Bug holes with IMR 4166 & 60gr. Vmax

[B muzguy]

Got bored yesterday said well let’s try some powder that I had laying around. Rifle Compass Lake engineering with a 24 inch Krieger barrel eight twist
The rifle has shot 77 grain TMK’s very well for many years but then when I bought a new lot of powder CFE223 it would not shoot as it did in the beginning and I was pissed thought I had a bad lot of bullets but actually I did hear they might have changed the powder ??

Lake City 2016 brass
Federal small rifle primers
Hornady 60 grain VMAX
24 grains of IMR 4166
Jumping 0.030”
I wouldn’t call it fast I wouldn’t call it slow but it’s freaking unbelievably accurate muzzle velocity 2875
The first three shots went in the bull’s-eye quarter inch no lie I cannot believe it. I thought the rifle was shooting good with 77 grain TMK & CFE223 which did .6 most of the time sometimes .5 but it was hard to do.
Had to really concentrate. The 60 grain VMAX must be well put it this way it is super freaking accurate and I just put in 24 grains and said let’s go shoot. Oh boy I don’t have to really concentrate to make the rifle shoot good “hard to explain i’m sure you people understand . I also tried 24.2 and the groups opened up to an inch I was like what?
I also tried 24.4 same thing one inch.
Then I annealed the brass and went back to 24 grains and put four into 3/8” the fifth one opened it up low to .5”
I had no idea that IMR 4166 would be that accurate because I am a reloader 15 CFE223 Tac AR comp. believer

I just can’t believe it.That an AR can be that accurate!

Just thought I’d tell you people. Can’t wait to take it out to 500 yards.

 

[TAJ45]

Sounds like you are in tall cotton w those 60s.
I did an F Open 500 yd match w a Stock 22-250 Savage w 55gr Starkes, like you, not fast nor pokey. First relay I was quite pleased but after pit duty, the zephyrs had their way w me the next 40. No kiss, no lube, my first match of this type.
No doubt you will do better w your bag/rest and wind experience. You have a shooter that sounds like a solid quarter moa advantage........till the wind toys w 17 less grains. But, have FUN. That's what it's all about.

 

[Evlshnngns]

I'll take your cfe223 tangent a bit farther. Bought 8lbs in February, should be fresh stuff. It groups like a shotgun. Hopefully a different primer or bullet will work. Sure wish I had 8# of 4166 or varget. Congrats on the new load combo, pretty amazing what a semi auto can do.

 

[yotehater]

The 4166 is wonderful in the 17 REM too. Goodbye copper fouling.

 

[mdram]

but then when I bought a new lot of powder CFE223 it would not shoot as it did in the beginning and I was pissed thought I had a bad lot of bullets but actually I did hear they might have changed the powder ??

got any more info on this? i h ave been having issues with cfe 223

 

[B muzguy]

got any more info on this? i h ave been having issues with cfe 223

Can’t remember where I heard about CFE223 being changed also heard that CFE223 is just blc-2 with Boron added don’t know if that’s the right name like I said it’s been years since I read that somewhere

 

[K22]

The 60 V max's shoot terrific out of my 223 Rem, 8" twist, Tikka's with H 4895 and Federal 205M primers. I've shoot some 1/4" groups with the heavy varmint model with this combo.

 

[jepp2]

I just can’t believe it.That an AR can be that accurate!

I think the name on the barrel has more to do with it than anything else.

A buddy of mine likes to brag about how good his rifle shoots. Always yapping and downsizing the groups so he can brag more. I made an off hand comment, I think my gas gun just might be able to out shoot his. Oh you should have seen his reaction. So the challenge was on. I have a 12T Krieger that I have shot some, but never really tried to see how good it might do. So I took some Lapua brass, turned the case necks, and selected components that shoot well in my bolt rifles.

We scheduled the day to compete. Rules were, 5 - 5 shot groups as 100m. All groups were scored and the spreads added together. Lowest total measurement wins. Wasn't even close. And I can't say this was the best my rifle has shot. But it was pretty close.

 

[B muzguy]

Took it out to 500 yards today shot 3 inch groups I had to put 1.5 MOA left for wind. 11 MOA out to five hundred I think they’re going a little faster than 2875. I think they’re going 2900

Good enough because I don’t consider a 223 to be a 500 yard Rifle. Yes I know they shoot them to 1000 and competition. 400 yards max for me to kill groundhogs in Ohio

i’ve killed some at 600 yards though but had to shoot them twice
Any further I use my 65 Creedmoor or my 65×284 Norma hell yeah