I'm new to the site (this is my 1st post) but not new to reloading. I'm confused when it comes to load data for H335 and 62gr 223 Rem....Hornady does show and have data for their 223 62gr fmj, the link below is a Hornady
updated reloading page that was produced after their last 10th edition was released !
https://press.hornady.com/assets/site/hornady/files/load-data/223-rem-60-62gr-1.pdf
If you go to hornady website they list updates to their load data that is produced after their manuals are released
This is my 1st 1lb can of H335. I've read great things about this powder and found data to load M193 and M855 equivalent rounds. Since my primary platform is an AR in different barrel lengths I'm looking for load data that will produce reliable and relatively accurate rounds for my various barrels (1:7 to 1:9 twist rates).
My Hornady 9th Edition and the above link from Hornady's site (post the 10th Edition) shows:
Hornady = 20.1~22.9gr (3000fps) at 2.229" COAL with 62gr FMJ bullets
I found similar load data from Hodgdon's site:
Hodgdon = 19.3~21.4gr (2887fps) at 2.260" COAL with 62gr SFT SCIR bullets
So I loaded some initial test rounds of Armscor FMJ 62gr at the recommended 2.250" COAL (light crimp into the cannuler groove). My charges range from 20.0~21.5gr Looking at the above data, all good right?
Then I recalled I have load data for 223 Rem from Nosler Sierra and Speer load manuals. I look up the data...
Nosler = 23.0~25.0gr (3102fps) at 2.180" COAL with Nosler FBHP 62gr Varmageddon bullets
Sierra = 22.8~25.6gr (2950fps) at 2.250" COAL with 63gr SMP bullets
Speer = 23.0~25.0gr (2885fps) at 2.255" COAL with 62gr FMJBT bullets
I also found another link on the Hodgdon page for a 63gr bullet:
Hodgdon = 22.5~25.0gr (3051fps) at 2.200" COAL with 63gr SIE SP bullets
What???!!! The starting loads from these manuals are basically the max loads of the previous two! The starting loads are a full grain above the max load from Hodgdon, the powder manufacturer. The Sierra max load is 4.2gr more than the Hodgdon max load!!! Look at the Speer load data... the max load has a lower fps than the Hodgdon max load data even though the charge is 3.6gr more and the COAL is shorter!
Now I know some will site that the rifles used for the testing were different. Yes, the Speer data quotes a 22" bbl bolt action Ruger M77 and the Hodgdon data quotes a 24" rifle. The Hornady data is thru a 26" Remington 700. So the longer bbl will result in higher fps (and pressures) with less powder, but really that much of a difference!?!? Maybe the cases used varied between 223 can NATO 5.56mm cases with different internal volumes? The Nosler and Sierra data may be the most relevant to me as I an shooting these from an AR platform (7", 16" and 20" barrels) and the load data indicates a 20" barreled 1:7 twist rifle (Sierra specifically states their data is from a Colt HBAR AR -15A2).
So, in addition to the 20.0~21.5gr loads I started with, I continued and now have 62gr FMJ rounds all the way to 25.6gr still with a 2.250" COAL. This seems to be in line with some of the data others have posted. I've worked up loads for 52gr HP, 55gr FMJ, 62g FMJ and 69gr BTHP Match using other powders (BLC2 and CFE223) without much difference between the different sources, but the 62gr bullets were very different.
I'll keep a close eye on pressure signs as I work my way up the ladder. I'll probably hit the range this weekend and report back my findings.