50gr vmax and CFE223 AR-15 pet loads

[markm]

Sounds like the powder/burn rate just doesn't agree with that barrel.

[Ned Christiansen]

The Barnes VG's made a very nice group-- side to side. Top to bottom is was 2"-ish! Definitely off the node on that one..... chrono is telling me it's not a velocity spread although I did not chrono that particular load, yet. Kinda moot to do so now.

[Ned Christiansen]

So I whooped up some with Varget from 2004.... much newer than the 748 I was using ;-).

I believe I have not previously used Varget in .223, only .308. The charge I selected to start with-- a little on the high side of the suggested range-- came right up to the case mouth. Backed it off until I could stuff bullets in and as far as the 'graph is concerned I'm right where I want to be, 3150-ish in 20". Did not graph the 24 but hoping it might be in the high 3200's.

Grouping is much improved, probably can do better with a little tuning which I'm loathe to take the time for because..... as mentioned before I'm spoiled by years of just being "luckier" than this. Neither the 50 grain VG's nor the 53 VMax's were reliably under and inch, but at worst, not much over. I've had amazing accuracy with VG's in 6X45.

[Daniel44114]

I use 23.4 for 55 grain V-Max's. We appear to be on the same page with a very accurate powder.