ar15. 223 reloading. wc844 + 62 grain ss109

[vujade]

Hello.

 

I thought I'd share my load development progress for anyone especially interested in surplus powder and pulled bullets.  I'm new to reloading in 223 so I'm also open to learn.  I normally load for 308 so a lot of habits (good/bad) come from loading for a bolt gun.

 

I used Hornady match brass + wc844 (military surplus powder) + pulled ss109 bullets (62 grains; green tips).  OAL = 1.265.

 

The gun is a S&W lower coupled with an unknown upper.  Eotech optics.  Trigger was a little tough at around 7 pounds.  Temperature today was about 68 degrees.  Light wind.  Shooting done at 50 yards (allergies + glasses (instead of contacts) really tried my eyes today and that's why I only shot at 50; I couldn't see all the way to 100).  Rested the front of the gun on sandbags.  Rear of the bag rested on my support hand.

 

This is only my 2nd time shooting it; I'm a newbie to ARs.  Because I don't have a lot of components yet, I only did 3 shot groups.

 

This is the rifle:  I'm shooting at 50 yards. 

 

 

This was my test group using 3 rounds of American Eagle 223 rounds:

 

 

This was different loads from 23.6 grains to 25.3 grains.

 

 

This was the best group (24.1 grains).  I had some extra rounds of (25.1 grains) so I shot this 5 shot group. 

.591 inches at 50 yards.

 

 

Thoughts/Impressions:

 

I started the first groups using a e-Lander 30 round mags but they were too tall to shoot benched but luckily, my friend had a 20 round "master mold" AR mag and I used that.  I got 2 FTF.  the round nose dived trying to get into the chamber and the carrier crashed on the side of the round; denting it badly.  I wonder if it's the mag or are my rounds too long (they barely fit in the mag).  No failures when firing from the lancer mag.  I'm going to shorten the rounds to 1.260 (vs 1.265) just in case.

 

I'm also going to load more (24.1 grainers).  They seem to group the most.  I normally like to OWC and shoot these round robin but i was trying to simplify it as I learned the rifle.  I normally would also clean the flash hole, weigh bullets, etc (I did not here; I figure my eyes and trigger finger may be the weakest link). 

 

It's incorrect to assume a 1 inch group at 50 yards = 2 inches at 100 yards but I'll make that small assumption here.  My group for factory rounds was a little over an inch at 50 so this is likely a 2.5-3 inch MOA rifle with factory ammo.  My handloads got it to about .600 inches at 50.  It'll be over an inch at 100 yards; not sub MOA but I reckon pretty good using a non magnification optic, heavy trigger and unknown/non match/free floated barrel. 

 

3 shot groups I feel are 'almost cheating' so I'll loud up more of the 24.1 and see how they do with 5 shot groups.  I was impressed that even the not so accurate 25.1 grain loads had a decent 5 shot group there.

 

These black rifles are fun! (except for the trigger)  If you spoke with me a few months ago, I'd be your classic Anti-ARer.  I just didn't like them and bought into all the negative stuff on it.  And then I shot buddy's AR at 300-400 yards a few months ago.    Iron sights, nothing but a shooting mat and a sling and I connected shots.  I fell for the black rifle then.  It was bad timing of course to get into ARs; I kicked myself for my pride and not getting one of these pre-Sandy Hook.  But I happened upon this one; it needed a home and didn't cost an arm/leg and now I adopted him.  Now that it can shoot, I'll be giving him a name.  (I'm open to suggestions). 

Edited March 16, 2013 by vujade

[Dolomite_supafly]

I think you are off by aninch on the OAL. Max OAL is 2.26" and I load mine at 2.23"-2.24" OAL.

 

Dolomite

[RED333]

Owl Hollow is a nice range.

Looks good on the groups from my house, I dont have a .223 rifle.

So good shooting.

[vujade]

Dolomite_supafly, on 16 Mar 2013 - 19:00, said:
I think you are off by aninch on the OAL. Max OAL is 2.26" and I load mine at 2.23"-2.24" OAL.

Dolomite

Ops! That'll make for a very tall 223! That's a typo... 1.265 is the OAL. I'll still trim it down to say 1.250-1.260 so that they better fit in any magazine.

and the photo of the target says "varget"...(I must have 308 on my mind), I meant to write WC844. Edited March 17, 2013 by vujade

[vujade]

Alright.  What a good morning at the range! 

 

I tested a few more loads, fine tuned some things and figured out some FTF issues (it's not the magazine, it's the rounds too long (2.26.  The ones with an OAL of under 2.24-2.25 were flawless)

 

I'm going to settle on 24.5 grains of WC 844.  Both the 55 grain FMJ and the pulled 62 grains produced good results:  The others were pretty good too but not as consistant as the 24-25 grains of wc844.  (Varget is also a good choice but it was only marginally (if any) better than the surplus powder)

 

 

They are both a little over half an inch at 50 yards.  I then loaded 9 rounds of the same load and emptied them every 3 seconds (rifleman's cadence) and produced a group a little over 1.5 inches at 50 yards.  All in a tight cluster center of target.

 

I then filled the magazine and shoot standing at a bunch of clays at 50 yards and then i realized why Eotechs are so awesome.  They are SO Fast.  They may not excel in printing really tiny groups but as far as target acquisition - you can't go any faster. I just point the 1 MOA dot at even slivers of clay and they were gone as soon as I pull the trigger. 

 

As a note - my friend has a scope on his AR (Sig m400).  He tried my reloads - they were cloverleafing at 50 yards.  Either my loads are really good, his rifle is much more accurate than I am, he's a better shot (likely) or that scope really helps!

Edited April 16, 2013 by vujade

[LawVol]

Thanks for the info.  I really need to start reloading for rifle. 

 

These black rifles are fun! (except for the trigger)  

I thought I'd be fine with the GI trigger until I got a Geisselle SSA-E for my birthday.  Easily worth the $200.