69rmr - found a good load

[z7]

Once fired LC 11 brass, Anealed with a blow torch. Resized with a lee die,
I did very little development, just enough to know I’m not gonna blow myself up. Then tried 25gn because it’s a popular 69smk load

25g h4895, cci primer, 2.26” oal. 3065fps, sd
12fps (26” Patriot valley prefit barrel)

.47 Moa at 200 yds, bipod and rear bag. Not bad for a 14cent bullet, glad I bought a bunch

 

[Milt1]

Nice, however 69rmr and LC 11 brass doesn't mean anything to me, so what caliber are you shooting?

 

[AJC1]

They are supposed to be very close to the 69 smk so that's not surprising.

 

[z7]

Nice, however 69rmr and LC 11 brass doesn't mean anything to me, so what caliber are you shooting?

those are important details, sorry!

Lake city once fire brass, head stamp is LC11 indicating potentially 2011 manufacture date.- main military contractor, I.e it’s not match grade brass, it’s good brass, but not great

69 grain bullet from Rocky Mountain reloading,

cartridge is 223 remington.

gun is one me and my 8year old built in the garage with a prefit barrel so the kids could learn some precision shooting (8 and 11). It’s a bolt action rifle in a KRG chassis.

 

[sparkyv]

Nice, inexpensive results, z7! I started out with H4895, but more recently prefer Varget for my 69gr SMK loads. I'll have to check out those RMRs.

 

[z7]

Nice, inexpensive results, z7! I started out with H4895, but more recently prefer Varget for my 69gr SMK loads. I'll have to check out those RMRs.

I’m using varget in my 308, don’t want to use it up too quick

 

[rdnktrkr]

I've been looking at the RMR 69gr bullets and the next time I order some 223 bullets, I'm glad to hear you're having success with them.

 

[DMW1116]

I have about 300 of these left. I never found a really good load. Some were ok but nothing outstanding. I was trying to avoid using IMR 4064, since supply is short, and price is higher than I'd like. However, this thread makes me think I should try it to see what I can wring out of these bullets. The best so far was CFE 223, which is quite different from either IMR 4064 or IMR 4895.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I have about 300 of these left. I never found a really good load. Some were ok but nothing outstanding. I was trying to avoid using IMR 4064, since supply is short, and price is higher than I'd like. However, this thread makes me think I should try it to see what I can wring out of these bullets. The best so far was CFE 223, which is quite different from either IMR 4064 or IMR 4895.

The first batch that I bought shot pretty well but the second batch is performing more like a 14 cent bullet. I'm lucky if I can get groups under an inch at 100, most are closer to 1.5", out of a rifle that can shoot a 77SMK under 1/2"

The Hornady 55 SP is usually just under an inch at 100, and costs about 30% less in bulk. At longer ranges the 69RMR bucks the wind better and the impacts on steel are much louder.

I was considering getting their 75 grain but not if they don't perform better than the 69.

 

[AJC1]

I have about 300 of these left. I never found a really good load. Some were ok but nothing outstanding. I was trying to avoid using IMR 4064, since supply is short, and price is higher than I'd like. However, this thread makes me think I should try it to see what I can wring out of these bullets. The best so far was CFE 223, which is quite different from either IMR 4064 or IMR 4895.

If I was looking for a comp load I'd try benchmark, ar-comp or 8208.

 

[DMW1116]

Shooters World Tactical Rifle is shooting right around 1 MOA from my 20” AR over a range of charge weights. I’ll see which shoots best from my 16” barrel and that should be my production load for both.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Well seeing your results im gonna have to get some. 3000 fps is a nice speed for a heavy .224 bullet.

 

[DMW1116]

I haven’t chronographed them but I don’t think they’re going that fast. I’m a grain and a half below max charge for a 5.56 load. I figure I’m in the 2600-2700 fps range. I’m running 0.4 grains lower than SW’s 223 max charge but I’m shooting from a 5.56 chamber.

 

[DMW1116]

It's hard to walk away from 3 of 5 test loads shooting just above or just below 1" from a stock 20" chrome lined barrel with A2 handguards and front post. Now that I know what the load will do from this rifle, I have to work toward making it shoot like this with the carry handle sight instead of the 3-9 scope dialed up to 10.

 

[12Bravo20]

It's hard to walk away from 3 of 5 test loads shooting just above or just below 1" from a stock 20" chrome lined barrel with A2 handguards and front post. Now that I know what the load will do from this rifle, I have to work toward making it shoot like this with the carry handle sight instead of the 3-9 scope dialed up to 10.

I have to agree with you there. You may or may not get the groups consistently under 1" at 100 yards but 1" is not bad out of a chrome lined 1-7 twist A2 upper. The US military standard is 4 MOA at 100 meters shooting M855 ammo.

 

[Kaldor]

They shoot every bit as well as a 69 SMK. That first shot that was left? No idea. But Im also using non year sorted LC brass with at least 5 firings on it, so thats my disclaimer.
This was at 100 yards from a 24" 7 twist Criterion in my target AR. Can I shoot this every time? Probably not, but this load is probably a consistent .300" load average size.
24.3 gr of 8208 XBR (unicorn dust), CCI 400s, seated at 2.260 COAL which sits at 33 thou off the lands in my gun. 2956 avg fps, and no pressure signs.

 

[MarshallDodge]

View attachment 1156810
They shoot every bit as well as a 69 SMK. That first shot that was left? No idea. But Im also using non year sorted LC brass with at least 5 firings on it, so thats my disclaimer.
This was at 100 yards from a 24" 7 twist Criterion in my target AR. Can I shoot this every time? Probably not, but this load is probably a consistent .300" load average size.
24.3 gr of 8208 XBR (unicorn dust), CCI 400s, seated at 2.260 COAL which sits at 33 thou off the lands in my gun. 2956 avg fps, and no pressure signs.

Great shooting!

That's my experience. The RMR will put 2 or 3 really close and then drop a few outside the group.

 

[Kaldor]

Great shooting!

That's my experience. The RMR will put 2 or 3 really close and then drop a few outside the group.

I suspect that my brass is the cause of the flier moreso than the bullet.
I need to test these bullets on some Lapua 223 brass instead of LC brass that ranges in age from the 1970s to the 2010s
However, Im not willing to spend the money on 223 brass to run it thru an AR, and I dont own a 223 bolt gun (yet)

 

[MarshallDodge]

I suspect that my brass is the cause of the flier moreso than the bullet.
I need to test these bullets on some Lapua 223 brass instead of LC brass that ranges in age from the 1970s to the 2010s
However, Im not willing to spend the money on 223 brass to run it thru an AR, and I dont own a 223 bolt gun (yet)

You need a 223 bolt gun. I shoot mine more than any other rifle

I have not found that brass makes that big of a difference at 100 yards. Neck tension is a thing. I use a Mighty Armory mandrel sizing die to set tension, and seating pressure has become very consistent by doing it this way.

I have a good amount of 8208XBR on hand, as well as some N540. Next I will try and work a load up with them and the 69RMR. The powder I am currently using is a surplus ball powder that is similar to H322. I've shot sub half MOA groups with that powder and 77s but maybe I need to slow the burn rate down a little for these bullets.

 

[Kaldor]

You need a 223 bolt gun. I shoot mine more than any other rifle

I have not found that brass makes that big of a difference at 100 yards. Neck tension is a thing. I use a Mighty Armory mandrel sizing die to set tension, and seating pressure has become very consistent by doing it this way.

I have a good amount of 8208XBR on hand, as well as some N540. Next I will try and work a load up with them and the 69RMR. The powder I am currently using is a surplus ball powder that is similar to H322. I've shot sub half MOA groups with that powder and 77s but maybe I need to slow the burn rate down a little for these bullets.

Kauger BR action is in hand. Brux 26" 7 twist is on order. I need to find a nice maple blank for the stock on this one. Just building a single shot thats as simple as I can make it.
Neck tension is always a thing, and I found that with consistent case prep and annealing every firing, even LC 5.56 will shoot quite well.
Give that 8208 a try. Its like magical fairy dust in 223, like Varget is in 308. It just freaking works.

 

[DMW1116]

This really makes me want to try the 75s but I have a lot of shooting to do first.

 

[DMW1116]

And yes, I want a matching bolt gun that uses GI mags for 308 and 223.

 

[MarshallDodge]

Kauger BR action is in hand. Brux 26" 7 twist is on order. I need to find a nice maple blank for the stock on this one. Just building a single shot thats as simple as I can make it.
Neck tension is always a thing, and I found that with consistent case prep and annealing every firing, even LC 5.56 will shoot quite well.
Give that 8208 a try. Its like magical fairy dust in 223, like Varget is in 308. It just freaking works.

Sounds like a sweet combination!

I'm running a Lone Peak Fuzion with a 24" 1:7 Krieger, in a KRG Bravo stock.

8208XBR is a good powder and I have had succes in 223, 308, and 6BR. My hope was that I could get away with the ball powder and save my stash of the good powders until this craziness is over.

I also have quite a bit of TAC and may try that next as I had a 68 BTHP load that shot really well using it. It's not as temp stable but for this load it isn't critical.

 

[MarshallDodge]

And yes, I want a matching bolt gun that uses GI mags for 308 and 223.

Go AICS pattern.

GI mags limit you on OAL, which is critical if you want to run the VLD profile bullets with a higher BC. There is a substantial difference at longer ranges.

 

[Kaldor]

Go AICS pattern.

GI mags limit you on OAL, which is critical if you want to run the VLD profile bullets with a higher BC. There is a substantial difference at longer ranges.

I second this if you want a mag fed 223 bolt gun. Its a spend, but honestly you only need 3-4 mags for a bolt gun. I thought about this for a very long time, and even using the old school ASC SSTL mags the longest COAL I could get was 2.31.

Its also why I plan on a single shot now. I have mag fed everything but honestly I barely use them anymore in my bolt guns. I find hand single feeding my bolt guns to be somewhat therapeutic and slows me down while Im on the line.