5.56 NATO reloading help

[budlight]

Canhunter35, take a look at Alliant reloading. I use AR-comp for 62 grain and the 2000-mr for anything heavier. I also have 18 and 20 inch rifle length gas systems. I shoot a lot so I bought lots of high BC 62 gr hpbt's Midway had a great price on 75's so I bought a couple of thousand and did some chrono range time. They shine way out there. one of my quality ar's has a 8X32X60mm. It's quite the squirrel gun!

For quality loading I use Lake City brass of all the same weight and Rem BR primers. Just to get some consistency. I used to trim and chamfer to 1.780. Just to have an longer throat. Shorter stuff I just used for normal use. Wylde match SS barrels. never did see gains in trim length. I used to use H414 for heavies over 62

 

[jbs2014]

I've got an 8twist 5.56 NATO been fiddling with some 69tmks, tried cfe223, never really found good accuracy, factory loads are better lol. Loaded up varget from 24-25.5gr in .5gr intervals to try, I have some 77tmk coming, was thinking of using benchmark, just looking for some tips on these bullets if anyone has experience with them

I have had good luck with Ramshot Tac, Lake City 5.56 brass, and Federal Match Primers with the 77 grain TMK.

 

[lyle2231]

I've got an 8twist 5.56 NATO been fiddling with some 69tmks, tried cfe223, never really found good accuracy, factory loads are better lol. Loaded up varget from 24-25.5gr in .5gr intervals to try, I have some 77tmk coming, was thinking of using benchmark, just looking for some tips on these bullets if anyonvarget

I've got an 8twist 5.56 NATO been fiddling with some 69tmks, tried cfe223, never really found good accuracy, factory loads are better lol. Loaded up varget from 24-25.5gr in .5gr intervals to try, I have some 77tmk coming, was thinking of using benchmark, just looking for some tips on these bullets if anyone has experience with them

Varget or AR Comp works for me.

 

[Canhunter35]

Varget worked okay, but tried h4895 and am getting the best results by far. Gonna roll with that with the 69gr smk. Need to fiddle around with the 77smk yet. Was gonna start with benchmark I think

 

[xsn10s]

I have had good luck with Ramshot Tac, Lake City 5.56 brass, and Federal Match Primers with the 77 grain TMK.

This was the combo that gave me the good accuracy, except I used 77 gr CC. At the time I had access to a canneluring machine so I cannelured the bullets and used a Lee Factory crimp which oddly enough improved accuracy, ES/SD numbers. But one of the biggest factors was going to Fed primers. H4895 gave me better accuracy and ES/SD numbers. But the TAC flows so good I went with that at that time. Today I think I'd go with H4895.

 

[Canhunter35]

This was the combo that gave me the good accuracy, except I used 77 gr CC. At the time I had access to a canneluring machine so I cannelured the bullets and used a Lee Factory crimp which oddly enough improved accuracy, ES/SD numbers. But one of the biggest factors was going to Fed primers. H4895 gave me better accuracy and ES/SD numbers. But the TAC flows so good I went with that at that time. Today I think I'd go with H4895.

Good to know, I might start with h4895 then with the 77gr

 

[xsn10s]

The only issue or non issue with Fed primers is some people have seem dimpling from the firing pin on AR's. That makes some people nervous so they went to harder "AR" primers. I've seen it on my AR loads, but have not had any issues.

 

[budlight]

I was trying to find the article on the problems associated with long bullets that actually extend down into the cases with powder around them. Exceeding about 75 grain bullets in a 223/5.56 case causes this. That was the reasoning behind the Valkyrie being able to shoot heavy .224's. The majority of the bullet is outside the throat and still fitting in a 2.26 length.

Canhunter35, take a look at Alliant reloading. I use AR-comp for 62 grain and the 2000-mr for anything heavier up to my self imposed 75 grain limit with 223 cases. I have chrono data to back up how well these two powders work. 100's of fps over varget, 4895, tac....... 748, CFE, and Leverrevolution are better for less the 62 grain

 

[Lowlander]

Have some 69tmk's but haven't gotten around to testing them yet. Seems no matter what pill I run through mine it always likes a COAL of 2.255 and H4895 powder. Shoots .5 or less at 100yd with 55g SBK's with this combo.

This^^^ has been similar to my go to accuracy load in my 1:8, 223 Wylde chambered 20" barrel. I'm running IMR4895 instead of H4895, but the results have been excellent. These powders aren't the same so refer to a manual.

I have loaded up the 69gr SMK, 69gr Barnes Match Burners, 55gr V-Max and my go-to best performer; Hornady 75gr BTHP. I'm using once fired Lake City, FL sized, trim length 1.750". Charge weight is middle of the road according to my Speer manual on the 75gr. I loaded ladders in 0.3gr increments, 5 rounds each. My overall length for the 69s/75s is 2.255".

I have to say, it's not the fastest load/powder. But man does it shoot. I have some Varget, CFE223 and XBR8208 that I've been meaning to try. I've got a boatload of IMR4895 so I've been using it a lot in the 223 and 308. It is a case filler when you start working up to hotter published loads.

 

[mongo4567]

With 77tmk I have had good luck with h4895 and re15. In my rifle, it was much better with the nosler 70 ab and w748

 

[Steves1911]

I have used 24gr rl15 with 75gr bthp in multiple rifles and it always shoots great. My son took his first deer with that same load.

 

[lyle2231]

Dude I spit my beer out when I read you forum name! I had my buddy's son out to our place (he's from PA) and me and my family took him with us to Glacier NP to do some hiking. Super long story short- didn't know the boy had a phobia about crapping anywhere but his own bathroom. He held his bowels for almost A WEEK. So we were on a trail near many Glacier that had multiple Griz sightings and this kid literally blew his shorts off with a massive BM- on the trail! He didn't know how to crap outside, he didn't know how to clean himself with stream water- He was literally covered in **** head to toe (don't ask me how).

We hot footed back to the trailhead cause bears like sweet and sour smells. I got the kid cleaned up in a bathroom and put him in the truck with a blanket. We went into the trading post at Many Glacier and the ONLY shorts they had were little purple girl shorts with a comic looking bear in a hucklberry patch that said "I'm your Huckleberry". That's what he had to wear!!

Now that's funny!

 

[Kansaswoodguy]

For those heavy bullets use IMR 8208 XBR save the Benchmark it's what I use for varmint loads with light bullets. I've never been impressed with accuracy in 223 and Varget powder. CFE223 is a ok powder not great it really shines for throwing powder charges being a ball powder. I've used about 16lbs of it for prairie dogs but for accuracy Benchmark for light bullets and IMR 8208 for heavy bullets in 223 will bring a smile to your face.

 

[Canhunter35]

Ended up making a load with benchmark and the 77tmks, 22gr accuracy was very good, better than I could find with the 69gr tmks