223/5.56 NATO 62gr FMJ

[RDub01]

Hello
Now that I've completed the 55gr FMJ project, it's time to pick on the 62 grainers. A buddy of mine sent me some 62gr green tips to work with.  Weighing the bullets I found most to be 62.7-62.9grs., some a little heavier and some a little lighter. Their lengths were around .914".
Again the focus here is to identify an M855 duplication load.


The gun I'm shooting is a M&P 15 Sport II 16" 1-9 twist.  Sight is a Lucid HD-7 red dot.

Velocity data was taken with an Oehler 33 chronograph. Screens centered 15' from muzzle.
Target circles are 4" in diameter.

I took two different 62gr. factory loads out to shoot;
The 62gr American Eagle FMJ green tip, and the Frontier 62gr FMJ. 



The American Eagle load was charged with 26.9grs of a flattened ball powder and had a velocity yield of 2937 fps.
The Frontier load was charged with 26.6grs of a flattened ball powder and had a velocity yield of 2937 fps.

https://postimg.cc/gallery/3ez5ttrqy/

https://postimg.cc/gallery/29kuk8viy/

Both loads shot pretty well.  Now I know what I'm trying to duplicate.

Made another loading data chart for 60-62 grain bullets;



With the exception of AA 2015, the same powders were used.  IMR 8208 and the one load of AR COMP were fired off with CCI 400 primers. The rest, CCI 450 primers.  Lake City brass was used throughout.
Bullets were seated just through the cannalure and crimped in with a Lee Factory Crimp die.

Loaded up the test ammo and went to the range.







Well..  Every powder except H-335 produced at least one good or descent group. This rifle will shoot these 62 grain bullets quite well. TAC really came through and AA2460 is the closest factory duplication load.
I didn't have enough bullets for a complete ladder with all eleven powders. One, would have to be loaded with only five. So AR COMP drew the short straw.
Here is a graph;



Well that was very interesting.
Bear in mind this is all relative to one rifle, one shooter, one place and time, one set of components.  Change any one variable and this could all change. Don't accept this as loading data. You must do your own work ups with your rifle.

[The_Shadow]

They are a Hoot To Shoot!

[Trapper6L]

One of the long term gun writers was commenting on TAC on another hunting forum. In his testing, it ran cooler, wasn't temperature sensitive, and made for some great groups. I would have tried it but no gunshop around here carrys any of it. It's suppose to be exceptionally clean burning and doesn't leave moisture absorbing deposits. From your groups, that would certainly be my pick of powder. TAC is supposed to be the powder of choice in NATO military ammo.