Using RL-15 for the .223 - 24hourcampfire

I'm looking for load data for Hornady 55gr flat base SPs using RL-15. I have a 16" barreled AR. Powder is iffy and my wife found some RL-15 out of state. I wish I could find TAC but these days I'm lucky to find any powder.

Here's what QuickLOAD computes. It looks as though you won't get a good clean burn...at least according to this software. Who knows, though...it may work better than projected. Please do not regard this as you would published data, it is only a guideline!

Code

Cartridge          : .223 Rem. (SAAMI)
Bullet             : .224, 55, Hornady SP 2265
Useable Case Capaci: 26.666 grain H2O = 1.731 cm�
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.260 inch = 57.40 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-15

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-20.0   88    21.60   2616     836   27289   5707     80.5    1.319
-18.0   90    22.14   2684     880   29236   5911     82.0    1.283
-16.0   92    22.68   2753     925   31322   6112     83.6    1.249
-14.0   94    23.22   2822     972   33571   6308     85.0    1.215
-12.0   97    23.76   2891    1021   35996   6499     86.5    1.182
-10.0   99    24.30   2960    1070   38615   6684     87.8    1.147
-08.0  101    24.84   3030    1121   41444   6863     89.2    1.112
-06.0  103    25.38   3100    1174   44505   7034     90.4    1.078
-04.0  105    25.92   3170    1227   47822   7198     91.6    1.045  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0  108    26.46   3241    1283   51405   7352     92.7    1.013  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0  110    27.00   3311    1339   55257   7496     93.8    0.982  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0  112    27.54   3382    1397   59430   7630     94.8    0.952  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0  114    28.08   3453    1456   63960   7753     95.7    0.924  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0  116    28.62   3523    1516   68889   7863     96.5    0.896  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0  119    29.16   3594    1578   74259   7961     97.2    0.869  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0  121    29.70   3665    1641   80125   8044     97.9    0.843  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by � 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba    110    27.00   3498    1494   67005   7609     98.6    0.907  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba    110    27.00   3076    1156   44289   7034     85.5    1.080

Thanks for the info. If it doesn't get a clean burn it probably isn't a good idea to use it in a gas gun?

I'm not sure the % burn would have much to do with how dirty your gas system gets, you could try it and find out. If you don't like the Re15 you should be able to swap it for something else easily enough. I haven't seen Re15 available for a long, long time and I know there's lots of folks who would love to get their hands on some.

It works GREAT in a gas gun! Start with about 25gr.

It may not be the velocity champion, but it will shoot bugholes with a 50-55gr bullet.

Thanks for the input! If it doesn't work out my son has a .308 and uses RL-15. Anyone close to the Bass Pro at Myrtle Beach, SC, they have several different IMR and RL selections. I'm not sure what they have as my wife was reading them off on the phone to me. I was wanting TAC or CFE 223 (good luck right?). The sad thing is I saw 2 cans of TAC on a shelf a while back and passed on it because I didn't have the AR then and thought it was wrong to buy it since the only cartridge I had that could have used it then was my 350 mag.

Dad, the H-4895 is also a good, clean burning powder with 55gr bullets in 223 in my experience. Probably won't go through a powder measurer worth a blue monkey flip though.

Post script, if I couldn't find TAC, I'd try to find Hodgdon Benchmark.

I'll second the Benchmark idea, and I'll also say I've used H4895 with 60-grain Partitions and seen excellent results. I haven't tried it with 55-grain bullets, though. I have used Benchmark with 50-grain V-Max and Ballistic Tips and that worked real well for me in a bolt-action .223. Benchmark meters nicely, too.

For the ranges that 55gr bullets are used, it doesn't matter if a powder meters well or not. Varget, for instance, will pile them all into tiny groups even if the charges vary +-.2 or .3 gr.

I have had great results from RL-15 pushing 68 gr HPBTs in my 223 bolt gun. It's a little slow for 55s (you're more likely to run out of case capacity than hit pressure signs) but I am sure it'll function beautifully for ya.

I haven't had issues w/ metering; it flows well enough.

BLC-2 is another that may be worth trying?

Never used RL15 in the 223, but it's just magic in a 22-250 or 22BR.

I use it with 75 amax's...55's get Benchmark!