Posted: 3/2/2009 3:07:18 PM EDT
|
OK, I'm neither novice or expert at reloading but I have been doing it for over 25 years with other rifles.
I did my first 223 reloads for my DPMS AR-15 with a 16" barrel and 1/9 twist. I used the same loads that I used for my Mini 14 except I couldn't find any BLCII powder so I used Winchester 748 and loaded a middle of the road load using 26.5 grains and a 55gr Hornady Spire Point Super Explosive bullet. I can't get them on the target, they spray all over the place like nothing I have ever seen before. I can shoot factory Fiocchi or Black Hills with respectable accuracy. I'm planning to "unload" the remaining rounds and maybe use another bullet to see if I can find one that shoots good enough for prairie dogging. Has anyone else ever had this happen and if so, what is the cause of it? Possibly the bullets are not stabilizing in that short barrel or ???????? Like I said, I've never seen anything like that before.....and it's certainly nothing I ever expected. Anyone with a similar setup loading for varmits? |
| MY AR brother you are in the WRONG forum here is the direct link reloading at the top you go to ARMORY click scroll towards the bottom then click on reloading there you can find what you seek |
|
Just found this thread again, I had subscribed but when it was moved the subscription didn't move with it.
I thought it should have been in the Reloading forum too....but this will do just fine I guess. Now...I did some looking around and I see some recipes that make mine look "hot" but I have it from an old reloading book and it's "middle of the road" for a 55gr SP bullet. Possibly since these are SX (super explosive) they are having problems with that load, I have no idea. I know that I shoot that exact same load in my Mini 14 and it works perfectly. Shorter barrel maybe??? Anyway, I was going to pull a dozen and replace the bullets with Nosler Partition bullets and see how they shoot but now I'm going to look up some loads and see, maybe what I have is hot for that AR-15? Sigh......I wanted this to be easy but I guess there isn't a shortcut .... it's put 'em together and send 'em downrange to see how the look. I was thinking maybe the bullet was the problem. Some rifles shoot a boat tail better than a flat tail so I thought I'd try boat tails. First I guess I'd better research loading data for an AR-15 specifically. Varmit loads is what I'm looking for, I've got plenty of FMJ's. I bought some BLCII and I think I'll pick up some H335 and play around a little bit with brass, primers, bullets and powder charges. Some time at the range.....I like that part anyway. |
|
Unfortunately when you look at load data some books call different load of 748 powder hot loads at different weights. An older book I have lists a hot load at 27.5 and a compressed load at 28 which would be hot as well. At any rate without a chrono you will not know for sure. I use 27 grains win748 for my 55 grain fmj rounds to try and dupe a mil type performance. They seem to do real well. That being said if you want better accuracy I would say in your case with your bullet for you to drop into the 24 grain area and work up if you need more velocity. With a super explosive bullet such as you describe you actually dont need as much velocity as you would think. Does the bullet have a cannelure on it? Most hunting bullets dont. The reason I say this is that the bullet may be experiencing setback as it gets slammed into the chamber of your AR, just another possibility. I always use a cannelured bullet and a good hard crimp on it when using in an autoloader but to each his own. 55gr bullet should stabilize just fine in a 1 in 9 twist barrel. I think you have other issues. Possible bullet setback, deformity during chambering, or possible damage due to high powder charge and fragile round. Also consider that some guns just don't like some bullets. Just ask any hunter who has actually fired different rounds through his rifle. Anyway just a few things to consider.
Wes |
|
I picked up some H335, some Federal 205's and all I could find was V-Max so I picked up a couple hundred of those.
So, my plan is to pull a dozen "factory" loads, weigh the powder just for a mark, then put the SPSX bullets in those cases and shoot them. See what they do. In the meantime I'm gonna load some H335, BLCII and 748 with a mix of brass, primers, powder and 55 grain bullets. Should be done before next dog season ;-) |
|
OK.....you guys were right, that load was too hot.
My reloading data needs to be updated.....but I still use it for all my other rifles and pistols without any problems. Must be that short barrel and that bullet???? Anyway, dropped the load to 25.3 grains of W748 and it's flying MUCH better....gonna drop it to 25 and see what it does. I used H335, BLC2 and W748 with 55gr Vmax and 55gr SPSX. My best accuracy was with BLC2 for both bullets. Now if I can just find some dang boat tails.....Nosler Ballistic would work perfectly.....if I can find them. Actually....if I could just find a better upper with a bull barrel.....that would be optimum! Anyway.....I'm back on track. Thanks for the responses, had it not been for this board I would still be using my old reloading data. I mean, powder is powder.......right?????? Evidently not |