Powders with simular to Benchmark burn rate?

Originally Posted By: Rock KnockerThrough my google research it seems to sound like the most temperature stable powders are extruded/stick powders with a coating on them. I know benchmark is stick powder and I've heard H322 is also. I was just curious about how much of these powders can fit into a 223 case... You know, maybe just because I've got nothing better to do today I will test out how much of each of my powders will fit into a 223 case. I will compare stick with ball and write it all down. I've got Benchmark, H335, Varget, cfe223 and H4198 I can try out.

This is me just kind of thinking out loud, or at least writing it down... I like testing out new components but can't afford everything on the local shops reloading shelf right now.




Tell ya what, later this evening I'll run a few through Quick Loads for you. That will give you a base line for case fill and % burned in a 16" barrel. If you like.
 
Smokeless, that would be interesting, I haven't gotten to play with quick load.

I took a random piece of lake city brass with a fired primer in it and filled the case to the top with a few different powders. H4198 28.0gr, Benchmark 29.24, CFE223 32.84 and H335 32.86.

H4895 and H322 are on my very short list of next powders to try out, and I think a place down the street has both on the shelf.
 
My 223 coyote load is Vihtavuori N133 powder & 52 gr. Berger's. Used this load from + 40 F to -40 F temperatures with no complaints.

Also use VV N133 in the 223AI with 64 gr. Berger's under the same conditions.
 
Keep in mind, this is not load data. It is projections from QL in a generic sense with out some particulars.

223 Rem loaded with 53gr v-max COAL at 2.260 barrel 16". Max pressure of 62366psi. I ran these up to as close to max at that pressure. Always reduce and work up. YMMV

Rl-7
22.5gr. 98.6% case fill
99.65% of powder burned. Velocity= 3083fps


H-4227
20.5gr. 94.9% case fill
100% of powder burned. Velocity= 3074fps


H-4198
22.2gr. 100.2% case fill
100% of powder burned. Velocity= 3058fps


H-322
24.8gr. 108.3% case fill
97.38% of powder burned. Velocity= 3159fps


N-130
23.8gr. 107.9% case fill
99.8% of powder burned. Velocity= 3076fps


N-120
22.1gr. 102.6% case fill
100% of powder burned. Velocity= 3070fps


I just went through and sorted all the stick/extruded powder in my data base to match a max pressure with around 100% case fill of useable case volume generically.

Send me a pm if you want more.
 
I should have included Benchmark at maximum to help your base line.. here it is at max just like the others.


Benchmark 25.1gr
108.0% case fill
94.09% powder burned. Velocity = 3070fps
 
Thanks a lot Smokeless. What exactly does it mean with the % of case fill when it's over 100%, does that mean it's going to be a compressed load?

PM inbound, I would be interested in seeing the % burned running with CFE223, I'm curious because on a couple different occasions I tried to work out a load with 53 vmax and CFE and groups were SO bad I tried a couple more times because I figured there was some hardware causing the problem... I have never seen any rifle shoot any ammo as bad as that combo in my gun 12+MOA.

I don't know anything about quick load so it would be interesting to know the different pressures and pressure spikes comparing a traditional land and groove barrel with a polygonal rifled barrel. Part of the reason I have done so much load development with this barrel is because I find it interesting that I can't find anything that shoots decently within published load data for 223. The barrel shoots great though once I throw all published data to the wind.

What I've found to shoot best is when I pick a bullet I want to try, then look at all the powders listed for that bullet, I then choose the fasted listed powder and end up working my way up to usually 1-2gr over listed max charge, if it's a stick powder I'm trying ether it shoots or I run out of space in the case for more powder, with ball powders I can hit pressure signs though.

I will take a look at the VV powders also, I haven't given them much thought because there is very little of it for sale around here, I would probably have to order a batch.
 
Look into AR Comp. It's for heavier bullets, probably too slow, but wouldn't hurt to see the numbers run. To be honest I think putting the info out here is better for future web searches when someone has the same kind of information. I use a lot of AR Comp, it's a great powder. I've found in my 22-250 a swing of 50 fps from ammo I shoot straight from the truck, not frozen or anything, at 3630fps with a 60gr Vmax, to 3580 with stuff I had in the freezer for an hour prior to heading to the range at 20 degrees with CFE223. Try it rather than just looking at numbers..
 
I shot out to 330 yards today with my 65 SMK and 27.3gr CFE223 load. I was getting groups at 13.5 inches of drop from a 100 yard zero.

Running the ballistics on that puts the bullet a ways over 3100fps, seems impressive for a 16" barrel.
 
FWIW, QL says 2919 fps. It's certainly not the gospel but it's always been pretty close with my use of it.
 
I wish I had a chronograph, time and money to put together a good amount of decent data but it seems to me there is a lot that can be squeezed out of these polygonal barrels with just the right components.

What's the average amount of velocity gained per inch of barrel in a 223? It seems to be getting 20"+ velocities in this compact barrel.
 
Originally Posted By: Rock KnockerI wish I had a chronograph, time and money to put together a good amount of decent data but it seems to me there is a lot that can be squeezed out of these polygonal barrels with just the right components.

What's the average amount of velocity gained per inch of barrel in a 223? It seems to be getting 20"+ velocities in this compact barrel.

My experience on the poly barrels is that they give you an apparent minimum 2" of increased barrel velocity, speaking to 16" or longer tubes, on a given load over an Enfield barrel thanks to the lower friction and pressures of engraving and the smoothness.

I can say that given any MAX load in Hodgdon they have never failed to beat those speeds with the same barrel length by a considerably margin usually in the 50-100 fps area.

Greg
 
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