.223/5.56 Test results

[mohr308]

I went out and shot my RRA AR-15, 1:9 twist 16" chrome lined. I have loaded up 7 different loads with 2 different powders. All bullets are Nosler Varmageddon 55gr .224

Varget, LC Brass, CCI 41 primers
23.4gr 1.25" group
23.9gr 2" group
24.3gr 3"group (the rounds keyholed on this one)

IMR4064, LC Brass, CCI 41 primers
23.0gr 1.7" group
23.6gr 1.5" group
24.0gr 1.5" group
24.5gr 1.1" group (this grouping had 1 round not touching the other holes)

Target was 100 yds

[GlenF]

Were you using a scope?

I bet your rifle can get much tighter groups.

[mohr308]

yes, I was using a fixed 6 power.

[4runnerman]

Here is a maybe,maybe not for you, Most 1 in 9 will shoot a 55 gn bullet (not all). 55 gn is on the extreame scope for light bullet in a 1 in 9. Try a 60 gn.
Second (just me here) You seem to be on the low side for a powder charge with your Varget also. Did you chrono any of your loads?. I got to imagine you are down in the range of 25 or so for speed. ( Light bullets like to go fast ). Your primer choice, I have never tried them so i can't say to much there. Maybe give CCI BR-4 a try.

[603Country]

Based on recent shooting/reloading, I disagree with the statement that 55 grain bullets are on the extreme light end of what a 1 in 9 twist will shoot well. It probably depends more on the individual rifle, but my rifle (Ruger Hawkeye) shot the 55 grain pretty well, but shot the 65 gr Sierra extremely well (near max with AA2230), so I stayed with the 65 grainer for a year or so. Then I got the urge to just see what the rifle would do with the 40 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. After a bit of light research, H335 looked to be a good powder to try for that bullet and I had new Nosler cases and some CCI BR4 primers. The combination worked well, with the sweet spot at one grain under max (Lyman max). It's a little early for me to say that the load shoot as well as the 65 gr Sierra load that I have, but it still shoots real well and I'll use it as my varmint round till I run out of bullets and then I'll try the Nosler NoLead 35 grainers.

And I should mention that my best 55 gr loads were with Varget, at near max.

[Marco Califo]

Based on recent shooting/reloading, I disagree with the statement that 55 grain bullets are on the extreme light end of what a 1 in 9 twist will shoot well.

I agree that 1:9" twist is OK with even lighter bullets. I shoot 40 and 50 grn in my Savage bolt 223 1:9" all the time. 40, 50, 55, 64 all shoot fine with same general point of impact and accuracy.

[4runnerman]

Let me refraze this. Yes ,you can shoot them ( 55 gn ),But yes they are on the low side for weight for a 1 on 9 twist. You can shoot 35 gn if you want,is it best?? NO. Marco- if you are shooting 40 gn's in a 1 in 9 twist , you must be doing it at a very slow rate of speed,which is good for a short distance. Have you ever shot that load at a great distance with any kind of accuracy?.

A 40 gn bullet is best suited for a 1 in 12 twist.

[Marco Califo]

4r That may be your opinion. My experience is otherwise. I just shot 60 rounds work-up 40 gr Nosler ballistic tip unleaded at starting to max loads of 844 @ ~3,500 fps and had consistent accuracy across each steps. These were around 1" groups at 50 yds. with backwind buffeting the target.

Twist:
"For normal lead-core jacketed bullets, a 1:9″ twist will let you shoot up to 73gr bullets. Since most .223 Rem shooters prefer bullets in the 50-73gr range, a good “do-it-all” solution is a 9-twist, unless you’re a Highpower competitor. . . . We’d only select a 1:7″ or faster twist barrel if we had a need to shoot the 90gr VLDs.
Barrel Twist Rate 1:14″ 1:12″ 1:9″ 1:8″ 1:7″ or 1:6.5″
Max Bullet Weight 55gr FB 65gr FB 73gr BT 80gr BT 90gr BT VLD"
http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/223rem/

I have found all the information on that site to be reliable and objective.

[4runnerman]

These were around 1" groups at 50 yds. with backwind buffeting the target.

Have you ever shot that load at a great distance with any kind of accuracy?.
Back to the question i asked you--see above.

I don't doubt you can and i never said you can't. 1 inch groups at 50 yards is.... Well not even par, actually not even close to par.

All i was trying to do is give the OP another direction to go. I have a Savage FVSS in 223 and i can tell you this,it does not like 55 gn bullets. Yes i can shoot them,but why waste my time on a bullet that my rifle does not like?.

Your shooting a 40 gn at 3500 fps?, I would have thought that it would be bird shot about 20 feet out the barrel in a 1 in 9 twist.

I also know alot of people that shoot AR's. Very few load 55 gn,most load 60 or better. Me- Not knowing squat about AR's, I guess i will have to take your word for it. The bug has not hit me yet getting very close,but to many other rifles i want first before i get one of them.

[mohr308]

I talked to a rep at nosler, he said to go from 23-25 grains for the Varmageddon 55grain for Varget. Because I didn't find anything using IMR4064 I did some numbers and decided to try the same min and max load data. The consistency I got at 23.6 and 24.5 was awesome. I wish I had a chrono to test the speeds. My best grouping with Varget were at the low end. I have tested these before but with different brass.

This was my first time using IMR4064 though

[HJ857]

Mohr, I get the feeling this a new upper or rifle? If it's new, run a few more hundred rounds down the pipe with cleanings before working up loads. If it isn't a new upper, then never mind!

[mohr308]

HJ, my reason for trying this was the new brass and trying a different powder. I have about 400 rds through this rifle, ok maybe more I don't remember now!

[4runnerman]

Glad it all came together for you.Now you can go and have fun . Just got my 6MMBR Friday and got a chance to shoot it today. New guns are awesome