Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Hodgdon CFE load data for M855

Anyone have load data for the M855 bullet using Hodgdon new CFE-223?

As new as CFE-223 is I doubt anyone has done any real work with mil-surp bullets and it. The bullet companies will only worl with their bullet and the powder companies use the more popular bullets to start when developing data for a new product.

You can use STARTING load data for a 63gr or probably a 60gr bullet and work up from there. The data for these bullet wts is probably very close to what you`ll find your rifle wants to accept.

Why would anyone spend time and effort loading ammo and use those POS bullets?

1+

I buy bulk Sierra 52gr MK for plinking. Pulled milsurp is not that much cheaper.

I'm asking for load data using CFE 223, however the powder is the milsup WC 842. It is the same powder as CFE 223. I shoot often and looking for a good, cost effective round. The SS109 was designed by/for the military. I would not think it is a POS. I would think an enormous amount of research went into developing that bullet. The cost is based on availablity, not quality I suspect.

BTW: I was able to work up loads. I started with 23.5 gr to 25.0. I settled at 23.7 gr. The groups were very consistent.

Nice work, Earl48. Tell me: How does your charge weight range compare to the charge weights found in surplus M855 ammunition?

MZ5, My charge load is 23.5 gr, WC 842. I pulled a surplus M855 and the wt was 26.4. Big difference, however the M855 is a "Hot" cartridge. Thought?

Could be that the military isn't using WC842 in M855.
Could be that there's enough flexibility in the powder and load that a slower lot of the powder can be charged that much higher and still meet velocity/pressure parameters.
Could be that your loads are dog-slow.
Could be that CFE223 is not WC842.
Could be none of the above.
Just my initial thoughts; I was hoping for closer charge weights between your trials and surplus ammo.

I essentially don't shoot surplus ammo. The charge weight you pulled down is a lot closer to what I would personally expect a 748 charge to be.

The SS109 cartridge was developed in Belgium and pushed on the USA by NATO as a std for the 5.56 cartridge. The bullet was adopted more for political purpose then merit IIRC.

How did the powder appearance/color in the pulled cartridge compare to your can of CFE223? It`s possible there is more then one powder used in these load depending on place of manufcture?
I have to agree a 3gr difference in charge is way too much to believe the powders are the same.

Gents, Great information and advice. I'm new to this forum and I'm liking the feedback so far. I'll keep on working the WC 842. I'll put the Chrono on both tomorrow morning to see if I'm under charging the rounds.

Gents, I put the Chrono on a M855 and it was 2900 FPS. My AR is a 16 inch, 1-9 twist, stock barrel. The best load I was able to work up was 25.0 gr. It produces 2916 FPS. Closer, yet not the same as the M855 powder charge. It shot as well as the 23.7 load at 2758 FPS.