From: dxbq@ecsa01.encon.pge.com (Dimitar Bojantchev)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: pet loads for 223
Date: 13 Jan 93 04:19:59 GMT
Organization: Pacific Gas & Electric, SF, CA


My .223 Rem experiments have been confined largely to two powders:
H-335 and Reloader-15 and the following types bullets: Speer 40 gr.
spire point, Hornady 55 gr. FMJBT and Hornady 68 gr. BTHP. My next
project is to try the BL-C(2) powder which is very similar to H-335
and Speer 62 gr. FMJ (like the SS109). All my experiements are made
with AR-15 HBAR rifle with 20 inch barrel.

I have measured the following average speeds with the Hornady 55 gr.
FMJBT bullet with several different weights of H-335 powder.

(1)      26.5 gr. -> 3275 fps |  998 m/s (10 shot group)
(2)      26.7 gr. -> 3284 fps | 1001 m/s (10 shot group)
(3)      27.0 gr. -> 3349 fps | 1021 m/s (10 shot group)

The last charge is a little excessive in my opinion and I accepted the
26.7 gr. charge as my standard load for target practice (settled at
1000 m/s velocity). Last week I measured the 26.7 charge with a
different lot of H335 and obtained the following result:

(4)      26.7 gr. -> 3292 fps | 1004 m/s (10 shot group)

The velocity spread is still about 100 fps (difference between the
lowest and the highest measurement). From what I have experienced in
factory ammo that is OK but creates an interesting future project for
me to develop a very stable load that is suitable for sniper duties.
Currently I am mixing freely cases and primers from different
manufacturers. Once you start measuring velocities you discover why
the snipers zero their rifles with each new lot of ammunition.

I have experiemnted using Reloader-15 with Hornady 55 gr. FMJBT
bullets and obtained the following results.

(5)      27.0 gr. -> 3160 fps |  963 m/s (10 shot group)
(6)      28.0 gr. -> 3291 fps | 1003 m/s (10 shot group)

With its cylindrical particles Reloader-15 doesn't seem to be very
well suited for the .223 Rem. case and load (6) is slightly
compressed. Still Reloader-15 seems to be perfect for heavier bullets
than 55 gr.

I have measured the velocities of some lots of commercial ammo:

(7)  Winchester 55 gr. FMJ    ->  3268 fps. | 996 m/s (20 shot group)
(8)  PMC 55 gr. FMJ  (M193)   ->  3215 fps. | 980 m/s (20 shot group)
(9)  Remington/UCC 55 gr. FMJ ->  3180 fps. | 969 m/s (20 shot group)

(10) Milwall Co. 55 gr. FMJ  (reloads)  ->  3085 fps. | 940 m/s (20 shot group)
(11) HANSEN 55 gr. FMJ    (M193)        ->  3251 fps. | 990 m/s (20 shot group)
(12) HANSEN 62 gr. FMJ-AP (SS109/M855)  ->  3186 fps. | 971 m/s (20 shot group)

Load (8) from PMC is advertised as M193 standard milspec. My results
show acceptable deviation.  I do not remember if the Winchester ammo
falls in the same category but the speed fit the milspec. In general,
I have noticed that velocities very about 100 fps with .223 Rem.
factory ammunition (for some reason this is much less for larger
caliber ammo).  The Milwall ammunition is clearly loaded with the
lawyers in mind. The HANSEN ammunition showed very uniform speeds and
I am most impressed with the SS109/M855 ammo which despite the heavier
bullet packed 970 m/s speed.  I wish they were selling the AP bullets
and I would make that my standard load. The closest thing on the
market is the Speer 62 gr.  FMJBT bullet which is hard to find in my
local gun store.

The 68 gr. BTHP bullet from Hornady is another story. I have tried it
with the following charges of Reloader-15:

(13) 25.0 gr. Hornady 68 gr. HPBT -> 2859 fps. | 871 m/s
(14) 25.3 gr. Hornady 68 gr. HPBT -> 2941 fps. | 896 m/s

The last load (14) is my favourite in this category and the speed was
uniform to within 40 fps. I would imagine that combination can be
developed into a very accurate long range alternative. 

Despite its faster burning rate the H-335 seems to reasonably suited
for heavier .22 cal.  bullets. I obtained the following results:

(15) 24.0 gr. Hornady 68 gr. HPBT -> 2868 fps. | 874 m/s
(16) 24.5 gr. Hornady 68 gr. HPBT -> 2940 fps. | 896 m/s

Through the entire testing I looked carefully for pressure signs and
on load (16) I saw some in the form of slightly expanded primer
pockets. Beyond that I have been unable to determine if pressures turn
too high at times. In general, the entire reloading craft seems quite
imprecise. The chronograph is the first major tool that sheds a lot of
light on the final result of the combastion. The actual process of
burning and the distribution of pressures is a very complicated
engineering discipline and not easily predictable. This limits
drastically our abilities to sqeeze the maximum out of each cartridge
and reverts us to a lot of experimentation with awfully primitive
means to detect pressures. Not to mention all of the other variables
in the game: barrel erosion, ammo components, external factors, etc.
This makes the strive for quality in that direction a challenging
(financially too) task that only the bench rest competitors seem to
have tackled yet.  Still perhaps that is enough considering the level
of imperfection that the average shooter finds himself into. An
interesting article on this topic by Rick Jamison apears in the latest
issue of Shooting Times (February).

Recently I decided to experiment with 40 gr. bullets in my HBAR. For
the purpose I selected the Speer 40 gr. spire point and obtained the
following result with H-335:

(17) 28.5 gr. Speer 40 gr. spire point -> 3711 fps. |  1131 m/s

I find that very exciting load with its speed. As I am not a hunter I
haven't had the chance to test it on flesh but I would assume high
degree of lethality, also due to the shape of the bullet which reminds
me that of the 122 gr. 7.62x39 standard bulled well known for its
tumbling qualities. The bullet needs to be seated very shallowly in
order to confine to the the overall recomended length for the .223
Rem. cartridge.

The Reloader-15 load gave me the following result:

(18) 28.5 gr. Speer 40 gr. spire point -> 3427 fps. |  1045 m/s

Clearly the slower burning Reloader-15 powder is not suitable for
light bullets. Moreover the load had to be compressed.

My next line of experiments will center on the BL-C(2) powder with 55
gr. and 62 gr. bullets.

Just for reference here are speeds for some other military ammunition:

8x57 JS Mauser  198 gr. Israel Military  -> 2471 fps | 753 m/s 
8x57 JS Mauser  198 gr. HANSEN           -> 2433 fps | 742 m/s 

These 10 rounds 8x57 groups were shot in standard German Kar 98 (k)
(AX-41) with 23.6 in.  barrel. Very uniform velocities with both. I am
looking to test the 154 gr. military loading which supposedly moves
along with 2936 fps.

.303 British Mk VII  (174.5 gr ball)           -> 2421 fps | 738 m/s

This group was shot with SMLE No. 4 Mk. I. The paper pads between the
bullet and the cordite damaged the LCD on my chronograph.

30-06 M2 Ball, US Military                     -> 2734 fps | 833 m/s
30-06 M1 Ball, 1940 Natl. Match                -> 2635 fps | 803 m/s
30-06 M2 Ball, PMC			       -> 2823 fps | 860 m/s

The first batch of GI M2 ammo did not perform up to specifications in
my 1903A1 Springfield. More testing on this ammo is needed but I am
out of original GI ammo. The M1 Natl. Match was right on target and
gave me very consistent velocities after all those years. The M2 by
PMC was in par with the expected 2810 fps. Overall it seems to me that
the military M2 ball ammunition is underloaded (could be in regard of
the early Springfields) which makes the 30-06 not very efficient
cartidge for military purposes.

7.62x54R Russian 150 gr. Standard Chinese Ball -> 2980 fps | 908 m/s
7.62x54R Russian 182 gr. Heavy Ball by HANSEN  -> 2636 fps | 803 m/s

Now that is something with military ammunition! The rifle was
Mossin-Nagant M1891 with 31.6 inch barrel made by Remington in 1917.

7.62x39 Russian 123 gr. Standard Chinese Ball  -> 2421 fps | 738 m/s

The 20 round group was shot with SKS with 20 inch barrel. The expected
velocity from AK-47 is 710-720 m/s but I haven't measured it.

6.5x55 Swedish Mauser 139 gr. HANSEN           -> 2557 fps | 779 m/s

The rifle was Swedish Mauser M96 made in 1915 by Carl Gustaf
Gevarsfactori with approx. 30 inch barrel.

7x57 Mauser 174 gr. Ball HANSEN                -> 2372 fps | 723 m/s
7x57 Mauser 154 gr. Military Ball (Venezuela)  -> 2590 fps | 790 m/s

Both tests were made with SAFN-49. I hate the first result epitomizing
the underloaded model 1893 7x57 ammo. The 154 gr. military ball is
much more acceptable. In general the 7x57 cartridge is one of the most
enigmatic as the loadings vary considerably, due to its age.
Originally I wanted to sqeeze .308 Win. performance out of the 7x57
and make my SAFN-49 a substitute for M-14 but I am starting to get
discouraged. 

7.5x54 French 149 gr. Syrian Military Ball     -> 2705 fps  | 824 m/s

This 20 round group was shot through MAS-36 rifle with 22.6 inch
barrel. This is an interesting and efficient cartridge.

8x50R Austrian  244 gr. Bulgarian Military 1935 -> 2070 fps | 631 m/s

The test was made with Mannlicher M95 rifle with 30.12 inch barrel.
This is the best elephant gun one can get directly from the military
arsenal - and kicks appropriately. This was the last batch of this
ancient ammo that my compatriots produced after which they switched to
the 8x57 Mauser ammo for the same type of rifle re-chambered and
designated as M95(M). 

45-70-405 by Remington                          -> 1165 fps | 355 m/s

The 10 round group was shot through original Springfield Trapdoor M84
rifle with 32.6 in.  barrel. The velocity of the original ammunition
should be higher. The results out of the Trapdoor were extremely
consistent (within 15 fps) but seem too low.

At the end I will invoke a little disclaimer: No results are definite.
Every doubt requires additional testing (unfortunately I am on a
budget).  There are always results that are hard to explain.  The
chronographs are pretty acurate as I was questioning the validity of
mine and tested it until I became satisfied. 


	Dimitar Bojantchev
	dxbq@encon.pge.com


P.S. I have done some playing with different loads for the .300 Win.
Mag. and the .45 ACP which together with the .223 Rem comprise my
primary shooting platform.