Factory ammo load data

[PHATINJUN]

I have found some factory .223 45g JHP remington UMC ammo that shoots very good from one of my guns and am wondering how to find out what powder and charge they are using any one know how to go about this? Kurt

[quickdtoo]

You can pull a bullet and weigh the powder, but ascertaining the powder type is a bit harder. You could try powders with similar appearance using data for that powder for the 223 to see how close it comes to that performance if you can determine what bullet they're using. Sometimes the bullets they use in factory ammo aren't available to us tho, so then you're right back to just working up a load with components and data from published sources.

Tim

[Luckyducker]

Don't waste your time on this endeavor.  I tried to find factory ammo data from the Big Green 338RUM and you'd thought they were defending Ft. Knox or something.  Not only would they not share their data but they wouldn't even discuss anything about making their ammo. Period

[jhalcott]

  The BIG ammo companies get powder in train loads. They have equipment to test the powders that we reloaders will never see. The mix and blend the stuff to get a NON canister grade of powder that is SAFE in the brass they use. The Manuals are produced through a LOT of experimenting with commercial CANISTER grade components. Asking for powder data from them is like asking  a head chef to give you HIS recipees for the dinner you just ate.

[Old Syko]

This is a question I see asked all the time, especially when dealing with military ammo.  Be it military or commercial ammo, I just don't get the fascination.  If you are a reloader and have the equipment and access to components as we all do, you have the potential to develop loads that will exceed the quality of these existing loads strictly for your own purpose.  To strive to exceed the general purpose specifications of bulk manufacturers has been my goal since I started loading. Otherwise when you consider the cost of equipment, components, your time, etc. you're better off just buying the offered products and calling it good.  You should have no problem what-so-ever developing a load that will exceed the UMC stuff that's sold 200 rounds to a box at walmart for cheap.  I would suggest a 50gr. V-Max over some H335 or WW748 for starters.  Your starter loads will probably equal or exceed the UMC and be cheaper also.

[PHATINJUN]

Thanks Quick thats kind of what I was looking at this is the 15" encore bbl that has the welded extension on it so that I can put a butt stock on it I have worked up some very good loads for my fluted 204 and the bull 223 but continue to struggle with this 1-12 twist bbl  so much that I found these UMC 45 shoot great and bought several boxes for PD hunt but want to try and figure it out when I return . I probly should of been more specific in what I am trying to figure out I know I can't get the powder that the factory uses . Kurt

[SneakyPete]

If you can get a hold of a corny to measure how fast the bullet is traveling, then find a load that matches the speed would be a starting point.

[mdi]

I understand the question. And sometimes you jus' wanna know!

90% of all my reloading is info from Reloading manuals. For safety's sake I don't experiment too much. I'll work up loads for a cartridge and never go over max. listed loads. I can get most all info for reloading a specific cartridge from reloading manuals. I get some wild ideas sometimes and am extremely careful when I work them up ( I once wanted to know if powder held in place with a cardboard wad had any effect on .44 mag. loads). Most of the time I'll ask a question JUST TO GET INFORMATION something, not necessarily use that info for anything. Like what do they make those blue dots from in Blue Dot Powder?