reloading 223 ?

4Runner :

I want to say they redesigned the cup of the #400 to make them a little harder in the 90's . Sorry can't give exact info . I just remember reading this a few different times . It's been awhile , I hope I'm remembering right . Unclenick will likely be able to clarify if I'm misremembering ;)

FWIW of the 1400 I've loaded I have not pierced a primer yet . The fact I just posted that means I'll have pierced primers next time out ( that's my karma ):rolleyes:
 
Jimro,
Not, repeat, NOT selling a thing.
It costs 50 cents to tune your gas system for ANY reasonable load.

Anyone that believes a 'One Size Fits Everything' gas system is going to function the same way for all loads/powders has some frustration/hair pulling coming if they deviate from 'Fractory' ammo specifications...
-----

Simple Pulse Pressure or Pulse Duration changes will allow you to shoot about any load you can get to chamber.

This eliminates buffer bounce on 'Hot' loads that cause cycling problems,
Reduces felt recoil when you shoot 'Hot' loads.

The same tuning allows you to shoot 'Soggy' loads that don't produce enough gasses, like low recoil, or sub-sonic loads for supressors.

Doesn't matter what load is your 'Pet' load,
You can reduce felt recoil to virtually zero,
And you won't bounce the buffer off the back of the buffer tube.

Done correctly, you will see smoother cycling, your bolt won't slam closed like a jackhammer, and/or not close fully back into full battery, ready to fire again.
It also means less crap in your bolt, so less cleaning/wear from carbon.
(and if you screw it up, it costs you another 50 cents, doesn't harm the rifle)

Much like my 50 cent trigger job, its easy to do and costs very little...

Since I shoot everything from 9" barrels to 24" barrels,
Everything from 35 grain bullets to 77 grain bullets in .223 rem & 5.56mm,
And I shoot everything from 9mm pistol with rotating bolt to .300 Win Short Mag in the AR platform,
I've had my share of gas system issues/fixes.

Just like tuning your extractor/ejector to throw your brass where you want them,
To tuning the trigger for 50 cents,
To tuning the gas system for your favorite load,
Its not hard at all *IF* you understand how these systems work...

Tuning was suggested so the bolt locks up in more or less the same place with the same amount of torque loading,
Just like in bolt rifles, having the bolt lock-up in the same place without jamming the round in the chamber without excessive force will improve accuracy.

Same thing with NOT having excessive pressure, slamming bolt/carrier together excessively,
NOT slamming the round around while chambering it,
Its always good to have things work smoothly!
 
In my case the problem turned out to be the chronograph not being setup correctly. The chrono was too close to the muzzle and also somewhat effected by not having the shield on top. I remembered the muzzle blast blowing off the shield and so we left it off. We should have put it back on and moved the chrono further away from the muzzle.

With the chrono set at the recommended distance and with the shield on the results were much better this time
The mag primer did not make as much difference as I thought it would in velocity but there seemed to be less residue in the barrel.
Another thing I seem was that the most accurate load was H335 @ 24.0 gr, I would have thought the higher velocity would have been more accurate.

Hornady 55 gr soft point
LC once fired case
CCI 450 mag primer

H335 24.0 gr
2789
2780
2765

H335 24.6 gr
2947
2930
2975

H335 25.0 gr
3010
3035
3017
 
Rebs- you will find that a lot. Very seldom does higher velocity give you a more accurate load. Mid to upper mid is always going to be better.
 
Rebs :

What rifle , barrel length and twist are you using ? As I stated above I'll be shooting H335 for the first time Monday . I worked up five loads using #400 primers . I how ever went out and bought some #450 primers and worked up 6 loads starting .5gr less then the #400 . I'm really looking forward to seeing how much the primers make a difference . I'll be using an AR with a 16" barrel and a 1-7 twist .
 
Well nobody caught my mistake so I'm calling my self out on it .

The one difference I see is I'm starting per Sierra manual for AR loads at 25gr and ending .3gr over max at 27gr .
Click to expand...

WRONG

So I started filling out my load data sheets that I take to the range . Thank goodness I had already loaded the H335 using the #400 primers or I would not have caught this . I had loaded those correctly per Sierra manual starting at 24gr . (sierra is 23.6 so I started at 24) . The mistake was I had loaded some IMR 4320 right after that and it had a starting load of 25gr ending at 26.7 .

For what ever reason that had me thinking I should start my next H335 loads using #450 "mag" primers at 24.5gr . I had mixed up the charge weights of the two powders in my head and did not consult the manual the second time around , OOPS :o . I would have been WAY over max almost right away . Especially when using the #450 primers . My new starting load will be 23gr - .5gr less the the manual ending at 26gr .3gr over max .

FWIW Don't count on memory alone , always consult the manual and or your notes before starting . Before I noticed the problem , I had no problem thinking all was good .

I kept thinking , Why is the OP using such low charges :confused: The real question should have been . If the OP is so low , why am "I" so far off ?
 
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What rifle , barrel length and twist are you using ? As I stated above I'll be shooting H335 for the first time Monday . I worked up five loads using #400 primers . I how ever went out and bought some #450 primers and worked up 6 loads starting .5gr less then the #400 . I'm really looking forward to seeing how much the primers make a difference . I'll be using an AR with a 16" barrel and a 1-7 twist .
Click to expand...

I was using a S&W Sport with 16" barrel and 1 in 8 twist.
I found the primer did not make much difference in velocity but did leave a cleaner barrel which I would attribute to a more complete burn of the powder.

I am taking Jimro's advice and using mag primers from now on.
 
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Went to the range today and worked up some H-335 loads

Rifle = AR with 16" barrel 1-7 twist
55gr Winchester FMJ-BT
H-335
CCI # 400
LC- mixed brass
OAL 2.240 , No crimp
All shot at 100yds

24gr = Avg 2803fps ES-60/SD-22 , 2814 / 2768 / 2807 / 2828 / 2798 = 2.8moa

24.5gr = Avg 2872fps ES-37/SD-17 , 2854 / 2860 / 2879 / 2864 / 2892 = 1.9 moa

25gr = Avg 2936fps ES-73/SD-33 , 2927 /2911 / 2974 / 2900 / 2967 = 1.5moa

25.5gr = Avg 3006fps ES-75/SD-32 , 3060 / 2991 / 3007 / 2985 / 2985 = .9 moa

26gr = Avg 3130fps ES-17/SD-9 , 3135 / 3127 / 3121 / 3133 / 3138 = 2.6 moa - BUT 4 of the shots were 1 moa and 1 way out in never never land so I'd like to check that load out again and see if that was me . The ES & SD were really good with that load . I did not see any pressure signs but I had to be getting close or even over max with that load .

I also loaded up some of those same loads using #450 primers . I stared 1gr lower (23gr ) . I only got to 24gr when I choose to stop because it was getting late and had some pistol loads I still needed to shoot . I'll post the complete results when I finish with the rest . I can tell you the 24gr load avg 2781fps ES-69/SD-29 = 2moa . Not really a whole lot different then the other 24gr load . I suspect the heavier charges will do more of the same .
 
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Its odd that your 24.0 of H335 is not more accurate. 24.0 for me was very accurate in my rifle 1" @ 100 yds, 25.0 was another accurate load.

With CFE223 powder I found two accurate loads at 24.6 and 27.4
All loads are with Hornady 55gr soft points and LC brass. Another thing that surprised me was that once fired brass wasn't any more accurate than brass that I have loaded 5 and 6 times.
 
My max 16"bbl AR load using 55gr Hornady bulk with W748 ball powder was 26.8gr and my avg velocity was 2975 . This charge shot very inconsistent and poorly I only managed an average of 2.2 MOA .

I loaded up 25.6 gr of faster burn Benchmark powder and that avg was about 1.3 MOA and velocities were at about 3040 .
 
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