.223 AMax for an AR15

Freedom-First · July 9, 2009, 09:50 AM

Hello All:
I'm loading .223 for an AR15 (Stag 2T) and picked up some Hornady AMax 75Gr bullets to try. As you know these are LONG bullets and I found that by the time I got them short enough to fit into the magazine, I was really compressing the powder but worse yet, because of the shape of the bullet, there is actually a GAP between the I.D. of the neck, and the O.D. of the bullet.. because the Ogive sits down so far inside.

On this pic, I've actually closed the gap a little with my crimping station.

My load is 23.5 Grains of H4895

The ring around the Ogive of the bullet seems to be coming from my seating die, I'm assuming because I'm compressing the powder so much. Dillon 550B w/ Dillon Dies.

What do you think...?

PICT2163.JPG

plainsman456 · July 9, 2009, 10:01 AM

With them set back so far the pressures will spike. I wouldn't shoot them,I had the same problem I went with the 60gr Nosler Part.Good Luck

freakshow10mm · July 9, 2009, 10:09 AM

The 75gr A Max is not recommended to be loaded to magazine length. Look at the OAL for the data. There's a reason why the OAL isn't 2.26".

brickeyee · July 9, 2009, 10:13 AM

Quote:

...by the time I got them short enough to fit into the magazine, I was really compressing the powder but worse yet, because of the shape of the bullet, there is actually a GAP between the I.D. of the neck, and the O.D. of the bullet.. because the Ogive sits down so far inside.

Did you look at the OAL recommended with the loading data?

These bullets must be loaded longer than magazine length and the rounds single fed.

You can purchase a special 'trough' that make it faster on the firing line.

Freedom-First · July 9, 2009, 10:28 AM

Since I was loading to Mag length, I did not really look at the book length. I'm just beginning to play around w/ the .223 round and different bullet styles.

Thanks for the comments.

Scorch · July 9, 2009, 11:27 AM

I know a fee guys who shoot the 75 gr A-Max for 600 yds slow fire prone stage. They have to single-load rounds individually into the port of their ARs. That bullet cannot be loaded to magazine length with any success.

I just load and shoot the Hornady 68 gr MBTHP bullet for the whole match, that way I don't have special ammo to keep track of. You might consider doing the same thing.

brickeyee · July 9, 2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Since I was loading to Mag length, I did not really look at the book length.

That alone is a disaster waiting to happen.

The loads in a manual are depending on the COL to not develop excessive pressure.
Seat a bullet deeper and pressures increase.

HiBC · July 9, 2009, 01:43 PM

Only a few dats ago,I took a fired case,an AR mag,and a 75 gr A-max,and held them all together to look.
Then I said"It won't work" verifying for my understanding what my reloading manual told me.

It might be possible to remove the material from the fron part of the magazine
so OAL is limited by the inside of the reciever mag well.

I have heard it is possible to make a magazine that will hold a few(5 or so)
rounds of long ammo this way.I have no experience with it.

For myself,I prefer to have one load,one sight setting,and one trajectory to (aspire to) master.

69 grs works pretty well.

Berger may have some product in their length tolerant line,

I'm not sure of the gains of a 75 gr LTB over a 69 gr VLD

NWPilgrim · July 9, 2009, 01:55 PM

Powder load data is irrelevant without the OAL specified. It is as important as bullet weight, since bullet weight is really as much about the implied bullet length as it is inertia.

Anytime we load an atypical bullet design (VLD, non-lead, frangible, etc) we should be especially attentive to the OAL specs for any desired load.

OAL + bullet length determines available case volume.
Case volume + powder burn rate + powder weight + bullet weight will determine pressure. Other factors come into play but those are the major ones.

Never load based on data that does not include OAL spec, unless it is a typical bullet design and weight and you use the max OAL.

July 9, 2009, 09:50 AM	#1
Freedom-First Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Posts: 20	.223 AMax for an AR15 Hello All: I'm loading .223 for an AR15 (Stag 2T) and picked up some Hornady AMax 75Gr bullets to try. As you know these are LONG bullets and I found that by the time I got them short enough to fit into the magazine, I was really compressing the powder but worse yet, because of the shape of the bullet, there is actually a GAP between the I.D. of the neck, and the O.D. of the bullet.. because the Ogive sits down so far inside. On this pic, I've actually closed the gap a little with my crimping station. My load is 23.5 Grains of H4895 The ring around the Ogive of the bullet seems to be coming from my seating die, I'm assuming because I'm compressing the powder so much. Dillon 550B w/ Dillon Dies. What do you think...? PICT2163.JPG

July 9, 2009, 11:27 AM	#6
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I know a fee guys who shoot the 75 gr A-Max for 600 yds slow fire prone stage. They have to single-load rounds individually into the port of their ARs. That bullet cannot be loaded to magazine length with any success. I just load and shoot the Hornady 68 gr MBTHP bullet for the whole match, that way I don't have special ammo to keep track of. You might consider doing the same thing. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

July 9, 2009, 01:55 PM	#9
NWPilgrim Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,346	Powder load data is irrelevant without the OAL specified. It is as important as bullet weight, since bullet weight is really as much about the implied bullet length as it is inertia. Anytime we load an atypical bullet design (VLD, non-lead, frangible, etc) we should be especially attentive to the OAL specs for any desired load. OAL + bullet length determines available case volume. Case volume + powder burn rate + powder weight + bullet weight will determine pressure. Other factors come into play but those are the major ones. Never load based on data that does not include OAL spec, unless it is a typical bullet design and weight and you use the max OAL. __________________ "The ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone. ... The advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation ... forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition." - James Madison

July 9, 2009, 10:01 AM	#2
plainsman456 Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2008 Posts: 260	With them set back so far the pressures will spike. I wouldn't shoot them,I had the same problem I went with the 60gr Nosler Part.Good Luck

July 9, 2009, 10:09 AM	#3
freakshow10mm Junior member Join Date: January 23, 2008 Location: MI Posts: 1,398	The 75gr A Max is not recommended to be loaded to magazine length. Look at the OAL for the data. There's a reason why the OAL isn't 2.26".

July 9, 2009, 10:28 AM	#5
Freedom-First Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Posts: 20	Since I was loading to Mag length, I did not really look at the book length. I'm just beginning to play around w/ the .223 round and different bullet styles. Thanks for the comments.

July 9, 2009, 01:43 PM	#8
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,283	Only a few dats ago,I took a fired case,an AR mag,and a 75 gr A-max,and held them all together to look. Then I said"It won't work" verifying for my understanding what my reloading manual told me. It might be possible to remove the material from the fron part of the magazine so OAL is limited by the inside of the reciever mag well. I have heard it is possible to make a magazine that will hold a few(5 or so) rounds of long ammo this way.I have no experience with it. For myself,I prefer to have one load,one sight setting,and one trajectory to (aspire to) master. 69 grs works pretty well. Berger may have some product in their length tolerant line, I'm not sure of the gains of a 75 gr LTB over a 69 gr VLD