.223 Reloading problem - Page 2

BlackSheep · January 25, 2013, 04:33 PM

Daggit: I would of definitey stopped after the first round if I did not see any impact after a low pressure shot with no eject and recoil to reassess the problem. That we are human to make mistakes though. It does not take me more than once to fix a problem.

Marco: I bought the powder from a co-worker who use to reload but stopped. I noticed it had been a while since it was production, but everything was still sealed up.

To all: I did make rounds with the correct weights.
100 yds / AR-15 / 1:9 / EO Tech sight
23.0 gn = 3/4" grouping
23.6 gn = 1" grouping
24.0 gn = 1/4" grouping
24.6 gn = 1/2" grouping
25.2 gn = 1" grouping

I didn't have a chronograph to get fps, but I will soon.

Thanks for all the comments. Look forward to conversing more and giving data.

Jimro · January 25, 2013, 05:15 PM

With those numbers I'd concentrate on load development 24.0 to 24.5gr of powder. For some reason 24gr of powder is a pretty constant number in most high power match loads. Not the highest velocity, but usually the tightest groups.

Jimro

**Unclenick** · January 26, 2013, 09:46 AM

I'll double up on what Jimro said. I'll just add that your weight increments are about twice what Dan Newberry's OCW method employs, for the reason that you can miss a sweet spot or at least fail to find its true center with bigger increments. He uses 0.7% to 1% times the load as an increment, so, within practical limits, either 0.2 grain steps to 0.3 grain steps in your case.

If you use 0.3 grain steps, I would go from 23.9 to 24.5 grains to start. If all three did not look good, I would switch to 0.2 grain increments and go from 23.8 to 24.8 just to see if the center of the accuracy range gets easier to identify.

BlackSheep · January 27, 2013, 10:01 AM

Re: Unclenik

Good stuff! Its always good to keep looking for better ways to save money by doing things right the first time. Good infomational post.

oryx · January 27, 2013, 10:20 AM

Although you figured out your issue, after reading post #13, it appeared as though you might be weighing in grams and converting to grains? If your electronic scale was not calibrated well your margin of error when converting to grains could cause issues when approaching upper or lower limits. Whatmodel of scale were you using and was it in grams and then converted?

Just curious

January 25, 2013, 04:33 PM	#26
BlackSheep Junior Member Join Date: January 22, 2013 Posts: 13	Daggit: I would of definitey stopped after the first round if I did not see any impact after a low pressure shot with no eject and recoil to reassess the problem. That we are human to make mistakes though. It does not take me more than once to fix a problem. Marco: I bought the powder from a co-worker who use to reload but stopped. I noticed it had been a while since it was production, but everything was still sealed up. To all: I did make rounds with the correct weights. 100 yds / AR-15 / 1:9 / EO Tech sight 23.0 gn = 3/4" grouping 23.6 gn = 1" grouping 24.0 gn = 1/4" grouping 24.6 gn = 1/2" grouping 25.2 gn = 1" grouping I didn't have a chronograph to get fps, but I will soon. Thanks for all the comments. Look forward to conversing more and giving data. Last edited by BlackSheep; January 25, 2013 at 05:02 PM.

January 25, 2013, 05:15 PM	#27
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	With those numbers I'd concentrate on load development 24.0 to 24.5gr of powder. For some reason 24gr of powder is a pretty constant number in most high power match loads. Not the highest velocity, but usually the tightest groups. Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.

January 26, 2013, 09:46 AM	#28
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,057	I'll double up on what Jimro said. I'll just add that your weight increments are about twice what Dan Newberry's OCW method employs, for the reason that you can miss a sweet spot or at least fail to find its true center with bigger increments. He uses 0.7% to 1% times the load as an increment, so, within practical limits, either 0.2 grain steps to 0.3 grain steps in your case. If you use 0.3 grain steps, I would go from 23.9 to 24.5 grains to start. If all three did not look good, I would switch to 0.2 grain increments and go from 23.8 to 24.8 just to see if the center of the accuracy range gets easier to identify. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

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January 27, 2013, 10:01 AM	#29
BlackSheep Junior Member Join Date: January 22, 2013 Posts: 13	Re: Unclenik Good stuff! Its always good to keep looking for better ways to save money by doing things right the first time. Good infomational post.

January 27, 2013, 10:20 AM	#30
oryx Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2008 Posts: 142	Although you figured out your issue, after reading post #13, it appeared as though you might be weighing in grams and converting to grains? If your electronic scale was not calibrated well your margin of error when converting to grains could cause issues when approaching upper or lower limits. Whatmodel of scale were you using and was it in grams and then converted? Just curious