Dudedog
Contributing Member
I would say load some with it and some with out it and see what shoots best or if there is even a difference.
Lee FCD 223
- Thread starter Waterboy3313
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armoredman
Member
I use the Lee expander die on my .223/5.56mm brass, (really more of a flaring tool), and then the FCD just enough to remove the flare. Plenty of neck crimp. However, i am not shooting my reloads through really expensive barrels,m one is a Bear Creek Wylde giveaway, and the other a PSA Freedom 5.56mm M4. 
I hit what I aim at and I'm happy.
PS, don't be impressed, 50 yards, front rest.
I hit what I aim at and I'm happy.
PS, don't be impressed, 50 yards, front rest.
Toprudder
Member
I’ve done that as well, especially for flat-base bullets.
I, too, think that die should be called a flaring die, as it does not expand at all.
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Waterboy3313
Member
That's interesting. Being fairly new to reloading in general and .223 being my first non straight wall pistol cartridge attempt. I avoided powder showing compressed loads in my load data. I'm using TAC.
Toprudder
Member
Nothing wrong with compressed loads in 223, IMHO. If you ever try Varget, you will hear the "Varget crunch" when you seat bullets. No worries about bullet setback when chambering a round, for sure.
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Waterboy3313
Member
Like I said before the compressed load kind of made me nervous so I thought a newbie might avoid something like that if possible. Now that you mention it I think it almost sounds like I might have went the opposite way I should have gone.
The few rounds I have loaded that I haven't shot yet were loaded longer than the cannelure. From what I gather if the bullets I load have a cannelure I should lightly crimp. If I load longer like I have in my way of thinking it's similar to loading for a bullet that doesn't have a cannelure. So if I load longer I should be able to get away with not crimping? I know some people here say no crimp at all. I just want to load some decent ammo.
If anyone here loads Hornady 55gr soft ponts and happens to use Ram TAC I would be curious as to how much powder is used. I've tried several different work ups and my best group if you want to call it that is with 23.5 gr. My data says 24gr max but I haven't tried the max load yet. I started a little lower than the minimum and worked up in .5 gr increments.
It's been way too got in my garage to be trimming brass and running the press. I'm trying to use this down time to hopefully sort out my problem. I'm pretty convinced my crimps are a little too heavy but I welcome and appreciate everything that you all send my way.
The few rounds I have loaded that I haven't shot yet were loaded longer than the cannelure. From what I gather if the bullets I load have a cannelure I should lightly crimp. If I load longer like I have in my way of thinking it's similar to loading for a bullet that doesn't have a cannelure. So if I load longer I should be able to get away with not crimping? I know some people here say no crimp at all. I just want to load some decent ammo.
If anyone here loads Hornady 55gr soft ponts and happens to use Ram TAC I would be curious as to how much powder is used. I've tried several different work ups and my best group if you want to call it that is with 23.5 gr. My data says 24gr max but I haven't tried the max load yet. I started a little lower than the minimum and worked up in .5 gr increments.
It's been way too got in my garage to be trimming brass and running the press. I'm trying to use this down time to hopefully sort out my problem. I'm pretty convinced my crimps are a little too heavy but I welcome and appreciate everything that you all send my way.
armoredman
Member
I actually got it when I started loading cast bullets in .223, then realized how handy it was.
GooseGestapo
Member
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- Jan 6, 2003
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- 6,154
I’ve had problems with lot-to-lot consistency with the Hornady 55gr SPT w/cannelure.
I suggest it’s the bullets.
TAC is a well known and proven powder in the .223. 23.5gr is a good load.
Most AR chambers are as you describe. My RRA NM AR15 with a Wilson 1/8” Wilde chamber requires the 80gr Sierra MK to be seated to 2.555” to touch the lands. It’s 1/2 MOA at 600yds. It’s under 1moa with a 75gr Hornady BTHP match bullet at magazine depth (2.25”).
I have a Dpms Sportical barrel in a CMMG narrow free float tube that is also under 1moa. However with the latest batch of Hornady 55gr BTSP w/cannelure, all the rifles shoot them 1.7-2moa.
It’s the cannelures that screw up the bullets. I’ve seen non-cannelure 55’s shoot in the .3’s from my Rem M700 .22-250 at 3,700fps.
I seat them about .001” short of the cannelures. No crimp.
However, for the AR’s I ALWAYS FULL LENGTH SIZE !!!
Failure to fls can cause a slam fire, or out-of-battery discharge. I’ve seen both happen.
I suggest it’s the bullets.
TAC is a well known and proven powder in the .223. 23.5gr is a good load.
Most AR chambers are as you describe. My RRA NM AR15 with a Wilson 1/8” Wilde chamber requires the 80gr Sierra MK to be seated to 2.555” to touch the lands. It’s 1/2 MOA at 600yds. It’s under 1moa with a 75gr Hornady BTHP match bullet at magazine depth (2.25”).
I have a Dpms Sportical barrel in a CMMG narrow free float tube that is also under 1moa. However with the latest batch of Hornady 55gr BTSP w/cannelure, all the rifles shoot them 1.7-2moa.
It’s the cannelures that screw up the bullets. I’ve seen non-cannelure 55’s shoot in the .3’s from my Rem M700 .22-250 at 3,700fps.
I seat them about .001” short of the cannelures. No crimp.
However, for the AR’s I ALWAYS FULL LENGTH SIZE !!!
Failure to fls can cause a slam fire, or out-of-battery discharge. I’ve seen both happen.
armoredman
Member
I had to switch to Small Base Dies with my Bear Creek barrel being picky about Full Length sized brass. SBD work wonders.
2ndtimer
Member
I have loaded up to 25.0 gr. of TAC with various 55 gr bullets including the Hornady 55 gr SP (both flat base and the newer slight boat tail) for my .223 rifles (both AR’s and bolts). I have settled on 24.5 gr for a safe, yet reasonably potent load. I use the same powder charge for the Hornady 62 gr BTHP from MidSouth Shooters Supply as my favorite load for AR’s. It also works well for the Hornady 62 gr BTSP from Graf’s Reloading. (Check Western Powders website for .223 Rem. reloading data. They show maximum powder charges from 24.0 gr up to 25.8 gr depending on which bullet is used.)
Dudedog
Contributing Member
.223 Data
5.56 Data (Higher pressure)
I like TAC in .223, meters well. Charge varies with bullet but for 55s and 62s somewhere between 23.5-25gr
5.56 Data (Higher pressure)
I like TAC in .223, meters well. Charge varies with bullet but for 55s and 62s somewhere between 23.5-25gr
FROGO207
Member
Another vote for TAC here. It is generally most accurate in all my 223 firearms. I can get away with one load and partial full length resizing for the tightest bolt and all hover at 1 MOA +/- with a 55 grain FMJ Armscore bullet. I also find crimping my bullet in at all will have less accuracy. If you have enough neck tension crimping is not needed. Just make sure one caliber of your bullet is in contact with the neck and you will be fine. We are not needing battlefield hard ammo here.
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