5.56 55 Grain Universal Load

[NKBJ]

For AR's, what's the closest thing there is to a universal 55FMJ load?

 

[SSGSAD]

I am NOT sure what you mean by universal, but I load between 20-22 gr. of 2230 powder with a 55 gr., FMJ .....

For light plinking .....

 

[Mgderf]

For AR's, what's the closest thing there is to a universal 55FMJ load?

My Lyman's 49th edition manual doesn't show any data for a 55gr pill using Universal powder.

 

[OutdoorDad]

I'm not sure I fully understand your question.
I'm going to answer "approx 3000 feet per second".

If that isn't a correct answer to the question you're asking, please reassure that you aren't reloading anything. And are just doing research into ballistics.

 

[jblomenberg16]

There are some really good all purpose 55gr loads. I'd recommend checking out the Hodgdon reloading website. I like to use H335 which is pretty close to the military ball powder used for the M193 round.

 

[NKBJ]

Yeah, H335 and 748 are my first choices.

 

[turnerdye1]

26.2gr CFE223 with 55gr
or
25.2gr of Varget with 55gr

This gets me right around 3000fps in a 16" barrel and ejects/functions in 3 of the AR's i shot

 

[2in1evtime]

i like 322,748, and 8208 myself, but none of these call for the same volumes of powder!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NKBJ]

BL-C2 is pretty good.
But sometimes it seems like they should rename it brickette instead of ball!

 

[sgreen3]

For just blasting and range ammo I load either 24gr of 4320 or 25.5gr of CFE 223, or 24gr of BLC2. Just depends what I can get my hands on at the time I'm loading a bulk batch of blasting rounds. But all these perform very well with more than enough accuracy to blast clay pigeons or whatever else.

 

[NyleRN]

For just blasting and range ammo I load either 24gr of 4320 or 25.5gr of CFE 223, or 24gr of BLC2. Just depends what I can get my hands on at the time I'm loading a bulk batch of blasting rounds. But all these perform very well with more than enough accuracy to blast clay pigeons or whatever else.

Don't be using the IMR 4320!!! That's the sleeper backup accuracy powder for when the varget dries up...ha ha

 

[sloughfoot]

26.2 Winchester 748 over a primer and in a brass case. With a 55 FMJ or SP bullet. I usually crimp it.

Mil-Spec and commercial velocity.

 

[Sniper 79]

Not to high jack the thread. I have 600 Hornaday 55gn soft point pills ready to load.

Would like to use up a pound of Benchmark I have on the shelf. Anybody have a load they like with Benchmark or trade me for a 748 bottle?

 

[Spear Dane]

For AR's, what's the closest thing there is to a universal 55FMJ load?

42

 

[indyjohn]

42

+1 For pointing out the answer is always 42.

 

[trophyhunter]

Not to high jack the thread. I have 600 Hornaday 55gn soft point pills ready to load.

Would like to use up a pound of Benchmark I have on the shelf. Anybody have a load they like with Benchmark or trade me for a 748 bottle?

Here's QL numbers for a 20" barrel:

Cartridge          : .223 Rem. (SAAMI)Bullet             : .224, 55, Hornady SP 2265
Useable Case Capaci: 26.568 grain H2O = 1.725 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.250 inch = 57.15 mm
Barrel Length      : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm
Powder             : Hodgdon Benchmark


Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !


Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms


-20.0   80    19.28   2440     727   27915   6215     83.2    1.197
-18.0   82    19.76   2498     762   29677   6424     84.6    1.166
-16.0   84    20.24   2557     798   31550   6630     85.8    1.136
-14.0   86    20.73   2616     836   33541   6832     87.1    1.107
-12.0   88    21.21   2675     874   35657   7030     88.3    1.078
-10.0   90    21.69   2734     913   37905   7224     89.4    1.049
-08.0   92    22.17   2792     952   40296   7412     90.5    1.020
-06.0   94    22.65   2851     993   42838   7594     91.6    0.992
-04.0   96    23.14   2910    1034   45542   7770     92.6    0.964
-02.0   98    23.62   2969    1077   48420   7939     93.5    0.938  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0  100    24.10   3028    1120   51484   8101     94.4    0.913  ! Near Maximum !
+02.0  102    24.58   3087    1164   54750   8254     95.2    0.888

And for a 16" carbine:

Cartridge          : .223 Rem. (SAAMI)Bullet             : .224, 55, Hornady SP 2265
Useable Case Capaci: 26.568 grain H2O = 1.725 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.250 inch = 57.15 mm
Barrel Length      : 16.0 inch = 406.4 mm
Powder             : Hodgdon Benchmark


Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !


Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms


-20.0   80    19.28   2288     639   27915   7736     80.0    1.057
-18.0   82    19.76   2345     671   29677   8015     81.4    1.029
-16.0   84    20.24   2402     704   31550   8292     82.8    1.002
-14.0   86    20.73   2459     738   33541   8567     84.1    0.976
-12.0   88    21.21   2516     773   35657   8838     85.4    0.950
-10.0   90    21.69   2574     809   37905   9105     86.7    0.923
-08.0   92    22.17   2632     846   40296   9368     87.9    0.897
-06.0   94    22.65   2690     884   42838   9624     89.0    0.871
-04.0   96    23.14   2748     922   45542   9874     90.2    0.847
-02.0   98    23.62   2806     962   48420  10117     91.2    0.823  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0  100    24.10   2865    1002   51484  10352     92.2    0.800  ! Near Maximum !
+02.0  102    24.58   2923    1044   54750  10577     93.2    0.777

 

[Sniper 79]

Here's QL numbers for a 20" barrel:

Cartridge          : .223 Rem. (SAAMI)Bullet             : .224, 55, Hornady SP 2265
Useable Case Capaci: 26.568 grain H2O = 1.725 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.250 inch = 57.15 mm
Barrel Length      : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm
Powder             : Hodgdon Benchmark


Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !


Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms


-20.0   80    19.28   2440     727   27915   6215     83.2    1.197
-18.0   82    19.76   2498     762   29677   6424     84.6    1.166
-16.0   84    20.24   2557     798   31550   6630     85.8    1.136
-14.0   86    20.73   2616     836   33541   6832     87.1    1.107
-12.0   88    21.21   2675     874   35657   7030     88.3    1.078
-10.0   90    21.69   2734     913   37905   7224     89.4    1.049
-08.0   92    22.17   2792     952   40296   7412     90.5    1.020
-06.0   94    22.65   2851     993   42838   7594     91.6    0.992
-04.0   96    23.14   2910    1034   45542   7770     92.6    0.964
-02.0   98    23.62   2969    1077   48420   7939     93.5    0.938  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0  100    24.10   3028    1120   51484   8101     94.4    0.913  ! Near Maximum !
+02.0  102    24.58   3087    1164   54750   8254     95.2    0.888

And for a 16" carbine:

Cartridge          : .223 Rem. (SAAMI)Bullet             : .224, 55, Hornady SP 2265
Useable Case Capaci: 26.568 grain H2O = 1.725 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.250 inch = 57.15 mm
Barrel Length      : 16.0 inch = 406.4 mm
Powder             : Hodgdon Benchmark


Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !


Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms


-20.0   80    19.28   2288     639   27915   7736     80.0    1.057
-18.0   82    19.76   2345     671   29677   8015     81.4    1.029
-16.0   84    20.24   2402     704   31550   8292     82.8    1.002
-14.0   86    20.73   2459     738   33541   8567     84.1    0.976
-12.0   88    21.21   2516     773   35657   8838     85.4    0.950
-10.0   90    21.69   2574     809   37905   9105     86.7    0.923
-08.0   92    22.17   2632     846   40296   9368     87.9    0.897
-06.0   94    22.65   2690     884   42838   9624     89.0    0.871
-04.0   96    23.14   2748     922   45542   9874     90.2    0.847
-02.0   98    23.62   2806     962   48420  10117     91.2    0.823  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0  100    24.10   2865    1002   51484  10352     92.2    0.800  ! Near Maximum !
+02.0  102    24.58   2923    1044   54750  10577     93.2    0.777

Thanks for this. I was thinking of starting at 22 and working up to 24ish. I shoot for accuracy so when ever the groups tighten up is where I settle. Shooting a 16" bull target DPMS AR. PMC Brass with Win primers

 

[trophyhunter]

Thanks for this. I was thinking of starting at 22 and working up to 24ish. I shoot for accuracy so when ever the groups tighten up is where I settle. Shooting a 16" bull target DPMS AR. PMC Brass with Win primers

Bet you can chase the same hole in paper all day long somewhere near 23 ~23.5 with that load

 

[Sniper 79]

Bet you can chase the same hole in paper all day long somewhere near 23 ~23.5 with that load

That is what I am thinking. Will have to look up my last load using Varmageden 55's. I know they were great. Been awhile since I loaded .223

Will let you know as soon as this ice storm comes to an end and we get a calm day to dial in.

 

[NKBJ]

My BL-C2 standard is 26 grains in my piece, my batch of powder, my primers, etc.

Sloughfoot, thanks for the 748 input. Your load is real near the 748 load used by the weapons training officer the better 2/3's trained with.
Duh... now I'm thinking about and wondering if he wasn't loading the Nosler partition. It's been a while.