Factory vs. Reload for .223

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badkarmamib

badkarmamib

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TL,DR version:

Which factory loads do you like?
Which powders and bullets do you like?

Long version:
I finally got my DMR build done. Faxon 20" 1:8 SOCOM profile, free-floated, with a Burris Fullfield 2 (good parts). The gritty mil-spec trigger is breaking in, and it is sporting a cheap bipod I had laying around (bad parts). Still, I managed to keep 15 rounds in a 4x4" square at 100 yards, with XM193 ammo. So, overall, I am pleased with it. HOWEVER;

I am looking at using this for more serious work than my defensive carbine. 200-400 yard target, and up to 200 varmint hunting. So, not serious volume. I reload pistol and rifle on a SS press. I don't have dies for .223. I am torn between taking the easy route, and getting a few different factory loads to test, or getting serious, and adding another caliber to reload. Not sure, SO;

Which factory loads do you like?
Which powders and bullets do you like?

This will help me decide cost/availability to determine which route I will start with. I might end up trying both, too. TIA.

Gratuitous pic, just because:
15340148812324843273577572369270.jpg
 
I've only bought cheap 55gr and 62gr factory ammo and my 1:7 16" ar prefers the 62gr at 100 yrds, my 20" 1:7 ar I'm still just shooting to break in and get it sighted in well, my older 20" 1:12 ar shoots the 55gr better. When I reload I bought 62gr bullets and worked up a fairly accurate load for the 16" out to 200yrds, I think you can load a more accurate bullet than you can buy bulk, I've never tried reloading another gr bullet since I found the load I currently use but I've thought about trying some different gr bullets and some different powder just for the fun of it:)
 
Factory ammo for blasting buy the cheapest possible with brass cases if you want to reload. American Eagle 50gr V tip is good stuff but not sure how the 1-8 twist will like it. My buddy tried some of the Hornady 5.56 Frontier 75gr BTHP that shoot pretty well from his Ruger AR.

Reloading 69gr SMK, 55gr Hornady V max, 50gr Hornady Z max. 60gr V max. 55gr Nosler Varmageddon BT. Varget, Benchmark, H335.
 
Well the first thing I would do is replace that crappy trigger with a good one. Not fighting the trigger pull will help with getting smaller groups.

As for factory vs. reloads it is just a personal decision. Because of the uncertainty of the results of the upcoming November elections I am going to order some supplies soon. I am kicking around whether to order $1,000 worth of loaded ammo or $1,000 worth of powder and primers. Factory 55 gr. FMJ .223 can be had for .28 cents a round which is cheaper than reloading with new brass. (As I reload I only choose brass case ammo when buying factory). As a new AR addict I am starting to shoot on a weekly bases.

The buyers market may be ending soon depending on events in November so I am leaning more towards powder and primers hoping that bullets will still be easy to find. Brass cases can be reloaded several times so it is not much of concern.

However since you are interested in long range shooting reloading will give you the best results. For best accuracy you will need to tailor your loads for your gun.
 
Get the dies and start reloading. I reload all of my .223, never bought any factory ammo and I shoot 2-3K a year. Start off with 60-70 grain bullets. You can reload .223/5.56 for about 20 cents a round. A SS press works great. If you reload you will defiantly be able to tweak your loads to your rifle. Factory ammo is good but you can do much, much better.

I use AR comp but powder isn't important, lots of them will work. The trick is finding the combination of bullet/powder that works for your rifle.
 
For 223rem, if you can’t do it with Varget, you probably shouldn’t be doing it.

77smk’s and more recently, 73 ELD’s keep me happy. 60 Nosler Partitions for pigs and deer. 50, 55, or 53 Vmax’s for coyotes and prairie dogs.

For high volume plinking, I usually just buy bulk lots of Remington/UMC 50grn JHP’s. I’ve had this stuff shoot INCREDIBLY SMALL.
 
I was a hand loading only guy for years but recently I just don't have as much time anymore. For handloading all the V-max's work great. Hornady 55 grain spire points make good plinking ammo. My favorite bullet is the hornady 75 gr BTHP match bullet. Its pretty economical and does really well out at 500 yards where the lighter bullets just about fall out of the air. For powder I like Varget or 4895 with heavier bullets and benchmark or 2015 for light varmint bullets. 2015 has been my go to on the 50-55 grain bullets since benchmark got hard to find.

As of late since I got into AR's I have been mainly shooting this stuff

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/pro...ifle-223-rem-bthp-75-grain-50-rounds?a=862801

Same bullet I have loved for years but loaded in a steel case. Shoots sub moa from my 20" BA fluted barrel and cost almost the same as what it cost me to handload it. I have not shot it past 300 yards yet but shoots awesome within that. No need to bother with a brass catcher and it saves what reloading time I do have for something more interesting than 223.
 
I can't speak to factory ammo, others will cover this. As for reloads, most of my experience comes from Service Rifle competition. I shoot the Hornady 75HPBT exclusively for the 200-300 yard targets and our 300m winter league fired on E-targets. It is relatively inexpensive and easy to get good accuracy with. I've run it over 23.5gr Varget A lot with good results. Have also tried BL-C2 (also good results but got a little stiff in really hot weather, so load discontinued), IMR 4064 a little bit (also good results, but doesn't run through my measure well), and my current load of 24gr R15 (superb accuracy, slightly better than the Varget load.) I'm shooting through a 20" RRA 1:8 tube, and loading Lake City or TAA military brass. I suspect either this bullet or the 68 Hornady HPBT would serve you well. Other powders well proven with these bullet weights in Service rifle competition are H4895 and Viht N140. The Hornady 75 also serves me well for coyote shooting, although if fur damage is a concern, it is a bit tough on pelts inside of 300 yards, but they will hold well enough in the wind for REALLY long shots. My personal best on a live coyote was 530 according to my GPS.
 
The advice to change the trigger is good and the LaRue is a good one.

I recently (last weekend) ran a bunch of factory and some of my reloads through a Stag Varminter (formerly 6H, now 15 Varmenter model) and found, to my chagrin, that it shot best with plain old PMC Bronze. It liked those better than heavier factory loads and my 62 and 68 grain handloads. I can't reload for much less, maybe 30%, than I can get PMC Bronze, and that's not including the time. But I'd still reload if I can find a good 55 grain load, just for the fun of reloading......
 
berettaprofessor said:
The advice to change the trigger is good and the LaRue is a good one.

I recently (last weekend) ran a bunch of factory and some of my reloads through a Stag Varminter (formerly 6H, now 15 Varmenter model) and found, to my chagrin, that it shot best with plain old PMC Bronze. It liked those better than heavier factory loads and my 62 and 68 grain handloads. I can't reload for much less, maybe 30%, than I can get PMC Bronze, and that's not including the time. But I'd still reload if I can find a good 55 grain load, just for the fun of reloading......
Click to expand...

LOL........if I included the value of my time, only using my monthly SS check figured to an hourly rate, I'd just purchase all of my ammo. But since I'm retired and reloading is a hobby activity, I enjoy the solitude when I want to press out some ammo for a few hours.

For factory ammo, I've only shot 500 rounds of Lake City 55gr "blemished" case; brass was a bit tarnished, otherwise it seemed to shoot fine to 500 yards. Should have purchased more at the time; I haven't seen it for $112 per 500 rounds recently.

For my range/training loads I've used Xtreme, Berry's and RMR 55gr FMJBT pushed with CFE to the 3000-3100fps range. I've also loaded 100 rounds of Hornady 68gr HPBT but have not tried it, I'm hoping that at 400+ yards the heavier bullet will help with drift and drop.
 
UPDATE (kinda):
Trigger: I just finished swapping with the polished FCG in my defensive carbine. Dry fire evaluation: NIGHT AND DAY. I am planning on trying this out with the XM193 to see if there is a difference, but I honestly am not expecting much difference at 100 yards. My sight picture stayed more consistent than the holes at that distance, but I suspect that the smoother trigger will come into play past 200. If so, I will be looking at new options for this (almost certainly the Larue), so I can get the polished trigger back where it belongs.

Loads: I am really liking the looks of the 60gr V-Max. I think it should do nicely for hunting, while being more than adequate for the type of target shooting I am considering (at least for now). H4895 seems to be an acceptable powder, with the benefit of already being on my bench, while H335 also looks promising. So, I am planning on trying these 2 powders with the V-Max to start, and go from there. Still interested in other thoughts, and thanks again.
 
Last edited:
Varminterror said:
For 223rem, if you can’t do it with Varget, you probably shouldn’t be doing it.

77smk’s and more recently, 73 ELD’s keep me happy. 60 Nosler Partitions for pigs and deer. 50, 55, or 53 Vmax’s for coyotes and prairie dogs.

For high volume plinking, I usually just buy bulk lots of Remington/UMC 50grn JHP’s. I’ve had this stuff shoot INCREDIBLY SMALL.
Click to expand...

I get pretty much the same results from H322 and it meters so much better than varget. I'm not after the fastest load at all. My interest is in accuracy and both give me the best accuracy I've obtained with the caliber and that is the same results with three different rifles.
 
A note on trajectory. The 73-77 grain bullets don't shoot any flatter than the 55's in the 500-600 yard range. They just have a ton less wind drift and they carry a heck of alot more oomph out their. At 600 yards a 55 grain v max is pretty much like a 22lr, but the 73-77's still have a good amount of energy left and they will get their with like half the wind drift.

If you want flat shooting about the best you can do is a 53 grain v-max driven as hard as you can. The 53 grain specifically has a different nose profile and a very good BC. They are a dynamite varmint bullet out to 3 or 400 yards.
 
badkarmamib said:
TL,DR version:

Which factory loads do you like?
Which powders and bullets do you like?

Long version:
I finally got my DMR build done. Faxon 20" 1:8 SOCOM profile, free-floated, with a Burris Fullfield 2 (good parts). The gritty mil-spec trigger is breaking in, and it is sporting a cheap bipod I had laying around (bad parts). Still, I managed to keep 15 rounds in a 4x4" square at 100 yards, with XM193 ammo. So, overall, I am pleased with it. HOWEVER;

I am looking at using this for more serious work than my defensive carbine. 200-400 yard target, and up to 200 varmint hunting. So, not serious volume. I reload pistol and rifle on a SS press. I don't have dies for .223. I am torn between taking the easy route, and getting a few different factory loads to test, or getting serious, and adding another caliber to reload. Not sure, SO;

Which factory loads do you like?
Which powders and bullets do you like?

This will help me decide cost/availability to determine which route I will start with. I might end up trying both, too. TIA.

Gratuitous pic, just because:
View attachment 799601
Click to expand...

I am a bargain Hunter (cheapskate), so I haven't tried any expensive factory ammo. If I were to try some, it would be Federal Gold Medal Match, because it has performed amazingly in .308 Win.
Now for affordable factory ammo:
Federal American Eagle Tipped Varmint 50 gr. Sadly, no longer being offered by Federal. It worked very well in a number of AR's with 8 and 9 inch twist barrels.
Fiocchi Extrema 40 and 50 gr Tipped Bullets (used to actually say V-MAX on the box). Available for around $18 to $25 for a box of 50. Also worked well in 8" twist barrels, even the 40 gr version which chronographed over 3100 fps out of a 16" S&W Sport. Very good gopher/prairie dog load.
For cheaper plinking ammo, I just picked up a couple boxes of Frontier ammo, both their 5.56 and .223 versions for $5.49 a box of 20 with the 55 gr FMJ bullet. Yesterday I tried a box of the 5.56 in my Stag Model 6, and S&W M&P 15 Sport. A 5 shot group out of the Stag measured an unimpressive 1.76". But, the Sport carbine averaged a decent 1.37" for two 5 shot groups.

I shoot handloads 99% of the time. My all purpose handload consists of the Hornady 62 gr HPBT bullet available from Mid-South Shooter's Supply for around $10 per hundred, 24.5 gr Ramshot TAC powder, and whichever primer I can find for a reasonable price. I have used them all and don't find any startling difference in group sizes. I have probably tried almost all the bullets and the hollow point or plastic tipped bullets seem to be most accurate, generally, followed by soft point, with the cheap 55 gr FMJ bringing up the rear. Not sure handloading the 55 gr FMJ is worth the time. Just buy the Frontier or PMC Bronze on sale. But the handloads with good quality bullets definitely produce much better accuracy.
 
someguy2800 said:
The 73-77 grain bullets don't shoot any flatter than the 55's in the 500-600 yard range. They just have a ton less wind drift and they carry a heck of alot more oomph out their.
Click to expand...

While it is largely true, this statement seems more dismissive than I would have said it. “Just a ton less wind drift” and “a heck of a lot more oomph” often mean a lot.

Unless I’m shooting paper with someone in the pits, that oomph means greater target response. Much greater.

That “ton less wind drift” means smaller groups in any game.
 
I've had good luck with the IMI 77gr. Consistent from lot to lot, FAST, and sub-MOA in my primary rifle.

I suspect it must be temp sensitive given how fast it is - seems like it has to be a double base powder. But on the whole it's good ammo and since I don't want to make the quantity of 5.56 I want to keep on hand, it's what I buy.
 
Varminterror said:
While it is largely true, this statement seems more dismissive than I would have said it. “Just a ton less wind drift” and “a heck of a lot more oomph” often mean a lot.

Unless I’m shooting paper with someone in the pits, that oomph means greater target response. Much greater.

That “ton less wind drift” means smaller groups in any game.
Click to expand...

I know, that's why I'm recommending them :)

This is the comment I was meaning to address.

I'm hoping that at 400+ yards the heavier bullet will help with drift and drop.
Click to expand...
 
I've settled on XBR8208 under 69gr Nosler CCs in my DMR style AR.

Varget has shot great in every .223 I've tried it in, but doesn't meter that hot in my throwers. 8208 shoots just as well for me with good velocities, low temp sensitivity and meters great. I don't have much free time and really need to streamline my loading to have time to shoot, so 8208 has become my go-to.

The 69gr Noslers are cheap and shoot well, I have some 77gr and Hornady 75gr I'm planning on working up 8208 loads for, but haven't gotten around to it yet.
 
Start reloading. Get a good supply of LC cases. De-prime those cases, remove the crimp, trim to length and chamfer the necks.

i don't buy commercial .223 ammunition. Several year ago i tried some of the expensive "match grade" ammo: My carefully crafted re-loads easily beat it. Am blessed with pallets of military M193 ball ammo for the AR-15 rifles.

Most of my reloads are used in bolt action rifles: With the exception of one rifle with a 1:9" barrel they have slow twist rates. The heaviest bullet i normally load is 62 grains. My favorite .223/5.56mm powder is IMR 3031.

Using old components, i can re-load a .223 round for <20 cents.
 
I've found factory ammo in the 55gr offerings can very greatly. I ran out of hand loads mid summer last year and went looking for factory ammo that was consistent in both my AR and Howa Bolt. American Eagle was most consistent followed by Wolf Gold.
IMG_1047.jpg

My hand loads out of the Howa still shoot MUCH better.
IMG_1046.jpg

All shot at 100yds off front and rear bags.
 
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Varget was my go-to before the last drought. As there was a considerable supply of BL-C(2) locally, I loaded several thousand rounds with 55gr soft points for an EOW/plinking supply and they did rather well. That was for a 1:9 twist which shoots 62gr very well and I imagine you’ll be wanting for heavier projectiles which make handloading very cost effective.

I load everything on single stage presses and recommend you consider a dedicated press and measure for your setup.
 
Varget here as well, with 60 grain Hornady V-max, but my very favorite bullet
for Rem 700 Tactical & Ar 15 & T/C Pistol is 55 grain Sierra HPBT #1390 is easily adjusted to be
super accurate with IMR4198.
I have lots of FMJ & HP in various military loads & some hunting rounds as well but nothing
can out shoot my reloads. Plus they never misfire & function well, ---so far---!!!
 
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