Nightvisionary
06-16-13, 10:53
I got my hands on Noslers new addition to their reloading component line, the .224 caliber 64 grain Bonded Solid Base bullet. From what I understand this is the same bullet used in the Winchester Ranger 64GR JSP, RA556B which is on Doc GKR's recommended list here https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=19881
I used Varget since it is what I have on hand in a decent quantity. Nosler recommends a starting load for Varget of 23 grains with 25 grains as the max load. Hodgdon shows the max load for 63 grain bullets at 26.4 grains of Varget so I decided to start at 24.7 then progress to 25.0, 25.3, and 25.6 grains. Using once fired Speer brass I loaded 10 rounds at each charge weight, 5 rounds with Remington 7 ½ and 5 with CCI 450 primers. All bullets were seated un-crimped, just below the cannelure to 2.210 OAL. My Speer brass is all a bit short varying between 1.740 and 1.7480. If your brass is 1.750, 2.210 will be right on the cannelure.
The carbine used has a White Oak Armament 16 inch free float 1/8 stainless barrel with a 223 Wylde chamber, Geisselle SD-E trigger, and Leupold MK 4/MRT 1.5-5x20 optic(Actual magnification is 1.5x4.5).
I concluded that Nosler’s load data for their bullet was right on the money. 24.7 grains of Varget with CCI 450’s delivered excellent accuracy, low standard deviation, and good velocity. 25 grains also had great accuracy and higher velocity but the S.D. was a bit high. 25.3 started showing mild pressure signs and at 25.6 I popped a primer and had extractor swipes on most of the others.
The targets below illustrate how a simple change in primers can have a significant effect on accuracy. After reading some previous reports of mediocre accuracy with these bullets I would have been quite satisfied with 2 MOA in a bonded bullet. To get .6 MOA in a carbine with a 4 ½ power scope, to me is outstanding. I will likely stick with 24.7 gr. of Varget with the CCI 450’s. The muzzle velocity is identical to SSA’s offering with the same bullet and delivers expansion out to 350 yards.
B.C. .231. All loads using Varget and Speer once fired brass. 2.210 COAL, chronograph distance 12 feet, Target distance 100 yards:
24.7 Gr./ Rem 7.5 primer- 2777,2789,2804,2777,2797. Avg Vel. 2788, SD 11.3, 2.16 MOA
24.7 Gr./CCI 450- 2795,2800,2801,2801,2812. Avg. Vel. 2801, SD 6.2, 0.59 MOA.
25.0 Gr./Rem 7.5- 2796,2823,2844,2846,2842. Avg. Vel. 2830, SD 21.2, 1.4 MOA.
25.0 Gr./CCI 450- 2831,2882,2867,2860,2908. Avg Vel. 2869, SD 28.36, 0.611 MOA.
25.3 Gr./Rem 7.5- 2803,2862,2850,2865,2834. Avg Vel 2842, SD 25.37, 1.136 MOA. Mild pressure signs.
25.3 Gr./CCI 450- 2874,2902,2866,2885,2831. Avg. Vel 2871, SD 26.40, 1.328 MOA. Mild pressure signs.
25.6 Gr./Rem 7.5- 2933,2909,2885,2933,2889. Avg. Vel. 2909, SD 23.04, 2.126 MOA. Flat primers & ejector marks.
25.6 Gr./CCI 450- 2949,2994,2900,2885,2916. Avg. Vel 2928, SD 43, 1.567 MOA. 1 blown primer, ejector marks. excessive pressure.
http://i43.tinypic.com/3128r48.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/yc7wm.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/25f15w4.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/2ut6kd5.jpg
I used Varget since it is what I have on hand in a decent quantity. Nosler recommends a starting load for Varget of 23 grains with 25 grains as the max load. Hodgdon shows the max load for 63 grain bullets at 26.4 grains of Varget so I decided to start at 24.7 then progress to 25.0, 25.3, and 25.6 grains. Using once fired Speer brass I loaded 10 rounds at each charge weight, 5 rounds with Remington 7 ½ and 5 with CCI 450 primers. All bullets were seated un-crimped, just below the cannelure to 2.210 OAL. My Speer brass is all a bit short varying between 1.740 and 1.7480. If your brass is 1.750, 2.210 will be right on the cannelure.
The carbine used has a White Oak Armament 16 inch free float 1/8 stainless barrel with a 223 Wylde chamber, Geisselle SD-E trigger, and Leupold MK 4/MRT 1.5-5x20 optic(Actual magnification is 1.5x4.5).
I concluded that Nosler’s load data for their bullet was right on the money. 24.7 grains of Varget with CCI 450’s delivered excellent accuracy, low standard deviation, and good velocity. 25 grains also had great accuracy and higher velocity but the S.D. was a bit high. 25.3 started showing mild pressure signs and at 25.6 I popped a primer and had extractor swipes on most of the others.
The targets below illustrate how a simple change in primers can have a significant effect on accuracy. After reading some previous reports of mediocre accuracy with these bullets I would have been quite satisfied with 2 MOA in a bonded bullet. To get .6 MOA in a carbine with a 4 ½ power scope, to me is outstanding. I will likely stick with 24.7 gr. of Varget with the CCI 450’s. The muzzle velocity is identical to SSA’s offering with the same bullet and delivers expansion out to 350 yards.
B.C. .231. All loads using Varget and Speer once fired brass. 2.210 COAL, chronograph distance 12 feet, Target distance 100 yards:
24.7 Gr./ Rem 7.5 primer- 2777,2789,2804,2777,2797. Avg Vel. 2788, SD 11.3, 2.16 MOA
24.7 Gr./CCI 450- 2795,2800,2801,2801,2812. Avg. Vel. 2801, SD 6.2, 0.59 MOA.
25.0 Gr./Rem 7.5- 2796,2823,2844,2846,2842. Avg. Vel. 2830, SD 21.2, 1.4 MOA.
25.0 Gr./CCI 450- 2831,2882,2867,2860,2908. Avg Vel. 2869, SD 28.36, 0.611 MOA.
25.3 Gr./Rem 7.5- 2803,2862,2850,2865,2834. Avg Vel 2842, SD 25.37, 1.136 MOA. Mild pressure signs.
25.3 Gr./CCI 450- 2874,2902,2866,2885,2831. Avg. Vel 2871, SD 26.40, 1.328 MOA. Mild pressure signs.
25.6 Gr./Rem 7.5- 2933,2909,2885,2933,2889. Avg. Vel. 2909, SD 23.04, 2.126 MOA. Flat primers & ejector marks.
25.6 Gr./CCI 450- 2949,2994,2900,2885,2916. Avg. Vel 2928, SD 43, 1.567 MOA. 1 blown primer, ejector marks. excessive pressure.
http://i43.tinypic.com/3128r48.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/yc7wm.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/25f15w4.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/2ut6kd5.jpg