Shot my first reloads and need your opinion

[powerstroke79]

Shot my first reloads today.All went smooth no signs of over pressure.loaded 2 lots, shot from an ar15


Temperature: 76
wind: very little


I dont have a Chronograph sorry


rifle info
16 s&w 1/8 r5 barrel
1x4 nikon 600 yard reticle
@100 yards off a sand bag


1st lot
sierra 55gr HPBT
H335
CCI 400 Primers
once fired Remington brass
Coal 2.24
light factory crimp
24 gr
24.5 gr
25 gr
25.5 gr
5 loads of each


2 lot
sierra 55gr FMJBT
H335
CCI 400 Primers
once fired Remington brass
Coal 2.25
light factory crimp
23.5 gr
24 gr
24.5 gr
25 gr
25.5 gr
5 loads of each


I measured them all and picked the two best out of each lot. when i measured i through out one flyer and measured a four shot group. I also measured a three shot group.


lot 1 targets


55gr HPBT 24 gr
4 shot 1.430
3 shot .964
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s205/powerstroke79/1streloads004_zpse0032823.jpg (http://s153.photobucket.com/user/powerstroke79/media/1streloads004_zpse0032823.jpg.html)


55gr HPBT 25.5 gr
4 shot 1.542
3 shot .946
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s205/powerstroke79/1streloads005_zpsfbd7210e.jpg (http://s153.photobucket.com/user/powerstroke79/media/1streloads005_zpsfbd7210e.jpg.html)


lot 2 targets


55gr FMJ 24.5 gr
4 shot 1.394
3shot .808
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s205/powerstroke79/1streloads002_zpsfe287c32.jpg (http://s153.photobucket.com/user/powerstroke79/media/1streloads002_zpsfe287c32.jpg.html)


55gr FMJ 25 gr
4 shot 2.483
3 shot .803
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s205/powerstroke79/1streloads003_zpsdd457014.jpg (http://s153.photobucket.com/user/powerstroke79/media/1streloads003_zpsdd457014.jpg.html)

[Zombie Steve]

Congrats on your first loads. There shouldn't be that much difference in the two bullets.

Generally speaking, I go in 1% increments with rifle. You were doing 2% jumps. I'd round up to .3 grain increments in this case. You might try going 42.3 grains.

Also - forget the crimp. Find the right load first, then mess with that variable. Chances are you don't need it and it's a coin toss as to whether or not it helps.

I'm only looking at one source of data (Sierra), and their data goes up to 25.7 grains in their AR-15 section. You might find a sweet spot between where you left off and that. I'd want to cross reference with other data though and definitely take smaller jumps up.


Overall, damn fine job your first trip out. Thumbs up.

[bobbyfairbanks]

Dude great job. Although living dead, I totally agree with zombie Steve and further more I'm surprised a zombie even has that much brain power.

As you get closer to max I would reduce your jumps up. Be safe and have fun

[powerstroke79]

Good info guys, thanks you. Next time I'm not going to use black targets. The black on black cross hair with a 4x scope @ 100 yard was difficult. 50 yard with an aimpoint no problem.

[BlasterBob]

Congrats on your first loads. There shouldn't be that much difference in the two bullets.

Generally speaking, I go in 1% increments with rifle. You were doing 2% jumps. I'd round up to .3 grain increments in this case. You might try going 42.3 grains.

Also - forget the crimp. Find the right load first, then mess with that variable. Chances are you don't need it and it's a coin toss as to whether or not it helps.

I'm only looking at one source of data (Sierra), and their data goes up to 25.7 grains in their AR-15 section. You might find a sweet spot between where you left off and that. I'd want to cross reference with other data though and definitely take smaller jumps up.


Overall, damn fine job your first trip out. Thumbs up.

42.3 grains?

[J]

Either he is loading for a 308 of mor likely some
Dyslexia was kicking in. I suspect he meant 24.3.

[Colorado Osprey]

You might try heavier bullets. The 1-7 and 1-8 twist guns usually shoot 65 grain and larger bullets better.
You might find the gun prints the bigger bullets well.

[Zombie Steve]

Either he is loading for a 308 of mor likely some
Dyslexia was kicking in. I suspect he meant 24.3.


Uff da. Yep. Meant 24.3, 25.3 et cetera. Just trying to get at the idea that he might have passed over a sweet spot.

[TRnCO]

do you have a good trigger in your rifle. Shooting groups is tough with a poor trigger.

[powerstroke79]

You might try heavier bullets. The 1-7 and 1-8 twist guns usually shoot 65 grain and larger bullets better.
You might find the gun prints the bigger bullets well.

The only two rifles I have with magnification optics are both 1/8 twists. I'm going to work up some 75gr rounds for my varmit ar. Thinking of working up some 62gr for target shoring.These 55gr loads are more for just plunking and having fun at the range.

[powerstroke79]

do you have a good trigger in your rifle. Shooting groups is tough with a poor trigger.

That rifle has a mil-spec trigger.

[Danimal]

Deleted

[Zombie Steve]

Just a side note - every rifle is different, but I've never had a twist rate not like 55 grain bullets. 1:7, 1:8 or 1:9.

[TRnCO]

just an opinion, but if you want to shoot smaller groups, a good trigger and better glass would be a good start. It's tough to shoot tight groups without those two things, and also tough to really develop your best loads until you remove the two things that really can make a difference in group sizes. In other words, you could have some great shooting ammo., but without a great shooting gun, the ammo. can't really show you what it's capable of.

[manbearpig]

I was in your shoes not too long ago. I was new to reloading for an AR and I couldn't get my gun to shoot good groups. I replaced the poor factory trigger and the grouping improved dramatically. Keep us informed on what happens next.


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[JustAGuy]

That looks like a darned good first effort there. I'd have to second the recommendation to put some 75 Grain SMKs on your list of bullets to try. I shoot them out of my 24 inch target AR and they are pretty sweet...as are 40 gr Vmax's.
I think that from an accuracy standpoint, the H335 will server you very well. It's the most accurate powder I've ever shot out of my .223s. If you ever feel like you'd like to feel what a Geissele trigger feels like, let me know and we can go shooting. I also have a lower that has a "home stoned" hammer and sear that might give you a sense of what can be done to smooth out a factory trigger.