Making mixed case rifle ammo

[becker_atc]

So I don't have a ton of the same head stamp 223/556 and want to create a general plinking/unwanted farm critter load using the 400+ 55gr sp bullets I have around.

The rifle shoots sub moa with my 60gr nosler handloads and almost moa with lc 55 gr stuff

My question is can I expect to get reasonable accuracy out of a run of mixed case ammo?

I feel if I could get 2" groups or less at 100y I would be happy. That's minutes of armadillo!


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[swampratt]

A gun for armadillo!!!
That ain't sporty at all

I tried just what you want to do with my .308.. I took my best load and prepped Remington , Federal, Winchester .308 brass and tossed in some Remington 270 brass that i made into .308.
Loaded the accuracy hunting load i had and went to the range.
I fired off all rounds as quick as i could. single loading them , shooting at 100 yards.

The group was 1.100" and made like a candy cane shape each shot touching the next one.

I did it another time and same result but the candy cane was backwards.. that left me scratching my head.?

Over 16gr difference in case weight and some were fired 1x and some 3x fired cases.
So for MOA of bean can is easy with mixed cases.. sometimes.

 

[becker_atc]

So next time if makes a fish hook will you be really confused?

For armadillos it's war. What ever is handy I think has been used good heavy stick to a shovel to a 300 win mag.... I'm equal opportunity!!


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[swampratt]

I have eaten many of them critters so i prefer my hands..I am getting older now 46
but i can still run one down snatch him up by the tail and smash him on his head..
Sorry .. shovel may work well also LOL!
300 may only leave bird and ant food though....

Have you not loaded a mixed batch and shot for a good group yet?
I got to chasing that one hole deal.
Found that my tightest 100 yard load was NOT my tightest 200-300 yard.
just about quit shooting at 100 yards

 

[Blitzfike]

I load and shoot mixed mil surp brass in 223 for use in my bolt gun. I have a standard load that I use in all of it, and it all performs well for me. I can ring the top of a T post at 180 yards from a rest consistently with it. That's seconds of armadillo in my book...

 

[becker_atc]

Not yet but going to load some test groups up for the next range trip. Trying to figure out if worth the effort

I got to shoot out to 400 yards last weekend and I'm hooked but 9/10 times shots vermin and plinking are under 100


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[dennishoddy]

Unless your shooting bulls eye, or bench rest, mixed head stamp brass is ok.

The 5.56 brass is a little thicker, so if your going for compressed loads like I use, you'll hear a little crunching, but it doesn't hurt anything.

I'm shooting with an AR. I have three in the .223 or 5.56, they all shoot just about the same. I'm not a paper puncher. Not steady enough, but I can hold a fair group with my loads.

If your into max accuracy, you will want to separate your brass by head stamp, and if its original cal was .223, or 5.56.

Size them to the same length, etc, to make a consistent case. Then its up to the powder/primer/bullet combo.

 

[technetium-99m]

Mixed case blasting ammo can easily be 1-2 inch at 100 stuff.

 

[becker_atc]

This is all good to hear. My loads I took on a hog hunt (that never got used :/ ) I prepped all the same cases and trimmed and all the other stuff. I got .850 at 100 with them and called it good for now till I get more 60 gr partitions.

For rifle stuff I've never used mixed head stamp since never had much that I shot in volume except my garand. Maybe I'll get a couple test batches ready for the next time I sneak off to the range


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[Blitzfike]

One bit of advice, get a case gauge and use it to verify that your sizing die is putting the shoulder at the correct place. You can also use it to verify that range brass hasn't had the shoulder pushed back as well. Here is a link to one.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/456614/le-wilson-case-length-headspace-gage-223-remington