Loaded rifle rounds for the first time (223 Rem)

Range Report

Well I got my 60 loaded rounds out to the range today.

They all fired and cycled without a hitch. All is going well.

Today, I also decided to bring my chronograph - two birds with one stone, as it were. Their velocity is really of little interest to me; only to check and make sure nothing weird is going on.

According to their manual, Sierra has their 65gn SBT moving along at 2700 f/s at 23.5 grains of AA2230 through a 20" bbl. Mine are 16's, but I doubt that would account for much difference. Especially with AA2230 leaning a bit to the fast side.

The 65 SBT's clocked at 2586 f/s.
The Win 64 PP's averaged 2557 f/s.

This is about what I expected. I don't plan on changing the charge weight for either bullet (23.5gn). They shoot fine; cycle fine; etc. They seem pretty accurate too. That's all I'm looking for. So further chronographing is not likely at this time. And that's a good thing, because . . .

I shot my chronograph (again) :D

Yeah, that's right. The ol' parallax effect. I had three targets pasted up on the frame in a vertical column - those "Shoot NC" kind. Anyway, on one of my last shots, I decided to start on a fresh target - which happened to be the lowest one on the frame. I thought about parallax effect; and gave it a second, and even third look. I decided I would be shooting over the top of the chrono by - three inches or so. Well, I mis-estimated - by three inches or so. Blazed one across the very top - through-n-through. He's dead Jim.

I wasn't home more than 30 minutes when I was on the phone with Chrony - ordering a new one.

So dead chronograph aside, It was a good trip to the range. I have a lot of confidence in my 223 Rem load technique now. Time to start loading in larger quantities.

About annealing: I know little about it and have given it little thought. I don't plan on loading/shooting a lot of 223 - if that matters. This project, much like the guns themselves, is just so I know I have the equipment, components, knowledge and skill to be able to load for and shoot my AR-15's.
 
I've been chronicling my adventure into loading 223 Remington for the first time (first of any rifle round), through being able to load solid, reliable, ammo on a quantity scale; and it would seem I'm just about there. Which I guess would explain the lack of responses :)

Yesterday, I loaded 50 each of the Sierra 65gn SBT's and the Winchester 64gn PP's. So I have 100 loaded rounds to take to the range. Next time out (hopefully this coming week - looks like the weather is going to be nice for a change), I'm going to focus on accuracy. So far, both seem to be pretty darn accurate - making tight groups only two to three inches across at 50 yards. But so far, I've been focused on feeding (and destroying my chronograph), and haven't really focused on accuracy. And I believe that the groups I've shot so far would be tighter if I had a stronger scope and a steadier aim. We'll try better next time out.

I did make a change to these 100 I just loaded: I lowered the charge weight from 23.5 grains to 23.2 grains - a drop of less than 2%. I kinda sorta forgot that I have QuickLoad (I was just using the Sierra manual, since I had Sierra bullets). And mocked them up. Pressure was a little more than I thought. These bullets do lean a little heavy for the relatively fast AA2230. Anyway, I dropped back a few 1/10's. Further motivation is that 23.333 grains/round = 300 rounds/pound. 23.2 adds a little wiggle room to that 300 figure. Not that it'll be a final deciding factor; but if they still shoot nice, I'm going to stick with the 23.2 charge weight. It'll be nice knowing that I'm buying 300 rounds with every pound.

So that's where I am. I'll report back on the next trip to the range and tell how it went.
 
Well if 23.5 worked and was accurate I'd stay there especially since 23.5gr is Sierra's start charge for there 63gr and 65gr bullets in the AR section . Note : 24.9gr is there max charge for those bullet weights . What did quick loads say you were at with pressure ?

Have you done a proper load development yet ? Loading for rifle is not the same IMO as loading handgun . You don't just find a nice plinking load . You load in increments of 1% of max charge and at least 5 shots each . For 223/5.56 I load in increments of .3gr . You do this to find your most accurate load . Unlike pistol , rifles can be shot quite accurately and you can easily see the accuracy difference as you work up in charge increments .

EXAMPLE : Here is a 100yd target of mine in 308 . As you can see one group is clearly better and I called that flier so I knew that 43.5gr charge was a good load .
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So my load work up for your load would be something like this If I was new and never used those specific components together before .

BASED ON MY SIERRA MANUAL
23.5 / 23.8 / 24.1 / 24.4 / 24.7 / 25.0 . I'm confident that one of those loads would shoot better then the rest and assuming there were no pressure signs . The load that shot the best is the one I'd use regardless of the charge . If 23.5 shot best then fine but if 24.7 did then that's the one I want .

There's also something else to consider and that's terminal ballistics . Lets say 23.5 shot best at .75moa ( minute of angle ) but 24.7 shot good at 1 moa . Depending on the intended use of the cartridge I might give up that 1/4 moa in accuracy to gain the extra 100fps for the extra terminal ballistics .
 
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QL said the loads at 23.5 were at 45.4K. Not high. Just higher than I expected.

As far as accuracy goes, I don't know that I need them to be particularly accurate. I won't be shooting squirrel heads at 100 yards. So far, I've been getting basically 2.5"-ish groups at 50 yards - and that's not really even trying to be accurate. The last two trips to the range were fairly windy days to boot (from right to left). I think the 1:7 twist rate lends these guns to shooting pretty straight. But I don't really know how all that works. I know a high twist rate helps keep bullets stable - especially long ones.

I don't need them to be any more accurate than I've experienced so far. And the rifle bug hasn't bitten me. In other words, I have no desire to chase accuracy, just for the sake of chasing accuracy.

I should have more information after the next time out. I'll focus on hitting bullseyes with my scoped AR. But unless accuracy falls apart at 23.2 grains, further load development isn't likely.
 
I don't need them to be any more accurate than I've experienced so far. And the rifle bug hasn't bitten me. In other words, I have no desire to chase accuracy, just for the sake of chasing accuracy.
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Yeaaaah I used to think the same thing . Then I shot some match ammo that shot really well in my rifle 1/2 inch at 100yds . I then went back to shooting factor cheap stuff at 2.5 inches at 100yds and just could not tolerate it anymore . So I started buying match ammo and that got expensive fast . That's when I started reloading and once I started reloading I got real serious about shooting . Reason being was I then leaned accuracy had more to do with the shooter then the ammo and rifle . Yep , major rabbit hole .

hmm , never mind you keep doing what yer doing :D
 
hmm , never mind you keep doing what yer doing :D
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Heh :p

I bought my two AR15 lowers the day of the San Bernardino terrorist attack; knowing that it would not get any easier to acquire such a firearm here.

I built them out and committed to be able to load effective ammunition for them - should it become difficult to otherwise acquire ammo. That is the entire purpose of this project (and this thread).

I've taken these AR's out for a shoot a half-dozen times or so thus far, and no "spark." Let me tell ya,' the first time I shot a 22 pistol, I was hooked - I've been obsessed with shooting handguns from the very first round discharged at age 12. I bought a handgun of my own five days after I could legally do so (Colt Python - still have it).

I like shooting my 44 Mag Marlin 1894 more than these AR's. I mean, any gun is fun to shoot - don't get me wrong. And these AR's are really easy to shoot and I find their mechanics amazing. And it was rewarding to build them out myself (I had help), but still, no "spark." The purpose of this project remains the same.

Anyway, I've got 100 rounds to go have fun with later this week. Looking forward to it. I'll report.
 
Mission Accomplished

Took advantage in a gap in the rain and got to the range this morning. New chronograph in tow.

I brought 50 rounds each of my two handloads. One is the Sierra 65gn SBT; and the other is a Winchester 64gn PP. Both loaded with 23.2 grains of AA2230.

Chronographing 20 round samples:

65gn SBT = 2576 f/s
64gn PP = 2532 f/s

Dropping from 23.5 grains to 23.2 grains deducted 10 f/s for the Sierra's and 25 f/s for the Winchesters. That's still fast enough for me - I guess. Everything cycled perfect. The brass lands in pretty much the same place consistently. And I just don't see any need to drive 'em any harder.

After chronographing, I focused on accuracy. I'm not used to shooting rifles off a bench rest; and frankly, I don't think I'm very good at it. I'm not super steady and it would seem if I want more accuracy, I'd need a stronger scope (the circle in the scope fits exactly with the 8" target at 50 yds, if anybody can tell me what magnification that is. I have the manual around here somewhere :p)

Here's a pic of the "accuracy test." The top target is the Sierra's - 10 rounds. The middle target is the Winchester's - 17 rounds. And the bottom target is American Eagle Factory 55gn ammo - 10 rounds. I'm pretty sure that the major deviations are me. The ammo shoots better than I do. (It was a used piece of cardboard - ignore the holes outside targets.)

Side note: I suspect the scope is not quite sighted in and it's shooting a touch right (suspected the same last time out too). We had a decent breeze this morning; blowing from left to right. With that, I decided to leave it be and not make any adjustments just yet - maybe next time out.

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All-n-all, I am pleased with my ammo. I have two good recipes and that's all I'm looking for. I can load 223 Rem now. Mission accomplished.
 
I have never belled a rifle case, never found the need. Boat tails are easy to get started but no more so than non-boat tails. Hold the bullet with your finger's, start the case and bullet into the die and let the ram push the bullet out of hour hand. When you trim, don't over champher the mouth of the case. You risk splitting case neck's when you do
 
belled rifle cases? maybe in the older straight case types but usually a good Chamfer will allow a bullet to seat easily. That might not be true for cast or plated bullets but it works with jacketed.
 
Approximately 60 degrees clockwise from the direction of fire is the 4 o'clock position. I hesitate to call that "perfectly gassed" as the direction of ejection has to do with the position of the ejector in reference to the brass and the location of the extractor. You can easily modify the length of the ejector to move the distance and position that the spent cartridges land. Changes in grip and cant of the pistol will also change where the spent brass lands.
 
Um , If you start "modifying" things . Obviously your outcome changes . I'm not sure of the point . IMO you can go on infinitely on how if you change something on anything it will likely change the outcome .

One would assume the OP is not talking about a custom firearm so the standards should apply . As to rifle hold I agree , if you were holding it upside down it might eject to a different spot . :D
 
I keep running the numbers for reloading 223 and keep putting it off. Norma TAC is very good and $6.67 at Cabelas right now. I remain to only guy I see not glued to the bench when I shoot. I am very sure off the bench I am THE variable. Off the bench at 100 is a lot more interesting to me, you might find that more fun / frustrating with the AR. I will add that social breakdown does not occur at known distances. After looking at a lot of data I settled on 1" high at 100 for anything between 0-250. After that, you probably need to know.
 
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