Light .223 H335 loads

[11wideglide]

I am in the process of developing a plinking load with mixed head stamp brass, my usual go to load is 26gr H335 w/ L.C. brass. Shoots extremely well, and matches X193 velocities with 55gr FMJ's. But I don't need to use that much powder when just ringing steel, I loaded up some .223's with 23gr, 23.5gr, and 24.0gr of H335 (55gr FMJ, mixed headstamp, OAL 2.200), 23 grains was the best by a short margin. I have never read anyone going that low, I have always seen plinking loads to be in the 25gr area. Is there any negative for loading 23gr or maybe even a little lower than that for just ringing AR500 targets?


NOTE: Yes I know 26gr is over the max of most publications but I have not been getting any pressure signs and worked that load up carefully.

 

[tkd4life]

If you are just loading to ring steel, I would go lower just to reduce the velocity of the round. That would make your steel last longer. I've had issues with 556 ammo slightly pitting my 3/8" AR500 targets shooting them at 100 yds. I only load my plinking 55 grain ammo to about 2800 fps. I'm not looking to shoot distance with that ammo anyway so I don't need the speed. My plinking ammo is shot between 100 and 10 yds so the extra 300 fps gains me nothing. Also I'm only shooting a red dot, so hold over is only so relevant.

Now for my match ammo, that is a different story.

 

[Melnic]

You could run the risk of short stroking if it ends up being under gassed in your gun if you are running say a semi auto AR.
Short stroking, bolt open not working. that sort of thing.
Can depend on your gun, lube condition, temperature (worse if cold for instance and lube thickening up).
Lots of variables in AR I have found (and am no where near an expert on the matter).
I found I needed a light spring in one of my ARs that already was on the hairy edge of undergassed with my 25g H335 plinking load.
Never a problem in the other AR or pistol cause the gas systems were different.

 

[iH8DemLibz]

The correct answer is: Stick with published industry standards.

 

[CSHS]

My standard general purpose 223 load is mixed brass, CCI 400, 55gr whatever, and 24.0 gr H335. COL varies depending on the bullet, but around 2.240. Thousands, no problem.

 

[Sticky]

The correct answer is: Stick with published industry standards.

Agreed... if you want to save a couple grains of powder, you would be better off doing some research for cast boolit loads that are reduced power, but they likely won't be using H335. I run 25.3 behind a 55gr varmint boolit and it's head shots at 200 all day long. I shoot the same if I ring steel, that way I know I'll hit it! lol

 

[Doco Overboard]

I shoot 23g H335 in my rifle with Win.55 fmj's and LC brass and its just good enough to work the action. The worst is a lot of soot carbon build up at neck and mouth so its dirty but its plenty accurate on reduced courses. Doesn't even move the rifle with a little weight added to it.

 

[ToolAA]

I settled on 25g H335 with 55g FMJs. By knocking it down to 24g you are saving $4 per 1000 rounds. Good luck. Post test results once you do settle on a load.

 

[Pinecone]

Below book loads may be problematic.

Hodgdon does publish a way to do light loads with H4895. You start with 60% of the MAX published load, and work up for accuracy.

The Garand guys use light bullets, loaded to the same velocity. So a 110 or 125 bullet at 2800 FPS of so is less recoil, less energy on target. But does not save powder, the powder loads are similar to 150 - 168 gr bullets.

 

[Magnumite]

I settled on 25g H335 with 55g FMJs. By knocking it down to 24g you are saving $4 per 1000 rounds. Good luck. Post test results once you do settle on a load.

That would be $0.004/round or $0.08/box of 20. False economy for substandard loads outside of powder loading parameters. Pinecone mentioned a feasible suggestion for a needs based reduced velocity loads.

Lee manual also lists reduced loads and mentions how to determine feasible powders for reduced loads.

 

[HWB3]

Have loaded 300 rounds of .223 with H335 using 23g in mixed brass with CCI primer. All cycled action with no problems and were accurate at 100 yds.

 

[John from MD]

Just my .02. For auto and semi auto rifle cartridge firearms, you should stay within the operating pressures in published guidelines. The reason is that the powders need a certain amount of pressure to burn properly and the firearm is spec'd out to run within that range. As some one pointed out, you can get short stroking but also other issues such as excessive carbon build up, bent op rods, inconsistent ballistics being some of them.

I won't say there aren't exceptions, the 300 blackout comes to mind, but they are few and far between.

 

[11wideglide]

After some more testing I have settled on 23.5gr as this was the most accurate, but not by much (could have been me). Hornady's newest manual puts the minimum at 22.8gr. Thanks everyone for the replies, I have been watching this load for any excessive carbon build up but no short stroking so far. Still going to test a few hundred more before I load a few thousand.

 

[John from MD]

After some more testing I have settled on 23.5gr as this was the most accurate, but not by much (could have been me). Hornady's newest manual puts the minimum at 22.8gr. Thanks everyone for the replies, I have been watching this load for any excessive carbon build up but no short stroking so far. Still going to test a few hundred more before I load a few thousand.

Smart man. I remember my early reloading days where I shot a few rounds, figured it was good to go, and then found out later that they sucked. Not a good feeling after you loaded a thousand of them.

 

[Jaybeez]

After some more testing I have settled on 23.5gr as this was the most accurate, but not by much (could have been me). Hornady's newest manual puts the minimum at 22.8gr. Thanks everyone for the replies, I have been watching this load for any excessive carbon build up but no short stroking so far. Still going to test a few hundred more before I load a few thousand.

Somebody publishes a .223 55gr h335 load that is notoriously low in comparission to other published data. I can't remember at the moment who though, and i dont have my books in front of me.

I do recall that some primer combinations with that start load can hangfire, because it comes up every so often on other forums.

 

[11wideglide]

Just a update on this, I shot both these loads today, 100 rds each at 100 yards and shorter. No issues at all, hit my 8" steel gong each time at 100 yards and paper targets @ shorter ranges. Going to keep rolling with 100 round batches for 1 or 2 more times than go for 1K. Thanks everyone for the help, feel free to give this load a try at your own risk!