DHCraig
Member
Recently got in a batch of 62 grain FMJ bullets to reload for my ARs. This is my first experience with loading 62g bullets and I noticed some rather severe conflicts in my load data. Hodgdon's online data for H4895 w/ a 62 grain bullet lists a 21 grain minimum load (2740 fps @ 42,300 psi) and a 23 grain max (3004 fps @ 53,000 psi), yet my Lee Modern Reloading lists a load using a 63 grain jacketed bullet with a starting load of H4895 at 23.5 grains (2831 fps) and a max of 25.5 grains (3078 fps @ 50,000 cup). Clearly there is an issue with someone's data.
To add to the confusion, Hodgdon's online data also lists a 62 grain jacketed bullet load using IMR 3031 as 20.3 grains to start (2700 fps @ 43,500 psi) with a 22 grain max (2940 fps @ 53,100 psi), whereas Lee Modern Reloading lists not only a 63 grain jacketed bullet with IMR 3031 at 21 grain minimum (2737 fps) up to 23.3 max (3018 fps @ 53,000 psi), but also a 69 grain jacketed bullet load using IMR 3031 at 21 grains start (2707 fps) and 22.5 grains max (2906 fps @ 52,800 psi). Seems to be an even bigger issue here...
Though I plan to query both Hodgdon and Lee, I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has experience using either powder in .223/5.56 with a 62 grain bullet. I suspect the Hodgdon data has been intentionally reduced, but then the reason I've never had anything worse than a 12 gauge squib since I started reloading in 1985 is that I don't rely on assumptions...
To add to the confusion, Hodgdon's online data also lists a 62 grain jacketed bullet load using IMR 3031 as 20.3 grains to start (2700 fps @ 43,500 psi) with a 22 grain max (2940 fps @ 53,100 psi), whereas Lee Modern Reloading lists not only a 63 grain jacketed bullet with IMR 3031 at 21 grain minimum (2737 fps) up to 23.3 max (3018 fps @ 53,000 psi), but also a 69 grain jacketed bullet load using IMR 3031 at 21 grains start (2707 fps) and 22.5 grains max (2906 fps @ 52,800 psi). Seems to be an even bigger issue here...
Though I plan to query both Hodgdon and Lee, I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has experience using either powder in .223/5.56 with a 62 grain bullet. I suspect the Hodgdon data has been intentionally reduced, but then the reason I've never had anything worse than a 12 gauge squib since I started reloading in 1985 is that I don't rely on assumptions...