223 FPS question

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pyscodog

Active member
Hope this will be an easy one.
Rifle-DPMS Sweet 16. 1/9 twist

Can a reloader get 3250 FPS with a 55 grain bullet out of a 16 inch barrel? Safely
 
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I'll be interested to hear the answer as well. I don't push my .223's very hard, but I don't get 3250fps with a 50grn pill (let alone 55grn) out of my 16" 1:9 tubes (loads worked up for longer barrels that I just use in the shorties too).
 
i run a 24" barrel. i dont get anywhere near 3250 fps out of 55gr. i think the last time i chronographed my load it was 3050fps. but it shoots very well.

almost all my load development is for the most accurate load, i cant recall the last time that the most accurate load was also the hot load.

seems like everyone posts velocities that are on the high side.
 
Originally Posted By: 6724i run a 24" barrel. i dont get anywhere near 3250 fps out of 55gr. i think the last time i chronographed my load it was 3050fps. but it shoots very well.

almost all my load development is for the most accurate load, i cant recall the last time that the most accurate load was also the hot load.

seems like everyone posts velocities that are on the high side.

What powder you using? I get 3050fps with 55sbk from my 20in tube
 
I don't think there is any way you will get 3250fps out of a 16 inch barrel. I have chronographed my 50 grain VMax handloads at over 3350 out of a 22 inch barrel. That is a max load and is used in bolt action only rifles. I have chronographed some 55 grain loads out of my 18 inch barrel R15 Remington, and could not reach 3000fps without going to loads that were over max. When these ammo companies list the fps of their cartridges, remember that the figures they use come from barrels that are usually found on blot guns. That means barrels in the 22-24 inch range.
 
Reason for asking is I have a friend that runs a Nikon 223 scope and swears he's getting over 3250 out of his 16 inch DPMS. All of us agree, he's full of it but he sticks to his story. You'll never see the rifle and a chrono at the range at the same time. LOL
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogHope this will be an easy one.
Rifle-DPMS Sweet 16. 1/9 twist

Can a reloader get 3250 FPS with a 55 grain bullet out of a 16 inch barrel? Safely



You would need a 20" barrel for that velocity range.

3000fps might happen in the right 16" tube with the best throat for a 55gr pill. Not much more.
 
I have a 16" AR and I'm getting 2944/CFE223, 2905/8208XBR and 2918/TAC these are all with 55gr. Nosler BT's. Not saying these are "max" loads but they are towards the higher end of published data.
 


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