thump_rrr
Member
For the TLDR crowd HK SL8-5 won't shoot.
I'm trying to remedy that.
I've been reloading for around 13 years now. I jumped in with both feet from the beginning and haven't looked back.
The first 2 guns I purchased were a Springfield Armory 1911 Stainless Loaded and a Norinco CQ-A Carbine (AR-15) with a 14.5" barrel.
I never felt the need to reload for the Norinco because we were buying crates of 1,600 rounds for around $300 Canadian if not less and that ammo was HOT.
As my tastes evolved I purchased 2 Noveske AR's a 10.5" CQB and 14.5" Afghan.
I also purchased a Stag 3G with an 18' barrel.
At that point I started getting serious about reloading and shooting 223/5.56.
I was buying Hornady 55gr FMJBT's by the case of 6,000.
I was also buying mixed bullets by the 1,000's.
With the exception of the Norinco every one of those rifles was sub MOA, but it wasn't that far off.
As some of you may know Canada banned the AR-15 nearly 3 years ago.
To fill my 223/5.56 need I purchased a Tavor X-95 and an HK SL8-5.
The Tavor isn't a sub MOA gun by any means but it can perform well regardless.
This is a target I shot last week standing unsupported at 25M.
It will get the job done.
Now the HK SL8-5 by all accounts is supposed to be a sub MOA gun and this is where the problem lies.
I have tried 4 different powders and a dozen different bullet combinations including 69gr and 77gr SMK's and I haven't come close to where I want to be. I have checked the barrel with a borescope and the crown is perfect.
EDIT: The scope is not touching the rail even though it looks like it in the photo.
The only sub moa groups were from some unknown flat base hollow point 50gr varmint bullets that were mixed in on a bulk buy.
I bought 500 Speer 52gr Varmint bullets in hopes of recreating that load but no luck.
I've tried Varget, IMR XBR, Ramshot TAC, and H 4895.
Yesterday out of frustration, I tried a bullet and powder combination that I've never tried before.
Hornady 75grHPBT bullets #2279 and IMR 4166.
The brass was match prepped and weight sorted Lake City.
It was once fired so I didn’t feel the need to anneal it.
I have not done any primer testing because the only small rifle primers I have are CCI #400 and BR-4.
EDIT: I found 200 GM305M so I may go down that road later.
I have 6lbs of IMR 4166 that was less than impressive in my 308.
Even though it was 40F and windy there may be a glimmer of hope for this rifle.
I shot 2 control groups of 23gr TAC with a 77gr SMK that my Tavor likes.
This load was never tested in cold weather so it may need some adjustment.
AVG. 2599fps, ES 80.4, SD 33.79.
I then shot 2 groups of 77gr SMK Federal Gold Medal Match,
AVG. 2434, ES 55,46, SD 17.86
I was surprised that the velocity of FGMM wasn't greater.
In the Sierra manual for semi-auto data starts at 2400fps.
The ladder was shot round robin style with 1 minute between shots.
If the ambient temperature was higher I would have waited 2 minutes between shots.
For some reason the chronograph didn't pick up 4 shots out of the 3rd round so I only logged the first 2 rounds.
I will re shoot the ladder skipping the 20.8 and 21.2 and adding 23.2 and 23.5.
I may or may not shoot the 23.5 depending on what the primers on the 23.2 look like.
Any suggestions would be appreciated
I'm trying to remedy that.
I've been reloading for around 13 years now. I jumped in with both feet from the beginning and haven't looked back.
The first 2 guns I purchased were a Springfield Armory 1911 Stainless Loaded and a Norinco CQ-A Carbine (AR-15) with a 14.5" barrel.
I never felt the need to reload for the Norinco because we were buying crates of 1,600 rounds for around $300 Canadian if not less and that ammo was HOT.
As my tastes evolved I purchased 2 Noveske AR's a 10.5" CQB and 14.5" Afghan.
I also purchased a Stag 3G with an 18' barrel.
At that point I started getting serious about reloading and shooting 223/5.56.
I was buying Hornady 55gr FMJBT's by the case of 6,000.
I was also buying mixed bullets by the 1,000's.
With the exception of the Norinco every one of those rifles was sub MOA, but it wasn't that far off.
As some of you may know Canada banned the AR-15 nearly 3 years ago.
To fill my 223/5.56 need I purchased a Tavor X-95 and an HK SL8-5.
The Tavor isn't a sub MOA gun by any means but it can perform well regardless.
This is a target I shot last week standing unsupported at 25M.
It will get the job done.
Now the HK SL8-5 by all accounts is supposed to be a sub MOA gun and this is where the problem lies.
I have tried 4 different powders and a dozen different bullet combinations including 69gr and 77gr SMK's and I haven't come close to where I want to be. I have checked the barrel with a borescope and the crown is perfect.
EDIT: The scope is not touching the rail even though it looks like it in the photo.
The only sub moa groups were from some unknown flat base hollow point 50gr varmint bullets that were mixed in on a bulk buy.
I bought 500 Speer 52gr Varmint bullets in hopes of recreating that load but no luck.
I've tried Varget, IMR XBR, Ramshot TAC, and H 4895.
Yesterday out of frustration, I tried a bullet and powder combination that I've never tried before.
Hornady 75grHPBT bullets #2279 and IMR 4166.
The brass was match prepped and weight sorted Lake City.
It was once fired so I didn’t feel the need to anneal it.
I have not done any primer testing because the only small rifle primers I have are CCI #400 and BR-4.
EDIT: I found 200 GM305M so I may go down that road later.
I have 6lbs of IMR 4166 that was less than impressive in my 308.
Even though it was 40F and windy there may be a glimmer of hope for this rifle.
I shot 2 control groups of 23gr TAC with a 77gr SMK that my Tavor likes.
This load was never tested in cold weather so it may need some adjustment.
AVG. 2599fps, ES 80.4, SD 33.79.
I then shot 2 groups of 77gr SMK Federal Gold Medal Match,
AVG. 2434, ES 55,46, SD 17.86
I was surprised that the velocity of FGMM wasn't greater.
In the Sierra manual for semi-auto data starts at 2400fps.
The ladder was shot round robin style with 1 minute between shots.
If the ambient temperature was higher I would have waited 2 minutes between shots.
For some reason the chronograph didn't pick up 4 shots out of the 3rd round so I only logged the first 2 rounds.
I will re shoot the ladder skipping the 20.8 and 21.2 and adding 23.2 and 23.5.
I may or may not shoot the 23.5 depending on what the primers on the 23.2 look like.
Any suggestions would be appreciated
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