Powders for AR Rifle length

T

Tackdriver

New member
Hello,
I began handloading for a AR15 I put together.
We are using a rifle length gas tube, and this rifle fired great with factory ammo.

What I put together was 50 grain Ballistic Tips and 52 grain Vmaxes behind H4198. All the loads had charge weights between 19 and 21 grains, and I had used these before in a Cooper 21 to great accuracy. So they still had pretty good accuracy. But they turned my AR into a straight pull bolt gun. I was getting ejection, but the bolt was just not getting back far enough to take the next round from a known good magazine.

So I searched on this forum and found that H4198 is not a great powder to run in the AR platform, and others had the same experience I had had. So what I am looking for is something better. I will be using bullets from 50 to 77 grains.
I need the action to cycle. So I was looking around at powder, especially the newer ones specific to the 223 and I found AR-Comp by Alliant.

Anybody use this? Does it cycle the action? Accuracy?

The other is CFE223 by Hodgdon. What say you?

Thanks!!
 
Originally Posted By: TackdriverHello,
AR15 I put together.


Pull your hand guard and check your block alignment again.. Many of us had this problem and it was from improper alighnment..

A powder that I went to after I had issues with timing was xbr8208.. No marks or pressure signs on my brass and out of my 204 I am getting average 3760 velocity from my 204 39gr sierra.. I will post pic of 3 shot group I did on work up just the other day..

i AM OVER MAX LOAD.. But there is no pressure signs at all from my rifle.. Also new winchester brass...
IMG_20160831_160828386_HDR_zpsmi0ohfnu.jpg
 
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Pull your hand guard and check your block alignment again.. Many of us had this problem and it was from improper alighnment..

What Dan said.. Found this to be my problem when I built my first one. Thought I lined up the gas block properly but did not. Put a different gas block on also and the problem was solved. My rifle was doing the same as yours. Would fire but only blow the BCG back halfway. Have run H4895 out of mine with no problem with 69 gr SMK's. so I don't think 4198 should be the problem. If the gas block is not aligned completely that is probably your problem not the powder.
 
For block alignment, I loosen the block, stick a once fired empty with spent primer in the chamber, and blow into the muzzle. I can feel the change in resistance as I move the block in and out and around - tighten it down at the least resistance.

4198 should run just fine for you. 4895, Varget, 8208, 335, 322, CFE223, W748, 4064... All good. I generally consider if 27.3grn Varget under a 50grn V-max doesn't shoot pretty well, there's something wrong with the rifle.
 
Did you do any thing to the rifle? Guess I mean did you build it or is it a factory gun? If it shoots factory ammo ok...I can't figure out why it wouldn't shoot you're reload then? I'm no expert,but if you changed any thing...maybe the buffer isn't right now or might need an adjustable gas block. If you didn't change nothing I guess I don't know why the alignment would have changed unless it wasn't torqued good at the factory? Just a couple of my opinions...and other AR experts comments on these are more than welcome too!!!
 
IMR 4198 has never been the most stellar for AR's. The pressure curve is just a bit low for many rifles unless it is run at top end loads and even then can be a bit ragged. If the barrel has a big port it does better but there are some that do not. It earned its spurs in bolt guns and is tremendous there just not so much in the self loader area in my experience.

I believe as noted above and have found, there are a plethora of other powders out there are less work to make run. 8208, Benchmark and CFE23 are all good. I'm trying some AutoComp in a 6X45 to see how it does.

Greg


 


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