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08-06-2014, 07:45 PM,
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5.56 question...
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A couple reloading questions for a rank beginner...
Can someone explain the difference in reloading between a 5.56 and a .223 round? Would you use the same .223 dies?
Would you recommend a powder other than Varget or IMR-4895? The bullets I want to load are 69 gr. Sierra HPBT
These will be my first non-.308 rounds...
Can someone explain the difference in reloading between a 5.56 and a .223 round? Would you use the same .223 dies?
Would you recommend a powder other than Varget or IMR-4895? The bullets I want to load are 69 gr. Sierra HPBT
These will be my first non-.308 rounds...
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08-06-2014, 09:10 PM,
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RE: 5.56 question...
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.223 dies are what you need. 5.56 dies, if they exist would be identical. 5.56 is loaded to a higher pressure level for military use than .223. .556 chambers have different throat dimensions. Do not use 5.56 in firearms marked .223,could cause a kaboom due to excess chamber pressure due to shorter throat length. Some AR rifles are stamped .223 on the receiver, but 5.56 on the barrel. The barrel stamp is what matters. For the 69 grain smk, i use Varget or re15, excellent accuracy with either powder. For 55 gr or 62gr ss109 plinking rounds, winchester 748 works great. Strangely enough, 7.62x51 is loaded to a lower pressure level than commercial .308, go figure!!!
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08-07-2014, 07:56 AM,
(This post was last modified: 08-07-2014, 08:00 AM by BelieveIn308.)
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RE: 5.56 question...
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08-07-2014, 07:56 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-07-2014, 08:00 AM by BelieveIn308.)
I guess what I really meant to ask is if I reload 5.56 brass to .223 specs will it be OK to fire in 5.56 AR? Thanks for the answer! I'll do 40 and see how they work. Thanks. I will use the Varget, as I use that for the .308. You learn something everyday  And Thanks for the Answer! Appreciated!
And Thanks for the Answer! Appreciated!
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08-07-2014, 09:54 PM,
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RE: 5.56 question...
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(08-06-2014, 09:10 PM)BRDM2APC Wrote: .223 dies are what you need. 5.56 dies, if they exist would be identical. 5.56 is loaded to a higher pressure level for military use than .223. .556 chambers have different throat dimensions. Do not use 5.56 in firearms marked .223,could cause a kaboom due to excess chamber pressure due to shorter throat length. Some AR rifles are stamped .223 on the receiver, but 5.56 on the barrel. The barrel stamp is what matters. For the 69 grain smk, i use Varget or re15, excellent accuracy with either powder. For 55 gr or 62gr ss109 plinking rounds, winchester 748 works great. Strangely enough, 7.62x51 is loaded to a lower pressure level than commercial .308, go figure!!!
GREAT INFO MR. D!
(08-06-2014, 09:10 PM)BRDM2APC Wrote: .223 dies are what you need. 5.56 dies, if they exist would be identical. 5.56 is loaded to a higher pressure level for military use than .223. .556 chambers have different throat dimensions. Do not use 5.56 in firearms marked .223,could cause a kaboom due to excess chamber pressure due to shorter throat length. Some AR rifles are stamped .223 on the receiver, but 5.56 on the barrel. The barrel stamp is what matters. For the 69 grain smk, i use Varget or re15, excellent accuracy with either powder. For 55 gr or 62gr ss109 plinking rounds, winchester 748 works great. Strangely enough, 7.62x51 is loaded to a lower pressure level than commercial .308, go figure!!!
GREAT INFO MR. D!
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08-08-2014, 07:40 PM,
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RE: 5.56 question...
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It is perfectly safe to load 5.56 brass to .223 spec. Same casing. What is not recommended is to attempt to load to 5.56 pressure levels to duplicate military loads. The required powders are only available as salvage powder, usually at gun shows. I would not trust any non factory packaged powder. The closest powder for safe loads approaching military spec is Ramshot TAC.
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08-11-2014, 06:45 AM,
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RE: 5.56 question...
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Interestingly enough, I use these through a Colt, and have always thought the 5.56mm factory ammo was much better than the .223 Rem. I understood that you could always fire .223 through a 5.56mm rifle, but you were asking for a kaboom the other way around.
Why is the 5.56 powder unavailable? I would think Lyman's would have a short paragraph on this for beginners. The Hornady handbook, seems to indicate that you can reload for 5.56, but the powder charges are different than .223. I thought the brass was exactly the same. Better to error on the side of absolute safety.
I am doing the reloading more as a training exercise and to save a few bucks on .308.
Why is the 5.56 powder unavailable? I would think Lyman's would have a short paragraph on this for beginners. The Hornady handbook, seems to indicate that you can reload for 5.56, but the powder charges are different than .223. I thought the brass was exactly the same. Better to error on the side of absolute safety.
I am doing the reloading more as a training exercise and to save a few bucks on .308.
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08-11-2014, 08:39 PM,
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RE: 5.56 question...
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Military powders used in 5.56 allow for higher muzzle velocity in the correct chamber while keeping chamber pressures safe. Even Lake City 5.56 cases will show extreme primer flattening, indicating over pressure loads. Very hot rounds. Try a box of federal XM193 if you can find it. It is Lake City M193 5.56. Also, federal sells IMI xm193 under the Independence brand. Made in Israel by israeli Military Industries, also hot stuff. Walmart carries it.
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08-11-2014, 11:05 PM,
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RE: 5.56 question...
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Nah, I am a rank beginner on reloading. I've reloaded less than 500 rounds of .308. I'll stick to using SAFE .223 loads in the 5.56 brass, but I will inspect the cases much closer now. I've learned a lot with this thread. Thanks again for the info!
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