What are your favorite .223/5.56 loads? What is your cost down to?

[Freedom556]

I started reloading for my 5.56 ar about 6 months ago. I consider myself to still be very new at this. When I started I bought 8lbs of h335 and recently bought 8lbs of wc844 to test. I have loaded Winchester 55gn, hornady vmax 55gn, hornady fmjbt 55gn and m855 62gn. I have only used cci small rifle primers so far. I have worked up many loads using different combinations, I have fired 500 rounds so far with great results.

I am curious what loads you guys are using? Also I am wondering what you have gotten your cost down to? I am currently figuring my cost on the last 1000 rounds.

 

[U.S. Patriot]

Hornady 55 grain FMJ bullets
24.8 grains Varget
Mixed brass, majority is Lake City
CCI mil spec primers

 

[william]

I use Varget and Hornady 55 grain FMJ bullets. It works for my needs.

+1 I use the exact same thing for my bulk plinking type loads. I bought a couple 6000 piece boxes on sale. they are surprisingly uniform for bulk bullets. Before I got the hornady's I had been using bulk Winchester and the weight and length varied too much for my taste. I wish I would have bought more they are almost $200 more for those bulk packs now.

 

[sgreen3]

For plinking I use BL-C(2) powder i got in bulk, with 62gr FMJBT bulk bullets from midway. Match loads for my bench AR are Varget powder with 69 Hornady match HPBT has worked very well.

 

[Cerberus]

While I like Varget, I find it a bit too pricey for blasting fodder. Profire seems to have some great deals on bulk powders, but barring that, I have settled on 24.5 gr of Ramshot TAC over 55 gr Hornady FMJ BTs I got a few years back, primed with CCI #41 primers in various assorted range brass I've scrounged over the years, mostly LC surplus. I'm currently shooting .223 at just over 18 cents a round.

So basically I'm shooting quality ammo for cheaper than imported weak steal case junk.

 

[jblomenberg16]

My favorite plinking load is a 55gr FMJBT over 24.7 of H335. It is a bit shy of the full military M193 spec for velocity, but shoots well and is as bit easier on the brass. Last time I checked I was loading for less than $20/100 considering the case cost to be nil since I'm reloading spent brass.

I like 68gr Hornday HPBT for my precision rounds. I'm loading a bit hot for that, so won't publish my load data since it is above book max. I developed it by backing off just slightly from some high pressure signs in the two rifles I load it for.

 

[Toolepqk]

For plinking:

24.8gn of wc844
62gn bulk m855 bullets
Cci small rifle primer and/or cci #41
Once fired brass
=16-17 cents per round

Before picking up 1000 62gn bullets and the wc844 powder from profire I was loading:

24.5-24.8gn of h335
55gn Winchester bullets
Cci small rifle primer
Once fired brass
=19 cents per round

It depends on the deals you find for your components. I would recommend stopping at profire arms for plinking components, it will get your cost per round down a few cents.

 

[sloughfoot]

I use mixed commercial and military brass sorted by weight.

I load 75 Grain BTHP for 200 and 300 yards at 2.260 OAL. I use 75 grain AMAX for 500 and an 600 yards at 2.420 OAL.

Remington 7 1/2 primers and 24.5 grains of Reloader 15 gets them downrange. I shoot in the Master class and am normally clean in the rapids. I suck standing and struggle to read the wind at 600 or I would be a High Master.

I have no idea what my costs are since it is just a hobby. When I need components, I buy them. I just make a passing notice of the cost. It keeps going up. I am still willing to pay the cost.

I do not "plink". I have never been real sure what "plinking" is. I think it is shooting without a goal? I hear of guys just throwing rounds downrange as fast as they can. I don't understand that concept. Neither would my old Drill Instuctor.

I like to put each round as close to the center as I can. I don't practice. Matches provide all the practice I need.

 

[Toolepqk]

I use mixed commercial and military brass sorted by weight.

I load 75 Grain BTHP for 200 and 300 yards at 2.260 OAL. I use 75 grain AMAX for 500 and an 600 yards at 2.420 OAL.

Remington 7 1/2 primers and 24.5 grains of Reloader 15 gets them downrange. I shoot in the Master class and am normally clean in the rapids. I suck standing and struggle to read the wind at 600 or I would be a High Master.

I have no idea what my costs are since it is just a hobby. When I need components, I buy them. I just make a passing notice of the cost. It keeps going up. I am still willing to pay the cost.

I do not "plink". I have never been real sure what "plinking" is. I think it is shooting without a goal? I hear of guys just throwing rounds downrange as fast as they can. I don't understand that concept. Neither would my old Drill Instuctor.

I like to put each round as close to the center as I can. I don't practice. Matches provide all the practice I need.

I very rarely rapid fire as I see it as a waste. When I say "plinking rounds" I mean rounds I'll take to the range for fun shooting. They are cheaper(bulk) components and very accurate but not meant to be match rounds. I shoot at paper, cans, ect but don't shoot just to shoot. I usually load these in bulk as they are accurate and reliable rounds. I don't shoot further than 100 yards but the few times I have I loaded with new brass, high quality bullets and loaded them hotter than my practice rounds. I shoot often as I live near Wilbur wright, the "plinking rounds" help keep my cost down while still loading reliable accurate rounds.

 

[bloodman]

I started reloading for my 5.56 ar about 6 months ago. I consider myself to still be very new at this. When I started I bought 8lbs of h335 and recently bought 8lbs of wc844 to test. I have loaded Winchester 55gn, hornady vmax 55gn, hornady fmjbt 55gn and m855 62gn. I have only used cci small rifle primers so far. I have worked up many loads using different combinations, I have fired 500 rounds so far with great results.

I am curious what loads you guys are using? Also I am wondering what you have gotten your cost down to? I am currently figuring my cost on the last 1000 rounds.

do you get the same results with the wc844 as you do with the h335?

 

[avboiler11]

Hornady 75gr HPBT
24.0gr Varget
CCI-450 (had a piercing issue with CCI-400s)
Nosler, Lapua, RP or LC brass
Loaded between 2.25" (AR mag length) and 2.30" (0.010" jump)

Sub-0.5 MOA 5 shot groups to at least 200yds and ~2860fps from a 26" 1:9 Savage bolt action.

75gr A-Max and 24.5gr Varget at 2.46" OAL (0.010" jump) provides 2915fps and *slightly* larger groups through the same barrel.

I believe accuracy potential is higher, with the nut behind the trigger being the limiting factor.

 

[SSGSAD]

While I like Varget, I find it a bit too pricey for blasting fodder. Profire seems to have some great deals on bulk powders, but barring that, I have settled on 24.5 gr of Ramshot TAC over 55 gr Hornady FMJ BTs I got a few years back, primed with CCI #41 primers in various assorted range brass I've scrounged over the years, mostly LC surplus. I'm currently shooting .223 at just over 18 cents a round.

So basically I'm shooting quality ammo for cheaper than imported weak steal case junk.

I hope YOU, have a sense of HUMOR, 'cause when I reload, the BULLET, goes OVER the powder .....

 

[Cerberus]

I hope YOU, have a sense of HUMOR, 'cause when I reload, the BULLET, goes OVER the powder .....

Oops talk about an "Oh S**t" moment. My wife does tell me I'm kinda backwards.

 

[redwingshooter]

55gr FMJ over 25.0 gr of TAC
62gr SS109 over 25.5 gr of TAC

 

[Cerberus]

55gr FMJ over 25.0 gr of TAC
62gr SS109 over 25.5 gr of TAC

How do these loads group? Do they have the same, or roughly the same POA/POI?

I went up to 25 of TAC developing my load, but went with the 24.5 because the POI was closest to the XM193 factory fodder I have lots of.

I'm planning on ordering some 62s soon.

 

[Leo]

69 (or 77) grain Sierra matchKing over 25.3 (or 23.5) grains of Varget, CCI or WIN primer. Including shipping and hazmat I have right at 40 cents per shot, maybe a little higher. I an not including brass cost because I have quite a bit of once fired brass already. I know people shoot cheaper, but if I cannot expect sub MOA accuracy, I do not bother get the rifle dirty. I am going to try the Nosler 77 grain BTHP bullets, but I have not got back to the range.

 

[U.S. Patriot]

+1 I use the exact same thing for my bulk plinking type loads. I bought a couple 6000 piece boxes on sale. they are surprisingly uniform for bulk bullets. Before I got the hornady's I had been using bulk Winchester and the weight and length varied too much for my taste. I wish I would have bought more they are almost $200 more for those bulk packs now.

Yeah, the most variance I have seen in length is .005", which is not bad at all.

 

[Cerberus]

Yeah, the most variance I have seen in length is .005", which is not bad at all.

Depends. .005" tolerance would get me fired in some cases.

 

[dukeboy_318]

I'm running a very similar recipe as US Patriot's, 25.0 grains vargent, 55 gr FMJ Remmington Accutip, also used 55 gr FMJ Hornadys with equal results. CC400 primers, mixed brass but most of it is Lake city, some Winchester and Remmington brass here or there. I'd been stock piling brass for quite a while and have plenty on hand so i've figured my cost to be around 20-22 cents a round and no FTFs.

 

[chuddly]

for plinking: 55gr (am still trying different makers of bullets)
24 gr of Accurate 2230
Mixed stamped brass (mostly lake city though)
factory crimped

For long range (still tinkering but i seem to like how it does as of right now)
80gr Midway bullets
24.2 gr of Accurate 2230
in all lake city stamped brass
factory crimped