My first AR-15..now to reload

Swampman1 · July 26, 2013, 04:36 PM

OK guys, now that I'm in the AR business...I need advice on powders. I know H-335 is a good one...what else? Probably be shooting 45-55 gr.

JGalt · July 26, 2013, 05:04 PM

I think it's a relatively new powder, but I am having great results with it. TAC runs thru a powder measure smooth as silk, and with a 55 grn bullet, the lower end of the load is most accurate.

steve4102 · July 26, 2013, 07:01 PM

Whatever you can find.

Farmland · July 26, 2013, 07:45 PM

You have entered into the wonderful word of the gun and caliber that loves a wide variety of powders. To put it simple there is no one single magic powder. Certainly people will try to give you one and that is probably the only one they ever used. In fact I know you will get more than several recommendations form good people.

There is just way to many to list and if you can find one of these then buy it and give it try. There certainly are more that can be added but this will give a good start. H335, Ni33, AA2015, Benchmark, H4895, TAC, RL10, RL7, AR COMP, the list really is this endless because there is so much more.

I have four AR rifle and to be honest each likes a different powder though RL7 has been the best over all for me.

Swampman1 · July 26, 2013, 11:08 PM

Quote:

You have entered into the wonderful word of the gun and caliber that loves a wide variety of powders.

Well that's certainly good to know that the AR loves many different powders. That should make things a little easier. I see you have Accurate 2015 as one of those...I think I can get my hands on some. Thanks.

Jim243 · July 26, 2013, 11:14 PM

My favorites for the AR, H-335, IMR 8208 XBR & H-4895.

Jim

mohr308 · July 26, 2013, 11:58 PM

CFE223 has been working nicely in bullets I haven't been able to group well using H335. It's important to know your twist rate before you decide your bullet weight.

Swampman1 · July 27, 2013, 08:11 AM

Quote:

CFE223 has been working nicely in bullets I haven't been able to group well using H335. It's important to know your twist rate before you decide your bullet weight.

The twist rate on mine is 1/7. So would a 55 gr. be OK or something heavier?

LivewireBlanco · July 27, 2013, 07:06 PM

Minimum of 55gr for that twist rate. 62gr would be a good sweet spot.

mohr308 · July 27, 2013, 07:20 PM

Mine is a 1:9 twist and I stabilize up to a 69gr. 65gr and heavier would work well for you I'm sure. I'm sure someone with a 1:7 twist may drop a comment in. I just started testing some 69gr Barnes match burners using BL-C(2), I have a nice group at 25.1gr, but I'm only using a 3x scope at 100 yds on a sand bag.

mehavey · July 27, 2013, 09:28 PM

1:7 is literally made for 77gr Matchkings.
If you go that route, I highly recommend AA2520

I've found it also shoots well as low as 52gr MatchKings (in my barrel)
In that case, I recommend Win748

mohr308 · July 27, 2013, 10:34 PM

http://thefiringline.com/forums/atta...6&d=1373053790

This was with my 69gr barnes match burners out of my 1:9 twist barrel

m&p45acp10+1 · July 28, 2013, 12:50 PM

IMR 4198 has worked for me with 55 grain VMax in my Savage bolt action, and they shot well enough out of 3 friend's AR rifles. The were hitting 16 ounce watter bottles at 50 to 100 yards without any problems.

Reloader 7 does well with lighter bullets if it all you can get.

For heavier bullets of 65 grains or heavier Varget, or Reloader 15 do very well. I give a slight edge to RL15. Though it is slight. If I had both infront of me I would take the RL15. If all I could get was Varget I would not be unhappy at all.

JimDandy · July 28, 2013, 05:39 PM

I had some GREAT shooting with my 1/7 6920 16inch barrel on some 77 grain Nosler Custom Competition HPBT over some RL15 I think. I'd have to go back and look to be sure.

I also picked up a box of 69 grain's same bullet to give a try. 77grain is a somewhat meh bullet weight because some 77grain can be loaded to mag length, some can not. I haven't seen a 69 grain yet that said it couldn't be.

The Nosler Custom Comp 77's can, I think the Sierra Matchking 77's and the Hornady A Max 77's can not. See the respective manuals to be sure. I picked up case of PMC 55 grain FMJ's for plinking and breaking in (as well as the source of my brass for future loads) I can't tell you which has more effect on the lack of groupings... 55 grain being too light and destabilizing in a 1/7 or that it's a factory load.

Without advocating any particular brand or model of a Brass Catcher, I do highly suggest you invest in one. First, for good manners. An auto loader at a rifle range can really irritate the people sitting to the side, and second, it's awful nice not having to bend over and pick that crap up as you get old. The link shows what I use. You could get that, one of the ones that mounts to the gun, or make your own. Ideas, plans and products abound.

mohr308 · July 30, 2013, 10:55 AM

I also bought PMC 55 gr rounds when I bought my AR, they do suck. I had better luck with the Federal XM193's for factory ammo.

mehavey · July 31, 2013, 09:01 AM

Sierra 77gr Matchkings are designed to load at magazine length. Not-to-worry.

As to brass catcher/deflector, I once again advocate THIS as a simple field expedient.

zcrenna · August 1, 2013, 07:29 PM

I've reloaded with Reloader15 under 69gr SMKs as well as Accurate 2460 under 55gr fmjs.

I also have a pound of blc2, AA2200 and 748 that I'm going to try.

RE15 has been great for the heavier projectiles and 2460 has been good so far.

But like the other guy said, it's better these days finding powder, but it's still what you can get your hands on.

July 26, 2013, 04:36 PM	#1
Swampman1 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2013 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 432	My first AR-15..now to reload OK guys, now that I'm in the AR business...I need advice on powders. I know H-335 is a good one...what else? Probably be shooting 45-55 gr.

July 26, 2013, 05:04 PM	#2
JGalt Junior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Location: Atlanta Posts: 4	Ramshot TAC I think it's a relatively new powder, but I am having great results with it. TAC runs thru a powder measure smooth as silk, and with a 55 grn bullet, the lower end of the load is most accurate. __________________ When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty. - Thomas Jefferson I swear by my life and love if it, I will live for no other, nor ask another to live for me. - John Galt

July 26, 2013, 11:14 PM	#6
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	My favorites for the AR, H-335, IMR 8208 XBR & H-4895. Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

July 26, 2013, 11:58 PM	#7
mohr308 Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2012 Location: Western New York Posts: 466	CFE223 has been working nicely in bullets I haven't been able to group well using H335. It's important to know your twist rate before you decide your bullet weight. __________________ Lock and load, the zombies (democrats) are coming (to take your guns)!

July 27, 2013, 07:20 PM	#10
mohr308 Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2012 Location: Western New York Posts: 466	Mine is a 1:9 twist and I stabilize up to a 69gr. 65gr and heavier would work well for you I'm sure. I'm sure someone with a 1:7 twist may drop a comment in. I just started testing some 69gr Barnes match burners using BL-C(2), I have a nice group at 25.1gr, but I'm only using a 3x scope at 100 yds on a sand bag. __________________ Lock and load, the zombies (democrats) are coming (to take your guns)!

July 26, 2013, 07:01 PM	#3
steve4102 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,955	Whatever you can find.

July 26, 2013, 07:45 PM	#4
Farmland Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Posts: 869	You have entered into the wonderful word of the gun and caliber that loves a wide variety of powders. To put it simple there is no one single magic powder. Certainly people will try to give you one and that is probably the only one they ever used. In fact I know you will get more than several recommendations form good people. There is just way to many to list and if you can find one of these then buy it and give it try. There certainly are more that can be added but this will give a good start. H335, Ni33, AA2015, Benchmark, H4895, TAC, RL10, RL7, AR COMP, the list really is this endless because there is so much more. I have four AR rifle and to be honest each likes a different powder though RL7 has been the best over all for me.

July 27, 2013, 07:06 PM	#9
LivewireBlanco Member Join Date: September 19, 2012 Location: West Texas Posts: 64	Minimum of 55gr for that twist rate. 62gr would be a good sweet spot.

July 27, 2013, 09:28 PM	#11
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,894	1:7 is literally made for 77gr Matchkings. If you go that route, I highly recommend AA2520 I've found it also shoots well as low as 52gr MatchKings (in my barrel) In that case, I recommend Win748

July 27, 2013, 10:34 PM	#12
mohr308 Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2012 Location: Western New York Posts: 466	Swamp man http://thefiringline.com/forums/atta...6&d=1373053790 This was with my 69gr barnes match burners out of my 1:9 twist barrel __________________ Lock and load, the zombies (democrats) are coming (to take your guns)!

July 28, 2013, 12:50 PM	#13
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	IMR 4198 has worked for me with 55 grain VMax in my Savage bolt action, and they shot well enough out of 3 friend's AR rifles. The were hitting 16 ounce watter bottles at 50 to 100 yards without any problems. Reloader 7 does well with lighter bullets if it all you can get. For heavier bullets of 65 grains or heavier Varget, or Reloader 15 do very well. I give a slight edge to RL15. Though it is slight. If I had both infront of me I would take the RL15. If all I could get was Varget I would not be unhappy at all. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

July 28, 2013, 05:39 PM	#14
JimDandy Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2012 Posts: 2,556	I had some GREAT shooting with my 1/7 6920 16inch barrel on some 77 grain Nosler Custom Competition HPBT over some RL15 I think. I'd have to go back and look to be sure. I also picked up a box of 69 grain's same bullet to give a try. 77grain is a somewhat meh bullet weight because some 77grain can be loaded to mag length, some can not. I haven't seen a 69 grain yet that said it couldn't be. The Nosler Custom Comp 77's can, I think the Sierra Matchking 77's and the Hornady A Max 77's can not. See the respective manuals to be sure. I picked up case of PMC 55 grain FMJ's for plinking and breaking in (as well as the source of my brass for future loads) I can't tell you which has more effect on the lack of groupings... 55 grain being too light and destabilizing in a 1/7 or that it's a factory load. Without advocating any particular brand or model of a Brass Catcher, I do highly suggest you invest in one. First, for good manners. An auto loader at a rifle range can really irritate the people sitting to the side, and second, it's awful nice not having to bend over and pick that crap up as you get old. The link shows what I use. You could get that, one of the ones that mounts to the gun, or make your own. Ideas, plans and products abound.

July 30, 2013, 10:55 AM	#15
mohr308 Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2012 Location: Western New York Posts: 466	Jim dandy I also bought PMC 55 gr rounds when I bought my AR, they do suck. I had better luck with the Federal XM193's for factory ammo. __________________ Lock and load, the zombies (democrats) are coming (to take your guns)!

July 31, 2013, 09:01 AM	#16
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,894	Sierra 77gr Matchkings are designed to load at magazine length. Not-to-worry. As to brass catcher/deflector, I once again advocate THIS as a simple field expedient.

August 1, 2013, 07:29 PM	#17
zcrenna Member Join Date: February 3, 2013 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 60	I've reloaded with Reloader15 under 69gr SMKs as well as Accurate 2460 under 55gr fmjs. I also have a pound of blc2, AA2200 and 748 that I'm going to try. RE15 has been great for the heavier projectiles and 2460 has been good so far. But like the other guy said, it's better these days finding powder, but it's still what you can get your hands on.