BL-C[2] loads for .223 and .308

Just bought some to,but have not had a chance to reload with it yet. Will be reloading for a M1A!:texas:

 

I use 26.5 gr under 55gr FMJ for 223.
I've got so much 308 milsurp ammo, that I haven't reloaded 308 in years. Sorry, no recipes for that.

:texas:

 

I use 27.0 gr. of BLC-2 for 55 gr. FMJ. That gave me an average of 3,093 FPS out of an 18" barrel last time I chronoed it. BLC-2 drops much more consistently than Varget out of my powder measure. Planning on using it for most everything from now on.

 

I agree, BL-C(2) meters better than anything else I have tried.

In my 16" AR I got great accuracy with several different head stamps in the range of 25.5 grains (from about 24.8 up to 26.2) with 55 grain V-Max Moly bullets.

Range brass: Remington, Lake City, Federal, Winchester, S&B.

Each head stamp wanted a different charge though.

They all shot well under 1 MOA.

 

Be very careful when using mixed headstamp brass. Military headstamped 5.56 brass is much thicker than .223 commercial brass. A safe load with commercial brass is likely to be VERY unsafe in 5.56 cases.

Similar caveat for the .308/7.62 X 51 brass

BLC-2 is a very good easily metered powder very appropriate for .223 and .308. Work up you load using normal procedures. Any time you change a component (especially the case) you must work up a new load.

5.56 brass runs long when new/unfired. If you get some that has ben fired through a belt fed gun (M-249) or a loosely chambered M-16, it will be over length after the first firing. All 5.56 brass should be trimmed before the first reloading and carefully checked everytime it is reloaded.

 

Speaking of pressure.

I recommend buying a firearm chambered in 5.56 mm rather than in .223 caliber, especially if you want to be able to shoot surplus ammo safely. (I would say cheap surplus ammo, but I ain't seen none of that in a while!)

The pressure standard for 5.56 mm is higher than the standard for .223, so a barrel marked 5.56 mm might be able to withstand more pressure than one marked .223 caliber. (Nothing says that a manufacturer can not make his .223 caliber barrel just as strong as a 5.56 mm barrel, and it has been said that some do, and that might be right, but some might not.)

It is the other way around with .308 caliber.

Our .308 Winchester caliber is a higher pressure standard than the European NATO 7.62 mm standard. The .308 Winchester standard is about 10% higher!