Powder for 5.56 69gr

L

LilPewPew

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So I'm kinda new to reloading and wondering what powder you guys would suggest for 5.56 out of a 16" barrel. Based on the handbooks I've looked at I'm thinking Accurate 2520. But I wanna know everyone else's thoughts before I got blow $140 on a keg.
 
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Do not buy powder in bulk until you have worked up the load.
Your 16" barrel and it's twist will cause the velocities given in any manual to be different. Using Accurate's 2520, 5.56NATO, 1 in 7, Match King data will do but the velocities will not be even close. They used a 24" test barrel.
Isn't a safety issue in any way shape or form either.
 
Do not buy powder in bulk until you have worked up the load


quoted for truth, so far I have experimented with 3 different powders and 3 bullets looking for the holy grail of loads that will give me consistent .5 and below loads in my .223 bolt gun
 
Alright if I want higher velocities should I use a lighter 62gr bullet?

And maybe a hotter powder. Because that's the hottest powder I could find that had load data for 5.56. Do you guys know of any manual that has hotter loads for 5.56, and not .223.

I want my velocity to be around 3,000 fps.
 
Do you guys know of any manual that has hotter loads for 5.56, and not .223.
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Western Powders has separate load data, I don't know if it is hotter than the 223 Rem data or not. They have a new hard cover load manual published now and the load info is online as well under the different brands that they sell (Ramshot, Accurate, etc.)
 
You should test a bunch of powders before buying a keg. Be danged sure that powder is the one for you and your rifle like the best ...if not , a keg is a terrible thing to waste.
Gary
 
gwpercle said:
You should test a bunch of powders before buying a keg. Be danged sure that powder is the one for you and your rifle like the best ...if not , a keg is a terrible thing to waste.
Gary
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Yes, I have already decided this based on other replies.
 
I stated in one of your other threads that the Nosler 64 gr bonded is the best game bullet I have used in a 224 caliber rifle. You might struggle to get 3000 fps with a 69 gr bullet with a 16" barrel.
 
It depends on what you are doing. If you have a decent barrel and are looking for around 1MOA, the brain damage of finding the best load is a waste of time. If you are looking for the best accuracy possible with your set-up inside 300 yards, a fast powder with 50 to 60 grain bullets is going to get you there. If past 300, 69s with a slower powder.

I use AA2200 in everything under 60 grains and TAC in everything over. I'm okay with .5 to 1 MOA 5 shot groups. I load purely based on function and velocity for the ARs.
When I go to bolt guns, whole different set of criteria and I don't get happy until I am closing in on 1/4MOA for 5 rounds.
 
That's ok I think I'm just gonna go with H335 load data hopefully I'll get around 2800 fps.
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That's what I use... in fact, I just bought a 8# keg of it. I shoot 55grn and 62grn bullets, I don't have my data handy so I can't tell you what velocities I'm getting.

And maybe a hotter powder. Because that's the hottest powder I could find that had load data for 5.56. Do you guys know of any manual that has hotter loads for 5.56, and not .223.
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Be careful trying to beat every last FPS out of your handloads, particularly in the AR. 'Hot' loads are a quick avenue to part failures.
 
One of my best loads with 69 BTHP is H335 at 23.5 gr. at 2.250" and CCI450 primers. Varget, BL-C2, 8208xbr, and CFE223 also give excellent groups with that bullet. I love the 69 gr!
 
Another vote for CFE223, you can get great velocities with heavier bullets. I’ve been using Varget for 5.56 recently, since I can use it in my .30-06 as well.
 
I had a 16 in H-bar that I settled on 25 to 25.5 gr Varget as THE load for 69 gr MK's ,IMO. I got 2780 fps and sub MOA accuracy.That was a take-off used barrel my brother gave me,a 1 in 9 made by Oympic.

My BCG said it was burning pretty darn clean.I've moved on to 1 in 8 twist and 75 to 77 gr bullets.For those,my powder of choice is RE-15.

I don't know 2520 very well .The red Accurate loading manual called it "Camp Perry Powder" Its a ball powder that showed good numbers in a .308.Bought some and loaded up a batch with 168 s to feed my STG-58 (FAL)
The rifle ground to a stop within 3 magazines. Not typical of the FAL.Nasty,gritty fouling. YMMV,but I quit 2520 there.

Most folks do well with H-335 in the 55 gr zone.
The Nosler 62 gr Varmint Ballistic tips,in my experience,shoot well with Benchmark

There are a lot of other good powders.Those were good enough I said "This works"
 
From what I've been told, 69 gr+ 16" +AA2520= mediocre velocity and huge fireball. I took the advice and didn't even try AA2520. And don't even think about 69 in 16". If I'm going that slow, with little hope of expansion, I'll shoot a .308.
 
Varget works the best for me with 68-69 gr bullets. I have a 24" bull barrel so my velocities will be somewhat higher. CFE 223 give me the best velocity but accuracy is dismal. The rifle is a consistent 1/2 moa with varget and 68 gr hornady hpbt. but my groups with CFE 233 are in the range of 4-5" at 100 yards!! Truly impressive that a powder can cause a accurate rifle to shoot so poorly. also for me H335 works better with 52-55 gr bullets. But with a shorter barrel the faster powder may be a better choice.
 
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