you are using published data. Normally there is a symbol * or something next to the load and a note at the bottom of the page stating * is a compressed load. |
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When first started shooting NRA Highpower with the AR15 I was using IMR 4895 with 77gr because I had lots of it available, and they filled up the case pretty full. Compressed loads is not really an issue. My experience found that the "middle loads" around 2600 fps gave the best accuracy at 600yds. I use the 2.260" COAL and it has no issue with mag feeding. 5 thou less isn't much, but no need to go deeper that that length. Looking at Sierra's "Service Rifle" loadbook, 24.1gr of N140 is around 2600 fps. Granted, that's a different bullet and brass but the point is it is in the middle. https://accurateshooter.net/Downloads/sierra223ar.pdf I'm going to guess that testing all those ladders at 100 yds is going to look "good" since the Bergers are a good bullet, N140 burns evenly, and you probably have a quality barrel on your AR15. I don't even bother testing at 100 yd, I test everything at 300 and look for least vertical dispersion to choose my loads, since everything looks "good" at 100 yds and I can't really choose what's best. 
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Originally Posted By AeroE: I would load it up. The V140 data in front of me uses Lapua cases. The maximum charge weight is 25 grains, compressed with this bullet. https://vihtavuori.com/reloading-data/reloading-data-tool/#/imperials/1/7/Berger/-1/77 Vihtavuori's current burn rate chart: https://vihtavuori.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Vihtavuori_BurningRateChart_Tabloid.pdf Compressed loads are not inherently dangerous, they're desirable when a full case eliminates position sensitivity. Withouth over pressure. I'm tight, so burning gunpowder by the case full puts a burr under my saddle, but the accuracy is generally worth the cost, and you are shooting premium bullets in this case, so cost is secondary. Right - I mentioned that VV's data said 25.0 was the max load (and compressed). I figured that I should be able to get to 25.0 also. My biggest concern is that I may not be able to get the bullet to seat any further down. I mentioned that I adjusted my bullet seating die to seat the bullets to 2.255", and that same setting with the compressed loads produced 2.265" COAL. Maybe I wasn't clear about what I'm asking about: Should I try to re-seat the longer bullets to get them to below 2.265"? |
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Ruthless ruler of cubicle B300.2C.983
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I've been loading compressed 223 loads w/ 50gr frangible brown tip from AR with 25gr IMR4895. The frangible bullet is very close to the length of a 77gr SMK. I'm using mixed headstamp pickup brass. Using a 9" drop tube helps, but it still crunches a lot as it seats to a COL of 2.250". I noticed the seating depths were all over the place and figured out the seating stem was flared on the Forster ultra micrometer seating die. Forester replaced the stem with a newer beefed up design that's thicker on the edges so they won't flare out so easy under pressure. They had discovered it was a problem. Haven't tried a compressed load with that stem yet. I switched to using a standard RCBS seating die for these because of this and figure I'll save the Forster die for precision loads only. Another issue I had was bullets pushing out after being seated. I was teaching a new shooter how to chamber check to make sure a round was loaded in an AR and the bullet had moved forward and stuck in the lands. Powder spilled out into the chamber and that carbine got sidelined that day. Made me feel stupid. It was most likely due to not enough neck tension which was my fault. The brass had been processed in a batch and labeled sized and put away. I don't recall checking neck tension on those and it came back to bite me. After that, I've added a medium crimp with a Lee FCD and test each bullet to make sure it's snug. Insuring proper neck tension and adding the FCD cured the problem. I've loaded around 2k of the compressed loads and shot around 1.5k with most of them seated with the Forster die before the seating stem was replaced. If you have proper neck tension now, I don't know why you couldn't reseat the 2.265 to 2.250 as long as your seating stem is up for the task. What seating die are you using? |
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Originally Posted By Zhukov: Right - I mentioned that VV's data said 25.0 was the max load (and compressed). I figured that I should be able to get to 25.0 also. My biggest concern is that I may not be able to get the bullet to seat any further down. I mentioned that I adjusted my bullet seating die to seat the bullets to 2.255", and that same setting with the compressed loads produced 2.265" COAL. Maybe I wasn't clear about what I'm asking about: Should I try to re-seat the longer bullets to get them to below 2.265"? Originally Posted By Zhukov: Originally Posted By AeroE: I would load it up. The V140 data in front of me uses Lapua cases. The maximum charge weight is 25 grains, compressed with this bullet. https://vihtavuori.com/reloading-data/reloading-data-tool/#/imperials/1/7/Berger/-1/77 Vihtavuori's current burn rate chart: https://vihtavuori.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Vihtavuori_BurningRateChart_Tabloid.pdf Compressed loads are not inherently dangerous, they're desirable when a full case eliminates position sensitivity. Withouth over pressure. I'm tight, so burning gunpowder by the case full puts a burr under my saddle, but the accuracy is generally worth the cost, and you are shooting premium bullets in this case, so cost is secondary. Right - I mentioned that VV's data said 25.0 was the max load (and compressed). I figured that I should be able to get to 25.0 also. My biggest concern is that I may not be able to get the bullet to seat any further down. I mentioned that I adjusted my bullet seating die to seat the bullets to 2.255", and that same setting with the compressed loads produced 2.265" COAL. Maybe I wasn't clear about what I'm asking about: Should I try to re-seat the longer bullets to get them to below 2.265"? What I found with compressed loads of Reloder 15 in Winchester cases was that neck tension was critical to stop bullets unseating from the original depth. I refuse to roll crimp premium target bullets, but I also don't taper crimp. I treat prepped Winchester cases as identical to Lapua cases, the case response in the die is indistinguishable. I loaded all of my magazine length ammunition for highpower to 2.265 inches COAL for use in 20 round USGI magazines with no issues . That's crowding maximum length of 2.270 inches, but 2.270 loads also fed without malfunctions. I have one commercial magazine that chokes on anything longer than 2.25 inches. I thought you were concerned about compressed loads, not changing length, assuming everyone knew to look out for that condition. |
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Clearly some of you think about this a lot more than I do, but I've yet to have a .223 load with extruded powder that wasn't compressed. I just set the seater to give me the OAL I want. If the powder is so tough that it can cause a seater to deform a bullet before the powder gives, I've never seen that. My current DMR match load is LC brass, 24gr 8208 XBR, 77gr Barnes Matchburner set to about 2.255. Enjoy the crunch, no deformation using whatever seating stem comes stock in my Hornady seating die. |
| Thanks for all the help, guys. The bullets have not lengthened since I loaded them, so neck tension should be OK. I'll probably shoot this batch without any further modifications, but will play with adjusting the seating depth when I settle on the load. I'll also try to tamp down the powder a bit next time to see if it helps. |
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Ruthless ruler of cubicle B300.2C.983
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