Talk about Capitals hockey & more! > General Discusion Anything But Hockey
Guns and Blowin Shit Up!
alta:
I have no problem with PSA ARs... but, if the rifles are going to see heavy(normal) use I’d get a quality bolt carrier assembly and a better trigger, then replace the barrel as needed. ARs fully assembled by PSA are fine for the vast majority, which only shoot a couple hundred rounds a year through them.
just my $0.02
I still have one with a PSA carbine upper, but it’s been shoved to the back of the safe behind newer stuff.. middies
richkrt99:
yet another chapter in "As Rich's Reloading World Turns"
shot some 5.56 this weekend. started with my recent reloads then went to factory ammo, then back to reloads.
The first batch of reloads (23.5Gr IMR 4064 powder) shot fine (this is on the bottom end of the load data for this powder with 55Gr bullet)
The second batch of reloads would not properly cycle the rifle. It was short cycling (well...I think). It fired fine, well on target with no noticeable change in recoil (but it's an AR so....their ain't that much recoil to notice.) This batch was an alternative powder similar to H4198 (FSP-80 russian made, but independently tested, certified, etc)
Using this relatively "unknown entity" I loaded at the very bottom of the load data for 4198 at 19gr (the data says 19gr - 21gr so not a big variance to play with)
I thought maybe it was my "beloved" new PSA rifle so I went and grabbed my old Bushmaster and same result. All the rounds appear to fire fine, but the rifle won't cycle the next round. (well sometimes but usually not) I checked the OAL and compared to factory rounds and load data and the length is good. The primers are new CCI#41. I trimmed/checked all the brass so I know the case length is good (1.752)
I tried multiple different magazines; fully loaded, half loaded, 3-4 rounds,etc) The magazines are mix of Magpul G2 & gen 3 and all are practically new.
The spent shells did all eject properly by the way - none hung up on ejection....just didn't cycle/feed the next round. Pull the charging handle back and fires the next one fine...then same thing, didn't chamber the next round. I thought something was wonky or broke on the action so it wasn't catching the next round.
I went back and looked and the powder says "similar to H4198 and Norma200"
H4198 data says 19.0 - 21.0 (and depending on the 55gr bullet found some data at 18.5gr starting point)
Norma load data says 21.8 - 22.8
I started at 19.0, but had I looked at Norma data, maybe I would have bumped it, but being a newbie....I was skeered so I always start at the bottom.
Also this is load data for .223 Rem and both my current AR are 5.56 so they can handle bit more pressure.
I've looked and nobody posts load data for 5.56. Curious as to how much factory loads bump pressures in 5.56 vs .223 loads if any.
I did clean, trim, size, etc, and this is once fire military (5.56) brass.
I am a little surprised a published load fell short - I can only figure it has to be the slight difference in the "similar" powder.
The powder is NEW by the way. Manufactured in 2021
So....I fired a bunch (well one at a time... a bunch is relative) in what essentially was two different "AR bolt action" rifles. The rounds sound right, feel right, shoot right, but won't cycle either gun properly. I had my wife and one son watch me shoot factory rounds and these reloads alternatively and they could not tell a difference in sound or muzzle flash.
The only common denominator between the two guns, multiple magazines, etc was....the ammunition (well the shooter too, but we KNOW there's nothing wrong with that guy)
thoughts....suggestions? (other than "don't buy anymore Russian powder") :snicker:
alta:
Load a batch a tad hotter and see if that cycles the gun. Usually if an AR won't cycle a given batch of ammo the spring, but mostly the buffer are too heavy. Mo power mo better, to a point
Russian powder obviously works fine, thousands of 7.62x39 say so
richkrt99:
--- Quote from: alta on Wednesday July 21, 2021, 06:08:43 PM Eastern ---Load a batch a tad hotter and see if that cycles the gun. Usually if an AR won't cycle a given batch of ammo the spring, but mostly the buffer are too heavy. Mo power mo better, to a point
--- End quote ---
Yeah, kind of what I had come down to. Both rifles are very similar so not much help there (16" barrels, etc)
Too bad I loaded 375 of these sum bitches. Knew I was gettin carried away, but it was a month ago and I test fired a few just fine, and it was too damn hot to be outside so I spent an afternoon loading....and loading.
So....does anyone hand load a different load for 5.56 vs 2.23?
I mean when you are trimming the cases the length is going to be the same so the pressures should be about the same....and in the same rifle the length/head space is always the same, with only maybe the shoulder of the brass being slightly different and MAYBE the brass thickness to a degree, but with mixed head stamps anyway...there going to be some variation in the brass. I was just wondering if 5.56 was intentionally loaded hotter, and where do you get that data?
I can/will certainly work up the load a bit at a time, but was wondering if there actually was 5.56 data available (which I can't seem to find)
alta:
I never bought 5.56/.223 dies. I can't hunt bambi(legally) in this state with a .223 and I stocked up on bulk 5.56 at a price far cheaper than I could load it at. My hornady books have 5.56 loads in them. That's why you should have multiple books from different sources :wackysmile:
since you are now a professional reloader :snicker: , I know you have a scale. Take the buffers out of your ARs and weigh them, then buy a lighter one for this batch of ammo. Not sure I can help there, I switched all my stuff to the A5 buffer system
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