5.56 AR Only Loads

#501
Does seating pressure really matter anymore?

This is about load data. If you want to argue about your preferred reloading product go do it somewhere else. The rest of us remain unimpressed.
 
#505
I used 27.0gr of BLC2 under 55gr FMJBTs as my hoser load back in the day. I was getting 2900fps in an 18" DD and 2550fps from a 10.3" Colt 6945, both unsuppressed. I've since moved to Win 748 for my blasting ammo as I found 32lbs of it cheaper than BLC2 at one point, but I'd go back to BLC2 if I came across a deal on a bunch of powder.
 
#507
All Velocities taken with a Garmin Xero

Lake City 1x fired brass
CCI #41
23.8 TAC
77gr SMK
2640fps sd 12

Lake City 1x Fired Brass
CCI 450
24.6 Varget
73 Gr. Berger
2572fps sd 16

Lake City 1x Fired Brass
CCI 41
24.6 Varget
73 gr. ELDM
2550 fps sd 18.1

Full length sizing in hornady match grade dies with a .244 bushing and expander ball (I know it negates the bushing but in my semi autos it makes the bullets shoot better?) no crimp (measured OAL's and the bullets havent moved more than .001), annealing/size/trim/chamfer/deburr. Groups/Velocity out of a 16 inch WOA SPR Barrel with a can on it. 100 degrees 40% humidity for velocity. Reloading conditions were 95 degrees 10% humidity. Being relegated to the garage to reload in the summer is no joke. These groups have been consistenly Sub MOA but varying on group size (10 shot groups of .56 all the way up to .9) based on the time of day i get out to the range. For my usages (engaging out to 800y and still being able to burn it down up close) they work very well and I am confident that I am going to get an impact when I pull the trigger.
 
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#509
I weighed a bunch, and they were so damn close, if off at all.

That was for 308. So I just sorted the LC 5.56 out and assumed. Couldn't be certain. I hand load basic stuff for 5.56, nothing too precision oriented. I save all that effort for bigger and better stuff
 
#510
Good to know. Now i can just throw all the LC in the same pile. I weighed all of my different 556/223 headstamps from different manufacturers and they were all within .3gr of each other.

I loaded a handful of the various assortment and I would always get the random flyer that would open groups up to about 1 moa. Sorted by headstamp and groups were consistently in the .75 moa range. Good enough for my uses.
 
#511

That seems a tad low velocity wise using Varget with 73 gr. ? . I looked in MY ledger and I'm running 75 gr. at 2780-2840 with 24.4-24.8

Book says 2907 at 25.0 C with 75's . Don't use TAC or CCi primers ,so ??.
 
#512
I definitely sort headstamps for precision rounds in the ar.

I run all I can of that stamp and when I run out the next stamp needs checked for powder but not a full ladder test.

I go .3g up and down from previous load in 0.1g if the exact same load didn't work.

Sometimes you get lucky and the same load works.

If you have an E C tuner brake many times a small adjustment will bring that "standard load " right back in without changing anything else with several headstamps.

Some days you can tune it in and not change poi and get the same group. Other times group can be dialed in but the poi is off by a click or two? I never figured that out but not a problem.

Barrel harmonics never cease to amaze me. The smallest of changes and you have to do the dance again.

Note: I also run all my brass in a mandrell. That really made a measurable difference when switching between brass.
 
#515
Yeah I'm higher VL also for the spicy 5.56 loads.
Worked up based on Western Powders 5.56 load data I'm getting 2570 from the 73 eldm in a 10.5" barrel using Tac. Now that is loaded longer than std where the 73eldm gets happy, but still that's cooking from a 10.5". Nothing I've tried has come close to Tac in the shorty. TAC is beating GRT's predictions by 150-200fps in the short barrel. In 16"-18" barrels Lever wins the speed contest. AA2520 has given me the best combination of speed + accuracy. Staball Match give up about 1/4 moa in accuracy, but is temp stable.

My most Accurate MK262 clone load uses AA2520 with 77SMK @2758 from 18" 8T wylde chamber.

 
#518
My rifle loved AA2520 but I settled with varget and tac. I have pushed TAC with a 77smk at 2800fps with the LC brass and CCI41’s (I think I was at 24.8gr or something) but i was getting deeper smears than I was ok with. Accuracy was still great. I just like varget because it’s more stable but due to its price hike I really want to try N140 with the 77’s. I love those Berger bullets the smell from the packaging smells amazing to me.
 
#519
What is a good velocity to aim for with a 62gr fmj in a wylde chamber, 16"?
Would that speed be reachable with AR Comp?
Trying to come up with a blaster load but will still do some load dev to see if I can shrink groups at all.
 
#523
I'd have to double check, but I think I'm shooting H322 under the same bullet from a dpms bull barrel varmint upper that I cut down to 20"
I can't remember the velocity but it shot a ½" (three shot) group at 200 yards. Standing, off a BBQ pit, with a fortune cookie thrown on top.

Yeah yeah I know. Statistically speaking that's not proof of anything. But it seems to have held up. It's been the demise of lots of crows, a couple bobcats and some other things that like to eat chickens.
 
#524
My thought is 322 is extreme extruded series and would be more temp stable than 335. Probably not a ton of luck finding it though. I may look at benchmark or N133/N135.
 
#526
Special 6 twist, 95 gr SMK , cut out mags, trimmed cases LC brass 1.712" feed from mag 2.345" COAL
21.9 gr AA2520 2443 fps 10.7 S/D.
22.0 gr AA 2520 2460 fps 10.7 S/D.
22.3 gr AA 2520 2516 fps too hot for LC brass ejector marks.
 
#531
I think I’m going to get some of the VV140 & some ARCOMP to test with the 73 grain ELDX then. Do you suppose the Starline Brass has more case capacity than new Lake City 5.56?

Thank you
 
#539
Anyone have data or insight into how different years of LC brass behave if you mix them? I have a pile of ‘21 and a great load with n140 that is “precision” enough for me but the pile dwindles the more I shoot. If I buy more lc brass with a different headstamp, any odds I’ll see a difference on paper due to the brass difference alone?
 
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#544

Started with a couple hundred assorted factory and all shot under moa. Tested 73 eldm, 75 bthp, 77 smk, and 77 tmk. Eldm shoots best followed by smk. 75 bthp shot worst at over an inch with tmk in between bthp and smk. Was not hard to find a good load.
 
#545
I can second chasing my tail with a WOA barrel. I have probably a few hundred on it now and finally found a load that shot with 75gr bthp and AR Comp. 77s shot pretty well too but not just any load, I had to do some load dev for sure. I would say stop removing the copper for a bit if you are when cleaning.
 
#546
Seems those WOA barrels can be picky. I found mine likes pills in the 69-70 gr area best (most times lol). It has done well with the 75’s and 77’s, pretty much the same average with all I guess. But it did take some work.
 
#550
Tested out some Varget/Hornady 75gr bthps with the 18" White Oak. 24grs, varying seating depths. Apparently seating depth matters with my barrel. Was getting some crunch with 24.0grs which was a little odd but maybe I need to shake the case a bit when throwing powder. Shoots nice though and being single base the barrel stays significantly cooler vs. AR Comp I notice. 24grs of Varget gets me about the same velocity at 22.7gr of AR Comp. AR Comp measures better, less bridging. Trade offs
 
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