Rmr 75gr bthp over rl15

[Big-bore-bob]

The hand loader's intention is to try to make better ammo than the manufacturer and the reloader's intention is to try to reduce or lower the cost of ammunition by reusing brass over and over.

I like what you said here. I would like to get some virgin brass and try out the same loads I'm working with to see if there's a difference in repeatable accuracy, but im limited on funds at the moment. I definitely fall into the reloader category though. Currently I'm working with an eotech vudu 1-10 lpvo with the le5 reticle and a geissele ssa-e trigger. I think if I had more magnification and a finer target reticle mabye I could shoot better groups? Next weekend I'll head back out to the range with some more 75gr hornady and rmr 75gr loads with rl15, and a new test batch with tac and the rmr 75gr with an increase in charge up to 24gr tac to see what happens on paper. Thanks for the interest and insight everyone!

 

[ms6852]

I like what you said here. I would like to get some virgin brass and try out the same loads I'm working with to see if there's a difference in repeatable accuracy, but im limited on funds at the moment. I definitely fall into the reloader category though. Currently I'm working with an eotech vudu 1-10 lpvo with the le5 reticle and a geissele ssa-e trigger. I think if I had more magnification and a finer target reticle mabye I could shoot better groups? Next weekend I'll head back out to the range with some more 75gr hornady and rmr 75gr loads with rl15, and a new test batch with tac and the rmr 75gr with an increase in charge up to 24gr tac to see what happens on paper. Thanks for the interest and insight everyone!

In the meantime while you save up on funds you can use what you have. Just ensure that what ever brass you have is of the same manufacturer, weighs the same, and the length is the same. Also weigh your bullets and separate them according to their weight. This is a good way to start with consistency. Also always full length size your brass, but there is always a lot of controversy on this topic and other believe neck turning is crucial. In my own opinion it is not because after you fire that brass 2 or 3 times you have to full length size anyway. Now you have created another step in your loading process where you have to separate your brass that is neck sized and have to separate your brass that is not .

 

[Big-bore-bob]

Just ensure that what ever brass you have is of the same manufacturer, weighs the same, and the length is the same.

Copy that, I've been trimming all my brass to 1.75 on the nose with an rcbs trim pro, with a 3 way cutter head ( i only have psd and lake city headstamps and theyre separated by manufacturer). I haven't sorted cases or bullets by weight. However I have weighed cases and they seem to be within .3gr of one another. As far as full-length sizing I've been using a dillon full-length sizing 3 die set. All my brass gets sorted into separate ziplok bags based on times fired and the amount if prep. IE...factory once fired gets put into a bag to be cleaned, swaged, and full length sized before priming and loading. Then it moves on to be loaded, fired, and the process repeated ( I haven't fired any cases a third time yet). I'm not sure how involved I want to get with brass prep and load development for an ar15 platform that im not even competing with yet. But I'm sure the techniques you've pointed out apply to precision reloading/ handloading for any cartridge so thanks for the tips ( they'll come in handy when I move into prs shooting)!

 

[Big-bore-bob]

I was hoping for some opinions on these groups (100yds). I was planning on loading some higher charges (24 and 24.2 ramshot tac) to see if my SD and group size shrinks a bit. The groups in the pic are 23.8gr tac with the rmr 75gr ( group on left 1.15in, lc brass). Lake city groups SD was 31 and avg vel was 2771. Primers look good but there are light ejector swipes. Should I proceed with testing the higher charge weights?

 

[MarshallDodge]

What is your goal?

Again, the RMR bullets are decent for the price, but don't expect much in the way of accuracy from them.

Do you have a good baseline on what your rifle is capable of? Using a high quality bullet, such as a 69 or 77 Sierra Matchking will help you find a good baseline.

 

[Big-bore-bob]

What is your goal?

I'm really just trying to squeeze the best accuracy out of my rifle and reloading components for the best price and for the enjoyment of experimenting. I'll mostly be using the ammo for 3 gun and coyote. I'll definitely try to find some smk's this afternoon at the local shop. I may have found the best load already at 23.8gr tac and 24gr rl15. I may just stop testing and just shoot if I can't expect any better from the rmr bullets.

 

[bullseye308]

What you need is a baseline of what the rifle is capable of. Maybe some gold medal match in the same bullet weight. If the rifle is only capable of 2MOA with a “gold standard“ load, you may be wasting components chasing a 1MOA load.

 

[Big-bore-bob]

What you need is a baseline of what the rifle is capable of.

I'll see if can track down some mk262 locally. Radian has a sub moa guarantee with that ammo so I suppose that would be the ultimate baseline cartridge. I picked up some 77gr sierra match kings and spent the last 3 hours loading them over 24gr rl15. I also finished a ladder with tac at 23.8, 24, 24.2, just to see what happens. I'll update with the results tomorrow after the range session.

 

[Big-bore-bob]

Results are in... tac, lake city brass, rem 7 1/2, rmr 75gr, 2.25 coal, 70f.

23.8gr, SD 23, avg 2759, 1.4 moa.
24gr, SD 22, avg 2790, 1.35 moa.
24.2, SD 20, avg 2811, 1.30 moa.

Baseline group
77gr smk, rem 7 1/2, 24gr rl15, 2.255 coal, no crimp.
SD 23, avg 2727, .9 moa.

Pressure signs started showing up at 24.2gr tac. Some ejector swipes and 2 slightly flattened primers out of 10 cases. 23.8 seems to be the safe maximum for my gun with this powder. I wasn't shooting my best groups today but for a bulk load charge weight with the rmr's 23.8 seems to be the ticket. I think I'm done with load development at this point and im just going to practice and improve my skills. Thanks for all the tips and advice everyone. Happy shooting.

 

[DMW1116]

I couldn’t get TAC to shoot very well with the 69 grainers but maybe the 75s are more agreeable.

 

[Big-bore-bob]

I couldn’t get TAC to shoot very well with the 69 grainers but maybe the 75s are more agreeable.

What was your experience with the 69gr?

 

[DMW1116]

I tried a few loads and it kinda just bounced all over. They shot ok but not what I’d hoped for. The loads were not as consistent as I wanted. They seem to shoot better with SW Tactical Rifle and Match Rifle.

I will say I have revamped my testing process since trying TAC/RMR 69, so I may not have given that combination a fair shake.

TAC works very well in my rifles with lighter bullets. I haven’t tried many heavier bullets though.

 

[Big-bore-bob]

TAC works very well in my rifles with lighter bullets. I haven’t tried many heavier bullets though.

Interesting! I'll keep trying with the combo I've settled on and see if it's me causing the groups to open up (probably is).  I see an rcbs matchmaster powder measure in my future. There's just too many variables for me to control with my current reloading equipment and skills behind the rifle. As the years go by I'll collect some higher quality reloading tools and skills I'm sure. Let me know when you get around to your testing I'd love to hear about it!

 

[DMW1116]

Interesting! I'll keep trying with the combo I've settled on and see if it's me causing the groups to open up (probably is).  I see an rcbs matchmaster powder measure in my future. There's just too many variables for me to control with my current reloading equipment and skills behind the rifle. As the years go by I'll collect some higher quality reloading tools and skills I'm sure. Let me know when you get around to your testing I'd love to hear about it!

Whatever the middle group is in between the yellow, orange, and black is what consumed the last of my TAC. 24.8 grains I think but don’t quote me on that. A shade over or under 3000 fps from my 20” upper with a 52 grain Barnes Match Burner.



This is the RMR 69 grain with Match Rifle. My load is the middle of the green, blue, and black. Can’t remember what it is though. I wasn’t testing like this with TAC and the 69 grain RMR and I could have missed a good load.

 

[Big-bore-bob]

Whatever the middle group is in between the yellow, orange, and black is what consumed the last of my TAC.

Interesting! Those groups arent too bad, what rifle are they shot from? Are those 3 shot groups of different loads? How'd you get the different colors? I assume the orange bullseye sticker is 1 inch? I'm a nerd for data! Any details you can provide are greatly appreciated!!!

 

[DMW1116]

Interesting! Those groups arent too bad, what rifle are they shot from? Are those 3 shot groups of different loads? How'd you get the different colors? I assume the orange bullseye sticker is 1 inch? I'm a nerd for data! Any details you can provide are greatly appreciated!!!

These are from either my 20” PSA M16A4 copy with an FN barrel or PSA 16” nitrided barrel. I tried both loads in both rifles. Fixed stocks in each FWIW. The groups are in pairs at each load increment with different colors for each increment. I color the pairs with Sharpie and wet the paper with rubbing alcohol to run the colors.

I’m looking for sequential charges that have the same or very close points of impact. Each if these are groups of 6 shots covering three sequential charge weights that grouped about 1.25”. The center charge is the most stable. These are shot at 100 yards but further is better.

Vertical dispersion is more important than horizontal and if I could shoot to 300 yards that’s really all I’d consider, but sometimes you have to go with what you’ve got.

I have a thread about limited component load development. This is a version of the process that @JFrank and @Varminterror use in that thread except they shoot to 500 yards and rely on vertical displacement.

 

[Big-bore-bob]

These are from either my 20” PSA M16A4 copy with an FN barrel or PSA 16” nitrided barrel. I tried both loads in both rifles. Fixed stocks in each FWIW. The groups are in pairs at each load increment with different colors for each increment. I color the pairs with Sharpie and wet the paper with rubbing alcohol to run the colors.

Thanks for the explanation!! I'm always trying to add knowledge to my base. Much appreciated!

 

[Big-bore-bob]

If anyone's interested this is the 77gr, rl15, 10 shot group at 100yds.

 

[DMW1116]

Yep, that’ll do. Those are Sierra 77s? I could never get them to shoot that well but I was using a chrome lined barrel on a non-free floated upper. IMR 4064 was the more accurate powder for heavy bullets but I’m nearly out and don’t plan on buying any more. It’s doubles in price since I started reloading 3 years ago.

 

[Big-bore-bob]

Those are Sierra 77s?

Yep smk 77's over rl15. The extruded powder seems to be better for accuracy but takes forever to weigh each charge. Smk's are really expensive I paid 35 cents a piece but these aren't for blasting ammo for sure. I'll save my good bullets for longer range practice/competition and the rmrs for practice.

 

[DMW1116]

Yep. Basically all the Sierra offerings are priced out of my range so I cannot replicate my IMR 4064/175 SMK load without spending over $1 per round. For my use that’s too much. I have several loaded 77 grain SMK rounds but I won’t be replicating those either.