Struggling with 5.56

[bross412]

I need powder recommendations. I'm shooting 77smks out of an ar15. Barrel is 14.5 criterion core with a huxworks flow 5.56k can. I'm using CCI primers and lake City brass. All brass has been annealed.

I spoke to the guys at Sierra and they mentioned that n140, the powder I'm using, isn't good for a 14.5. what powder are you guys running?

It needs to be temperature stable because I'm shooting year-long outdoor matches and it needs to be obtainable. So h4895 is out lol.

Please help.

 

[BobinNC]

Temp stable and available direct from Hodgdon right now and all can produce similar velocities:

H322
Benchmark
H4895
Varget

Hodgdon Powder

I would think Benchmark might be the best for your application. Yes, the prices suck, but it is what it is....

 

[reelserious]

I need powder recommendations. I'm shooting 77smks out of an ar15. Barrel is 14.5 criterion core with a huxworks flow 5.56k can. I'm using CCI primers and lake City brass. All brass has been annealed.

I spoke to the guys at Sierra and they mentioned that n140, the powder I'm using, isn't good for a 14.5. what powder are you guys running?

It needs to be temperature stable because I'm shooting year-long outdoor matches and it needs to be obtainable. So h4895 is out lol.

Please help.

Varget

 

[John?]

Varget with the 77SMK. 748 with lighter projectiles

 

[matthias]

Varget or h322

 

[.505gibbs]

Staball match. Currently plentiful and very temp stable. Should get you around 2550 fps out of a 14.5.

 

[45-90]

The best try with the 77 gr SMK in 5.56 would be H322 21.4 gr 99 % burnt 99.9 % fill in a 14.5" barrel Nato chamber. 2.260" COAL.

Next Benchmark 21.8 gr 96.8 % burnt 100% fill.
H4895 22.9 gr 95.3 % burnt 103.7 fill
Last Varget 23.4 gr 93.5% burnt 109% fill.

The powder nearest 100% burn has the best potential for lower velocity spreads in the chosen barrel length, giving less vertical at longer ranges.

So you'll have to work up, and I'd start with H322 and work up an accuracy load.

 

[BCP]

I need powder recommendations. I'm shooting 77smks out of an ar15. Barrel is 14.5 criterion core with a huxworks flow 5.56k can. I'm using CCI primers and lake City brass. All brass has been annealed.

I spoke to the guys at Sierra and they mentioned that n140, the powder I'm using, isn't good for a 14.5. what powder are you guys running?

It needs to be temperature stable because I'm shooting year-long outdoor matches and it needs to be obtainable. So h4895 is out lol.

Please help.

N140 is good stuff for 77smk try 23-24gr and 2.250" no reason not to use it

TAC is my favorite for price/easy to find/easy to get it in the case since it's ball powder but it's not as accurate as varget

 

[bross412]

The best try with the 77 gr SMK in 5.56 would be H322 21.4 gr 99 % burnt 99.9 % fill in a 14.5" barrel Nato chamber. 2.260" COAL.

Next Benchmark 21.8 gr 96.8 % burnt 100% fill.
H4895 22.9 gr 95.3 % burnt 103.7 fill
Last Varget 23.4 gr 93.5% burnt 109% fill.

The powder nearest 100% burn has the best potential for lower velocity spreads in the chosen barrel length, giving less vertical at longer ranges.

So you'll have to work up, and I'd start with H322 and work up an accuracy load.

are any of these compressed loads? I am having a hard time with the n140 getting a consistent CBTO because of the compressed powder. A buddy of mine has benchmark, so i may swing up by his place to try it out.

 

[bross412]

N140 is good stuff for 77smk try 23-24gr and 2.250" no reason not to use it

TAC is my favorite for price/easy to find/easy to get it in the case since it's ball powder but it's not as accurate as varget

The guy at sierra told me that there was a lot of unburnt powder and that will pile up in my supressor and could cause an issue. I like the n140 but im also having trouble getting a consistent CBTO since its compressed. I have a 9 inch (3 area 419 stacked up) drop tube and have used a vibrating toothbrush, but still get very inconsistent cbto. Do you have issues with this?

 

[bross412]

Varget or h322

I have heard Varget is similar burn rate to n140 so i would be still not burning it all since my barrel is only 14.5

 

[bross412]

Temp stable and available direct from Hodgdon right now and all can produce similar velocities:

H322
Benchmark
H4895
Varget

Hodgdon Powder

I would think Benchmark might be the best for your application. Yes, the prices suck, but it is what it is....

I am going to try out some benchmark. I have seen good results on youtube with 22gr. of course ill work up to it.

 

[FatBoy]

Varget, N140,RL15 are all going to be about the same. They will be compressed with a 77 or 69 SMK. You could roll or taper crimp.

Not sure what size target you’re shooting but I’m taking my 14.5s to 500+ routinely on full sized IPSC steel. They hold good elevation, wind can be challenging if it’s honkin’ but under 10 mph full value it’s a simple hold.

If it was attainable, I’d say H4895 but apparently someone decided we don’t need that shit anymore. AR Comp might work too but be careful with that shit.

 

[BCP]

The guy at sierra told me that there was a lot of unburnt powder and that will pile up in my supressor and could cause an issue. I like the n140 but im also having trouble getting a consistent CBTO since its compressed. I have a 9 inch (3 area 419 stacked up) drop tube and have used a vibrating toothbrush, but still get very inconsistent cbto. Do you have issues with this?

Just make up some ammo and go shoot

If you're suppressors gets really gunked up or you have function issues maybe think about a powder change

 

[morning would]

22gr of Benchmark or 24gr of Varget. -ish of course.

 

[45-90]

are any of these compressed loads? I am having a hard time with the n140 getting a consistent CBTO because of the compressed powder. A buddy of mine has benchmark, so i may swing up by his place to try it out.

The word "fill" and percentage is the amount of case fill above any over 100 percent are compressed loads.
Benchmark will be 100% fill so no compression, burnt is 96.86%

N 140 is a compressed load the burt percentage is pretty good depending on the pressure and amount of powder in your load 98 to 99% like 23 to 23.4 gr. It would be 108.1 percent fill. Or a compressed load...hence pushing back on bullet.

H322 is good burnt and fill not compressed for 14.5" barrel.
TAC only has 90% burnt in 14.5" barrel, so not recommend

AA 2495 22.6 gr 99.86,% burnt. 104.6 % fill.
Good velocity slightly compressed.

 

[bross412]

The word "fill" and percentage is the amount of case fill above any over 100 percent are compressed loads.
Benchmark will be 100% fill so no compression, burnt is 96.86%

N 140 is a compressed load the burt percentage is pretty good depending on the pressure and amount of powder in your load 98 to 99% like 23 to 23.4 gr. It would be 108.1 percent fill. Or a compressed load...hence pushing back on bullet.

H322 is good burnt and fill not compressed for 14.5" barrel.
TAC only has 90% burnt in 14.5" barrel, so not recommend

AA 2495 22.6 gr 99.86,% burnt. 104.6 % fill.
Good velocity slightly compressed.

This is very helpful. I was thinking about trying out tac but now I won't.

I'm trying benchmark tomorrow morning

 

[tekmann2377]

N135 is a better burn rate than N140 for your application. Vihta has improved the temperature stability of their 100 series powders compared to prior, although they aren't as temperature insensitive as the Hodgdon Extreme line. But they are forgiving to load, accurate, available, and not too expensive.

The other Hodgdon powders are great but availability is probably going to be spotty for any time in the near future. So if you are going that route then plan to stock up in bulk.

Another powder not mentioned here that is very temperature insensitive and clean burning in heavy 223 is 8208 XBR.

 

[DHDeal]

Try the N140 before you move to something else. I use Varget, Re15, and N540 with 77's out of 10.3" with no issues. I don't notice any unburned powder in my suppressors.

 

[Franko]

We had a recent drop of 8208 XBR, you may want to try that as well.

 

[Kickin45]

CFE223?

 

[MarshallDodge]

N133 is not the velocity leader with the 77 but the SDs are very low and accuracy is excellent.

8208XBR is pretty good as well, just stupid expensive right now.