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Posted: 12/5/2016 5:52:26 PM EDT
| Hey what's up guys, I was wanting to know if people had success with CFE223 using Hornady 75g BTHP? I cant seem to get good velocity and accuracy from them. (I was hoping to get into the 2600-2700 area for velocity) The velocity is only 2435 and the only accuracy I can get from them is about an 1"-5 shot group at 100 yards. That is using LC brass, 22g of CFE223, CCI primers, and the Hornady 75g BTHP. The Rifle has a 20" super bull stainless steel barrel 1-8" twist that has shot good with factory loads. As soon as I start upping the charge the group opens up and at about 24.5g I start to flatten primers. I have taken it to 27g with flat primers and a 5" group at 100 yards. Thinking the rifle just doesn't like this powder. |
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Haven't tried CFE. I can tell you that 23.9 to 24.1 grains of RE-15 seems to work well in most rifles with either 75 Hornady's or 77 Sierra's. 24.1 is near the top. Drop 10% and work up. My rifle didn't like the 24gr range of RE-15 at all, my accuracy zone is 22.0-22.3. Up around 24.0 I got some really nice 3 rd clusters, and a lot of uncalled flyers. Don't know if it's altitude, temperature, or just the rifle. My results are with the Hornady 75gr. As always, YMMV. |
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I disregard velocity when developing accurate ammo. 2600 fps +/- is plenty fast for a 75/77 grain bullet when launched from a 20" barrel. Anything faster is hot IMO. Groups size is the driving force when I develop loads. If it won't shoot 1 MOA it's not good enough.
H4895 and IMR-8208-XBR starting at 22.0 grains and not exceeding 23.0 grains works for most people. Varget, RE-15 and N140 starting at 23.0 grains and not exceeding 24.0 grains works as well. The only ball powder that I hear people suggest for heavy bullets is AA-2520. I don't use ball powders any longer so you're on your own with them. |
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Thanks, I've been a long time reader but not much of a poster. Seems like a lot of good information and good guys on this forum compared to others.
Borderpatrol- Would you take almost 200 fps loss in velocity to have that 1 moa or better? When I use a ballistic calculator that equates to almost 180 lbs lost at 300 yards. I'm trying to keep 300 yards as my max on this rifle but have the hardest hitting most accurate round that I can from 223. I will try the RE-15 this weekend and see if I have better luck. |
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Quoted:
Thanks, I've been a long time reader but not much of a poster. Seems like a lot of good information and good guys on this forum compared to others. Borderpatrol- Would you take almost 200 fps loss in velocity to have that 1 moa or better? When I use a ballistic calculator that equates to almost 180 lbs lost at 300 yards. I'm trying to keep 300 yards as my max on this rifle but have the hardest hitting most accurate round that I can from 223. I will try the RE-15 this weekend and see if I have better luck. 200 fps slower than what standard? Virtually every manual on the market lists 2650 fps +/- as a maximum velocity when shooting 75/77 grain bullets from a 20" barrel. I am perfectly willing to sacrifice 100 fps (2550 from a 20") if it shoots tighter groups. Issue M262 is HOT and several commercial sources (IMI & CBC) that have tried to duplicate have caused pressure symptoms, even blown primers in some rifles. There is no free lunch. Pay special attention to any data you reference, especially the barrel length used. 24" barrels are commonly used when developing reloading data and they automatically add 100 fps to any velocity published. If a 24" barrel produces 2750 fps, that same ammo will run 2650 fps from a 20" tube. Accuracy becomes more important at distance, not less. IMO any rifle/ammo combination needs to be 1 MOA or better if the owner wants reliable performance at longer ranges. Quality bullets makes this possible. |
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Well I reloaded 50 rounds this time with RE15 and H4895 for my testing. 23.8 grains of RE15 got the 75g BTHP down to a .70" 4 shot group but then fired the 5th shot and open up to 1.41" group. Either I pulled the shot or something was going on.
With 22 grains of H4895 I got .60" 4 shot group with the 5th shot opening up to 1.15" group. Also had a 5 shot group of .93" with 23 grains. Next weekend I'll take the chrono out and see what velocities I get with those loads. I'm not expecting to get a ragged hole with this rifle as it only has a 2-7 leupold vx-1 on it. But it definitely like the RE15 and H4895 better than the CFE223. |
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