223 with 75gr Hornady HPBT

[wanderinwalker]

Good evening all,

Spent some time at the range this morning with my Colt 6920 carbine, a chronograph and a smattering of reloads. I thought I'd post my results here and get a reality check.

I was experimenting with the Hornady 75gr HPBT bullets and curious what the 16" barrel of my Colt would deliver. I've never used Hornady match bullets before, preferring the Nosler Custom Competition line for my Highpower service rifle ammo. But I have a new rifle, so what better excuse to try something new?

I tried two variations of an old stand-by Highpower load, 23.5gr of Varget and 24.0gr loaded into processed Lake City cases. For this batch I used Remington 7 1/2s because I have a couple thousand of them. In the past I've used this with 77gr Noslers and the Hornadys have a very similar profile and length. A single 100-yard group of 10-rounds of the 24.0gr shows much promise.

Now for the reality check part: the average of 10-rounds of the 24.0gr load was 2550-fps, measured 10-feet from the muzzle. What I am wondering is is this completely out of line? Using the Google I come up with lots of claims of crazy-high speeds from people attempting to match hot NATO-pressure military ammo (Mk262...). But I didn't find many reports of people using what I would consider "standard" match-type loads out of 16" carbines. What I'm wondering is this speed in line with what other people are seeing with similar loads?

FWIW, my rifle has a 5.56 chamber with a 1-7" twist barrel.

 

[243winxb]

Hornady 75gr with Varget in 223 Rem

Worry about pressure signs, not velocity. This Hornady data does not give barrel length. Attempting to match hot NATO-pressure military ammo, use the correct data & powder listed. My guess is brass life will be short at these pressures. 5.56 X 45MM NATO
CIP COMMERCIAL AND NATO/MIL SPECIFICATION (62,350 PSI) Note barrel length of 24" Subtract about 30 fps for every 1" less barrel. This would seem to give the same velocity that your now getting, after adjusting for barrel length. http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/WP_LoadSpec_1-23-14.pdf

 

[243winxb]

Barrel Length VS Velocity

The Effects Of Reducing The Barrel Length On Velocity And Accuracy In The 223 Remington http://www.accuratereloading.com/223sb.html

We started off with a brand new Sako S 491 rifle with a 22-inch barrel. A B&L 6-24X scope was installed in Sako mounts. We used Federal brass and Federal 205M primers in all the following loads. Brawand 52 grain bullets, molly coated were also used. All groups are 5 shots at 100 yards.

SAAMI -

 

[CountryUgly]

I'm averaging 2541fps with the Hornady 68gr BTHP and 24.0gn of H335 out of 14.5" colt 1/7 barrel. You're results seem on par for the course.

 

[Potatohead]

Thanks for the link 243.

 

[ForneyRider]

your velocity is right on for components used and powder charge.

I use a little bit more powder in 20in barrel for more velocity.

 

[bfoosh006]

Your loads are right in line with factory .223 factory stuff.

Here is my 70gr + data from my rifles....NOTE DO NOT FIRE SUPERFORMANCE IN CARBINE LENGTH GAS SYSTEMS.

Brand and headstamp on brass................................................16 " Velocities ( FPS )........20" Velocities ( FPS ).........Comments......,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, NC means NATO CROSS

ASYM 75gr .223...........................LC 14 NC..............................Av. 2605, ES 52.................Av. 2752, ES 40............"A+" Accuracy

Hornady. 75gr Match....................HORNADY 223 REM...........Av. 2510 , ES 50................Av. 2640 , ES 60...........Interesting that this is faster both Nosler and Norma as well as more accurate

Hornady Super. 223 Match 75....HORNADY 223 REM............Av. 2701 , ES 41................Av. 2790 , ES 54.......... Exact same headstamp as the standard 75gr match good accuracy

Hornady Super. 5.56 75... ...........Hornady 5.56 NATO.............Av. 2785 , ES 31...............Av. 2840 , ES 42............Best accuracy in both rifles....

HPR .223 75gr.............................LC 13 NC..............................Av. 2414, ES 87.................Av. 2528, ES 112...........Slow but great accuracy

HSM 75gr 5.56 ... .......................HSM 06 NATO 5.56..............Av. 2648 , ES 31.................Av. 2801 , ES 24.......... Excellent accuracy... out to 300 yards.( As far as got )

IMI 77gr OTM.............................IMI 13 variety of 2 digits.........Av. 2726 , ES 39..................Av. 2810 , ES 41........... Not the most accurate, but certainly a good value.

Norma TAC 77gr........................norma 223 REM....................Av. 2430 , ES 75...................Av. 2550 , ES 68...........Average 77gr accuracy

Nosler CC 77gr...........................NOSLER 223 REM................Av. 2440 , ES 28...................Av. 2569 , ES 36.......... I need more trigger time with this ammo

PPU 75gr .223.............................PPU 223 REM......................Av. 2461, ES 69...................Av. 2590, ES 109............Dismal accuracy... as a matter of fact 4MOA at 100yds.

SSA 5.56 77gr.............................5.56 SSA..............................Av. 2442, ES 25....................Av. 2567, ES 60............."B+" accuracy

 

[bfoosh006]

All the ammo I tested for 16" and 20 " velocities is in this link...

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_16/654885_UPDATED_Sept__20__FYI____Chronograph_results_with_Factory_ammo____16_Middie_and_20_Rifle.html

I plan on adding some more this weekend ( if it is all delivered on time ) Including some Wicn. 5.56 64gr BSB and Winc. 5.56 77gr... and assorted others.

 

[243winxb]

bfoosh006, great info, ty. I have to wonder what PSI the Hornady SUPERFORMANCE loads run at ??

 

[wanderinwalker]

bfoosh006, impressive! Thanks for the link to your testing results, I'm surprised I had not found those with The Google previously. That's quite the list of ammo you've tried out (so far).

243winxb, I ask because I'm not seeing pressure signs and data for the 75/77gr bullets with Varget is not terribly consistent. I have a Lyman 49 that shows a max of 25.0gr of Varget with a 77gr Sierra at .223 pressures. Open Hodgdon's data center and they should a max around 23.6. Got to Nosler's web site and they show 24.0 as max. And while I have run 77gr Noslers at 24.0gr in the past in my Service Rifle, I've also pierced primers on what should have been "safe" loads with other bullet and powder combinations that gave no pressure signs otherwise. (Incidentally, those loads also chronographed significantly slower than anticipated. Go figure that one.)

If my data were way out of line of what others are reporting (200-fps slower, running significantly different charge weights, etc), I'd go back and re-evaluate. But since everything seems in line, I'm going to leave it as-is and just order up some more of those bullets for more "testing."

 

[roval]

Fwiw I chronoed Hornady 223 75 bhpm factory steel cased out of my colt6920 last Saturday. Only measured 3 but average was 2609.