Re: Loads for .223- 5.56
An older post "Recipe (.223 77gr HPBT)"
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=54716
---------------
(Most info would be for 77gr HPBT, but other bullet wts are being added -Jicko 1/29/09)
I'm trying to develop a 223 Rem, 77gr load for the use in a 1x7 twist 18" SPR, the goal is to try to achieve Mk 262 -like performance at a reasonable cost. (I will experiment these load with my 1x7 16" M4 and with my 1x9 24" bull upper later too)
My first attempt will be with
Bullet: Nosler Custom Comp 77gr HPBT
Powder: RL15 or Ramshot TAC or VV N540
Primer: CCI #41 or #BR4
Brass: Fed 223 Rem or LC 05/06
If you have a recipe(for 77gr, or similar wt.) that you would like to share, please do. I can use as much references as I can get. Any numbers/info would be great - brand of bullet, HP? BT?, what powder, what loading wt.(gr), what primers, OAL, brass, velocity, barrel lenght, twist rate, accuracy, group size, etc...
I had done my homework, and I had consolidated(w/ links) all the info/data/numbers I had found from various sites. Some definitely provide more info than others. I am biased towards the powders/bullets that I had chosen. I may go plot these as graphs or such to investigate more, but here are what I have now, and I am sharing with you (standard disclaimer, use at your own risk):
--------------------------------------------
LOAD DATA FROM BULLETS & POWDER MANUF
--------------------------------------------
<span style="font-weight: bold">Nosler's website</span>
http://www.nosler.com/index.php?p=15&b=22%20Cal&s=6
Bullet: 77gr Nosler Custom Competition HPBT
Ballistic Coefficient: .340
Sectional Density: .219
Primer: ?
Brass: ?
OAL: ?
Trim-to: ?
Barrel: ?
Twist: 1x7
Powder: RL-15
22.5gr - 2487fps (86% density)
23.5gr - 2633fps (89% density)
24.5gr - 2741fps (93% density) <- most accurate out of this 3
Powder: VV N135
20.5gr - 2451fps (78% density) <- most accurate out of this 3
21.5gr - 2555fps (82% density)
22.5gr - 2664fps (86% density)
Powder: Varget
22.5gr - 2466fps (86% density) <- most accurate out of this 3
23.5gr - 2598fps (89% density)
24.5gr - 2693fps (93% density)
<span style="font-weight: bold">Sierra's website</span>
http://accurateshooter.net/Downloads/sierra223ar.pdf
Bullet: 77gr Sierra MatchKing HPBT
Ballistic Coefficient: .362 @ 1800fps+ / .343 @ 1800fps-
Sectional Density: .219
Primer: Rem 7 1/2
Brass: Fed
OAL: 2.260"
Trim-to: 1.750"
Barrel: 20" Colt HBAR
Twist: 1x7
Powder: Ramshot TAC
21.8gr - 2500fps
22.2gr - 2550fps
22.7gr - 2600fps
23.1gr - 2650fps
23.6gr - 2700fps
24.0gr - 2750fps
Powder: RL-15
22.3gr - 2400fps
23.2gr - 2500fps
23.6gr - 2550fps
24.1gr - 2600fps
Powder: VV N540
22.9gr - 2400fps
23.7gr - 2500fps
24.1gr - 2550fps
24.5gr - 2600fps
24.9gr - 2650fps
Powder: VV N140
22.3gr - 2400fps
23.2gr - 2500fps
23.6gr - 2550fps
24.1gr - 2600fps <- most accurate out of all tests (more in the pdf)
24.5gr - 2650fps
<span style="font-weight: bold">Alliant Powder's website</span>
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/R...mp;bulletid=446
Bullet: 77gr Sierra HPBT
Powder: 24.1gr RL15
Primer: Fed 205M
Brass: Win
OAL: 2.26
Barrel: 24"
Twist:?
Velocity: 2793fps
Pressure: 51200psi
<span style="font-weight: bold">Lapua/Vihtavuori Powder's website</span>
http://www.lapua.com/index.php?id=850
http://www.lapua.com/fileadmin/user_upload/esitteet/RifleReloadingData2006.pdf
Primer: Small Rifle
Brass: Lapua
Trim-to: 1.752"
Barrel: 25"
Twist: 1x7
Bullet: 69gr Sierra HPBT
OAL: 2.244"
Powder: 24.1gr N540 (min)
Velocity: 2703fps
Powder: 26.4gr N540 (max)
Velocity: 2986fps
Bullet: 75gr Hornady HPBT
OAL: 2.260"
Powder: 23.1gr N540 (min)
Velocity: 2536fps
Powder: 25.8gr N540 (max)
Velocity: 2831fps
Bullet: 80gr Sierra HPBT
OAL: 2.551"
Powder: 21.4gr N540 (min)
Velocity: 2395fps
Powder: 23.7gr N540 (max)
Velocity: 2652fps
<span style="font-weight: bold">Ramshot Powder's website</span>
http://www.ramshot.com/powders/
http://www.ramshot.com/powders/loadguide/Ramshot%20Edition%204.2.pdf
Bullet: 77gr Nosler HPBT
Primer: Fed 205
OAL: 2.260"
Barrel: 24"
Twist: 1x7 or 1x9
Powder: 21.2gr TAC (min)
Velocity: 2515fps
Powder: 23.5gr TAC (max)
Velocity: 2794fps
Pressure: 52500psi (max)
LOAD DATA FROM INDIVIDUALS
------------------------------
<span style="font-weight: bold">From ocabj</span> (on calguns):
Bullet: 77gr Nosler CC HPBT
Powder: 24.0gr RL15
Primer: CCI #BR4
Brass: LC
Barrel: 20"
Twist: 1x7
Velocity: 2740fps
Barrel: 18"
Twist: 1x7
Velocity: ~2650fps (unconfirmed, just a wild guess)
Bullet: Sierra Match King 77gr BTHP
Powder: 25.3gr Hodgdon Varget
Primer: Winchester SR Primer
Brass: LC
Barrel: 18" WOA SPR w/ Wylde chamber
Twist: 1x7
Velocity: 2788fps (avg from 5: 2772, 2797, 2793, 2798, 2779)
<span style="font-weight: bold">From thmpr</span> (on calguns):
Bullet: 77 grains Nosler
Powder: 25gr Ramshot TAC
OAL: 2.255" (probably inconsistant OAL, therefore, ES is high)
Barrel: 20" JP CTR-02
Twist: 1x8
Velocity: 2786fps (avg out of 10: 2821, 2786, 2832, 2800, 2799, 2745, 2781, 2776, 2796, 2720)
Powder: 24.8gr Ramshot TAC
Velocity: ?
Bullet: 77 grains Nosler
Powder: 25gr Ramshot TAC
OAL: 2.255"
Barrel: 20" JP CTR-02
Twist: 1x8
Velocity: 2798fps (avg out of 10: 2801, 2793, 2802, 2800, 2799, 2795, 2791, 2804, 2796, 2798)
ES: 13
(on ar15.com):
http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=206
Most likely 1x8 and 1x7 twist.
<span style="font-weight: bold">From billyhill</span>
Bullet: 77 gr Nosler CC HPBT
Powder: 23.7gr Hodgdon Varget
Primer: CCI #BR4
Brass: LC
Brass Trim: ?
OAL: ?
Barrel: 20"
Twist: ?
Velocity: 2786fps
ES: ?
SD: 16fps
<span style="font-weight: bold">From overdriv</span>
Bullet: 77 gr Sierra MatchKing HPBT
Powder: 23.9gr Alliant RL15
Primer: WSR
Brass: LC
Brass Trim: ?
OAL: 2.255
Barrel: 20"
Twist: ?
Velocity: 2583fps
ES: 69fps
SD: 16fps
<span style="font-weight: bold">From overdriv</span>
Bullet: 77 gr Sierra MatchKing HPBT
Powder: 23.6gr Ramshot TAC
Primer: WSR
Brass: Remington
Barrel: 20"
Velocity: 2687fps
ES: 30fps
SD: 9fps
<span style="font-weight: bold">From sig685</span> (exact duplicate of BH 223 Blue Box)
Bullet: 77 gr Sierra MatchKing (Moly) HPBT
Powder: 24.5gr Hodgdon Varget
Primer: Rem 7.5
Brass: LC
Brass Trim: 1.760
OAL: 2.258
Barrel: 24" SS
Twist: ?
Velocity: 2730fps
ES: 51fps
SD: 12fps
<span style="font-weight: bold">From shootsenmeister</span>
Bullet: 77 gr Sierra MatchKing HPBT
Powder: 24.0gr VV N140
Primer: CCI #BR4
Brass: LC
Brass Trim: 1.750
OAL: 2.260
Barrel: 16" SS
Twist: ?
Velocity: 2618fps
ES: 42fps
SD: 16fps
(Extracted from a thread
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=9&t=500036)
<span style="font-weight: bold">From Lawman734</span>
Bullet: 77 gr Sierra MatchKing HPBT
Powder: 25.3gr Hodgdon Varget
Primer: WSR
Brass: LC
Barrel: 18" SPR
Twist: 1x7
Velocity: 2780fps
<span style="font-weight: bold">From Lawman734</span>
Bullet: 77 gr Nosler CC HPBT
Powder: 24gr RL-15
Primer: WSR
Brass: Winchester
Barrel: 18" SPR
Twist: 1x7
Velocity: 2730fps
<span style="font-weight: bold">From Ex0331</span>
Bullet: 77 gr Sierra MatchKing HPBT
Powder: 23.5gr AA2230C
Primer: CCI #400
Brass: LC
OAL: 2.250
Barrel: 20"
Twist: 1x9 (JR: he must be lucky)
Velocity: 2769fps
ES: 24
SD: 17
<span style="font-weight: bold">From Silly_Look</span>
Bullet: 77 gr Nosler HPBT with Cannuelure
Powder: 24.5gr RL-15
Primer: CCI #450 Magnum Primer (JR: I'd rather use #41 Military primer)
Brass: New Winchester
Barrel: 20"
Twist: 1x8 RRA Varmint A4 Heavy Barrel
Velocity: 2662fps
ES: 40
SD: 11
AMMO SPEC & INFO
-------------------
<span style="font-weight: bold">Specification of Mk 262 Mod 1</span> (non-official source)
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/ammunition/mk262_080105/ (Guns & Ammo article)
Manufacturer: Black Hills Ammunition
Brass: BHA
Bullet: 77gr Sierra MatchKing OTM w/ cannelure
Primer: ? (non-corrosive boxer, crimped)
OAL: ?
Barrel: 18" (Mk12 SPR)
Twist: 1x7
Powder: ? (custom version of Ramshot TAC??)
Velocity: 2783fps
Ballistics
Range: Muzzle (measured @ 12ft/4yds)
Velocity: 2783fps
Path: -2.75" (0" drift from 10mph wind)
Range: 100yds
Velocity: 2534fps
Path: +3.99" (.9" drift from 10mph wind)
Range: 200yds
Velocity: 2299fps
Path: +5.2" (3.8" drift from 10mph wind)
Range: 300yds
Velocity: 2076fps
Path: 0" (9" drift from 10mph wind)
Range: 400yds
Velocity: 1866fps
Path: -13.3" (16.8" drift from 10mph wind)
Range: 500yds
Velocity: 1670fps
Path: -36.7" (27.7" drift from 10mph wind)
Range: 600yds
Velocity: 1438fps
Path: -72.7" (42.3" drift from 10mph wind)
Range: 700yds
Velocity: 1320fps
Path: -124.5" (61.1" drift from 10mph wind)
Range: 800yds
Velocity: 1186fps
Path: -196.2" (84.4" drift from 10mph wind)
Velocity from Various Weapons
(10 rounds @ 12ft/3yds, Oehler 35P chronograph, 30 deg F, 100ft above sea level)
Barrel: 18" (Mk 12 Mod 0)
Velocity: 2783fps
Barrel: 18" (Mk 12 Mod 1)
Velocity: 2791fps
Barrel: 16" (AR carbine)
Velocity: 2751fps
Barrel: 13" (AR carbine)
Velocity: 2534fps
MK262 Velocity data from Novelske (I think..)
7.5" 2053 FPS ... 10.5" 2363 FPS
DIFF 310 FPS
DIFF/IN 103 FPS
10.5" 2363 FPS ... 14.5" 2576 FPS
DIFF 213 FPS
DIFF/IN 53 FPS
14.5" 2576 FPS ... 16" 2669 FPS
DIFF 93 FPS
DIFF/IN 62 FPS
16" 2669 FPS ... 18" 2769 FPS
DIFF 100 FPS
DIFF/IN 50 FPS
18" 2769 FPS ... 20" 2818 FPS
DIFF 49 FPS
DIFF/IN 25 FPS
OTHERS MISC INFO
-------------------
SAAMI Max PSI - 223 Remington 55000psi
6mmBR.com 223 info, great!!
http://www.6mmbr.com/223Rem.html
Accurate Powder - 223Rem data
http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCa...20and%20377.pdf
5.56 NATO Specification
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.56_x_45_mm_NATO
Mk262 Mod1 Performance
http://www.btammolabs.com/tests/6.htm
http://www.btammolabs.com/tests/5.htm
Great info on Mk262 and other commerical ammo that are like it.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=16&t=406469