[jasonpeterson]

I'm looking for a load to test some uppers with. I have 55 grain fmj and 55 grain hornady soft points. I've got all types of powder. In my bolt guns I use 69 grain sierra and varget powder. I just need a average load to do some testing with. I don't want to get into my 556 stash. I was thinking 24 to 25 grains h335. If anyone has a pet load that they use in multiple guns that would be great. All my manuals are all over the place in starting load and max. I will do some load work up at another time. I just need a good starting point. Thanks.

 

[73 scout2]

24 grains of h335 for 55 fmj gave around 3000 fps out of a 20" ar and functions fine through my mini-14
25.5 grains of varget gives about 3200

ymmv

I love the sierra matchking's in 69 through my savage over 25.2 grains of varget

what load are you using?

 

[pantherdude]

I've had pretty good groups with 25gn H335 out of my 16" 1:9 M4 pushing a Hornady 55gn fmjbt.

 

[jasonpeterson]

In the morning I'll load some up with h335 and go try them out. I shot some Winchester M193 today and it shot nice out of my Double Star 16" .

 

[jasonpeterson]

I've been testing loads for my 556's. Today I tried 25 grains of benchmark. With hornady 55 grain soft point. They averaged 2956 out of my 16" uppers. Seems like a good load.

I'm looking for a good load for plinking ammo. I'm wanting a load that is close to the M193 loads. I'm just wanting something to practice with. Does any one have some pet loads I could try?

 

[borderpatrol]

I play with 52/53 grain match bullets. 20.6 grains of H-4198 shoots 1/2" groups from my Winchester Model 70. The nice thing is it works in carbine length gas systems just fine. You might try 25.5 to 26 grains of WW-748. 24.5 to 25.0 grains of IMR-4895. H-322 will work from 23.0 to 24.0 grains max. The faster powders fall off the charts once you get over 55 grains in bullet weight. They usually will shoot really nice groups with light bullets but not very high velocities.

Your Benchmark load sounds good. I've noticed at least 200 fps increase from 16' barrels to 20" barrels in .223. That would put you around 3150 fps from a standard barrel. The gov. loads their ammo for maximum velocity, I wouldn't try to duplicate their loads with canister grade powders. I've also noticed that published velocities are rarely accurate. They are usually overstated by 50 to 100 fps. Shoot real M193 or M855 over a chronograph and it's almost always slower than advertised.

 

[jasonpeterson]

My m193 ammo shoots around 3095fps. I've just been trying all kinds before I buy a bunch more powder. So far the benchmark is my top load. I'm just shooting these with my eotech at 50 to 75 yards. Not for accuracy. I mainly need them to work in several firearms. Just trying to match a good factory load.

 

[nemohunter]

it's not too fast but 24.5 of Tac behind a 55FMJ is a GOOD load.

 

[paulosantos]

My m193 ammo shoots around 3095fps. I've just been trying all kinds before I buy a bunch more powder. So far the benchmark is my top load. I'm just shooting these with my eotech at 50 to 75 yards. Not for accuracy. I mainly need them to work in several firearms. Just trying to match a good factory load.

25.6 GR of Benchmark seems like a good load. 25.5 GR of TAC is also a good load. I also thought that the M193 velocities were impossible to reach, but after I chronoed some the other day, it was very easy to surpass with Benchmark at a SAFE pressure.

 

[jasonpeterson]

Thanks paulo. I think I will bump it up to 25.6. The 25 grains shot very well. If I see pressure with 25.6 I will drop back down to 25.

I will get some tac to try also. Thanks for your help.

 

[paulosantos]

Thanks paulo. I think I will bump it up to 25.6. The 25 grains shot very well. If I see pressure with 25.6 I will drop back down to 25.

I will get some tac to try also. Thanks for your help.

If you have a true 556 chamber, you can go up to 26.5 GR and it will still be right around 55K or lower.

 

[jasonpeterson]

It is a 556 chamber. That's probably why I didn't see any pressure signs on the last loads I tested. Thanks for bringing the chamber to my attention. It had slipped my mind.

 

[Bubba FAL]

Under 55gr FMJs, Ive used 24.0gr of AA2230 and 26.5gr of 748 with good results, both averaged ~3050f/s out of my 20" Colt.

As for some true 5.56 spec ammo, I have some '94 headstamp WWB 5.56 that averages 3255f/s out of the same rifle. It's the old Q3131A load. Good stuff if you can find it. The fact that the brass is good for 5-6 reloadings is a bonus.