I found some 75 grain HPBT .223 ammo at just over a “buck-a-bullet” when shipping and taxes are included.
My concern is that I may have an increased possibility of feeding problems. At that price I’d rather not find that out on my own (although I may have to).
Do 75 grain rounds have a history in this regard? I don’t have an overall length for this ammo.
I’m running a MilSpec 5.56 BCM RECCE16 with an M4 ramp.
If it’s hornady frontier, its excellent stuff.
COAL will be magazine length.
I’ve shot 3 versions of 5.56 77 gr OTM; BH, IMI, Magtech.
No problems.
I have a BCM ELW 16" that has shot everything from 55gr - 77gr. Quality ammo, even reputable quality bulk ammo, should work great anything within that range.
A related item is for defense loads I’m using the Speer 75gr Gold Dot, super accurate in this barrel and highly recommended.
I’ve shot quite a bit of IMI 77gr and have never had feeding issues, popped primers yes, but never feeding issues.
I shoot Hornady 75gr BTHP a bit, and their 70gr GMX some, and I’ve never had an issue at all.
The only thing 75 grains tells you is that the bullet weighs 75 grains. Nothing whatsoever, much less predictive, can be deduced from that without further information about the bullet particulars, cartridge OAL, charge, manufacturer, etc.
Not a comment solely on your post but the whole “XX grains isn’t reliable/accurate/whatever” needs to die.
No issues for in several hundred loaded myself to either 2.255 or 2.25 length.
^^^^This^^^^plus I really miss the intelligent conversation we once had here…
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Sorry . . . didn’t realize I was picking on a scab. Wish I had info regarding OAL, etc. Was sorta wondering if 75 grain bullets approached the limits of OAL thereby making them more difficult to feed in some rifles.
I’m so dumb I thought this was an intelligent conversation. 
What I’ve learned: Having a 75 grain bullet by itself is not an indicator of potential feeding problems. To determine if this particular round will have a problem in my particular rifle I’ll need to try it myself. Right? 
It doesn’t seem so foolish to me given another recent discussion.
He’s talking about pistols here, not to mention flat nose bullets which dont exist in the 5.56/.223 cartridge.
Unless you have bullets that exceed the length where it can’t fit into the magazine, bullet weight means nothing when it comes to properly feeding.
You didn’t, you’re fine. Just an opportunity to post a good reminder.
I’m so dumb I thought this was an intelligent conversation.
It is.
What I’ve learned: Having a 75 grain bullet by itself is not an indicator of potential feeding problems. To determine if this particular round will have a problem in my particular rifle I’ll need to try it myself. Right?
Yep.
And even in pistols not anywhere near as valid as posted by many folks, without further info.
Unless you have bullets that exceed the length where it can’t fit into the magazine, bullet weight means nothing when it comes to properly feeding.
Yep.
Same, thousands of them in several rifles, single and mag loaded, never a feed issue at all.
all my rifles have the M4 cut for receiver and barrel extension.
Andrew - Lancaster, CA
NRA Life Member, CRPA member, Calguns.net contributor, CGF / SAF / FPC / CCRKBA / GOA / NAGR / NRA-ILA contributor, USCCA member - Support your defenders!
Pics below are Hornady
75gr ELD
70Gr GMX (has the double cannelure)
73gr ELD
75gr OTM BTHP
Pay attention to third pic showing approximately aligned at seating depth, the 73gr ELD reliably feeds with M4 cuts but the 75gr ELD might not since its tip rubs the magazine wall (not mag length compatible, I single feed them).
Andrew - Lancaster, CA
NRA Life Member, CRPA member, Calguns.net contributor, CGF / SAF / FPC / CCRKBA / GOA / NAGR / NRA-ILA contributor, USCCA member - Support your defenders!
As long as it’s made by a reputable manufacturer, you shouldn’t have any problems.
I personally use BH 77 grain 5.56 for my chosen round. It runs flawlessly in all of my rifles.
Assuming Hornady and Speer load data OAL carries over to their manufactured ammo it isn’t always mag length. Looking right now and only the 5.56 pressure 75gr gold dot is shown 2.260" mag length while .223 gold dot and all of the Hornady are listed shorter.
Hornady load data shows the 75gr ELD as 2.390" oal and (odd to me) the 73gr ELD and std. 75gr bthp as 2.250" instead of 2.260" the typical max mag length.
Normally yes, but cast bullet molds for .223 are almost entirely flat nose. On the positive. Been looking in to casting and coating them and videos of guys demonstrating it shows AR’s feeding them as good as anything else.
99% sure I have seen factory compressed copper/fragmenting bullets that were flat nose and some lighter weight hollow points may as well be considered flat nose as well.
Yes that’s accurate, Of course you do not have to follow that exactly, but what works well for your load and gun starting low.
I load them at these lengths, but offer no suggestion it is optimal or better than their recommended max COAL. Point of fact I load every Hornady bullet I’ve got (4 more variants) slightly shorter than their own listed max COAL, and closer to or even shorter than Hornady loads it themselves, which as you posted above is shorter than limit.
75 ELD at 2.350”
73 ELD at 2.260”
70 GMX at 2.200”
75 OTM at 2.220”
I did try loading the 75gr ELD at mag length just barely touching the mag wall, it definitely cannot be crimped if that is done since the ogive is then starting well inside the case neck and I would not recommend (and won’t myself) loading that way again since even though I don’t crimp any of them the neck tension provided friction is reduced a lot with less bearing surface in contact with bullet. (And it would have a good chance of asymmetrically crimping or getting stuck on feed ramps when loading)
Andrew - Lancaster, CA
NRA Life Member, CRPA member, Calguns.net contributor, CGF / SAF / FPC / CCRKBA / GOA / NAGR / NRA-ILA contributor, USCCA member - Support your defenders!