.223 load workups - anyone do it this way?

IDT · June 27, 2013, 04:06 PM

Had all intentions of using the chrony today.

Loaded up 4 test batches of ammo last night :

All had the following specs except for the powder grain:

Bullet: 55gr HP Flat Tail (Generic Brand - Full jacket)
Case trim length - 1.746 (pre-sized)
C.O.A.L. - 2.222
Powder - AR-COMP
Weapon platform: AR-15 - 16" RECCE Barrel - 1:8 Twist - Mid Length Gas System - Suppressed (yes, I'm testing with a suppressor as that is how I shoot)

Batch 1 @ 24.5gr
Batch 2 @ 25gr
Batch 3 @ 25.3gr
Batch 4 @ 25.5

10 rounds per batch

At the 25.5 mark, it was a true compression load and I stopped.

But waking up this morning proved difficult, and it's still pouring the rain down - and I don't feel like toting everything to an indoor range and using the light diffuser on the chrony. So, this test will have to wait.

I'm going to load 4 batches with Hornady V-Max in 50 grains today starting at 22 grains and working up to 24.5...unless anyone has data for AR-COMP that says I'm at the max for those.

There is surprisingly little data for AR-COMP yet, even on loaddata.com and even less for the lighter bullets.

rduckwor · June 28, 2013, 03:00 PM

If it works for you, do it. I work up on an outdoor range and do it differently. All that matters is that we get the result we are seeking.

NESHOOTER · June 28, 2013, 11:04 PM

Did you COAL grow? have you measured them under a compressed load.

steve4102 · June 28, 2013, 11:11 PM

Quote:

I'm going to load 4 batches with Hornady V-Max in 50 grains today starting at 22 grains and working up to 24.5...unless anyone has data for AR-COMP that says I'm at the max for those.

Use Alliant's 52gr data.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloade...5&cartridge=46

IDT · June 29, 2013, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Did you COAL grow?

Not exactly sure what you mean here... I trim all of my cases before I size & de-prim/prime - a process that changes, slightly, the case length. The COAL is from the tip of the bullet to the bottom of the case.

Also - My results are in from my chrony shoot: (only shot 6 rounds per batch as the sky was about to open up and **** on me again)

Batch 1:
55gr HPFT
C.O.A.L. 2.222
25.3grs of AR-COMP Powder
CCI 400 Primers
16" RECCE Barrel in 5.56 with a 1:8 twist (Suppressed)

Shot 1 - 3039ft/s
Shot 2 - 3028ft/s
Shot 3 - 3027ft/s
Shot 4 - 2995ft/s
Shot 5 - 3028ft/s
Shot 6 - 2984ft/s

Average ft/s on Batch 1 = 3016 ft/s

Batch 2 = same except 25.5 grains of AR-COMP

Shot 1 - 3001ft/s
Shot 2 - 3004ft/s
Shot 3 - 3033ft/s
Shot 4 - 3049ft/s
Shot 5 - 3059ft/s
Shot 6 - 3091ft/s

Average ft/s on Batch 2 = 3039 ft/s

I had doubts about using AR-COMP on the lighter bullets, but it looks like I'm good to go. I can maintain an excess 3,000 ft/s from a 16" barrel (Suppressed) with the lighter 55 grain rounds - and that is frigging awesome for the longer distance shooting.
The primers are seated perfectly. There is zero issue there at all.
None of the cases appear to be deformed, or neck split or otherwise out of shape. I'll be putting them on the micrometer in a few and measuring the before and after trim length for the cases. It will be interesting to see if they grew. This is a 5.56 barrel...so I'm not sure what to expect there. But visually, they look great.

EDIT: - Just measured the spent brass. The original trim length was 1.746" What I didn't expect was to get a shorter case length... They measure out now at 1.743". Obviously this could be accounted for in 2 different ways of measuring the brass, and I can assume to say there was zero change in the length. However I fully expected to see SOME growth... What gives?

IDT · June 30, 2013, 06:06 PM

]Today, I conducted another chrony test. This time, I was using the 50gr Hornady V-MAX.

The Ammo
50 grain - Hornady V-MAX Polymer Tip Boat Tail
Case Trimmed length - 1.746" (Presized)
Overall Length - 2.240" (after sized and seated)
Powder - Alliant's AR-COMP
Primers - CCI 400
Weapon platform - 16" RECCE Barrel in 5.56 with a 1:8 twist (Suppressed)

Batch 1:
23.5gr of AR-COMP Powder
Shot 1- 2825
Shot 2- 2826
Shot 3- 2798
Shot 4- 2839
Shot 5- 2835
Shot 6- 2776
Shot 7- 2798
Shot 8- Chrono Error - data discarded
Shot 9- 2791
Shot 10- 2856
Average ft/s on Batch 1 = 2816ft/s with a standard deviation of 26.32

Batch 2
24 grains of AR-COMP Powder
Shot 1- 2926
Shot 2- 2894
Shot 3- 2901
Shot 4- 2891
Shot 5- 2906
Shot 6- 2913
Shot 7- 2895
Shot 8- 2905
Shot 9- 2889
Shot 10- 2880
Average ft/s on Batch 2 = 2909ft/s with a standard deviation of 29.40

Batch 3
24.5 grains of AR-COMP Powder
Shot 1- 2967
Shot 2- 2916
Shot 3- 2958
Shot 4- 2948
Shot 5- 2924
Shot 6- 2911
Shot 7- 2953
Shot 8- 2968
Shot 9- 2944
Shot 10- 2899
Average ft/s on Batch 3 = 2938ft/s with a standard deviation of 24.55

Batch 4
25 grains of AR-COMP Powder
Shot 1- 2982
Shot 2- 3017
Shot 3- 2023
Shot 4- 2987
Shot 5- 2974
Shot 6- 3025
Shot 7- 2995
Shot 8- 2985
Shot 9- 3013
Shot 10- 2972
Average ft/s on Batch 4 = 2997ft/s with a standard deviation of 20.39

Batch 5
25.3 grains of AR-COMP Powder
Shot 1- 3029
Shot 2- 3046
Shot 3- 3049
Shot 4- 3046
Shot 5- 3052
Shot 7- 3049
Shot 8- 3032
Shot 9- 3039
Shot 10- 3033
Average ft/s on Batch 5 = 3042ft/s with a standard deviation of 8.256

It is interesting that the instant I broke and maintained the 3,000ft/s mark on batch 5, the standard deviation tightened up TREMENDOUSLY. This tells me that this is my most accurate round when I go to the range. The others had too much of a deviation to be "the" accurate load for this round.

Thoughts?

June 27, 2013, 04:06 PM	#1
IDT Member Join Date: November 6, 2011 Location: West Virginia Posts: 70	.223 load workups - anyone do it this way? Had all intentions of using the chrony today. Loaded up 4 test batches of ammo last night : All had the following specs except for the powder grain: Bullet: 55gr HP Flat Tail (Generic Brand - Full jacket) Case trim length - 1.746 (pre-sized) C.O.A.L. - 2.222 Powder - AR-COMP Weapon platform: AR-15 - 16" RECCE Barrel - 1:8 Twist - Mid Length Gas System - Suppressed (yes, I'm testing with a suppressor as that is how I shoot) Batch 1 @ 24.5gr Batch 2 @ 25gr Batch 3 @ 25.3gr Batch 4 @ 25.5 10 rounds per batch At the 25.5 mark, it was a true compression load and I stopped. But waking up this morning proved difficult, and it's still pouring the rain down - and I don't feel like toting everything to an indoor range and using the light diffuser on the chrony. So, this test will have to wait. I'm going to load 4 batches with Hornady V-Max in 50 grains today starting at 22 grains and working up to 24.5...unless anyone has data for AR-COMP that says I'm at the max for those. There is surprisingly little data for AR-COMP yet, even on loaddata.com and even less for the lighter bullets.

June 28, 2013, 03:00 PM	#2
rduckwor Senior Member Join Date: June 26, 2008 Location: L.A. - Lower Alabama Posts: 365	If it works for you, do it. I work up on an outdoor range and do it differently. All that matters is that we get the result we are seeking. __________________ RMD

June 28, 2013, 11:04 PM	#3
NESHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2009 Posts: 517	Did you COAL grow? have you measured them under a compressed load.

June 30, 2013, 06:06 PM	#6
IDT Member Join Date: November 6, 2011 Location: West Virginia Posts: 70	]Today, I conducted another chrony test. This time, I was using the 50gr Hornady V-MAX. The Ammo 50 grain - Hornady V-MAX Polymer Tip Boat Tail Case Trimmed length - 1.746" (Presized) Overall Length - 2.240" (after sized and seated) Powder - Alliant's AR-COMP Primers - CCI 400 Weapon platform - 16" RECCE Barrel in 5.56 with a 1:8 twist (Suppressed) Batch 1: 23.5gr of AR-COMP Powder Shot 1- 2825 Shot 2- 2826 Shot 3- 2798 Shot 4- 2839 Shot 5- 2835 Shot 6- 2776 Shot 7- 2798 Shot 8- Chrono Error - data discarded Shot 9- 2791 Shot 10- 2856 Average ft/s on Batch 1 = 2816ft/s with a standard deviation of 26.32 Batch 2 24 grains of AR-COMP Powder Shot 1- 2926 Shot 2- 2894 Shot 3- 2901 Shot 4- 2891 Shot 5- 2906 Shot 6- 2913 Shot 7- 2895 Shot 8- 2905 Shot 9- 2889 Shot 10- 2880 Average ft/s on Batch 2 = 2909ft/s with a standard deviation of 29.40 Batch 3 24.5 grains of AR-COMP Powder Shot 1- 2967 Shot 2- 2916 Shot 3- 2958 Shot 4- 2948 Shot 5- 2924 Shot 6- 2911 Shot 7- 2953 Shot 8- 2968 Shot 9- 2944 Shot 10- 2899 Average ft/s on Batch 3 = 2938ft/s with a standard deviation of 24.55 Batch 4 25 grains of AR-COMP Powder Shot 1- 2982 Shot 2- 3017 Shot 3- 2023 Shot 4- 2987 Shot 5- 2974 Shot 6- 3025 Shot 7- 2995 Shot 8- 2985 Shot 9- 3013 Shot 10- 2972 Average ft/s on Batch 4 = 2997ft/s with a standard deviation of 20.39 Batch 5 25.3 grains of AR-COMP Powder Shot 1- 3029 Shot 2- 3046 Shot 3- 3049 Shot 4- 3046 Shot 5- 3052 Shot 7- 3049 Shot 8- 3032 Shot 9- 3039 Shot 10- 3033 Average ft/s on Batch 5 = 3042ft/s with a standard deviation of 8.256 It is interesting that the instant I broke and maintained the 3,000ft/s mark on batch 5, the standard deviation tightened up TREMENDOUSLY. This tells me that this is my most accurate round when I go to the range. The others had too much of a deviation to be "the" accurate load for this round. Thoughts?