223 Load Test

[leftyk82]

To all more experienced than I with testing their reloads:

 

I've brewed up a batch of test loads for my M4

 

Lake City brass

55g FMJ

WC 842 (various increments between 21.9 and 23.9)

CCI #400

 

Question is at what distance do you test these for the best load?  M4 is sighted in at 100yds with a red dot.  I thought of starting with factory ammo as a benchmark test and see what load does best compared to that......plus the barrel will be a bit warmer.

 

Any advice would be great. Thanks!

[Dolomite_supafly]

Your loads are likely going to be a bit under powered. If they cycle and are accurate it should be fine but I use data that is a bit hotter.

 

For 55 grain bullets I would start at 25 grains and consider 26.5 as the absolute MAX. And work up very, very cautiously to that MAX.

 

If you happen to shoot 62 grain steel core bullets I use 25.8 grains to get 3,070 fps out of a 16" barrel. Again, I would work up from 25 grains very cautiously. I would not go beyond 25.9 with the 62 grain bullets.

 

Dolomite

[leftyk82]

Your loads are likely going to be a bit under powered. If they cycle and are accurate it should be fine but I use data that is a bit hotter.

 

For 55 grain bullets I would start at 25 grains and consider 26.5 as the absolute MAX. And work up very, very cautiously to that MAX.

 

If you happen to shoot 62 grain steel core bullets I use 25.8 grains to get 3,070 fps out of a 16" barrel. Again, I would work up from 25 grains very cautiously. I would not go beyond 25.9 with the 62 grain bullets.

 

Dolomite

 

Thanks Dolomite.

 

I did some research about WC 842 before loading up and found discrepancies on which data to use; CFE 223 or H335.  Also, I was advised to back off the load charge by 10% when using military LC brass.  Thus, that's the reasoning for my listed loads above.