after shooting around 150 factory ammo, i've decided to join this fantastic world of reloading, bought few components, cleaned, resized my brasses and primed.Now I am about to reload my first batch and I am lost!
I have Lee modern reloading (2nd edition), I've looked at the ADI website but I can't find what a start load should be!
I have:
- Rifle: Tikka t3x 1:12 twist in 223 Rem
Powder : Benchmark 2
Projectile: Hornady V-max 55 grain (i've got few good groups at the range with different factory ammo)
Primers: CCI small rifle
Bench Mark 2 BENCHMARK IMR3031 AA2015
But from the Lee reloading manual,
- 55grain jacked bullet BENCHMARK powder to load 24 grain
- 55grain jacked bullet IMR3031 powder to load 21.6 grain
wait a minute, didn't ADI said that those powders are equivalent? is V-max a jacked bullet?
From ADI website http://www.adiworldclass.com.au/data-ri ... -56-x-45mm
for some reason does not show any load data for Hornady V-max 55grain so I have to choose other bullet type as:
Bullet Powder Starting Maximum
55 GR. Barnes TSX FB Bench Mark 2 20.0 grain 2885 fps 47600 psi 22.2 grain 3066 fps 52200 psi
55 GR. Sinterfire Bench Mark 2 21.0 grain 2903 fps 42600 psi 23.4 grain 3128 fps 51000 psi
55 GR. Speer SP Bench Mark 2 24.0 grain 3113 fps 42600 cup 25.6 grain 3264 fps 50000 cup
I look at those projectiles above and they look completely different from the V-max..not too sure which to pick up...
if I start with 20grain i am afraid I could be undercharging my ammos and create a big pressure issue ... talking of which...
why does ADI website list both 223 and 5.56 in the same page for reloading data: 223 and 5.56 are virtually identical the biggest difference between the two is that 5.56x45mm ammunition is loaded to a significantly higher pressure than the 223!
any comments would be greatly appreciated! happy shooting!