[Specific 223 load advice]

For the record, the Hornady FMJs was what I was referring to by saying "cheap bullets." I know guys who shoot Vmax or ballistic tips religiously and such a waste for 50 yard or shorter targets.

[My recipe for 5.56 for 3 gun, am I okay?]

I quit using the #41 primers because I would get 2 or 3 in every thousand that were so hard the wouldn't go off in my AR. Rem 7 1/2 have never failed me and are always most consistent primer I have used. I also like the Federal AR Match but they are impossible to find reliably.

[My recipe for 5.56 for 3 gun, am I okay?]

Hello,

I am working up a load for my 3 gun rifle with a 16 inch barrel.  Yesterday I shot the rifle with this load:

1) Once fired 5.56 brass

2) Primer pocket swaged and cleaned

3) 55 grain Hornady bullets with cannelure

4) 24.8 grains of IMR 8208 XBR

5) 2.215 OAL

6)  CCI Benchrest primers

I chronographed 5 rounds and got an average velocity of 2,850 FPS. Accuracy was plenty sufficient.  So the questions is should I up the charge powder charge to get a little more velocity?  I will be shooting the rifle in a club level rifle only match this Saturday.  For what it's worth, the maximum distance is usually about 200 yards. I think I am slightly below a minimum power factor, but Im not sure.  I will be shooting Tac Ops.

Chris

Looks good to me. I would use cheaper primers, I like Rem 7 1/2, but nothing wrong with the BR4's.

[Specific 223 load advice]

I would use a slower powder than H335 only because when my gun got dirty it wouldn't cycle as reliably, not enough pressure. (Maybe my gun is just too crappy, lol) H4895 or CFE223 is what I normally use. With an adjustable gas block that may not matter, I don't have one.

I would also use cheap 55 gr FMJs for competition too. I don't like spending .25 cents a bullet on targets I can spit on. I do load 69 gr SMKs for stages with long rifle shots.

[Drama in loading 308]

Going back to your resize problem. 100% agree with others, it is machine gun fired and harder than hell to resize. I run that stuff through resizing twice. Imperial sizing wax is what I use. New LC brass (American Eagle 7.62) is cake to size... Obviously. If you are shooting out of an AR, I wouldn't restrict yourself to LC brass. I only use it because I shoot an M1A and the extractor/bolt is brutal on cases. Had a case head separate on a once fired Winchester case.

[.223 Case Length Variation - Trimming]

What brass are you using and what were the lengths before resize and trim? Is it mixed once or twice fired or new? If it is mixed brass there will be mixed lengths. Not all of them will resize and stretch over 1.750.

[Stoeger - Shell / Feed Latch Tuning]

I am having this exact same problem. First 2 or occasionally 3 shells won't go. Was at 16" on the +8 Nordic tube. With only one shell in the magazine it still throws it on the lifter pretty hard. Think I will shorten it a little more. Sucks too, first match I have been able to make is on Sunday.

[CFE 223 powder]

27gr with Hornady 55 gr FMJs. Averaged 2844 fps, spread of 41, SD of 15.2.

Used mixed cases (Rem, Fed, LC mostly) Rem 7 1/2 primers.

[IMR4895 for 223?]

The 4895s are great for for 223. Used them for bullets as light as 50gr. If you want 3250fps in 55 grainers in a carbine it won't get you there. But you can get 2800-3000 fps, depending bullet, barrel and gas system. It does not measure great though.