First Reload! OAL too low?

[nixdorf]

Well, I finally made it. I reloaded 50 rounds of .223 REM Thursday night in 3 hours (including mounting equipment, etc). I finished it up with another 50 last night in about an hour.

I definitely enjoyed it and am hooked.

I did notice that my OAL is a little low compared to my reloading books. With a 55-grain soft point bullet Dogtown bullet, my OAL is 2.222". The three reloading books only mention a max OAL of 2.260". Am I okay here?

 

[918v]

Why did you choose this length?

 

[nixdorf]

It was a combination of not knowing exactly what I was doing plus not wanting to come close to the max OAL. I've definitely learned my lesson.

 

[rsrocket1]

Your max chamber pressure will go up and your muzzle velocity will go up very slightly. The chamber pressure will go up maybe 3% which shouldn't be a problem so long as you are not at max load.

Max OAL is given to make sure you don't make bullets longer than that. Otherwise you are at risk of getting jams in your magazine. If you have a desired OAL and start with minimum loads, then work up, you should have no problems. Hopefully you already found an optimal load for your gun before making a bunch of bullets.

 

[918v]

Well, the 2.26" max OAL does not mean you have to seat all bullets to that length. Some bullets have shorter noses and will seat to a shorter OAL. You should seat the bullets so the shank is well inside the neck and a bit stricking out past the case mouth. If that means 2.22" then 2.22" it is.

 

[TheCracker]

You should not have any problems. Just be sure to look for flattened primers or a sticky bolt on your first few rounds. I doubt that will be the case though. If it were me I would shoot them up instead of pulling them. Pulling and reseating is a PITA and IMO you will be fine. There are times you really need to pull loads but I wouldn't bother for this situation.

You could measure a few factory rounds and see what they measure to. Seating them all the way to the max OAL may give you better accuracy though.

 

[rg1]

Not sure who makes the Dogtown bullets but your oal is near most recommendations for 55 spire point bullets. I load the Hornady 55 spire point to the same length as yours, 2.218-2.220" for AR's and my bolt action.
Some data even lists oal for the 55 SP as short as 2.200". The 2.260" is a maximum oal for .223 and is also the maximum recommended to fit in an AR magazine. Depending on the bullet shape and the bullet point overall lengths for 55 grain bullets range from 2.200-2.250" with the 2.250" being for very sharply pointed full metal jacket 55gr. bullets. Blunter tipped 55 FMJ bullets oal recommendations are shorter. Just check your loads to make sure they chamber in your rifle, outdoors with it pointed in a safe direction.

 

[JDGray]

It was a combination of not knowing exactly what I was doing plus not wanting to come close to the max OAL. I've definitely learned my lesson.

Using a books oal, you first must use the exact bullet that is listed in the data, any other bullet profile may need a different oal. Don't be afraid to load long, as it is safer than loading too short...As long as the cartridge fits your chamber and magazine, your good. Playing around with your seating depth is a part of reloading, find what shoots accurately and functions in your weapon, and write it down.

Another tip, make a few rounds up to see how they shoot, before you assemble 100rds of junk shooting ammo. You need to experiment with the powder charge, by starting low and working up towards the max. Hopefully you hit the majic load for your rifle first try, but I doubt it. Good luck!!

 

[nixdorf]

Thanks for the info, folks. I did find these bullets (55 grain jacketed soft point) in Speers' reloading book with a recommended OAL below 2.222", so I felt a little better with having mine at 2.222".

I took these rounds to the range today. Thankfully I found the 50-yard range empty, and I fired off my first reload with my Smith and Wesson M&P 15 out at arm's length. I confirmed the point of impact (a puff of dust down range) collected the brass, checked the guns's chamber, and everything looked in order. Woohoo! The next 40 more were just as good. I was surprised with the accuracy. I was able to consistently hit 20 oz plastic bottles at 50 years with iron sites, and I'm not that great of a shot.

These reloads had 18 grains of Reloader 7 powder. The load data I had listed 20.5 grains for a 55 grain jacketed soft point, so I figured 10% less would be a good starting point.

Regardless, I definitely learned a few lessons. Thanks for all the help!

 

[MEHavey]

Calibration point for future loading.

RL-7/20.1gr for a 55gr bullet was Sierra's minimum. That being the case, you don't need to go 10% below that to start since those mininum's are determined by combination of rifle function and powder ignition predictability. (Minimums are especially important w/ ball powders because of that ignition issue. Stick that away as a mental note.)

Even w/ the short OAL, your 18gr/RL-7 load combination was operating at less than 32,500psi ... in a 55,000psi-rated cartridge. You were waaaaaaay safe to say the least.

BUT... WASN'T IT FUN WATCHING THOSE FIRST CARTRIDGES YOU ACTUALLY LOADED WORK !

 

[Cherokee]

Congratulations on your first reloads.

 

[rg1]

Yes congrats on your 1st loads. Reloder 7 is one of the fastest burning powders recommended for 55 gr. bullets. Sometimes the fastest powders such as IMR or H 4198 or your Rel 7 can cause cycling or feeding issues in a AR gas operated rifle. Glad yours did ok. Most recommend a powder with a burn rate between H335 and Win 748. My favorite powder for 55 grain bullets is Hodgdon H335 powder. Give H335 a test down the road.

 

[MachIVshooter]

FWIW, accuracy is usually better when bullets are seated further out.

The max published COAL also isn't necessarily a max for your rifle. That number is chosen so that the load data will allow the cartridge to fit in the magazines and not contact rifling on the extreme majority of rifles in that chambering.

Most of my handloads for bolt guns and single shots are longer than the published COAL. max.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Another congratulations on your first reloads.

Pay particular attention to Post #10, it's important...