To Re-Load or Not???

[GMC man]

I am just trying to fully test the powder and answer all the questions. I will be careful Grover

 

[oneyeopn]

range data from today;
68 deg. 8mph wind 29% Humidity 100yards
55gr Nightmare Extreme 2.250" 27.4gr CFE223 1.4" group
2766fps Low 2876fps High 2802fps Avg Spread 110.4fps SD 37.61fps
53gr Vmax 2.250" 27.4gr CFE223 .85" group
2532fps Low 2914fps high 2864fps avg Spread 81.82fps SD 34.82fps
55gr Zmax 2.250" 27.4gr CFE223 1.75" group
2785 lo 2950 hi 2894 Avg Sp 165.6 SD 49.54
55gr Hor FMJBT 2.250" 27.4gr CFE223 .9" group
2860 lo 2925 hi 2885 avg Sp 64.98 SD 22.82

great day but I drank too much coffee!!

 

[rebs081]

Sounds like you had a great range day. The high here today was 28 degrees, I stayed in doors and did some reloading. Next week is supposed to be in the 50's and a couple days in the lower 60's. I will be hitting the range then. There is an in door range close to my house but it is only 50 yds and they charge $17.00 per hour.

 

[GMC man]

I have got good data now for the next trip.
the three best loads was

26.8 grains with a 1/2 group at 50 yards with a fps of 2810.

27.0 grains with a 1/2 group at 50 yards with a fps of 2853.

27.8 grains with a 1/2 group at 50 yards with a fps of 2924.

So next time I will be retesting these loads along with 28.2, 28.4 and 28.6 and 28.8 and will be very watchful for signs of overpressure.

btw the worst group was the Freedom reloads they had a spread of 2 inches at 50 yards and 3 inches at 100 yards

 

[stavman11]

Always nice to see some GOOD data out there on diff GR Lead..

Sorry everyone for your weather issues

Supposed ta be a high of 75deg thru monday, tuesday 79, Wed 81... lowe's in low 50's

Love AZ in the winter

Tuesday will be my next trip out... shoudl be a BLAST

 

[oneyeopn]

I have got good data now for the next trip.
the three best loads was

26.8 grains with a 1/2 group at 50 yards with a fps of 2810.

27.0 grains with a 1/2 group at 50 yards with a fps of 2853.

27.8 grains with a 1/2 group at 50 yards with a fps of 2924.

So next time I will be retesting these loads along with 28.2, 28.4 and 28.6 and 28.8 and will be very watchful for signs of overpressure.

btw the worst group was the Freedom reloads they had a spread of 2 inches at 50 yards and 3 inches at 100 yards

Somewhere I missed what bullet you are using for this data. I have not had the best results with FMJBT bullets then I shot the Hornady ones. I was really happy with those.

 

[GMC man]

Winchester 54.9 grain bullets these are FMJ BT's from midway and the good thing is since I ordered 2k I have plenty of 54.9 and 54.8 to get good test results of the same weight round.

Winchester 54.9 grain bullets
CCI # 41 primers
CFE 223 powder
54 degrees F, 0 altitude, no wind

26.0 ------2679 avg
26.2-------2771 avg
26.4-------2730 avg
26.6-------2773 avg
26.8-------2810 avg
27.0-------2853 avg
27.2-------2869 avg
27.4-------2928 avg
27.6-------2901 avg
27.8-------2924 avg
28.0-------2983 avg

Freedom reloads for 5.56------2939 avg

The three best loads was

26.8 grains with a 1/2 group at 50 yards with a fps of 2810.

27.0 grains with a 1/2 group at 50 yards with a fps of 2853.

27.8 grains with a 1/2 group at 50 yards with a fps of 2924.

So next time I will be retesting these loads along with 28.2, 28.4 and 28.6 and 28.8 and will be very watchful for signs of overpressure.

The worst group was the Freedom reloads they had a spread of 2 inches at 50 yards and 3 inches at 100 yards

 

[oneyeopn]

GMC...you didnt notice excess carbon build up at 28gr?
I saw 3000fps at 27.8gr but I also had the same thing with the freedom it was great for just blasting but not for accuracy work.

 

[GMC man]

I haven't gotten around to cleaning her yet but I do plan on it tomorrow. The sad thing is I still have almost 400 rounds of the freedom reloads but I guess they will make good plinkers.

 

[rebs081]

I would like to hear and share load data with anyone using H335 powder, 55 gr bullets and CCI 400 primers in their Sport.

 

[mickeyblueyes]

Reloading is a lot like weightlifting. Guys buy equipment and use it twice and there it sits. I put a little ad in my local forum that I would like to get started in reloading. A generous soul gave me much of what I needed to get going. So place a few ads around thanyou are looking for some old reloading equipment. Take it from there. The one thing I really needed was a mentor .

 

[Buffalohunter60]

So much good information here....great shooting and love to see those targets...off to NZ soon but hope to try my latest AR today...I will use the scope I have available right now but am going to get another nitrex...6-20
I am convinced that reloading is the only way to get tight groups and thats reason enough for me. LOL

 

[zip777]

Damn you guys must be preparing to shoot flies off a horse at 300 yards with those scopes!! Speaking of there is a fly in my house...in December. Where is my rifle!? lol

 

[JaPes]

Start reloading Zip. It's the only way to get rounds that shoot just right.

 

[zip777]

Start reloading Zip. It's the only way to get rounds that shoot just right.

That's the plan! I just need to slow my roll on spending. Fiscal cliff ahead!! Haha

My new addiction is killing me. So far my little sporty ammo and goodies has me $1400 poor!! If I don't slow down I will need my rifle to hunt food AS I LIVE IN THE WOODS. Lmao

The good news is all I need to save for now is my ACOG then reloading gear.

 

[oneyeopn]

Zip...I promise you everyone (except for a tiny minority) bought their sports and now have way overspent what they had budgeted. The primary reason is the Sport is so much better than as advertised. All you have to do is take it to the range the first time and then you go "What", the next thing is you are buying things that make it better for a home defense or a varmint hunting rifle. I myself wanted this platform primarily as a HD weapon and I wanted a .223 for hunting prairie dogs. I had the opportunity to pick up the Sport. I financed it and spent more than most on it but way less than if I had bought another brand or rifle. Once I got it and went out shooting I realized how accurate it was. I ended up with a rifle that would cover both bases. Ok I have to watch what I spend on accessories but even the missus realizes what we have and doesnt complain. Then BH60 gave us his Sport and asked me to not paint it fluorescent green or pink (LOL) and we have 2 OMG accurate target rifles. The missus claimed the original and I get the BH60's Sport but we can go out and snuff candles with the rifles. But because I reload our bullets are very accurate and we save money. I use a handpress, I use an RCBS universal hand primer. I bought an inexpensive digital powder measure and use the Lee Perfect Powder Measure and then verify the drops with the digital scale. Yep it takes more time, yep it is labor intensive. yep you see what groups I shoot and yep they are less expensive than buying rounds of the same quality. She still gets a little upset when I buy reloading components but way less upset than if I buy bullets. Plus when she goes shooting with me she forgets all about the money I spent. Thank the Lord!!!....just something to think about

 

[zip777]

I hear ya Grover and fortunate my girl gets excited when I show her how the rifle is progressing with the quad rail, sling etc...then show her pics of the stock / grip I'm buying! Hell she is even excited about the ACOG! lol

All this and because I don't have my range card until Thursday and not a single shot has been fired...we are still excited!! Why? After my military biker buddies turned me on to the sport then I joined this great forum and read about your experiences I KNEW what I had!! Didn't hesitate even a second to start setting it up for my uses.

Sounds like we are in very much the same boat Grover. lol very similar situations...

I'm actually pretty excited about reloading and I know once I'm able you guys will be a great resource!

 

[GMC man]

GMC...you didnt notice excess carbon build up at 28gr?
I saw 3000fps at 27.8gr but I also had the same thing with the freedom it was great for just blasting but not for accuracy work.

I cleaned my baby today and there was more carbon residual but still not as much as when I fire LC and no signs of overpressure on the primers at 28 grain.

rebs081 --why is it important to get max velocity equal to a military round ? Hand loads are far more accurate than factory loads. I don't see where the difference in velocity makes much difference if you are getting 1/2" groups. Does it make that much difference if your bullet is getting 3100 or 2900 fps ?

I have better groups with LC XM193 so that's why I am trying to duplicate the military round, if I cant then I will go with the best grouping for the charge and the higher the velocity the farther you can shoot up to a point. If you go too fast it can tear the round up or overpressure and blow your chamber so you have to walk a line and try and get your highest velocity and best group. I had used 25 grains and just about put the the rounds in the same holes at 50 yards but at 200 it dropped substantially.

have I missed anything guys?

 

[JaPes]

Zip...I promise you everyone (except for a tiny minority) bought their sports and now have way overspent what they had budgeted.

I won't admit to that.

Is it true? Probably, but part of the AR15 madness is the proper application of rationalization, denial, selective forgetfulness, and redirection as coping mechanisms in justifying purchases.

The primary reason is the Sport is so much better than as advertised. All you have to do is take it to the range the first time and then you go "What", the next thing is you are buying things that make it better for a home defense or a varmint hunting rifle.

The whole rifle is a great value. The fact that it performs the way it does made me wonder why it was so darn affordable. The 15-Sport turns the false premise of "you get what you pay for" upside down.

I cleaned my baby today and there was more carbon residual but still not as much as when I fire LC and no signs of overpressure on the primers at 28 grain.

rebs081 --why is it important to get max velocity equal to a military round ? Hand loads are far more accurate than factory loads. I don't see where the difference in velocity makes much difference if you are getting 1/2" groups. Does it make that much difference if your bullet is getting 3100 or 2900 fps ?

+1

Reloading lets you tailor a round specifically to an intended use. What projectile? What's the target? What distance? All of us have a reloading notebook filled with reloading recipes that note which recipe is suited for a particular use.

It' most evident in my pistol loads. I've got notes that state "good for punching paper at 25 yards", "perfect for pistol caliber carbine", "good for temp above 80 degrees", "works best in gun X".

 

[zip777]

Don't forget the "rips huge holes in formerly breathing bad guys" category!!!

LOL