If you check Hodgdon's site, you should find yourself right at their recommended max for a 55gr bullet.
Is the OAL on your load based on the rifling of your gun, or an arbitrary length you chose or read? My 223's all use a much longer OAL, with the exception of those to be loaded in my AR15 mag (max cartridge length 2.26").
But if it shoots well, then you may have the optimum OAL!

In my 22" barreled m700 LVSF, 24.5 grs. Benchmark behind a 55 gr. Hornady SXSP gives me an avg. velocity of 3190 fps and .75" for 5 shots. WSR primer.

TB