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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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What’s the CFE load for heavies?
“Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils.” - General
John Stark.
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
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I tried the Barnes TSX 62 and 70 grain bullets with CFE223, top end loads were compressed.
Ran out of room for powder before getting what I thought was decent velocity. Not much accuracy either.
I have a 20" BA 556 7 twist barrel on my (working up to) precision AR.
I'm thinking CFE223 is better for 60gr or less? I switched to TAC with the 65gr Sierra Gamekings and groups are shrinking.
Guess I could revisit the Barnes bullets with TAC? But I found some Nosler 69gr HPBTs I'm going to try next (with TAC) as soon as the range dries out.
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Campfire Outfitter
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AR loading, compiled from reading about 1000 posts here on the subject, but largely confirmed by myself: 1. Get ASC Stainless mags. 2. You probably don't need small base dies. 3. You don't need to crimp. 4. 55 gr. Hornadys with cannelure are decent GP bullet at a great price. 5. Bump shoulders back about .003" 6. 65 gr Game Kings are a better GP bullet, maybe not for rodents. 1-8 is plenty. 7. There's about 20 good powders, .223/5.56 is like .308, shoots well with double base horse manure.  I like CFE 223 for heavies, 8208 for lights; Varget and TAC are keepers. I haven't tried AR Comp or 4895, they are on the list, just haven't gotten there. 8.Your 50's will probably be just fine, I've got a load for 40 gr BT and 8208 that shoots wonderfully in a 1-7. Need to shoot the Black Rifle Challenge. 9. Rem 7 1/2, CCI 450 and CCI 41 seem to be preferred due to the AR firing pin. 10. If your brass lands at about 4:00 you are gassed about right. And finally: Barrels will be burned. Boom. Exactly what I was looking for. The good news, I don’t GAF what the bullets cost, I ain’t paying for them. I have 750 50 grain Hornady VMax that need loading so I’ll probably just use the Benchmark load that shoots so well in our bolt rifles. The OAL is 2.276”, is that too long for most AR magazines? No problem to smoosh them down to 2.260”. P
Obey lawful commands. Video interactions. Hold bad cops accountable. Problem solved.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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“Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils.” - General
John Stark.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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What’s the CFE load for heavies? 25.0 to 26.0 gr with 64 and 65 gr, for me, up at the top of Hodgdon's listed .223 data; wish they listed 5.56 pressure data. Not really heavies now that I think about it, kind of mid-range these days. I haven't had any luck with 73 ELD's yet, but that doesn't seem unusual. The OAL is 2.276”, is that too long for most AR magazines? No problem to smoosh them down to 2.260”.
That's why you get ASC's. 
'Four legs good, two legs baaaad."
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"Jimmy, some of it's magic,
Some of it's tragic,
But I had a good life all the way."
(Jimmy Buffett)
SotG
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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What’s the CFE load for heavies? 25.0 to 26.0 gr with 64 and 65 gr, for me, up at the top of Hodgdon's listed .223 data; wish they listed 5.56 pressure data. Not really heavies now that I think about it, kind of mid-range these days. I haven't had any luck with 73 ELD's yet, but that doesn't seem unusual. The OAL is 2.276”, is that too long for most AR magazines? No problem to smoosh them down to 2.260”.
That's why you get ASC's. The rule of thumb is to add 1.5gr of powder to go from .223 to 5.56 velocities. Of course you need to work up, and this is just a rule to give you an approximate upper limit.
You didn't use logic or reason to get into this opinion, I cannot use logic or reason to get you out of it.
You cannot over estimate the unimportance of nearly everything. John Maxwell
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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'Four legs good, two legs baaaad."
----------------------------------------------
"Jimmy, some of it's magic,
Some of it's tragic,
But I had a good life all the way."
(Jimmy Buffett)
SotG
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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What’s the CFE load for heavies? 25.0 to 26.0 gr with 64 and 65 gr, for me, up at the top of Hodgdon's listed .223 data; wish they listed 5.56 pressure data. Not really heavies now that I think about it, kind of mid-range these days. I haven't had any luck with 73 ELD's yet, but that doesn't seem unusual. The OAL is 2.276”, is that too long for most AR magazines? No problem to smoosh them down to 2.260”.
That's why you get ASC's. Hornady 5.56 load data with a 68gr bullet is 26.9gr with CFE or 27.7gr of CFE with a 62gr FMJ
Last edited by 79S; 03/18/19.
Then STFU. The rest of your statement is superflous bullshit with no real bearing on this discussion other than to massage your own ego. Suckin' on my titties like you wanted me.
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Campfire Outfitter
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I bought a box of 69 grain HPBT Matchkings today. I hope theses are the “69 gr SMK” bullets I keep reading about. They’re not the tipped kind.
I’m going to load them at 2.250” with Varget and my brother will see what they do. Leaning toward 25 grains.
P
Obey lawful commands. Video interactions. Hold bad cops accountable. Problem solved.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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That should be close, I found the accuracy node at 25.4 gr. of Varget in my 18", 1:8 twist Wilson Match barrel.
Let's Go Brandon! FJB
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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24.5 Benchmark with the 69 grain Sierra works as well.
“Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils.” - General
John Stark.
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Campfire Outfitter
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I loaded 10 at 25.3 grains, and 10 at 24.5 grains, all at 2.250”.
I also resized our accuracy load we call Pest Control, 50 gr BT Varmint over 26.5 gr Benchmark, down to 2.250”. I included 10 Bonded Solid Base over Varget at 2.153” and some 70 gr. RDF over TAC at 2.250”.
He’s got 6 different loads to try. Who knows, we might get lucky.
P
Obey lawful commands. Video interactions. Hold bad cops accountable. Problem solved.
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Campfire Outfitter
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25.4gr of Varget has always been a little hot in my Wylde chambers. I use 25gr or just use my 77gr charge, 24 or 24.5.
Politics is War by Other Means
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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TAC and Benchmark will work really well with those 50 grain Ballistic Tips, and they will have no problems because of an 8" twist. They are varmint bullets, but not the deliberately easy blow up kind like a Blitz King or whatever.
Save the Varget for the 65 grain Sierras and heavier.
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Campfire Savant
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Campfire Savant
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I use Varget and 62 Barnes for killing pigs in my Rock River Varmints. The Winchester 64 grain power point is good also.
Make sure you trim brass, I loaded 500 rounds before I got my AR. The Speer brass was a little long. They wouldn’t chamber, had to shoot them up in a bolt gun.
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
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There is load books that gives the 223 loads and 5.56 that is the best way to go Western Powder reloading guide has both of them
Loves gun and reloading casting my own bullets
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Campfire Outfitter
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My brother’s range report. Keep in mind the rifle was new, and he’d never shot an AR before. Most of the loads did not shoot well, but the famed accuracy load of 69 SMK and 25.3 gr Varget did this at 100 yards: ![[Linked Image]](https://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w84/pharmseller/1DD4AEA3-98D7-4038-8496-BB410D67B2C1_zpsjot0idfh.jpeg) That’s .65” or so, good enough for me. MV was 2730, extreme spread of three. Three. I’m a frickin’ jaynius. P
Obey lawful commands. Video interactions. Hold bad cops accountable. Problem solved.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Campfire Outfitter
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69 SMK ballistic coefficient is .301.
Obey lawful commands. Video interactions. Hold bad cops accountable. Problem solved.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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My brother’s range report. Keep in mind the rifle was new, and he’d never shot an AR before. Most of the loads did not shoot well, but the famed accuracy load of 69 SMK and 25.3 gr Varget did this at 100 yards: That’s .65” or so, good enough for me. MV was 2730, extreme spread of three. Three. I’m a frickin’ jaynius. P That's a really nice starting point.
You didn't use logic or reason to get into this opinion, I cannot use logic or reason to get you out of it.
You cannot over estimate the unimportance of nearly everything. John Maxwell
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Yeah, but he’s not happy with the velocity. That’s what you get with a 16” barrel and Varget.
Any other loads that approach 2900 at 2.250” with the 69 SMK that aren’t compressed?
P
Obey lawful commands. Video interactions. Hold bad cops accountable. Problem solved.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
Member #547
Join date 3/09/2001
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