Load test - 75 gr Speer GD for 5.56

Dale Gribble

Can't starve us out; Can't make us run
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Finally got a chance to get to the range.

Loaded up some Speer 75gr Gold dots. Most published load data for 5.56 does not list 8208XBR, but running off .233 Rem data, I worked up some loads for testing. Book max for .223 using 8208XBR with a 75gr bullet is 22.7 gr.

Loaded 22.2/22.5/22.8/23.1/23.4

***ALL LOADS OVER 22.7 GRAINS ARE OVER MAX***

Pistol (braced) AR platform / 10.3” BA Hanson barrel / .233 Wylde chamber / 1x8 twist

Range - 100 yards
Temp - 63 F
Wind - very light to none

22.2 gr
5 shot string - avg MV (2236)

2CC6ED0C-3E93-4445-96A5-0CCAE9FC1AEC.jpeg

1.819”


22.5 gr
5 shot string - avg MV (2278)

9F59CC96-F8B0-41F9-B691-019A29A62052.jpeg

1.439” - take out the flyer on the far right and the cluster measured at 0.686”.


22.8 gr
5 shot string - avg MV (2316)

C311C13D-DE04-4E38-8231-E449C79F4545.jpeg

1.462”


23.1 gr
5 shot string - avg MV (2390)

20BDEDC5-794E-4BD7-98A7-707BA142EB72.jpeg

1.241” - 4 shots clustered into 0.754”


23.4 gr
5 shot string - avg MV (2446)

4943905B-11D7-4611-9968-5C022189F96D.jpeg

1.801” - flyer not pictured, but was above the 4 shots shown. Those 4 measured to 0.743”.

All in all, I’m pretty happy with both the velocities and accuracy from a 10.3” barrel. If my calculations are right, I should be above expansion threshold for that bullet out to 300 yards, which is what I was angling for. Still have a bit-o-tweaking / more testing to do.



Also took my Ruger American (Std. 308 22” barrel) out for its shakedown cruise. I picked it up a Gander a few months ago when they were running 20% off / no tax. Also got the Good Sam discount, so out the door, I was less than $250.00.

Largest group - 1.017

D944F14E-367F-48F4-9A67-213FBB475A6E.jpeg


Smallest group - 0.610

DC20E888-35A1-41FF-9AC7-2115F87119A8.jpeg
 
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I had problems with 8208 producing speed; all my loads that produced decent accuracy were well over published max and even then the rifles (3) cycled sluggishly and the brass was barely ejecting...almost rolling out of the ejection port.

I know a lot of people love 8208 but I’ve just not been able to get it to perform like other powders and have a full pound away at Battery oaks.

2446 with a 75gr is great from a 10.3” barrel though
 
Nice, glad the gun doing what you want it to do. I'll also built my 10.3" pistol today using a PSA M4A1 lower. Mine is a clone pistol build until I SBR one of the receivers.

CD
 
feet per second

Nevermind...brain fart on my end..read your response wrong.

Thought you were referring to a particular powder you used and I thought it mighta been produced by Accurate Arms.
 
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I like 8208 in my 20" Wylde. I also went above published max loads, watching carefully for pressure signs. In my gun, 23.1 seemed to be the magic number (with Hornady 75bthp), I generally get 1 moa or better, sometimes 0.75 on a good day. Eventually I will be testing 8208 in 224V.
 
Nice! Would love to see if the load performs in other barrels.

Yes.

Yesterday afternoon...

14.5” BA Hanson S/S 1x8

.620” - 4 shots on the right clustered into .541”

27EEAA83-A9B6-4012-B592-88993D082FB6.jpeg


23.2gr 8208 XBR. I believe I’ve settled on this as my load for the 75s.
 
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I also use 8208 but with LC cases and Nosler 77gr. 22.3gr is what my Noveske build likes and it stacks them with decent velocity too. I had another node above 23gr like it seems most of y’all have found, but it wasn’t any better than the 22.3 load so I decided to keep it at the lower charge.
 
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