Loaded My first 5.56 Rounds!

[synack2]

So Far I have loaded 380, 38/357, and 9MM so it was time to attempt an AR-15 5.56 Round

I used Soft Tip 55Grain Bullets from Everglades ammo. I didn't have any load data for that specific bullet, so I picked the closest one and went 1/10 under the minimum. And is said 2.180 was the minimum OAL so I went 2.220. I did 22.0 Grains of Accurate 2230. I only had small rifle magnum primers, so that is what I used. They all fired, I didn't blow up my gun and they felt a little lighter than my factory rounds, but they all cycled fine in my 10.5" SBR. Now I have a starting point.

I used Lee case lube, resized and de-primed. Then I had to get a case trimmer die from Lee and I trimmed them all to 1.750. I used the Lee de-burring and chamfer tool, and I loaded them up. I checked them all with a case gauge.

Rifle rounds are definitely a bigger pain the the butt to reload.

For my next test I am going to seat them to 2.200 and add a 1/10 of a grain of powder and see how that goes.

[Javelin Man]

Very good! I've reloaded some .222 Remington loads with success, I reckon .556 wouldn't too much different.

[Dave Shooter]

I've loaded 24 pounds of 2230 into 556 rounds. It's a great powder for that application.