seating OAL for an AR ?

rebs · July 24, 2013, 02:53 PM

when you guys load 55 grain bullets for your AR do you seat them to different OAL or do them all to 2.50 or mag length ?

rduckwor · July 24, 2013, 03:27 PM

For just run of the mill 55gr fmj, 2.25"

boostedtt91 · July 26, 2013, 03:34 PM

2.20" is the most common OAL for most weights of bullets for the .223 cartridge. 2.260" is the max OAL

rg1 · July 27, 2013, 10:51 PM

Depends on the 55 grain bullet itself. Military 55 fmj surplus bullets have a very long sharply pointed tip. Overall length for them and other sharp tipped 55fmj's the best oal is 2.250". Hornady's 55 fmj bullet is a blunt tipped kind of rounded tip and they recommend 2.200" but I seat them from 2.218-2.220". Best to go by the manufacturers recommended overall length. Like I mentioned the ogive and bullet tip shape will make a difference in recommended oal for 55 fmj bullets.

mohr308 · July 29, 2013, 11:57 PM

I load all mine to 2.250", I have some Hornady 55 fmj which I loaded to the cannelure and I had horrible results. I took the same charge, bullet etc and loaded them at 2.250" with a great increase in accuracy. BTW, I never crimp any of my rounds for my AR.

rebs · July 30, 2013, 12:27 PM

I do not crimp for my AR either, but the seating is different for different bullets to get them accurate

July 24, 2013, 02:53 PM	#1
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	seating OAL for an AR ? when you guys load 55 grain bullets for your AR do you seat them to different OAL or do them all to 2.50 or mag length ?

July 24, 2013, 03:27 PM	#2
rduckwor Senior Member Join Date: June 26, 2008 Location: L.A. - Lower Alabama Posts: 365	For just run of the mill 55gr fmj, 2.25" __________________ RMD

July 29, 2013, 11:57 PM	#5
mohr308 Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2012 Location: Western New York Posts: 466	I load all mine to 2.250", I have some Hornady 55 fmj which I loaded to the cannelure and I had horrible results. I took the same charge, bullet etc and loaded them at 2.250" with a great increase in accuracy. BTW, I never crimp any of my rounds for my AR. __________________ Lock and load, the zombies (democrats) are coming (to take your guns)!

July 26, 2013, 03:34 PM	#3
boostedtt91 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2011 Location: Danville, Pa Posts: 520	2.20" is the most common OAL for most weights of bullets for the .223 cartridge. 2.260" is the max OAL

July 27, 2013, 10:51 PM	#4
rg1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Posts: 1,125	Depends on the 55 grain bullet itself. Military 55 fmj surplus bullets have a very long sharply pointed tip. Overall length for them and other sharp tipped 55fmj's the best oal is 2.250". Hornady's 55 fmj bullet is a blunt tipped kind of rounded tip and they recommend 2.200" but I seat them from 2.218-2.220". Best to go by the manufacturers recommended overall length. Like I mentioned the ogive and bullet tip shape will make a difference in recommended oal for 55 fmj bullets.

July 30, 2013, 12:27 PM	#6
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	I do not crimp for my AR either, but the seating is different for different bullets to get them accurate