223 and IMR 4895 Compression

[length_of_pull_1]

I just started a new workup and have encountered something odd to me. I'm loading up some Hornady 68gr bthp in LC brass and am using IMR 4895 (Why? I guess I thought the pretty purple bottle was nice looking) and going to run it through an AR. I started with 22.5gr and was loading up until I got to 23.75gr and felt some crunch when I seated the bullet (COL 2.260"). The next charge was 24.5gr and I felt some even more significant crunch. My last load up was 25gr and that was shoving those buggers into the case to where I could see a ring of deformation from the seating stem. Neither the Hornady or Lyman manuals I referred to listed this loading as compressed, but it is definitely so. I am a little sketchy on the 25gr loads as they are really jammed full and listed as max loads in my manuals. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

LC brass is pretty good but heavier and has less capacity than most commercial brass.

 

[243winxb]

The Hodgdon website showes compressed loads.

 

[entropy]

Not the powder I'd pick for that or any bullet in .223, but yeah, that would be a compressed load. Maybe I'm just getting old, because I used to load .357's with compressed loads of Blue Dot, but I try to stay away from compressed loads in rifle cartridges.

 

[length_of_pull_1]

Aha. I just looked at the hodgdon load data and it certainly lists the max load as compressed. It's funny though, I was compressing the powder at a lower charge, and they list the col at 2.235 while I was loading them to 2.260. I wonder how much worse I would mangle the bullet trying to shove it another 25 thousandths inside the case!

 

[243winxb]

When the shape (morphology ) of the powder is changed, the burning rate may be also? Dont over do it.

http://www.firearmsid.com/Feature Articles/McCord_gunpowder/

I tried IMR 4895 with the Hornady 68 gr. IMR 3031 was the most accurate of the IMR powders in a bolt gun & not compressed.

IMR 4198 is accurate. Uses less powder per round, but doesnt produce the top velocities like slower powders.

 

[2ndtimer]

You could also try using a drop tube or load them one at a time using a funnel and slowly dropping powder into the funnel from several inches above the funnel. Also, you can tap the case slightly to help settle the bulky powder prior to seating the bullet.
Or you could switch to a ball powder ( Ramshot TAC is my preference) like W-748, H-335, Accurate 2230, 2460 or 2520 and be able to consistently throw powder directly into the case from a decent powder measure and leave the crunchiness to your favorite breakfast cereal.

 

[MarshallDodge]

Not the powder I'd pick for that or any bullet in .223, but yeah, that would be a compressed load. Maybe I'm just getting old, because I used to load .357's with compressed loads of Blue Dot, but I try to stay away from compressed loads in rifle cartridges.

4895 is a great powder for 223. It isn't my favorite for heavy bullets, but some of the most accurate 55 FMJ loads I have made were with 4895.

 

[Laphroaig]

I've shot quite a bit of IMR4895 with 68/69's in .223. I settled on 24.3 grs. which was accurate in my rifle. I'd be cautious with that powder as it is temperature sensitive and I got some pierced primers in hot weather. Yes, that was a compressed load.

 

[Charlie98]

Or you could switch to a ball powder ( Ramshot TAC is my preference) like W-748, H-335, Accurate 2230, 2460 or 2520 and be able to consistently throw powder directly into the case from a decent powder measure and leave the crunchiness to your favorite breakfast cereal.

That's what I did... when, like the OP, I encountered powder compression well below the max load. I do NOT like compressed loads. I switched to H335...

 

[entropy]

I'm not a huge fan of stick powders in general in .223, though I have loaded IMR 4064, IMR 3031, and Varget in 55 gr. FMJ loads and gotten good accuracy. I prefer BL-C(2), and PowerPro Varmint when I can't get BL-C(2). As I said before, I experimented with compressed pistol loads when I was younger , I don't plan on doing so with rifle loads. If I tap the case a bit, and I still hear powder crunch when I seat it, I pull 'em apart and find a different load. Not belittling anyone's choices or loads, just stating my preferences and the reasons why.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I have settled on IMR 8208 for .223. I load 223 on a progressive press. IMR8208 meters well, performs well and is pretty insensitive to temperature in my experience.