For me though, 10.5" is as short as I'll go in 5.56.
52's are still pretty respectable out of a 10.5" barrel:
Cartridge : 5.56 mm NATO - 5.56 x 45 mm
Bullet : .224, 52, Nosler CC HPBT 53294
Useable Case Capaci: 26.481 grain H2O = 1.719 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.260 inch = 57.40 mm
Barrel Length : 10.5 inch = 266.7 mm
Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 61500 psi, or 424 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 108 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Winchester 748 105.9 27.8 1.80 2816 88.4 61500 18757 0.560 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2219 aka H322 100.7 25.4 1.64 2815 92.8 61500 18290 0.558 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H322 107.1 25.4 1.64 2815 92.8 61500 18290 0.558 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-10x *C 104.7 24.1 1.56 2808 96.5 61500 18139 0.571 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 296 77.9 20.4 1.32 2803 99.7 61500 17346 0.573 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2207 aka H4198 99.0 22.6 1.46 2802 99.5 61500 17291 0.568 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4198 103.7 22.7 1.47 2799 97.7 61500 17144 0.554 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H335 100.7 26.8 1.74 2797 91.2 61500 18238 0.563 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 200 *C 100.6 24.0 1.56 2793 97.3 61500 18014 0.583 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2015 107.5 25.1 1.63 2786 95.6 61500 17821 0.575 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 5744 86.2 20.1 1.30 2785 97.7 61500 16983 0.553 ! Near Maximum !
Shooters World Buffalo Rifle 88.2 20.1 1.30 2785 97.7 61500 16983 0.553 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant AR-Comp *C *T 108.0 25.5 1.65 2783 96.7 56241 18547 0.583 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon BL-C2 108.0 28.8 1.86 2780 86.4 60293 18550 0.570 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N530 *C 106.3 26.1 1.69 2780 87.6 61500 17984 0.563 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-12 106.2 26.4 1.71 2776 92.9 61500 17599 0.563 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N120 *C 101.6 22.6 1.47 2774 99.9 61500 16303 0.567 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4227 93.9 21.0 1.36 2773 99.4 61500 16287 0.556 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N125 *C 96.0 21.8 1.41 2772 99.9 61500 16297 0.566 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-7 97.8 23.1 1.50 2770 97.3 61500 17117 0.570 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Wild Boar 108.0 28.2 1.83 2765 84.6 60731 18018 0.566 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2460 103.9 27.3 1.77 2764 88.9 61500 17940 0.578 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 1680 90.0 22.9 1.49 2764 94.5 61500 17000 0.561 ! Near Maximum !
Shooters World Blackout 82.8 21.1 1.37 2764 97.8 61500 16404 0.553 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N130 *C 107.0 24.4 1.58 2761 96.4 61500 16963 0.568 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4227 93.1 20.8 1.35 2758 98.9 61500 16082 0.555 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2200 97.9 24.3 1.57 2758 90.6 61500 17223 0.562 ! Near Maximum !
Shooters World AR Plus 102.2 26.7 1.73 2757 88.8 61500 17624 0.573 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2520 108.0 27.8 1.80 2755 88.8 58397 18389 0.585 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2210 100.7 25.4 1.65 2753 89.1 61500 17316 0.564 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 8208 XBR 108.0 26.4 1.71 2750 87.1 60208 17650 0.570 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H110 79.2 20.8 1.34 2750 100.0 61500 15857 0.573 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4198 99.4 22.8 1.48 2749 93.1 61500 16615 0.556 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2230 102.9 27.2 1.76 2744 86.4 61500 17382 0.571 ! Near Maximum !
ADI BM2 aka Benchmark 98.5 25.6 1.66 2744 89.2 61500 17153 0.565 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Benchmark 107.0 25.7 1.67 2742 89.0 61500 17126 0.565 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Lil'Gun 78.0 19.8 1.28 2742 100.0 61500 15151 0.577 ! Near Maximum !
Shooters World Tactical Rifle 101.0 26.3 1.70 2734 87.0 61500 16953 0.564 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot X-Terminator *C 104.7 27.3 1.77 2733 85.2 61500 17213 0.567 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot TAC *C 107.0 28.2 1.83 2723 80.9 61500 17135 0.566 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant 2400 75.2 17.4 1.13 2721 100.0 61500 14416 0.559 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N110 *C 89.4 18.5 1.20 2709 100.0 61500 14226 0.567 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4895 108.0 26.4 1.71 2706 84.4 56429 17817 0.591 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4100 76.5 19.3 1.25 2706 100.0 61500 14349 0.563 ! Near Maximum !Yeah that's not bad, breaking 2800.
Even the 75/77s will easily break 2400, and still be in the 1800-1900 fps and 600 ft-lbs range at 300 yards.
With the 10.5, I zero at 40 yards, giving a 200+ point blank range +/- 2", and about 12" low at 300. I'd imagine the 52-55gr stuff at 2800 would a bit flatter to 300.
