Does anyone have some favorite loads for this cartridge?

I've been reloading certain cartridges for many years now and been saving brass for this for a while now. I separated the domestic .223 stuff from what I believe to be military 5.56mm but being somewhat lazy it would be nice to load it all up the same way. I've already cleaned it all and started reaming the primer crimps out.

I believe I know most of the differences between the two, just looking for a decent load to work up to that will work in both cases. I'm not trying to wring the absolute most performance out of them. Only looking to reduce the cost of my weekend plinking. The rifles I have are all chambered for 5.56mm.

Same brass, slightly different chambers. The problem with loading mixed headstamp brass is that different cases have different volumes. Different volumes give different preasures, this means different velocities for the same bullet. That isn't to say that you can't load them the same but they may have different group sizes or points of impact at range.

A mid weight charge with a 55 grain to 65 grain bullet will give you good perfomance for plinking or three gun. The problem with loading a max charge is that in one headstamp it may be a max charge, in one it may be below max, and in one it may be over pressure.

For example 24 grains of Varget may be good in a Winchester Case with a 77 SMK but in a Lapua it mat be over pressure. 25 grains H335 in most cases with a 52 to 55 grain bullet is pretty sane. Of course check your particular components first.

My go to loads are 24 grains of Varget with a CCI primer and a 77 SMK in a WCC case and 25 grains of H335 in either a PMC or Lake City case and Wolf Small Magnum primer, so far loaded with 52 SMK's or 55 Varmint Nightmare Extreme.

I understand what you're saying. Like I said, I'm not looking for max performance, just inexpensive plinking food.

The American Rifleman did an article on this a while back. It seems the author had a load worked up that was satisfactory in all of his used brass. That's kind of what I'm looking for.

Thanks for your reply.

Try 25.5 gr Win 748 under some 55 gr TMJ's with SRP's. Mild enough to not be concerned about different cases, strong enough to cycle an AR action. Relatively accurate in my S&W MP 15.

My wife is the 5.56 shooter in this house.....I however am the 5.56 hand loader that churns out her ammo

24 grns of WC844 under 55 Horn BTFMJ is her steel plate 50 yard combo

55 grainers is what I have because they're cheap. And I have some 748 I need to use up also.

I have a stash of LC brass that I'll save for something better, maybe some accuracy loads with a heavier bullet.

I'm making a note of the data here. Appreciate it.