View attachment 7863574View attachment 7863575This is a load post with some follow up questions as I’ve never really loaded for an semi auto gun:
Brass: Lapua 223 Match
Powder: 8208 XBR @ 23.3 gr.
Bullet: Berger 77 OTM
Primer: CCI BR4
Vel. - 2,666
SD - 10.2
First test group came in at .690 MOA, and subsequently produced 3 sub 1/2 MOA 5 shot groups. I’ll try and include a few pics.
Barrel is a 15.1” 1:7 mid-gas Douglas spun up by Frank at Compass Lake with their CLE chamber. Colt BCG.
A friend invited me to a DMR match, and having not shot a match and getting out of reloading since 2019 it was a scramble to get things ready.
A buddy hooked me up with 200 new Lapua cases, and the Berger’s. Another had the 8208 XBR, and I got lucky on the BR4’s local.
I trusted a friend I’ve shot with for years heavily on the initial load of 23.3 grains, and I believe they were loaded to 2.255” OAL approx. I have the CBTO written down somewhere I’ll find later. First 5 shots were .690 MOA, no pressure signs on the brass. A few more test groups and we just went with it on the subsequent 180 rounds for the match.
I do know he used a light crimp also.
Now comes the question segment. I used a Hornady comparator and got a shoulder measurement over a pieces of 1.4560 and then fired shoulder of 1.4620. So it’s growing .006” in my chamber.
In my old PRS rifle I always FL sized with .002”shoulder bump. What would everyone suggest in this instance? I was thinking.004” bump to be safe, or should I go back to the original virgin brass shoulder length and size .006”? Is this working the brass too much? I know brass life with a AR is going to be terrible. Long term I’ll try and source some stat line 5.56, but short term the Lapua was an overly nice means to an end.
I plan to anneal them, as in always did with bolt guns. Trim if necessary.