Reloading .223 in AR-15 Platform

I'll soon start reloading for an AR chambered in .223/5.56 Wylde. I built it with a Nordic 18" 1:8 twist barrel. Have some CFE-223, BLC-2, and H380 laying around. This rifle will be used mainly for hunting purposes, so will want to start load development with a hunting bullet, not match. I'd also like to get my wife behind this rifle one day, possibly for deer (I know, not ideal, but CAN be done). With all this said, do you think 65-80 grain bullets would stabilize out of this setup? I see it being used 80% for coyotes, 15% for target, and 5% for deer. Range likely not to exceed 300 on any game.

I really haven't shot it much over the last couple years, but remember that it shoots 55gr factory ammo just "ok".

Heavier bullets should be fine in a 1:8 twist. Longer bullets may cause issues with magazine fitment and feeding but I think you'll be okay in the 70-80 grain range.

Last year my 9 year old grandson killed a deer with my AR. I loaded some 60 grain nosler partitions for it. Worked fine

Does it pay to try to find optimal seating length? Or just start at max mag length (as long as it still fits the chamber) and go with it?

Unless you want to use it as a single shot dont go longer than will feed

I find CBTO for everything I reload and note it. If it's a mag fed then I'll go down from there till it with mag cycle but I still fell it's good to do. So far my CBTO has been below mag length.
Here how I do it

Jump to around the 7:00 mark

Thanks everyone for the replies. I spent some time last night working with my O.A.L. gauge and caliper, only to find the throat much more generous than the mag length. Since I don't want to single-feed each round, I guess I'll just load to mag length and call it a day.

My plan going forward is this: I've got more 55gr Nosler Varmageddon bullets than any other .224 bullets, so I'll start load development with them. Looks like I'll likely start with CFE223 and see how she shoots.

THE MAGAZINE WILL DETERMINE MAX SEATING DEPTH!!! Unless u want a single shot!

2.260" is my max for reliability and accuracy.

I have always let the Magazine determine length , at no point did the Mag allow a longer than chamber round in any AR platform I have had.

start by measuring the shortest magazine you own , for me these were magpul when you know the max you can get in your shortest mag , figure in some clearance. check the manual for recommended length and you should be able to find a length at or longer than book recommended and short enough to feed in mags.

deer are killed fine by a 223 even a 55gr , the issue is blood trail , you are very unlikely to get one .

something with a better construction that will stay together and give pass though with out just making an FMJ hole like a 62gr barns triple shock might be a good place to start. 1:8 should have no problem stabilizing that

I can tell you the 55gr soft point Hornady , kill deer but you better be able to see them run for 25-50 yards because there will not be one drop of blood to follow

I'll second the 62 TSX choice from Pete .... it does make the 223 a legit deer round and even hogs will not go far when hit with them. The bog plus to use that caliber for hunting is that practicing with it does not break the bank and does not tend to get folks to flinch either. That improves shot placement by no small margin.

I went thru what ur about too 5yrs ago. Std .223 1/9 twist 16"bbl. Tried 50-75gr, all 3 of those powders, and with AR platform it don't only have to be accurate like a bolt gun but it has to cycle too. Ended up with Varget as powder and 68gr Hornady hp. Started out at 7"groups at 200yds and ended with less than 2". Had better groups yet with 75gr but had to shoot as single shot! (Bullet goes way back in case).

My new upper has a 18" ss barrel in Wylde chamber, shoots both .223 and 5.56

Well, I was able to test out the 55gr. Varmageddon bullets using CFE223. Think I found a load that might be worth looking into a bit more - shot about an inch at 100 yards. Also, I might want to look at a different scope. The Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x has a crosshair that almost covers up a 1" target at 100 yards...hard to get tight groups when your crosshair covers 1 MOA

you can change the target to a diamond/square on point then the cross hairs hit the 4 points

sometimes a bigger target and or less magnification actually makes better groups

holding a 12 inch steel on 2X at 200 yards just holding the middle my group surprised me when I went up and looked I had known I was hitting the plate , when I got up to the target I was surprised to have about a 1 1/2 inch group in the center of the plate right where I had been holding

when on max magnification sometimes you compensate for wiggle you wouldn't see to try and compensate for at a lower magnification

when it comes time for deer hunting running a lower magnification and watching the deer in the scope is good , you need to watch it run off and remember which direction , you likely will not have a blood trail.

55gr can kill a deer fast but it may run 25-50 yards before it realizes it's lungs and organs are jelly and collapse mine made it 25 yards , just out of sight , behind some cedars i could hear it crash to the ground in the dry leaves.

The 223 wylde was developed for long range work shooting heavy bullets out of the AR platform loaded longer than mag length and fired single shot. It is a generously cut 223 chamber with a long throat. the heavies take up alot of powder room for bullet storage, 60 gr partitions do well on deer and hogs, 55 gr bullets work well for coyotes, I like H322, H335 powders in the 223.