55gr Full Metal Jacket shootout in .223 Remington! UPDATED 09/27/2018 - All links have been removed to comply with RU-vid content policies. www.patreon.com/reloading
Awesome data Johnny!!! Please keep the videos coming. Cant wait for the series. There's no one else on RU-vid who delivers reloading data and information to the quality that you do.Thanks.
These prices blow me away its tough to imagine being new to this. Feels like this was 50yrs ago. Thanks for the videos uve unknowingly been my reloading mentor.
texpat not sure I understand. The Winchester special I was referring to is for 1500 55grain soft point bullets. They are great for plinkers and small game hunting. Plus you get a 30cal ammo can with them.
My pet load is CFE223 Hornady 55gr 26.1 powder, .623in at 100 years, my AR really likes CFE223 and if i use Sierra Blitz king 55gr with CFE223 I am getting .493in and believe it or not I am using a $80 barrel from Sanders Armory corp .com, but with factory ammo 3 in groups
Quickload says IMR3031 and Ar Comp are the two best at magazine length for the 55gr hornady while Ramshot Tac would only be 85.8% burnt out of an 18" barrel. Edit: Ar Comp would probably be the best of the 2 at 99.8% burn, 500psi less at the muzzle, and roughly 103% case fill.
I really enjoyed this video, makes it easy to see why we buy certain components. I’m a huge Hornady, bobs and Berry’s 55gr FMJBT as well. Thanks Johnny
I have probably shot as many Hornady 55 GR FMJBT with Cann as anybody on the planet. I have found 25.0 Grains of Reloder 15 or 25.0 Gns of BL-C (2) @ 2.220" to be as good as it gets. I do love Jason and Steve Hornady for these reasonably priced projectiles.
My favorite .223 powders : imr8208, RL15, cfe223.... probably in that order, although I have really only used the cfe for “plinking” ammo loaded on a progressive press (meters great) so maybe I didn’t give it enough of a chance
Man I'm a new subscriber to your channel,but I sure do enjoy your videos. I also just set up a bolt gun in 223 and I'm. Learning a lot from those videos. Keep it up!!!
Glad to see you doing this series! I second the request for you to add the X-treme 55gr FMJ. I thought it was interesting to see how little the velocity dropped for the rounds that were loaded to maximum magazine length -- only 3 fps difference for the Everglades bullet (0.060" length change) and maximum difference of 20 fps for the Hornady bullet (0.050" length change).
Hornady 55gr + H335 + 25.0gr + 16" guns is great. For some reason my off the shelf Troy complete 16" melonite upper shoots like a match rifle with this load. 1/2 MOA or less out to 300 yards.
For what it's worth, I did sort 1000 55gr bullets from both RMR and Hornady (FMJ for the RMR, SP for the Hornady). The consistency for the Hornady was extremely good (+/- 0.1gr for the most part). RMR was a bit disappointing: Lower than 55.2gr: 5.8% 55.2gr: 10.5% 55.3gr: 13.3% 55.4gr: 14.2% 55.5gr: 15.4% 55.6gr: 26.8% 55.7gr: 8.2% Greater than 55.7gr: 5.8% Hoping to see you come up with a good load for them! Keep up the great videos
I may be a bit biased here, but the cheapest choice for you would be to break out those Corbin dies you were given and make them for a fraction of a cent each. On the flip side of that bias, you have a seriously awesome channel, and I always learn a lot from you.
Great series JRB. Very interesting results with the Bobs bullets. In your previous video with Bobs using 26.0 grains of Varget you shot a .78” group and a .58” group with the same load you shot in this video. I have shot plenty of Bobs bullets with 26 grains of Varget with LC brass and also have had the inconsistencies that you show with Bobs. I have shot many good groups with that load and many that open up with flyers. I read an individuals comment in one of your videos a while back that once he sorted his Bobs bullets with a bullet comparator his groups became consistent, and that there was a noticeable difference after sorting them with a bullet comparator. I have not checked or tried this method yet with the Bobs bullets, but it may be worth a look. I know I have tried to sort them by weight and they were very consistent in the weight department and that didn’t help at all. Would have loved to see the 55 grain Sierra blitzking up here, that bullet shoots great in everything I own. Great series JRB.
Watching these is like watching a hockey game for me. When you get a flyer its like the other team scored and like "AHHHH shit.... ". Especially the RMR since Ive got a bunch of those. And the hornady I have a few ladders loaded waiting for spring.
25gr in my barrel flattens primers pretty good. I have settled on 24.8 with OAL of 2.26, Lake City brass, Hornady bullets. Half inch 5 shot groups if I don’t screw it up.
I would love to see 25gr loads on these bullets... I just bought 1k of hornady fmj and 1k rmr fmj after running out of my minute capable hornady soft points that didn't seat as easily as the boat tail versions on my progressive press... Keep up the good work...
I really enjoyed that and I am looking forward to the series. I have had good success with IMR4895 and Hornady bullets. I would like to see that powder if you have any and CFE.223 but I know you have used CFE.223 is other videos. Man, I was really enjoying the Nosler and scared my family when I saw the flyer and shouted out. lol, enjoy your channel.
In the Bob’s series you had very good accuracy with IMR3031, I’d keep rolling with that. Or the popular H335 load everyone uses. Also, if you’re keeping score... longer videos. Keep up the great work!!
One question one comment: In the short groups, was the first shot in the Hornady group a cold-bore shot? If so my opinion is that the Hornady group may have been short-changed. The four remaining shots grouped nice and tight. Cold bore shots in my AR generally result in being about an inch or so off of the grouping. As for my comment I think many people are using h335 for their 55 grain FMJ, however given that IMR 3031 did so well in the previous 55 grain test I would like to see it across the board with these. Great videos thank you for posting.
I use 25.2 gains of Tac with #41 primers @ 2.215” in several different cases. It’s lights out with LC’s in 4 different barrels. I’d like to see Benchmark tested. Keep on trucking JRB, love your channel.
This is great stuff! I think the Hornady for both would be my pick. It shot three into the same hole and shot the best group on the second. Interesting the RMR has the highest velocity for both groups. Just my interpretation, great video JRB!
X-terminator has my vote, always available near me and fairly cheap. Love this idea for the series, Hornady 55gr and 26.1gr of varget is my go to 223 load. I would be interested to see how 5744 works for you too, or any other powders that have a lower case fill.
Really looking forward to this series man. I've shot all of these except the Lapuas with H335, CFE223, TAC, and Reloader 15. I average MOA performance from all of 'em. Hornadys seem to like ball powders out of my 18' Odin barrel. My best groups were with 24.8 grains of H335 at a little over 1/2 MOA (.57").
Great channel. Just a few thoughts. Seems like the shorts were throwing a little wider group. Could be due to the extra jump from ogive to the lands. May be that the closer to the lands you seat the better the accuracy gets. Also the crimp. Any thought whether crimp made a difference? Great vids......keep them coming! God bless America and all those who serve this great nation!
Just for comparison, would it be to much trouble to test a few M193 loads along side your developed loads...? I might even be able to dig up some original L.C. M193 loads from way back when that I could send you...
Everglades has been where I’ve been getting my bullets and I’ve been very happy...free shipping and fast delivery...just no complaints. A question though...why do you think the SD were so high?
I've been binge watching your videos - good stuff man. Appreciate all the time, effort, & money you put into getting these out to us. Quick question I haven't seen you answer yet (I'm a noob, sorry) - what software do you use to measure targets?
I have a Lee Hand Reloading Press. I didn't have the money for a big boy press yet. Now I am reloading my .40 S&W and .300 BLKOut with it because of watching you vids. You do great work and put out great content. I have a lot of fun seeing how low of a charge I can go with different bullet weights. So my Question is how do you know how far you can push on the high side of powder charge with out blowing your face off? Will the gun start to run bad?
louvkjr. I had these same questions when I started reloading, not to long ago. I got most of my education off RU-vid and local gun shops. You should do google and RU-vid searches of “high pressure signs”. Flattened primers are the easiest to spot but there are others to look for. There’s a great shooting community on RU-vid to draw from and some day hopefully add too. Have fun and stay safe:)
Johnny it was told to me when accuracy testing a barrel needs cleaning before moving on to the next type bullet cause each bullet lays it's own deposit inside the barrel. When crossing them up you can't be sure of repeatable or true performance. Just something to think about
Good work man. I run a 55gn xtreme FMJ with Varget but have yet to find a load I'm impressed with. I've gotten some good groups but terrible SDs. Also, trying to bust out a bulk run of rounds with a compressed load is annoying as hell.
I agree with you regarding the Xtreme 55Gr FMJ and Varget, haven't found a good load. Maybe Johnny can discover a good powder as I have about 1500 of them left. ;-) If not, they still go pew when you pull the trigger.
Great video, makes me want to play around with seating depths for my plinking rounds. My current load is the Hornady 55 fmj with 25.0 grs of 8208xbr seated at 2.230 and I also run Midsouth shooter supplies 62gr BTHP(around 10 cents each on sale) with 24.0 grs of 8208xbr seated at 2.245. I think I'll load some up tonight.
I have always bought the 55gr FMJ BT W/C Hornady, I have been using Accurate 2015 powder? It's what I use... mostly because when I bought my supplies it was all I could find locally that would work :/
Ok I got an unrelated question. I’ve reloaded a lot, just not .223. I have lake city brass, cci primers, Hornady 60 grain hollow points. If you have ever shot these what powder facet you the best group? I know every gun is different. But I’m old, disabled and can’t run to the range ten times a month. I’ll be shooting a ruger ranch with a Nikon 4x12. Just wondering if you had a place where I could start.
What Viht powder would you say was the best for Vmax 55gr for .223? I have to move from IMR to Viht to comply with new European regulations - Im going to use 140 for the 243 & 308.
Have you given a thought that the 1&8 twist is to fast to stabilise a 55 grain bullet. Varmint guns like a remington bolt 700 used a 1 in 12 twist. I have several 1 in 9 twist guns that if i go under 3000fps shoot great. But with factory ammo or faster reloads the group opens up big time.
Possibility of human error? What would the size groups be if you threw out a flyer? That last Lapua group was interesting without the one that opened it up. I'm curious what the four shot group was without #5
Varget gives 27.5 with a 55 grain bullet right on the can. They won't hold 27.5 grains. I load 27 and they shoot great. Hornaday 55 grain FMJ. 27 grains in the Speer nickel plated .223 cases I have. Once fired, fills them perfectly to the top. I get great accuracy and no signs of overpressure.
Heya, JRB. I'm sure you did, but did you happen to verify that all of these could be loaded to 2.26? A few .224 bullets can't be loaded to full mag length, the 60gr Partition comes to mind.
It appears that you are shooting in cold weather. Going from a cold barrel to a hot barrel will change you group size. Years ago I bought a Multimeter to use around the house and found that the temp probe has been useful when I shoot multiple groups as you have. I rubber band the probe on to the barrel and when I exceed a temp range I stop shooting until the barrel cools down.
