Loaded my first 223 tonight

[arjohnson]

I finally starting loading for 223 and 308 and tonight I loaded my first 20 rnds. I'm working up a load for my SPR, I started with this.

Fed 223 brass, sized and trimmed to 1.750
Remington 6 1/2 small rifle primer
23.5 grns Varget, this is my starting load
75 grn Hornady BTHP loaded to 2.255 OAL

I'll see how they group at 100 and 200 yds then increase load by 1/2 grn if needed.

Hopefully I get out tomorrow and see how they shoot, stay tuned for range report.

[wanneroo]

Congrats they look real nice.

[arjohnson]

Congrats they look real nice.

Thanks, I'm use to cranking out 600+ 9mm rnds an hour on the Dillon 650. Loading these on a single stage is a lot slower, but I'm doing it for accuracy so I don't mind taking my time.

[Emptymag]

Well, you got the pointy ends facing the right way, so that's a pretty good start!

[arjohnson]

Well, you got the pointy ends facing the right way, so that's a pretty good start!

That's true, I read the directions.

[West Chester]

I finally starting loading for 223 and 308 and tonight I loaded my first 20 rnds. I'm working up a load for my SPR, I started with this.

Fed 223 brass, sized and trimmed to 1.750
Remington 6 1/2 small rifle primer
23.5 grns Varget, this is my starting load
75 grn Hornady BTHP loaded to 2.255 OAL

I'll see how they group at 100 and 200 yds then increase load by 1/2 grn if needed.

Hopefully I get out tomorrow and see how they shoot, stay tuned for range report.

Just an FYI from Remington...

In rifle cartridges, the 6-1/2 small rifle primer should not be used in the 17 Remington, 222 Remington, 204 Ruger or the 223 Remington. The 7-1/2 BR is the proper small rifle primer for these rounds.

Warning: When primers are selected incorrectly, misfires, damage to your firearm, and/or personal injury may occur. Visit the ballistics tables on our website. Recommended primers for each rifle and pistol cartridge are listed in these tables.

http://remington.custhelp.com/app/an...imers/r_id/166

[Lycanthrope]

The Hornady can certainly shoot tight but is very sensitive to loading depth in my guns. Load long then back it down to find the sweet spot. The Custom Competition seems to be more forgiving.

Don't bother with 100 yard groups as the longer bullets can take a bit more to go to sleep. 200-250 will tell you more. You can possibly have two bullets that will shoot 1" at 100 and then one will shoot 1" at 200 and the other will shoot 2". Time is money.

I tend to stick with CCI 400's in autoloaders because I like the harder cup.


Lycanhardercuphehehehthrope

[dkf]

Just an FYI from Remington...

In rifle cartridges, the 6-1/2 small rifle primer should not be used in the 17 Remington, 222 Remington, 204 Ruger or the 223 Remington. The 7-1/2 BR is the proper small rifle primer for these rounds.

Warning: When primers are selected incorrectly, misfires, damage to your firearm, and/or personal injury may occur. Visit the ballistics tables on our website. Recommended primers for each rifle and pistol cartridge are listed in these tables.

http://remington.custhelp.com/app/an...imers/r_id/166

I found the limits to a standard SRP pretty quick, that is why I always work up loads in fairly small increments. With CCI #400 SRPs I can get low to mid range .223 loads but that is it in my ARs. The primers start to show dimples in the center which indicates they are too thin and risk a pierce. So I use CCI BR-4 for mid to upper .223 loads and 5.56 pressure loads. I don't need to be piercing primers.

[Mush]

The 6 1/2 primer should only be used on low pressure rounds like the 22 hornet. Remington use to print this warning on the primer box for the 6 1/2. A couple years ago hand loaders were using the 6 1/2 for their AR's. The thinner primer cup would melt and blowback onto the bolt face causing the face to melt and pit badly. If you do a search you may find the thread.

[JenniferG]

I always use the CCI. The Remington Primers as some have pointed out are probably not safe to use and it's good that you posted to have others take a look. I wish I had this when I began to reload back in the mid 80's.

I found later on when I had Federal cases with cannelures would separate after just two reloads I had to take apart about 100-150 rounds. I used the RCBS Collet puller but now there is supposedly a better tool. The Hornady Cam Lock. The RCBS Collet worked fine on .45 acp fmj but the 223. may be a little tricky with the RCBS.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hornady-Cam-...item2a3a644400