AR Loading Confusion

[345 DeSoto]

My AR15 has a Wilde chamber. Since there are different loadings for .223 and 5.56, which one do I use? I load Ramshot TAC behind Nosler 69gr Custom Comp HPBT, and am looking for accuracy. Should I start at the lowest .223 load and end with the highest 5.56 load?..

 

[MtnCreek]

A TAC 556 load worked up this fall could get a little hairy come next July. Stick to 223 data IMHO.

 

[243winxb]

Stay with 223 data. There has been questions/confusion on the 5.56 load data and how pressure (PSI) was measured here. http://www.ramshot.com/load-data/

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

I'm delving into the 5.56 load data with my AR-15, I'm also using the Ramshot data.

I'm at 25 grains of Accurate 2460, PMC Case, Wolf SRM primer, Hornady FMJ-BT, seated at 2.230"

I'm going to shoot them today, we'll see how it goes.

 

[cfullgraf]

A Wylde chamber is supposed to shoot either 223 Remington or 5.56x45 without issues.

 

[ku4hx]

A Wylde chamber is supposed to shoot either 223 Remington or 5.56x45 without issues.

Yeah but ... a max or near max load worked up in cold weather can present an over pressure situation in hot weather. Powders that are less heat sensitive can mitigate that to some degree.

 

[Dudedog]

I use TAC and have seen the different data. 5.56 is allowed to run higher pressures. I load towards the higher side of the .223 data since I really don't need the extra velocity of the higher pressure 5.56 data.

More velocity is nice but since I "bulk" load .223/5.56 and don't weigh every charge I like to err on the side of caution.

 

[joem1945]

I tried TAC in a couple of my AR's. Didn't do well at all.

 

[oldpapps]

Wilde chamber

Wilde chamber is a compromise between the .223 and the 5.56 chambering/throatings. The shorter/tighter throat of the .223 supposedly can give better stability/accuracy (not that I can tell one way or the other, other think it is so). Where the longer throat of the 5.56 gives greater velocities. Thus the Wilde shoots both for a compromise that has worked for me and others.

To your quandary. Your chambering will handle both with no design problems. Looking for accuracy, start at the starting load listed in a trusted source and work up till you find what works best, and you may move all the way to the upper/max recommended loading for the 5.56 (if one is listed). If yours is like mine, the best load for the weapon will not be on the high end. As always, load with care and check a number of sources when moving into unknown territory.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

With 25 grains of AA-2460 and a 55 grain bullet, I was still under 2900 fps with a 16" barreled AR. That sucks.

I've got a new load at 26 grains, max is 26.7. We'll see what kind of number that puts up.

 

[Walkalong]

All loads worked up to near max or max in cold weather should be double checked in hot weather. Any caliber, any gun.

 

[345 DeSoto]

I'm just going to start with the lowest starting charge for the .223 (23gr), and work up to the Max 5.56 load (26gr) .5gr at a time. It has also been my experience that fastest isn't always the most accurate. Range time on Thursday... Thanks, guys...

 

[NWcityguy2]

While Ramshot doesn't publish 5.56 pressure for 55gr bullets using TAC, I have used TAC up to where the 5.56 pressure would logically fall (in my estimation) and not run into any signs of over-pressure.

The thing for me though is TAC has never shown itself to be accurate enough for me to pair it with an expensive bullet. The last 16lbs I used of it was a mid-range load (exactly 1.6cc from a dipper) and topped with a cheap bullet. At least TAC is pretty clean for a ball powder, which is why I like it.

 

[RainDodger]

oldpapps and Walkalong... listen to those guys! I've had no problems with any .223 or 5.56 loads in my Wylde-chambered Rock River Arms AR. And I do load some hot 5.56. I get excellent accuracy out of my 20". 5 shots touching each other at 100 yards quite easily, using excellent optics to do so.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

Ramshot has 5.56 data with TAC:

http://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/WP_LoadSpec_1-23-14.pdf

They go all the way up to 62,000 psi.

 

[cougar1717]

I think what is a little confusing with Ramshot's data are a couple of things -1. they just re-issued the data for both 223 and 5.56 in July so make sure you're working from the 5.0.1 expanded data since publication http://www.ramshot.com/load-data/. 2- the data for 223 and 5.56 overlaps - so it's confusing to talk about. A max 223 load is starting or light 5.56 load. Which begs the question - am I loading 223 or 5.56? So one could say they are loading 5.56, (which is really just a near max 223 load).

The best I could ever get TAC to group was near or at the max 223 data. It really didn't benefit to keep going higher because the accuracy wasn't there in my workups.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

So far, AA-2460 is working out good for me. Its a slightly slower derivitive of 2230 and gives excellent performance. Slower powder = more case fill....which is fine with me.

 

[dh1633pm]

Ramshot TAC is made to military specifications for both hot and cold sensitivity.

 

[345 DeSoto]

I started my test loads @ 23gr and went up to 26gr, in half grain increments. We shall see what we shall see...

 

[jmorris]

I'll throw out the fact that some of my AR's are more accurate with less than max loads...

 

[oldpapps]

"I'll throw out the fact that some of my AR's are more accurate with less than max loads..."
jmorris

I fully agree. Each weapon is a beast unto it's self and eats different loads differently.
I have an AR-180 (Sterling manufactured from the mid 70's), a true AR but a 'gas piston' one and as long as the bullet weight is 55 grains of less (length is the key not weight), my 'hot' loads are more accurate. This may well be because of the slow twist but 50 grain bullets follow the same pattern. It is the exception to my other ARs that don't always like the hotter loads as well.

Tune your load to you individual weapon and the best function and accuracy can/will be found for that weapon.

Load with care,