First rifle rounds chrono data

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Morne
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First rifle rounds chrono data

Post by Morne »

So I finally dipped my toe in the water of loading rifle rounds. They cycled just fine in my semi-auto firearms, which I am happy about. Not trying to create any hunting loads, just less expensive practice loads.

***CHRONY DATA***

71 Degrees F, 49% Relative Humidity, 1019.8 mB

.223 Remington 62-gr SS-109 FMJ, CCI-41 SRP, 20.1-gr H-322, 2.259-2.269" COAL
AR-15 Rifle with 16" barrel
2398, 2441, 2420, 2423, 2412 - AVERAGE = 2419 fps

Compare this to some 62-gr Silver Bear and Privi Partizan factory ammo I tested in this barrel length last year with 2832 and 2894 FPS average speeds, respectively. Thus, I think I have room to safely work upwards to close that 400 FPS gap.


.300 AAC Blackout 150-gr X-Treme copper plated FP, CCI-41 SRP, 14.0-gr Lil' Gun, 2.004-2.007" COAL
AR-15 Pistol with 7.5" barrel
1562, 1552, 1529, 1530, 1557 - AVERAGE = 1546 fps

For the sake of comparison, I ran two boutique factory 125-gr loads through the chrono:

Cooper Cartridge
1804, 1812, 1879, 1983, 1872 - AVERAGE = 1870 fps
Steadfast
1754, 1776, 1759, 1774, 1777 - AVERAGE = 1786 fps

Obviously, the two boutique-maker loads are in lighter weight bullets (125 versus 150 in my handload). One thing I wonder is whether or not I should be pushing my handload any faster. After all, isn't there a rule of thumb that you don't want plated bullets much above 1500 FPS? Or maybe I should just be glad that I have a functional .300 AAC BLK handload recipe and quit trying to overthink it. :idea:
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Morne
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Re: First rifle rounds chrono data

Post by Morne »

Wanted to revisit this topic.

I'm about to start a 16" .300 BLK carbine build. The above Lil' Gun load is a hair above 1500 fps out of a 7.5" barrel, it'll be MUCH faster from the 16" barrel! Since it is generally frowned upon to push plated projectiles over 1500 fps I'm wondering if I should try reducing this load for the carbine.

Thoughts?
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Re: First rifle rounds chrono data

Post by Sevens »

I'd go to Xtreme and specifically ask them about the bullets.

Obviously, NOT the same bullets -- but just because they are plated, they can't be pigeonholed with a general guideline. Berry's, for example, builds a 110-grain plated round nose specifically meant for .30 Carbine loads. Berry's rates those .308" 110's at 1,950 FPS. Yes, plated, not jacketed.
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Re: First rifle rounds chrono data

Post by Sevens »

Morne wrote:I'm wondering if I should try reducing this load for the carbine.
Sorry, missed this part the first time.

I don't know the published data or the source of your data, but when you're changing something -- it's a great idea to reduce, start lower, and work BACK toward your goal. Less necessary if you're well under published max. Of course with .300 BO, I'm sure there are less published sources than for many, and many data sources are new and still evolving.

In any case, changing guns completely and especially with different barrel lengths, starting again and working forward is always a fine idea.
I like to swap brass... and I'm looking for .32 H&R Mag, .327 Fed Mag, .380 Auto and 10mm. If you have some and would like to swap for something else, send me a note!
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Morne
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Re: First rifle rounds chrono data

Post by Morne »

Sevens wrote:I'd go to Xtreme and specifically ask them about the bullets.

Obviously, NOT the same bullets -- but just because they are plated, they can't be pigeonholed with a general guideline. Berry's, for example, builds a 110-grain plated round nose specifically meant for .30 Carbine loads. Berry's rates those .308" 110's at 1,950 FPS. Yes, plated, not jacketed.
Some of the boys at Calguns have run these up to 1700 GPS without plating separation. At 1900 & 2100 fps plating separation occurred.
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Re: First rifle rounds chrono data

Post by Morne »

***CHRONY DATA***

39 Degrees F, 55% Relative Humidity, 30.03" Hg

.223 Remington 62-gr SS-109 FMJ, CCI-41 SRP, 20.7-gr H-322, 2.258-2.263" COAL
AR-15 Rifle with 16" barrel
2516, 2515, 2484, 2499, 2474 - AVERAGE = 2498 fps

***CAUTION, THIS LOAD IS ABOVE HODGDONRELOADING.COM MAX LOAD***
.223 Remington 62-gr SS-109 FMJ, CCI-41 SRP, 21.3-gr H-322, 2.256-2.261" COAL
AR-15 Rifle with 16" barrel
2580, 2552, 2522, 2588 - AVERAGE = 2561 fps
***CAUTION, THIS LOAD IS ABOVE HODGDONRELOADING.COM MAX LOAD***

I had one (1) failure to fire with the 21.3-gr load (hence why there's only 4 rather than 5 data points). The primer had a nice solid dent in it. Ran it through the rifle again and dropped the hammer on it again but still no joy. <shrug>

Certainly starting to build a decent curve of velocity versus powder weight. Not getting the velocity that hodgdonreloading.com predicts, though. Of course, that website uses a different 62-gr bullet than this and used a 24" barrel as well. Still, my factory 62-gr loads clock in over 2800 fps.
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Re: First rifle rounds chrono data

Post by Morne »

***CHRONY DATA***

45 Degrees F, 52% Relative Humidity, 29.95" Hg

.300 AAC Blackout 150-gr X-Treme copper plated FP, CCI-41 SRP, 12.0-gr Lil' Gun, 2.008-2.011" COAL
AR-15 Pistol with 7.5" barrel
1275, 1295, 1406, 1414 - AVERAGE = 1348 fps
AR-15 Carbine with 16" barrel
1560, 1549, 1573, 1547, 1583 - AVERAGE = 1562 fps
Image


.300 AAC Blackout 150-gr X-Treme copper plated FP, CCI-41 SRP, 13.1-gr Lil' Gun, 2.008-2.011" COAL
AR-15 Pistol with 7.5" barrel
1369, 1510, 1391, 1394, 1467 - AVERAGE = 1426 fps
AR-15 Carbine with 16" barrel
1708, 1638, 1646, 1634, 1618 - AVERAGE = 1649 fps
Image

The AR pistol has an occasional failure to feed today, just didn't seem to like that flatnose profile in the cold. That's why there's only 4 data points for the 12.0-gr load in the pistol, one of them got pounded until it setback further than seemed appropriate. The carbine didn't care one bit.

Seeing that adding a grain of Lil' Gun basically adds 80-90 fps I'm hesitant to try my 14.0-gr Lil' Gun load in the carbine. It'll certainly run over 1700 fps if I do. Sure, some guys have had good luck with these copper plated rounds at 1700 fps but I'm not sure where between there and 1900 fps things start to go bad.

Still, I see a LOT more variation at these lower load levels than I did at 14.0-gr. Maybe Lil' Gun does better in more fullhouse charges?

Hope those pics of primers and necks are helpful. Whatever insight you guys can give me regarding what I'm looking at I would appreciate.
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Re: First rifle rounds chrono data

Post by JustaShooter »

The primers for both loads look fine, you don't appear to be anywhere near overpressure (not surprising given where you are on the load spectrum).

If the neck for the 12.0 grain load is typical, that does look a bit sooty, and the very inconsistent velocity in the 7.5" barrel really tells me that this isn't the right load for it. The 16" barrel velocities are much more consistent for that load (ES of 34fps) so if it is accurate, that might be a good one for that barrel - though I'd personally try for a good consistent and accurate load closer to max. By comparison, even though the neck look sbetter, the velocities for the 13.1 grain load don't look very good in either barrel.

Most powders perform better in rifle loads when close to filling the case. Lil' Gun, given that it is designed as a .410 shotshell powder that also works well in fullhouse magnum pistol applications, is probably even more sensitive to case fill.

If you are concerned about pushing the velocity too far, can't you go up in smaller increments - 13.3, 13.5, 13.7, etc. and watch the velocities and check for group size / accuracy?
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Morne
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Re: First rifle rounds chrono data

Post by Morne »

Maybe I'll makeup a 13.5-gr load, then. See where it is at and then possibly try 14.0-gr in the carbine.
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Morne
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Re: First rifle rounds chrono data

Post by Morne »

***CHRONY DATA***

51 Degrees F, 72% Relative Humidity, 30.02" Hg

.300 AAC Blackout 150-gr X-Treme copper plated FP, CCI-41 SRP, 14.0-gr Lil' Gun, 2.004-2.007" COAL
AR-15 Pistol with 7.5" barrel
1557, 1562, 1526, 1539, 1544 - AVERAGE = 1546 fps
AR-15 Carbine with 16" barrel
1767, 1765, 1793, 1766, 1793 - AVERAGE = 1777 fps

For the sake of comparison, I ran a boutique factory 150-gr load through the chrono:

Freedom Munitions 150-gr FMJ
AR-15 Pistol with 7.5" barrel
1490, 1512, 1519, 1482, 1484 - AVERAGE = 1497 fps
AR-15 Carbine with 16" barrel
1762, 1715, 1772, 1793, 1772 - AVERAGE = 1763 fps

I was pretty happy with the 14.0-gr Lil' Gun load in the carbine. Only 28 fps spread isn't bad. Further, there was no sign of copper on the compensator, so I don't think we're beyond the ability of the plated copper to stay on the slug at this muzzle velocity.

Re-ran the boutique 125-gr loads through the chrono:

Steadfast 125-gr HP Matchking
7.5" average = 1805 fps
16" average = 2021 fps

Cooper Cartridge 125-gr HP
7.5" average = 1941 fps
16" average = 2140 fps

Those are some nice velocities out of the Carbine. Quality thirty caliber slugs exceeding 2000 fps will ruin just about anything's day. Naturally, I could drop bullet weight all the way down to 110-gr and get even more speed. Probably won't, though. I have a bunch of other hand loads to try, next.
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