Hornady 55 gr SP and H355/H322 question

lah2420 · February 16, 2013, 09:58 PM

I have a question I hope someone with a lot more experience than I have can answer. I pulled the Hodgdon data off of their site for H355 and H322 for the .223.
Then today I received the Hornady 9th edition manual.

I'm wondering which manual to go with. Below are their listings.

Speer SP 55 gr--- 23 gr start - 25.3 gr max H355 in Hodgdon manual
Hornady SP 55 gr--20.8 gr start - 23.2 gr max H355 in Hornady manual

Speer SP 55 gr--21 gr start - 23 gr max H322 in Hodgdon manual
Hornady SP 55 gr--19.5 gr start - 23.1 gr max H322 in Hornady manual

The H322 max loads are similar in both manuals for the 2 bullets, but the H355 is totally different.
I have the Hornady 55 gr SP bullet and Hodgdon did not show data for that particular bullet so I went with the closest similar one as instructed.

Hope that wasn't too confusing.

rg1 · February 16, 2013, 10:51 PM

Most agree that the H335 data in Hornady's manual is conservative. Maybe in a tight short throated bolt action with the exact rifle they used in their tests. I don't think they are correct and velocities they list I don't believe to be accurate. However they are supposed to be the experts and have the lab equipment to test pressure so I'm not recommending to disregard their load data. I shoot the Hornady 55 fmj and 55 SP's with H335 using RP 7 1/2 primers in LC, Rem., Win, and WCC brass from 24.5-25 grains with no issues in both AR's and a bolt action .223 Rem. I would just start working up loads in your rifles with start charges within Hornady's range and keep working up into Hodgdon's levels watching for pressure signs in your rifle. Speer, Nosler, and Sierra list charges higher than Hornady's maximum with their 55 grain bullets. I'd look for best accuracy in your rifle and I bet it's from 24-24.8 grains. I trust Hodgdon's data for the Hornady 55 SP or FMJ even though they used a Speer bullet. My chrono results match Hodgdon's data in my rifles. I shoot mostly Hornady bullets and like their manuals and follow their data in other calibers but their 55 grain .223 H335 data needs reworked.

chris in va · February 16, 2013, 10:51 PM

That Hornady manual is way off from my Lyman 49th.

H335 24.3-27max 55 gr JSP.

lah2420 · February 16, 2013, 11:11 PM

Thanks. My chrono was reading right above 3100 fps with 24.5 gr of H355 out of a stock mini 14. At 24 gr it was just under 3000. When I tried 25 gr it stayed just above 3100 and my group spread out considerably. Then I received the Hornady manual and wondered if I was going to have to start all over again.
I had started with Hodgdon's 23 gr start level which Hornady showed as max.

mohr308 · February 17, 2013, 12:24 AM

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp this may be helpful. Funny you posted this, because I'm going to start loading the 55gr hornady sp with h335.

lah2420 · February 17, 2013, 02:53 PM

That's where I got the Hodgdon data. Like I said, it is different from the Hornady data on the H355. But the H322 data was close to the same.

mohr308 · February 17, 2013, 04:38 PM

What's you COL with that bullet? Are you around 2.200" to the cannelure?

lah2420 · February 17, 2013, 04:57 PM

2.200 puts it right in the middle of the cannelure. That's with a case length of 1.760.

mohr308 · February 17, 2013, 05:01 PM

Thanks! Was that in your manual?

rebs · February 17, 2013, 05:53 PM

So which data are you guys using, the Hornady or the Hodgedon ?

As a side note my accuracy load for Hornady 55 gr sp is 24.0 of H335 with a OAL of 2.200, anything over that and my groups start to open up.

mohr308 · February 17, 2013, 06:08 PM

I would probably load using hodgdons data, it's seems like it may suit me better because im loading for my AR

mohr308 · February 17, 2013, 06:24 PM

Out of these four bullets, I have only loaded 1. I would like to say I'm gonna be busy, but I don't want to use all my resources to load test

from left to right is:
65gr SGK, 55gr Barnes TTSX, 55gr Nosler varmageddon, 55gr hornady sp.

lah2420 · February 17, 2013, 09:05 PM

"Thanks! Was that in your manual?"

It was actually a combination of the load manual showed 2.200 and my Lee sheet from the die box gave the case length of 1.76".

Each gun is different. Mine gave best accuracy so far with 24.5 gr and a minimum crimp with the Lee Factory Crimp die. No crimp was not good and more crimp really threw things out of kilter. Of course I need to test that load some more to make sure it holds true with my first rounds tested.

Clark · February 18, 2013, 03:26 AM

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.
Range report from 8-19-2003, from me visiting the Tacoma Sportman Club range in Puyallup, members only range.
Hodgdon website: 223 Rem, H335, 25.3 GR. 55 GR. SPR SP, 2.200", 24" barrel, 3203 fps, 49,300 CUP
Test: Ruger #1 [the standard 26" #1, not the 24" varmint model], CCI 400 small rifle primers, LC brass once fired processed from Scharch and prepped by me, 55 gr Vmax moly, H335
pic left to right: unfired, 28, 29, 30, and 31 gr.

unfired, extractor groove .329"
28 gr, extractor groove .329", 11% overload 69 kpsi Quickload
29 gr, extractor groove .329", 15% overload 80kpsi Quickload
30 gr, extractor groove .3295", 19% overload 92kpsi Quickload
31 gr, extractor groove .3320", 23% overload 106kpsi Quickload

What does it all mean?
The published data is 25.3 gr
The threshold of long brass life is between 29 and 30 gr

February 16, 2013, 10:51 PM	#2
rg1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Posts: 1,125	Most agree that the H335 data in Hornady's manual is conservative. Maybe in a tight short throated bolt action with the exact rifle they used in their tests. I don't think they are correct and velocities they list I don't believe to be accurate. However they are supposed to be the experts and have the lab equipment to test pressure so I'm not recommending to disregard their load data. I shoot the Hornady 55 fmj and 55 SP's with H335 using RP 7 1/2 primers in LC, Rem., Win, and WCC brass from 24.5-25 grains with no issues in both AR's and a bolt action .223 Rem. I would just start working up loads in your rifles with start charges within Hornady's range and keep working up into Hodgdon's levels watching for pressure signs in your rifle. Speer, Nosler, and Sierra list charges higher than Hornady's maximum with their 55 grain bullets. I'd look for best accuracy in your rifle and I bet it's from 24-24.8 grains. I trust Hodgdon's data for the Hornady 55 SP or FMJ even though they used a Speer bullet. My chrono results match Hodgdon's data in my rifles. I shoot mostly Hornady bullets and like their manuals and follow their data in other calibers but their 55 grain .223 H335 data needs reworked. Last edited by rg1; February 16, 2013 at 10:57 PM.

February 17, 2013, 12:24 AM	#5
mohr308 Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2012 Location: Western New York Posts: 466	http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp this may be helpful. Funny you posted this, because I'm going to start loading the 55gr hornady sp with h335. __________________ Lock and load, the zombies (democrats) are coming (to take your guns)!

February 17, 2013, 04:38 PM	#7
mohr308 Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2012 Location: Western New York Posts: 466	What's you COL with that bullet? Are you around 2.200" to the cannelure? __________________ Lock and load, the zombies (democrats) are coming (to take your guns)!

February 17, 2013, 05:01 PM	#9
mohr308 Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2012 Location: Western New York Posts: 466	Thanks! Was that in your manual? __________________ Lock and load, the zombies (democrats) are coming (to take your guns)!

February 17, 2013, 06:08 PM	#11
mohr308 Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2012 Location: Western New York Posts: 466	I would probably load using hodgdons data, it's seems like it may suit me better because im loading for my AR __________________ Lock and load, the zombies (democrats) are coming (to take your guns)!

February 16, 2013, 09:58 PM	#1
lah2420 Member Join Date: August 2, 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 54	Hornady 55 gr SP and H355/H322 question I have a question I hope someone with a lot more experience than I have can answer. I pulled the Hodgdon data off of their site for H355 and H322 for the .223. Then today I received the Hornady 9th edition manual. I'm wondering which manual to go with. Below are their listings. Speer SP 55 gr--- 23 gr start - 25.3 gr max H355 in Hodgdon manual Hornady SP 55 gr--20.8 gr start - 23.2 gr max H355 in Hornady manual Speer SP 55 gr--21 gr start - 23 gr max H322 in Hodgdon manual Hornady SP 55 gr--19.5 gr start - 23.1 gr max H322 in Hornady manual The H322 max loads are similar in both manuals for the 2 bullets, but the H355 is totally different. I have the Hornady 55 gr SP bullet and Hodgdon did not show data for that particular bullet so I went with the closest similar one as instructed. Hope that wasn't too confusing.

February 16, 2013, 10:51 PM	#3
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	That Hornady manual is way off from my Lyman 49th. H335 24.3-27max 55 gr JSP.

February 16, 2013, 11:11 PM	#4
lah2420 Member Join Date: August 2, 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 54	Thanks. My chrono was reading right above 3100 fps with 24.5 gr of H355 out of a stock mini 14. At 24 gr it was just under 3000. When I tried 25 gr it stayed just above 3100 and my group spread out considerably. Then I received the Hornady manual and wondered if I was going to have to start all over again. I had started with Hodgdon's 23 gr start level which Hornady showed as max.

February 17, 2013, 02:53 PM	#6
lah2420 Member Join Date: August 2, 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 54	That's where I got the Hodgdon data. Like I said, it is different from the Hornady data on the H355. But the H322 data was close to the same.

February 17, 2013, 04:57 PM	#8
lah2420 Member Join Date: August 2, 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 54	2.200 puts it right in the middle of the cannelure. That's with a case length of 1.760.

February 17, 2013, 05:53 PM	#10
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	So which data are you guys using, the Hornady or the Hodgedon ? As a side note my accuracy load for Hornady 55 gr sp is 24.0 of H335 with a OAL of 2.200, anything over that and my groups start to open up.

February 17, 2013, 09:05 PM	#13
lah2420 Member Join Date: August 2, 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 54	"Thanks! Was that in your manual?" It was actually a combination of the load manual showed 2.200 and my Lee sheet from the die box gave the case length of 1.76". Each gun is different. Mine gave best accuracy so far with 24.5 gr and a minimum crimp with the Lee Factory Crimp die. No crimp was not good and more crimp really threw things out of kilter. Of course I need to test that load some more to make sure it holds true with my first rounds tested.

February 18, 2013, 03:26 AM	#14
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information. Range report from 8-19-2003, from me visiting the Tacoma Sportman Club range in Puyallup, members only range. Hodgdon website: 223 Rem, H335, 25.3 GR. 55 GR. SPR SP, 2.200", 24" barrel, 3203 fps, 49,300 CUP Test: Ruger #1 [the standard 26" #1, not the 24" varmint model], CCI 400 small rifle primers, LC brass once fired processed from Scharch and prepped by me, 55 gr Vmax moly, H335 pic left to right: unfired, 28, 29, 30, and 31 gr. unfired, extractor groove .329" 28 gr, extractor groove .329", 11% overload 69 kpsi Quickload 29 gr, extractor groove .329", 15% overload 80kpsi Quickload 30 gr, extractor groove .3295", 19% overload 92kpsi Quickload 31 gr, extractor groove .3320", 23% overload 106kpsi Quickload What does it all mean? The published data is 25.3 gr The threshold of long brass life is between 29 and 30 gr __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?