I haven’t seen a lot of empirical data on LT-32 loads in 223 so after a morning of running some loads across the chrono, I figured I’d post them to give everyone an idea how this powder holds up for 223/5.56 loads. All shooting was done on the AR rifle platform.
First up were Hornady 55 gr FMJBT. Then Nosler CC 69 gr HPBT.
I maxed out at 23.5 gr, started to see the occasional extractor swipe on the head; backed off to 23.0 grains for a <1 MOA load for the 55gr Hornady. I shot them out of 2 different length barrels, a 16†and an 18â€. All the data from accurate was from 24†barrels.
Here’s may data with some factory PMC Bronze (223 load) and LC ’02 Green Tip (5.56 load) loads for reference.
******************* 16†barrel / 18†Barrel
PMC Bronze 55gr FMJBT - 2850 fps / 2925 fps
LC’02 M855 Green Tip - 2990 fps / 3080 fps
Hornady 55 gr FMJBT - 2810 fps / 2955 fps-#
23.0 gr LT-32
Hornady 55 gr FMJBT - *** / 2925 fps-#
23.5 gr LT-32
Nosler CC 69 gr BTHP - *** / 2600 fps
21.5 gr LT-32
Nosler CC 69 gr BTHP - *** / 2540 fps
21.0 gr LT-32
Nosler CC 69 gr BTHP - *** / 2500 fps
20.5 gr LT-32
Conclusions:
For 55 grain bullets, the velocity is obtainable for standard 223 loads albeit at 5.56 pressures.
For > 55 grain bullets, the velocities’ just weren’t there before pressure signs started showing up.
Grouping with all loads was excellent. No load grouped greater than 1MOA, which was pretty amazing. Some of the 69 gr loads were really amazing but the velocity was about 200 fps below what I consider normal.
Hope this helps others get started with this new powder.
# - Different 18" rifles
First up were Hornady 55 gr FMJBT. Then Nosler CC 69 gr HPBT.
I maxed out at 23.5 gr, started to see the occasional extractor swipe on the head; backed off to 23.0 grains for a <1 MOA load for the 55gr Hornady. I shot them out of 2 different length barrels, a 16†and an 18â€. All the data from accurate was from 24†barrels.
Here’s may data with some factory PMC Bronze (223 load) and LC ’02 Green Tip (5.56 load) loads for reference.
******************* 16†barrel / 18†Barrel
PMC Bronze 55gr FMJBT - 2850 fps / 2925 fps
LC’02 M855 Green Tip - 2990 fps / 3080 fps
Hornady 55 gr FMJBT - 2810 fps / 2955 fps-#
23.0 gr LT-32
Hornady 55 gr FMJBT - *** / 2925 fps-#
23.5 gr LT-32
Nosler CC 69 gr BTHP - *** / 2600 fps
21.5 gr LT-32
Nosler CC 69 gr BTHP - *** / 2540 fps
21.0 gr LT-32
Nosler CC 69 gr BTHP - *** / 2500 fps
20.5 gr LT-32
Conclusions:
For 55 grain bullets, the velocity is obtainable for standard 223 loads albeit at 5.56 pressures.
For > 55 grain bullets, the velocities’ just weren’t there before pressure signs started showing up.
Grouping with all loads was excellent. No load grouped greater than 1MOA, which was pretty amazing. Some of the 69 gr loads were really amazing but the velocity was about 200 fps below what I consider normal.
Hope this helps others get started with this new powder.
# - Different 18" rifles
