Reloading 223 with RMR 69 Grain HPBT & LEVERevolution

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DMW1116

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Oct 10, 2020
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I think I will go through with this. I’ve been digging through reloading data to find cartridges using both CFE 223 and have a charge weight plan. I have a fair bit of LEVERevolution left and at my current consumption rate won’t use it for several years. It is slower than CFE 223, listed a couple notches lower on the burn rate chart from Hodgden. A few people have tried it and found good accuracy so I thought it would be worth a try.

LEVERevolution charge weights are about 5% to 8% greater than CFE 223 in the same cartridge for 30-30 and 2% to 5% greater for 308 Marlin Express. These are the only 2 cartridges with both powders listed in the data that I’ve been able to find. My current plan is to load using CFE 223 data thereby staying about 5% lower than the potential load for LEVERevolution.

I’m not recommending this and considered it for a few days before deciding it was worth a try. I do reserve the right to change my mind, though I currently plan to load a batch of 5 test charges tomorrow evening. I’ll have an unrushed range day on Saturday and plan to test a couple loads in 9mm and can add a set of 223 without too much worry.
 
Can't help on the load but somewhere online must be load data using the powder a weight bullet in 223/556. I'm planning to build my next ar-15 upper just for the rmr bullets great price and for the 600 yard range we now have should be fun.
 
That thread and a couple other posts were part of my research. I also found a video from Johnny’s Reloading Bench, but he was using a 77 grain SMK. I have a load for those that is my standard for accuracy.

I’ll have to look to see which brass I’m using, but it’s either LC or Frontier. I am also using CCI #41 primers. I need to choose a COAL. Im leaning toward 2.25 but I need to double check.

I’m loading these for a 20” A4 PSA Premium kit with an FN barreled upper and PSA brand carry handle rear sight. Oddly, loads developed in this rifle seem to shoot well in my 16” barreled rifle too but the reverse is not true.

The 77 grain SMK load will consistently shoot 1.5 MOA or less out to 150 yards. I’ve not tried it beyond that. I have a Barnes 52 grain Match Burner load that will do the same. I’m trying to match those with the RMR bullets.
 
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Tried the first load today. My rifle for sure didn’t like it and brass was flying out at 2:30 to 3:00. The group was bigger than my FMJ load tested next to it.
 
IMO LVR is way to slow a powder for loading the .223/5.56mm.
I have used Varget cor ammo shot in my .223 bolt action rifle and that worked well but LVR is slower according to the charts.

Of course charts and books mean nothing if the ammo shoots well in your rifle lol.
 
Yea a few people reported good results but that does not seem to be the case here. I might try one more increment but my hopes are not high that a 3.5 MOA group will drop down to 1.5 or less in the range I’m willing to test.

Still there is the benefit of trying a load cobbled together without the benefit of published load data. Perhaps the benefit is learning not to do it again.
 
ArchAngelCD said:
IMO LVR is way to slow a powder for loading the .223/5.56mm.
I have used Varget cor ammo shot in my .223 bolt action rifle and that worked well but LVR is slower according to the charts.

Of course charts and books mean nothing if the ammo shoots well in your rifle lol.
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No its not. It's almost as fast as cfe223 and that stuff is always sold out.
I don't recommend leverevolution for carbines.
I was using 26gr in a 5.56mm chamber rifle.
 
Accuracy wasn’t great but I don’t want to give up on just one group. I’m running it in a rifle length system and 20” barrel. If it works I’ll move it to a mid length 16”. The main thing was the forward ejection. From what I understand not ideal.
 
N555 said:
No its not. It's almost as fast as cfe223 and that stuff is always sold out.
I don't recommend leverevolution for carbines.
I was using 26gr in a 5.56mm chamber rifle.
Click to expand...

I don’t know that I’m brave enough to try that much. Out of a bolt gun maybe but not one of my gas guns.
 
Sounds about right. It shot at 50 yards with iron sights but it was about a 1.75” group.
 
THREAD REVIVAL-
Got me some of these 69gr RMRs they just arrived. Only thing slightly annoying is the corn cob stuck in all the hollow points, but RMR states this in their description and are explaining on how they are working on refining their processes. That is commendable. I didn't see that writeup when I bought them, but even if I did I still would have bought them.
Only other thing is a great number of the tips aren't perfectly Symmetrical. I've captured a close up of the asymmetry as best I could. I'm guessing about 90% of the projectiles look like this. If they shoot well, I won't care but if they don't shoot well out of my H-bar w/ 1:8 twist with 23-23.5gr of H-335, I'm going to really start to wonder. I going to find out as soon as this heavy, wet snowstorm passes.
20230325_110517.jpg
 
Palladan44 said:
THREAD REVIVAL-
Got me some of these 69gr RMRs they just arrived. Only thing slightly annoying is the corn cob stuck in all the hollow points, but RMR states this in their description and are explaining on how they are working on refining their processes. That is commendable. I didn't see that writeup when I bought them, but even if I did I still would have bought them.
Only other thing is a great number of the tips aren't perfectly Symmetrical. I've captured a close up of the asymmetry as best I could. I'm guessing about 90% of the projectiles look like this. If they shoot well, I won't care but if they don't shoot well out of my H-bar w/ 1:8 twist with 23-23.5gr of H-335, I'm going to really start to wonder. I going to find out as soon as this heavy, wet snowstorm passes.
View attachment 1142162
Click to expand...
Should be fine, smk's and other bullets that shoot have tips like that.
 
Palladan44 said:
THREAD REVIVAL-
Got me some of these 69gr RMRs they just arrived. Only thing slightly annoying is the corn cob stuck in all the hollow points, but RMR states this in their description and are explaining on how they are working on refining their processes. That is commendable. I didn't see that writeup when I bought them, but even if I did I still would have bought them.
Only other thing is a great number of the tips aren't perfectly Symmetrical. I've captured a close up of the asymmetry as best I could. I'm guessing about 90% of the projectiles look like this. If they shoot well, I won't care but if they don't shoot well out of my H-bar w/ 1:8 twist with 23-23.5gr of H-335, I'm going to really start to wonder. I going to find out as soon as this heavy, wet snowstorm passes.
View attachment 1142162
Click to expand...
Most match bullets have tips that are uneven. You can trim them and if your super motivated point them, but that's a huge amount of time and money for arguably very little gain.
 
Good to know. My SMKs were all nice and uniform. But reassuring to hear your input.
 
I never did find a good load for them with LEVERevolution. AR Plus didn’t work too well either. CFE 223 did the trick though. A minimum charge from Hodgdens website shot just a shade over an inches from 100 yards. I have not confirmed it but my goal for that rifle is 1.5” or less so I have a little margin.

I’m actually looking to unload an unopened bottle of LEVERevolution. My 336 doesn’t really like it much and I shoot 90% cast from it now anyway. I have a partial bottle to finish off the 160 grain FTX bullets I still have. That load shoots ok but not outstanding. None did really.
 
DMW1116 said:
I never did find a good load for them with LEVERevolution. AR Plus didn’t work too well either. CFE 223 did the trick though. A minimum charge from Hodgdens website shot just a shade over an inches from 100 yards. I have not confirmed it but my goal for that rifle is 1.5” or less so I have a little margin.

I’m actually looking to unload an unopened bottle of LEVERevolution. My 336 doesn’t really like it much and I shoot 90% cast from it now anyway. I have a partial bottle to finish off the 160 grain FTX bullets I still have. That load shoots ok but not outstanding. None did really.
Click to expand...
24.2 tac at 2.260 worked just fine 20230211_123251.jpg
 
Palladan44 said:
On top of all the case prep, this doesn't sound very appealing to me
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Uniform metplats may not make a difference at a100yds but it may at 600yds? With the price of components and ammunition I'm hoping to load ammunition that is as accurate as I can make it. Make every shot count, you may not get another.
,
 
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