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Posted: 7/7/2012 3:40:43 PM EDT
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I need Max. Load data for .223 cal. I have a Hornady 7th edition and I have heard that sometimes Hornady may be a lil conservative. The powder I want to use is Win 748, primers CCI 400's. Cases are Lake city. I want to use 55gr FMJ's. My max is listed at 26.4 grains. I have a M&P 15T w/5.56 chamber. I also need to know what is a good primer for my AR. Been using cci's forever.
Shannon |
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my lyman 49 lists 27.8 but that's for 55 gr sp.
from hodgdons site hodgdon data center 55 GR. BAR TSX FB Winchester 748 .224" 2.180" 22.5 2862 39,200 PSI 25.0 3104 48,500 PSI 55 GR. SPR SP Winchester 748 .224" 2.200" 26.3 3150 39,000 CUP don't be sorry for asking a valid question. I wouldn't really ultimately trust load data on a forum like this... just do a work up and look for signs of over pressure you'll find max for your rifle and load. cci's are a fine primer really for an ar cci41s are better thicker cup supposedly prevents slam fires... I haven't had any problem running regular small rifle primers in an ar maybe if you rechamber the same round over and over it could slam but seems unlikely. |
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Quoted:
Nice, I'll go buy a different book which will list a different load. Sorry for asking. Shannon There's a pile of load data published on line by the gunpowder distributors. In any case, the published data is still a guideline. Plus, if you're loading maximum charges without starting a little lower, you should know that it's a real bad practice. Hornady switched to piezo pressure measuring equipment, hence their load data was reduced to match the peak pressures they were measuring. That doesn't mean it's conservative, or low, or anything but just plain load data. |
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Thanks, an actual number from an actual book is what I'm looking for. The reason I am asking is simple. I'm looking for headroom. I know my max is 26.4 by my guide. But I also have known it to be conservative or just established.
Shannon Ps. Aero e and obo2 I'm not looking to go higher than my guide. That scares the hell out of me. My work up suggests that low temps may affect performance so my question is what do other guides list for max pressure? |
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Here's a bunch of actual data. |
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the reloading data base on this forum has some nice pet loads as well
here's one like what you are looking for from that .223 Federal Winchester 55 FMJ Winchester W748 26.2 CCI400 AR15, 20" 3045 65 19 Rasp-65 http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=206 what do you mean head room? |
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Well Obo I guess What I mean is that I know 26.4 is my guides max, but what is everybody else's using this powder bullet combo.
I don't want to over push my rifle. But hearing everyone one else's makes me feel a hell of a lot better about my max load data. I know that Win 748 is a temperature affected powder. What is max at 95 degrees may not be max at 50 degrees Fahrenheit. So what I'm looking for is real headroom by other guides so I can get a reasonable understanding or different perceptions of max powder charges. Shannon |
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It's always best to work up a load in your rifle. Then you will know what your rifle will do. Rifles are different a warm load in one could be too hot in another. Why loading data is a guide. Begin loading at the "start" load and work up watching for pressure signs. "start" load is the lowest charge shown in the data. Don't go lower. That is the tried and true safe way to reload.
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| My best load using Hornady 55 grain bullets is with 26.4 grains. I use RP 7 1/2 primers. Velocity in a 20" barrel with Win 748 at 26.4 grains was only high 2800's in my rifle. Some other data sources list a higher maximum charges of 748 but having tested them the velocity gain isn't worth the chance of high pressures. Win 748 is temperature sensitive and in hot summer temps a higher charge could lead to pressure problems. I have tested 26.4 grains in all conditions with no issues except it doesn't produce top velocity with 55 grain bullets. I still would work UP with your data. I have switched to H335 for 55 grain loads as it produces higher velocity without pressure problems in my experience. I shot a 55 grain load in my AR with 748 that when tryed in my bolt action created scary pressure signs in 95 degree temps. |
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Thanks rg1, the temp sensitivity is the problem. I was loading 25.5 grains and I didn't have single issue out of 500 rounds, but all of them were fired in hot conditions ( ammo was allowed to heat up on the bench, gun was hot etc) in the summer heat. So on the fourth I decided to run out of the house and make some noise. I had one proven battlemag loaded up. Upon firing I had 3 malfunctions, ejects fine, but bolt stayed half open with new round about halfway in chamber. The difference I surmised was the temp. I brought the ammo out of the air conditioning set at 68 degrees. Whatever the pressure difference was in the ammo at 68 degrees my gun hated it. I've had a lot of problems with this and my gun. It seems I have to fire nuclear weapons in it to get it to function correctly.
Keep in mind the cases look great at 95 plus degrees w/25.5 grains. Shannon |
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have you disassembled cleaned oiled and assembled your mags?
is this the same way it was jamming up early on too? is the bolt fully behind the new cartridge or riding up on top of it? my nato chamber likes hotter loads for accuracy but functions fine on the lowest loads as well. this may be less the ammo and more cleaning your mags and maybe tightening the mag catch a turn. |
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I have "The Complete Reloading Manual for the .223 Remington." It's a compilation booklet from different bullet and powder manufactures. The maximums with Win 748 with their respective 55 gr bullets:
Hornady - 26.4 gr Nosler - 26.0 Sierra - 26.5 Speer - 28.0 (compressed) with CCI 450 primers |
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Thanks to all of you, obo2 I'm a perfectionist about cleanliness the mags and gun were spotless, nicely lubed, and had the exact same jam as my other post in troubleshooting. Only difference was the ammo was 30 degrees cooler which obviously lowered pressures. The next day I took the exact same ammo (200 rounds and in the hot sun in a hot gun it shot fine.
I am going to load 26 grains and look for pressure in the hot sun, then check for function when they are cold. If not then I'll move up again .2 or .3 and keep checking for pressure. What's worse Is that I don't know if this is normal for this gun. Most people post that they can squirt squirrel piss down range with excellent results, with mine I might as well hook the breach of a howitzer to the end of it. Shannon |
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Quoted:
I need Max. Load data for .223 cal. I have a Hornady 7th edition and I have heard that sometimes Hornady may be a lil conservative. The powder I want to use is Win 748, primers CCI 400's. Cases are Lake city. I want to use 55gr FMJ's. My max is listed at 26.4 grains. I have a M&P 15T w/5.56 chamber. I also need to know what is a good primer for my AR. Been using cci's forever. Shannon If you look at the Speer manuals, which are part of the CCI conglomerate, you'll see that they pretty much always use magnum primers with ball powders in rifle cartridges. Maybe try using some CCI 450s, instead of the CCI 400s, when using Winchester 748? Chris |
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