Cloning the 556FBIT3 round

[BillB]

Anybody ever had success doing this? Awhile back I ran across some of the original 62gr TBBC bullets and bought 500 of them and now am getting ready to buy more from this same guy. He says they're new and I cant find any marks indicating such, nor is there and sealant.. They're clean and even the tips are in ok shape. By all accounts they're fine bullets.
I'd like to load up some SD type rounds to replicate the FBIT rounds in both performance and purpose, not loading for winning any matches or trophies for the smallest groups. I've got a boatload of LC brass prepped, ready to prime and load. Many thousands of CCI 41 primers. The powders I physically have on hand are WC844 (8lbs), 8208xbr, varget, vihtivouri n530, Acc2520. I'm currently out of my favorite ARComp, something I hope to remedy soon.
Hard to find any loading data out there for this ammo.
Anyone have any suggestions? I'm not an old salt at reloading but not a total newb either.

[Nightvisionary]

Anybody ever had success doing this? Awhile back I ran across some of the original 62gr TBBC bullets and bought 500 of them and now am getting ready to buy more from this same guy. He says they're pulls but I cant find any marks indicating such. They're clean and even the tips are in ok shape. By all accounts they're fine bullets.
I'd like to load up some SD type rounds to replicate the FBIT rounds in both performance and purpose, not loading for winning any matches or trophies for the smallest groups. I've got a boatload of LC brass prepped, ready to prime and load. Many thousands of CCI 41 primers. The powders I physically have on hand are WC844 (8lbs), 8208xbr, varget, vihtivouri n530, Acc2520. I'm currently out of my favorite ARComp, something I hope to remedy soon.
Hard to find any loading data out there for this ammo.
Anyone have any suggestions? I'm not an old salt at reloading but not a total newb either.

27.7 Grains of CFE with CCI 41's gets me to about 2940 with 62 grain Speer GD and 62 grain MK 318 bullets from a 16 inch barrel. It is a full power 5.56 load. Accuracy on par with Federal M193.

[BillB]

Thanks NV. I've never loaded cfe. Sounds like one I should try, I've found several cfe based loads for similar loads and people seem to have good things to say about it generally.
Unfortunately I don't have any to try on hand though. I appreciate your time and help.

[Kansaswoodguy]

I’d probably use CFE223 for this also it’s not my first choice for accuracy but you should have no problem getting MOA out of it and it meters like water.

[BillB]

Well, again, looks like I'll have to buy some CFE. I did load some last night using my Vhitivouri N530, from 21.6 to 24.4, LC17, CCI41's, loaded to just hitting the cannalures and a light crimp using the Lee FCD.

[BillB]

So I got to the range today (a friends farm I have to myself) 100 degrees out today and the humidity was like a wet cotton blanket, but I went anyway.
I had the Vhitivouri n530 loads already and loaded some 8208xbr too. The N530 was 2 decent accuracy loadings from a previous trip and were 24.2 and 24.4 grains. The 8208xbr were 33.2, 23.4 and 23.6 grains. Last trip I was shooting at the 50yd line, this time 100 and accuracy were almost exactly what I expected based on my 50yd groups. This time though I was shooting 10 round groups whereas last time I was shooting 5 rounds. So, at least that was consistent. The test rifle has a 16" barrel from HCS, Kevin's RECCE SS barrel, BCM upper and lower, MI combat rail, Geissele SSP trigger. Pretty decent little gun.
Loads were in LC16 brass (1.755") with CCI41 primers.
Best overall performance with Vhitivouri was the 24.4 load showing a 2920fps avg, extreme spread was 44fps and SD of 13fps. No serious pressure signs but I can see some slight ejector smears, no raised burrs, no bent heads no extreme flattening of the primers. 9 shots 1.578" and one flyer opening it up to 2.242". 5 shots cloverleafed into a little .379" hole. The 24.2gr load had equally impressive stats and the accuracy is certainly acceptable @ 2.193" I'm happy with that, and I have 4lbs of the N530 all from the same lot. That stuff shoots CLEAN too. I'm really liking VV. I was shooting off of my range bag by the way because I forgot my tools needed to attach the mlok bipod to shoot off the bench on.
The 8208xbr turned in some great numbers too but the velocity was not as fast as the N530. 23.6gr= 2750fps, extreme spread of 42fps and a SD again at 13fps. Again, no pressure signs at all with this load. Maybe I could bump it up a little and see where it goes. When I do a ladder I never move more than .3gr at a time and almost always move only .2gr at a time anyway. Best group was the 23.4 @ 1.395", again, more than acceptable to me. In fact they're all much better than I really expected although they're in line with the 50yd groups I shot with them.
I dont have any of the xm556fbit3 ammo to compare with but havent I read on here that the velocities are usually sort of low with this stuff? Now I'll have to reshoot these in the fall or winter and see how they perform.
Still want to try the CFE223 but havent ordered any yet. I'm in need of some other powders and hazmat items so maybe soon.

[j-dubya]

Your XBR loading are in the low node. Test around 25.0 and the velocity will be more in line where you want it.

[BillB]

I was definitely going to bump up the xbr load next weekend, however, I do have 4lbs of the VV and man its clean, the cases aren't even dirty , and I misstated the SD number with it, its was 8fps! I may just keep it with the VV and buy me another 1000 of the TBBCs and build me a nice little stash.

[BillB]

Got the load up to 3109 with 24.8gr of VV N530, SD of 23 and something like 1.4 @ 100 yes out if my 16" barrel. Plenty good for me.