berger 73gr handloads (5.56)

[Jdowns0415]

Started reloading a few months ago and it has been quite the journey but also insanely addicting. I have been unable to find the plethora of information about certain bullets, specifically the berger 73gr .224 and loading them to 5.56 pressure. My 140 hybrids shoot so good i decided to load the 73's up (cant find Berger 77's anywhere) and tried some data that matched the 73gr eldm's I loaded up and voila! they were sub moa.

I was wondering what powders/primers/brass and COAL's y'all are running for the 73gr Bergers. Also if you have also found success with them or if you prefer the 73gr ELDM's instead (yes I know the easy button is tac with 77gr smk lol) . specs are:

Ballistic advantage 16 inch SPR barrel, AEM5 with brake and collar

73gr Berger: LC Brass, CCI #41, Ramshot TAC (23.8-24.3gr, 2610-2700 fps) 2.250 COAL

73gr ELDM: LC Brass, CCI #41, TAC (23.8gr, 2670fps) 2.250 COAL
LC Brass, CCI #41, AA2520 (24.6gr, 2600 FPS) 2.250 COAL

The only problem is that it seems there is always a flier or two high (probably me, I get pretty bad mirage shooting with the can) with the current setup at 100m (zero distance for my rifle) I haven't been able to take this rifle out to distance yet to see if it works well (and in high winds of texas). I chose that COAL because it feeds the best for my rifle across various bullet weights and brands. Any advice or stories are appreciated, I look forward to reading them.

 

[DHDeal]

Yes, I keep 73 grain Bergers on hand always. Yes they tend to be very easy to find a good load. No I don't use "military type" primers or ball powder with them. You will not find the 77 grain Berger bullets to be "better" than the 73's I doubt. If I want a known accurate bullet for a .224" caliber, a 73 Berger will probably be my first choice. Yeah they are that good IMO and are almost always overlooked (like the 6.5mm 120 grain Berger) because they don't have sexy numbers and the number after the $ is so high.

Your fliers can be from a few things: you, your loads, or your BA barrel. If you know you pretty well and know the flier wasn't you, next might be the load. I use the 73 mostly with either Varget or 8208 with CCI 450 or Wolf SRM primers. The last possible cause is the elephant in the room (and said elephant is taking a huge dump in the kitchen).

 

[Haney]

I have shot thousands of them, I can say with confidence it is not the bullet. I use 8208 and SW Precision with Rem 7 1/2s or CCI 450s.

 

[simonp]

I have yet to find a Berger that doesn't shoot lights out with Ram Tac powder! that being said I have also yet to find a box of 500 73 grain pills in stock, search continues.

 

[DHDeal]

I've used a few boxes of 1000...

You'll probably have to buy a box of 1000 and split it. That, or consider that a box of 1000 is at least 10 times better than a box of 100.

 

[simonp]

I've used a few boxes of 1000...

You'll probably have to buy a box of 1000 and split it. That, or consider that a box of 1000 is at least 10 times better than a box of 100.

Yeah, Id jump on a box of a thousand too if I came across one.

 

[Jdowns0415]

gs: you, your loads, or your BA barrel. If you know you pretty well and know the flier wasn't you, next might be the load. I use the 73 mostly with eith

yea it is most definitely me or the barrel. mirage was pretty horrendous off of the can yesterday after the first 10 round group and I was on a time crunch. Overall i'm extremely pleased with the performance. I might go ahead and purchase a white oak armament or odinworks barrel for it, don't have the money for a proof.

 

[Shiftyk5]

Go with the WOA instead of the Odin

 

[stello1001]

yea it is most definitely me or the barrel. mirage was pretty horrendous off of the can yesterday after the first 10 round group and I was on a time crunch. Overall i'm extremely pleased with the performance. I might go ahead and purchase a white oak armament or odinworks barrel for it, don't have the money for a proof.

Do you not have a mirage cover for your suppressor?

 

[simonp]

Go with the WOA instead of the Odin

My WOA barrels shoot lights out with Bergers

 

[Jdowns0415]

Do you not have a mirage cover for your suppressor?

I do not have one, I need one. Usually mirage doesn't really factor in unless its raining or sprinkling like it was this last range trip. In the summers here its 100+ degrees daily and blowing 10-25mph winds so no matter what the air is wavy, to the naked eye or a optic.

 

[Jdowns0415]

I have yet to find a Berger that doesn't shoot lights out with Ram Tac powder! that being said I have also yet to find a box of 500 73 grain pills in stock, search continues.

? I had a Hornady match grade die and i do the .243 bushing and that yielded good results, I am unsure that going looser would be beneficial in a AR15. how much neck tension do you run on your Berger's

My WOA barrels shoot lights out with Bergers

Which one do you run? I was looking at the 16 inch SPR barrel.

 

[simonp]

? I had a Hornady match grade die and i do the .243 bushing and that yielded good results, I am unsure that going looser would be beneficial in a AR15. how much neck tension do you run on your Berger's


Which one do you run? I was looking at the 16 inch SPR barrel.

I am using the SACS die and neck bushing then a .224 mandrel for neck tension.

I have a number of WOA barrels, 16" and 18" SPR, 20" service rifle barrel, they all shoot really well.

 

[Jdowns0415]

Yes, I keep 73 grain Bergers on hand always. Yes they tend to be very easy to find a good load. No I don't use "military type" primers or ball powder with them. You will not find the 77 grain Berger bullets to be "better" than the 73's I doubt. If I want a known accurate bullet for a .224" caliber, a 73 Berger will probably be my first choice. Yeah they are that good IMO and are almost always overlooked (like the 6.5mm 120 grain Berger) because they don't have sexy numbers and the number after the $ is so high.

Your fliers can be from a few things: you, your loads, or your BA barrel. If you know you pretty well and know the flier wasn't you, next might be the load. I use the 73 mostly with either Varget or 8208 with CCI 450 or Wolf SRM primers. The last possible cause is the elephant in the room (and said elephant is taking a huge dump in the kitchen).

how much varget generally? I have been using 24gr of TAC and its been working well so far with no pressure signs in my white oak barrel.

 

[DHDeal]

how much varget generally? I have been using 24gr of TAC and its been working well so far with no pressure signs in my white oak barrel.

24 grains of Varget.

 

[Jdowns0415]

24 grains of Varget.

I'll try it out. what type of velocities are you getting with that load?

 

[DHDeal]

I'll try it out. what type of velocities are you getting with that load?

I shot it out of multiple AR's from 10.5" to 20" and haven't chronographed it. Before I got the Garmin I used an Oehler and it was a PITA so I was lazy. I do know the Varget or the 8208 load was very pretty on target. I still keep enough of the 73's around for checking accuracy in AR's as I can depend on that load. They also work great while fireforming brass in my 223AI (kind of an expensive bullet for FF but it's what I used).

 

[Jdowns0415]

I shot it out of multiple AR's from 10.5" to 20" and haven't chronographed it. Before I got the Garmin I used an Oehler and it was a PITA so I was lazy. I do know the Varget or the 8208 load was very pretty on target. I still keep enough of the 73's around for checking accuracy in AR's as I can depend on that load. They also work great while fireforming brass in my 223AI (kind of an expensive bullet for FF but it's what I used).

I have some load development with my 105 bergers in 6ARC and I was gonna use varget so I’ll just load up some to test in the charge master while It’s got varget inside. Thanks for the advice, I’ve been wanting to try varget for a while with my 73-77gr bullets

 

[DHDeal]

I suspect Varget and the Berger 73 will shoot at least good. I will usually seat them max magazine length. Tuning seating depth may improve it even more but I called it good.

 

[Jdowns0415]

I suspect Varget and the Berger 73 will shoot at least good. I will usually seat them max magazine length. Tuning seating depth may improve it even more but I called it good.

getting .6's-.7's with 20 round groups at 100 with ramshot TAC right now with my WOA barrel so if varget knocks it down to .5's i'll be satisfied. Or at least cuts down on my Standard deviation.

 

[DHDeal]

223 has always been a PITA for me to get low consistent sd's. My 6.5 Grendel's and a 6 mm ARC give me single digit sd's whether ball or extruded powders. Case shape and size is obviously part of the equation for low ES and sd's. It gives me a headache thinking about it....

 

[Jdowns0415]

223 has always been a PITA for me to get low consistent sd's. My 6.5 Grendel's and a 6 mm ARC give me single digit sd's whether ball or extruded powders. Case shape and size is obviously part of the equation for low ES and sd's. It gives me a headache thinking about it....

I did 24.0-24.3-24.6 of varget in my rifle. 24.6 was the winner from the 73gr berger, 77 smk, and 73gr eldm. Thanks for the advice it proved very fruitful (kept it inside the A zone on an IPSC at 500 yards)

 

[DHDeal]

I did 24.0-24.3-24.6 of varget in my rifle. 24.6 was the winner from the 73gr berger, 77 smk, and 73gr eldm. Thanks for the advice it proved very fruitful (kept it inside the A zone on an IPSC at 500 yards)

Glad that it was a help. In that range (powder charge) I have always had good results.