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AR plinking load with W748, 8208xbr or CFE223???

joshb

Gold $$ Contributor
Hey guys! I’m looking for a load “window” for a brand new Colt 6520. I believe it has a Carbine length gas system. I’m not an AR guy and don’t know much about “over gassing” and such. I’d rather not beat up the gun with harsh loads. I have about 1k LC brass and a thousand 55 grain FMJ’s I want to put together. I dug thru my powder stash. I have 3 pounds 8208xbr, 1 pound CFE223 and 9 pounds W748. I searched the old threads. Papa Charlie implied he liked 748 as did a few others but I couldn’t find a specific AR load. I also have a Rock River LAR 15 so I’m looking for a general good load for an AR. I also have a Stag Varmint heavy barrel but that gun eats a specific Varget diet with 77s. I don’t want to use my precious Varget for this project.
Thanks in advance!
Josh
 
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Hey guys! I’m looking for a load “window” for a brand new Colt 6920. I believe it has a Carbine length gas system. I’m not an AR guy and don’t know much about “over gassing” and such. I’d rather not beat up the gun with harsh loads. I have about 1k LC brass and a thousand 55 grain FMJ’s I want to put together. I dug thru my powder stash. I have 3 pounds 8208xbr, 1 pound CFE223 and 9 pounds W748. I searched the old threads. Papa Charlie implied he liked 748 as did a few others but I couldn’t find a specific AR load. I also have a Rock River LAR 15 so I’m looking for a general good load for an AR. I also have a Stag Varmint heavy barrel but that gun eats a specific Varget diet with 77s. I don’t want to use my precious Varget for this project.
Thanks in advance!
Josh
The Hodgdon wsite says 22.5 - 25 hrs of 748 with a 55 gr fmj. I’ve used 24 and it shot fine.
 
I shoot 26 grains of 748 with my 55 FMJ for 3 gun comps. The above load is actually for the barnes tsx, with a cup and core FMJ you can go higher, just work up. I love 748, a great AR powder.

PS: top that load with a 55 SBK and you have a great varmint load also!
 
My standard AR load for training is 25.5 748 behind a 55 FMJ Hornady, primed with a CCI #41. Shoots well, doesn’t beat up the gun and is accurate enough. The biggest headache with loading for ARs is the case prep. For an accuracy load when doing longer range precision is required, I use 25 Gr IMR 4895 behind a 55 Hornady V-Max...shoots very well.
 
25.5 gr w748 cci 400 primer nosler 55 gr ballistic tip. Good shooting load in my AR.
PopCharlie
 
Thank you Riflewoman and PapaCharlie!
I’m primed with CCI #41’s and using Hornady 55 FMJs. I’ll load a few up to test, then run off a thousand. My “old load” used BLc2 and I’m out of it.
Yup! Prepping is a trial when doing a thousand!
Thanks again!
Josh
 
I was cleaning up some 223 brass the other day and found one to go in the Winchester pile. But it was still loaded. I broke it down with the bullet puller and it contained 25.5 grains for win powder that looked like 748. It was Winchester ammo it had to be 748. The bullet was an expanding hunting bullet and there was 25.5 grains of powder. I like Pop Charlie have been loading 25.5 grains of 748 for many, many years. I load 69 SMKs on top of mine but the 25.5 load has much merit
 
I'm a 26.5gr CFE223 guy, but all the above are great!

There's no real way to reduce overgassing without some load experience on the rifle. Each are different. "Overgas" is more about 'less damage to brass' than tuning a rifle for accuracy.
 
My standard AR load for training is 25.5 748 behind a 55 FMJ Hornady, primed with a CCI #41. Shoots well, doesn’t beat up the gun and is accurate enough. The biggest headache with loading for ARs is the case prep. For an accuracy load when doing longer range precision is required, I use 25 Gr IMR 4895 behind a 55 Hornady V-Max...shoots very well.

Are your case prep operations different for longer range precision rounds?
 
Disclaimer: Use this load at your own risk. Each gun is different and your results may vary from mine.

My go to load is 26.1 gr. of CFE223 behind General Dynamics M193, 55 gr. FMJBT and CCI #400 primer gives the same performance as 5.56 NATO in my builds. Cycles well in 10.5, 16, and 20" barrels with rifle or carbine gas systems. This load has also proven to be accurate in all of my ARs. Does have quite a muzzle blast on the 10.5" so a flash forwarder is a good idea on a short barrel.

Eventually, I plan to develop a lighter load using 62 gr. bonded bullets for the 10.5" pistol.
 
Are your case prep operations different for longer range precision rounds?
Generally no, not for an AR. And for the record, these “longer range precision” loads only had to be accurate to 300. Out of my Remington 700 with 5R barrel, they shoot into 1/2 inch...

For a bolt action I’d choose different brass, and perhaps use a bushing sizer. maybe even for an AR service rifle for 600 yards..
 
Here is a link I have forwarded to folks many times. Keep in mind, @joshb that you asked for mild loads in so many words, and these are not soft loads, I'm just pointing them out cause I think you might like a comparison. The link has some other nice tidbits that are interesting. It is getting a little out of date because it doesn't have some of the more recent powders, but everything it does show falls into pet loads for SR.

In Service Rifle, brass just doesn't last the way it does in most bolt guns, so just keep this for future reference and to compare where you are loading to what this shows. The post above that forwards the Sierra data is also great to keep for reference and is easy to navigate on the main web site.

These loads are generally for the 200, 300 yard lines. As riflewoman pointed out, at 600 we tend to see SMK80 or similar, that are loaded longer than mag length.

http://radomski.us/njhp/cart_tech.htm
 
Hmmm. Isn't it illegal to use 8208 in plinking loads? I thought it was to be used only in serious matches.

I concur. Save it as backup for your Varget loads. 8208 has been my most accurate powder for 77's.

I would go with the 748 seeing as you have a bunch. With CFE I started at 25gr and worked up a little.
 
I concur. Save it as backup for your Varget loads. 8208 has been my most accurate powder for 77's.

I would go with the 748 seeing as you have a bunch. With CFE I started at 25gr and worked up a little.
I’m going with the W748. Funny thing for me! I’m loading these test loads and I can’t remember how long it’s been since I used a crimp. I crushed a few before I got it right.
 
My standard AR load for training is 25.5 748 behind a 55 FMJ Hornady, primed with a CCI #41. Shoots well, doesn’t beat up the gun and is accurate enough. The biggest headache with loading for ARs is the case prep. For an accuracy load when doing longer range precision is required, I use 25 Gr IMR 4895 behind a 55 Hornady V-Max...shoots very well.

Too bad some of you folks don't live in WI. I have sold my Ruger #1V in .223 because It never got used for the reason I bought it for. Age was against me . Had a 6.5 x 20 Luep on it as well. I still have 3 # of 748, 3# of 335, 2 # of ( I believe...2230. ) Don't know what I will do with it either. Can't really advertise in any local news paper with things being as they are anymore...
 

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