Belmont148
Member
I have been developing loads for my 1:7 16" Colt AR, and have been working with 55 FMJ, 60 V Max, and 75 BTHP. The smaller weight bullets have been very accurate in the upper charge range, and cycle great with no signs of pressure. So I am good on those.
However, on the heavy pill, my starting load of 22.2 gr. was very accurate. Cycled great, and obviously no signs of excess pressure. It was more accurate than the best of the 55 & 60. From there things got bad. Accuracy was way off all the way until the upper end of my development. Accuracy got pretty good on the final load of 25.9 gr. but no signs of pressure still. This was all developed with CFE 223. I didn't chrono anything, but might be getting 2100-2300 FPS if I had to guess.
Am I hurting myself by using a light load? Like when I go to shoot past 100 yds. will I be losing accuracy at distance? Should I find a faster burning powder for the heavier bullets and just use the CFE 223 for the lighter ones? I have lots of H4895 that I load for .308 and can try it if a faster powder would be better.
However, on the heavy pill, my starting load of 22.2 gr. was very accurate. Cycled great, and obviously no signs of excess pressure. It was more accurate than the best of the 55 & 60. From there things got bad. Accuracy was way off all the way until the upper end of my development. Accuracy got pretty good on the final load of 25.9 gr. but no signs of pressure still. This was all developed with CFE 223. I didn't chrono anything, but might be getting 2100-2300 FPS if I had to guess.
Am I hurting myself by using a light load? Like when I go to shoot past 100 yds. will I be losing accuracy at distance? Should I find a faster burning powder for the heavier bullets and just use the CFE 223 for the lighter ones? I have lots of H4895 that I load for .308 and can try it if a faster powder would be better.