reloader 15 vs AR COMP for 223/556 AR 16" barrel

[Kaiser Mike]

I've tried H335 and aa2520.
Nosler 55 varmegedden's, hornady 68gr and 75gr bthp match.
Fully processed FC brass. Range pick up and once fired personal.

H335 was stupid good with the 55's. CTC .355" using On Target software. One ragged hole for 5 shots at 50 yds.
68gr with same 24gr load is .73. Ok. not great. About the same with 23gr with 75gr bullet. Ok. Not great.

aa2520? just....no.

I'm wanting to shrink these heavy groups. I'm looking at RL15 and AR COMP.

Suggestions on both please? For what its worth, i'm in Dallas area. could be hunting hogs in anywhere from 40 to 90 degree weather.
I'm wanting penetration to make sure the hog goes down.

Thanks for your time.

[antlad]

I wouldn't recommend a varmint or match type bullet for hogs unless they are head shots. Look into the Barnes TSX In 53 - 70 grains, these are much better suited for hogs and deer. I've had good results with tac, Cfe223, h335, rl15 and ar comp.
Your rifle specs and good brass prep/handloading practices will be a big factor in your quest for super tight groups.

[Kaiser Mike]

Thanks for the reply.
I had planned for head shots. Anything else may end up in a rather miffed piggy. I've just been looking at the barnes mentioned.
Its been told to me before that hogs are almost "armored". Thats why i was thinking about the match bullets.
This will be my first hog hunt when i get the loads figured.

[ww2farmer]

IMR4895 is a very good and often overlooked powder for heavy .223 bullets. It's not fancy, nor the "latest and greatest" but it's very good, often more readily available than Varget, and versatile. I think it burns cleaner and cooler in my AR's than ball type powder too, but that could just be me seeing things. Since I load for M1 Garand's and M1a's, I always have a lot of IMR4895 around, and have used it in 223 for 50,53, 55, 62, and 69 grain bullets, and while I get better results on paper with the 50-55 grain bullets with CFE223, H335 and BL-C(2)............I get better results (on paper) with the 62 and 69 grain bullets with IMR4895 (and BL-C2 for that matter) than H335. I have not tried CFE223 with any thing other than light bullets....yet.
23 grains of IMR4895 behind a 69 grain Hornaday BTHP in LC brass with CCI 400 SRP is a mighty fine shooting and economical "accuracy load" for me. I doubt it would ever win any contests, but it's pretty good if I am doing my part behind the rifle AND at the loading bench with brass prep, etc...

[markm]

RL15 is notoriously temp sensitive. It has it's loyal following, but I won't buy it. I THINK AR Comp is RE's attempt to make a powder that has a hint of temp sensitivity, but I'm not sure. I'm a fan of the faster burning Benchrest rooted powders like H322, XBR, and LT-32. They work well with light and heavy bullet weights.

[Tigereye]

I like XBR with 77gr bullets but haven't tried the ones you listed. I've had good luck with 335, TAC, and XBR.

[Falar]

RL15 is notoriously temp sensitive. It has it's loyal following, but I won't buy it. I THINK AR Comp is RE's attempt to make a powder that has a hint of temp sensitivity, but I'm not sure. I'm a fan of the faster burning Benchrest rooted powders like H322, XBR, and LT-32. They work well with light and heavy bullet weights.

Seeing as AR Comp is also a double-base powder (but spherical vs extruded) I don't see how it could possibly be any less temperature sensitive.

[Kaiser Mike]

Thanks for the info folks.
Unfortunately, I caught a deal on 15 tonight prior to seeing these. 25 bucks per pound. I think i'll pick up some 4895 as well. They had the same price.
Might just get some of the others as well. Part of the fun is finding new loads. I mean really, when you find a new good load do you just want to do that all the time LOL?
Pursuit of perfection. Thats why i shoot.

On h335, yall are dead on. Thats stuff sends my 55gr varmageddons with sweet groups. I only got those when i did for the price and they were out of bthp's.
24gr h335 55gr varm.jpg

[ww2farmer]

Speaking of 55gr Varmageddons..................I have to say, since I was the one who mentioned IMR4895.............I don't like that combo. I loaded up a bunch of them with CFE223, BL-C(2), and the IMR4895, and was less than impressed with the 4895 loading. I'll have to check my notes, but I think I put them over 25 grains of all 3 powders, all with cci 400 SRP, all seated to 2.190", and all in LC14 brass, and the CFE223 loaded test batch was by far the best, the BL-C(2) was nothing to get excited about, but not terrible.............the 4895 batch was no better than off the shelf ball plinking ammo. The Varmageddon bullets performed much better with IMR4895 when I dropped the charge down to 22 grains, which is a favorite short indoor range plinking load charge for me with bulk 55gr FMJ bullets with that powder. But it's semi-weak, not so weak it won't function an AR and lock the bolt back on an empty mag kinda weak, but it's also not a load I would want to waste the powder and bullet on if I had the choice.

[Kaiser Mike]

That sounds like me and aa2520. So far, of the 3 bullets i've tried, its good to send them down the barrel fast but not for crap when it comes to making groups.