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AR 15 loads

ChetStafford
Will an AR handle .223 bolt gun loads? Or is the action not recommended for bolt gun pressures?

It is a dpms lower with a rock river upper with a wilson barrel 24" 1-8 twist
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Comments

15 comments

Date Votes
  • dcs shooters
    If you are asking about factory loads, yes. If hand loads.probably. You should not load over max pressure for anything [;)]
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  • ChetStafford
    I never exceed max loads I have always heard that semi-auto's could not take max loads.
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  • jonk
    Depends on the semi auto. Depends on the powder, bullet, etc.

    In short, any gun that will work in a semi auto will work in a bolt gun. The reverse is not necessarily true.
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  • Mobuck
    When you start jerking rims or case heads off, you're about 3 steps over what's safe. I'm not that experienced with AR reloading but I decided to be conservative until I learned more about them. I'm having good results staying 1-2 grains below listed max loads with a powder specifically designed for the .223. I don't intend to beatup an expensive piece of aluminum.
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  • Topkick
    What powder is specifically for the AR?
    Never heard of any.

    I reload and am curious?

    I use 24.5gr of IMR4895 in mine.

    Thanks!
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  • 5mmgunguy
    csjs1194 I do not believe the firearms industry has two different pressure levels for ammo...one for semi auto and one for bolt actions. A 223 is a 223 and can be fired in either.
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  • sandwarrior
    csjs1194,

    As noted previously, there is one SAAMI spec for .223 rounds. With a fast powder the AR rifle will handle safe loads from any bolt action. Remember how it works. The bolt-head is locked up while firing and doesn't come unlocked until the bullet is out of the barrel. Gas pressures from a fast burning powder have decreased enough that they should be safe to cycle the bolt.

    Topkick,

    I use 23.8 gr. of AA2015 behind a 60 gr. bullet. In normal temps that gives me about 2950 fps. The reason I use that is it burns faster and is cleaner. Back when I was first loading for my AR I was using 4895 too and I noted it was full of carbon when I got done. I was used to nasty dirty AR15's so I thought it couldn't be improved. That is until I tried my bolt gun load in it and it's much cleaner when I'm done firing. It's still a nasty dirty filthy pig compared to a bolt rifle for cleaning. Just not as bad as it used to be.
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  • Topkick
    Thanks sandwarrier!
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  • Eternal Sun 111666
    quote:Originally posted by Topkick
    What powder is specifically for the AR?
    Never heard of any.

    I reload and am curious?

    I use 24.5gr of IMR4895 in mine.

    Thanks!

    For my AR15 style weapon (Bushmaster and a Smith & Wesson; and for general plinking fun) I use 24.0 gr of Hodgdon H335; also I use 25.0 gr of Win 748; 55gr bullet; 1:9 twist barrel; assorted brass. I have had good luck with both loadings.
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  • 5mmgunguy
    sandwarrior, What kind of brass are you using with the AA2015 load...commercial, once fired military?
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  • Claimbuster
    I do not load anything up to the "melt down" point. Accuracy is far more important to me than bragging rights at the range that I have developed the first 5000 fps 223 load. Besides, I shoot a lot and I want to keep my barrels in reasonable condition as long as I can.

    This, in part, may be attributable to lowering testosterone levels associated with age. [:D][:D][:D]

    Therefore, many of my bolt action loads shoot very well in my AR's.
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  • Mobuck
    In answer to the question about what powder I refer to, AA2230. It evolved from AA223 which was intended for use in 5.56/223. It will work in many different cases but was originally meant to provide a full case reaching specified performance requirements.
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  • 5mmgunguy
    AA2230...how close is AA2015?
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  • dcs shooters
    With AA2230 you get a little less fps. and a little higher pressure.
    They are very close according to the chart.
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  • sandwarrior
    5mmgunguy,

    Sorry for the late reply to this, I wasn't paying attention to new posts on this.
    For my bolt gun it's all Winchester. For my AR it is all the stuff I can get cleaned and loaded. When working up an accuracy load I try to separate out LC...which I'm constantly running across at our range and picking up 50-100 pieces at a time. I load that and cycle the 1000 or so that I have already.
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