Hello. I have my copy of Lyman’s 49th, and have been reading it over the past few weeks. I’m new to reloading, and new to AR ownership. I will be purchasing a new DD in the next week or so. The rounds I want to produce will be for range fun and 3 gun. I’m also new to 3 gun, and am not looking to be competitive yet. I need a pretty decent round recipe. I was thinking about the 55gr. range, but am open to suggestions. I was looking at the Armscore bullets and Remington brass as a starting point. Any suggestions are appreciated. I’d like to keep my loads the same as what’s in the Lymans book, as I’m brand new to this. Thanks.
Read, read, and read some more.
Getting reloading recipe to what you have bought is going to be a pain (so many different brass, bullets, powder, primer combos tossed on top of operator function in setting up the press and other variables).
You WILL have to do some ladder loads to find the sweet spot for your rifle. Everyone is different.
Myself, I have 5800 Lake City cases (new and once fired), I went with Hornady 55gr spire point, Accurate 2230 powder, CCI 400 primers.
I still need to do my ladder loads, but time is short (I have a class in 2 weeks and no access to a range to test my loads) so I had to do a quick function test on my test batches and settled on 23.5 grains of 2230 based on a “feel” as compared to M193 fired with it (loaded up a mag every other round my reloads at 23.8 grains). My reloads were a touch hotter so I backed it off. No overpressure signs, but I am not going to risk it.
Not the best way, and I am only doing up enough to get me through the class, then no more until I get to do the ladder testing with a crono and accuracy.
I’m assuming by ladder loads, you’re referring to stepping your grains up slowly and testing each step?
Obviously accuracy is going to be important (eventually), but for now I just want a reliable load that will send lead down range on 100 yards and closer. I think I’m going to stick with the 55gr. recipe page in the book and see what that brings me. When hunting season comes around, that will be a different story. My bbl is 1:7 twist, so that I can load some heavier game loads. That’s when I’ll focus on accuracy. I can’t wait to start reloading. I love shooting!
24.5 gr TAC with the 55gr fmjs works well