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I have been playing around with factory ammo in both my 10 and my 10.3" SBR's. Pretty much everything in the 69-77 grain range chronos at around 2150-2250 and everything 50-60 grain chronos around 2300-2400. I was dis-appointed by these velocities and set out to work up something a little more affective. I typically use varget for almost everything I put through an AR, but I grabbed my jug of Reloader 7 in an attempt to take advantage of the short pressure curve I am working with. There is no published maximum for 5.56, but the published maximum with R7 for .223 was 22 gr behind 50 gr pill. Since I am using 5.56 chambers, I SLOWLY worked up to 22 gr behind a 60 gr Vmax in a LC case. This is just locking the bolt back on an empty mag and showing no dangerous pressure signs. Primer is just starting to flatten, but no extractor marks. I feel that it is safe for MY guns. Your mileage may very. I am getting consistent 1.2" groups out of a 10.3" BA LIGHT profile barrel with a 6x scope. I feel pretty good about this load for all light skinned critters I have to deal with.
What are your favorite hunting loads for your MK18's and what velocities are you seeing?
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OP,
I mostly use TMK & TSX loads in 5.56MM (and 300BLK) for general purpose non-LEO SD/HD/hunting but am always looking at other options. Here are some factory load chrono readings from the 10.0" 1x7 Colt M4 I have used extensively. Just returned from a 30 day hunt/shoot over in MS and took 90 varmints/predators/bobcats/hogs plus a couple of long beards with a shotgun. The terminal performance of the 0.224" & 0.308" TMK bullets on flesh & bone targets continues to impress me. HTH
62GR. TSX loads fired from 10.0" 1x7 M4 with M4 can at approx. 80F/300FT. MSL/29.92":
Custom 5.56MM 62GR. TSX: 2681 FPS (MAX listed 5.56MM NATO pressure TAC handload)
BHA 5.56MM 62GR. TSX:-----2625 FPS
Barnes 5.56MM 62GR. TSX:- 2595 FPS
BHA .223 62GR. TSX:---------2595 FPS (Very fast .223 pressure load)
70GR. TSX loads fired from 10.0" 1x7 Colt M4 barrel with M4 can at approx. 85F/300FT. MSL/29.92":
2010 SSA 5.56MM 70GR. TSX:----------2575 FPS
Custom 5.56MM 70GR. TSX:------------ 2543 FPS (MAX listed 5.56MM NATO pressure TAC handload)
5.56MM OPTIMIZED 70GR. brown tip: 2506 FPS
Barnes 5.56MM 70GR. TSX:------------- 2469 FPS
SWA 5.56MM 70GR. TSX:----------------2456 FPS (This load used Hodgdon Extreme stick rifle propellant so MV varied little from -10F to +135 F)
Ted Nugent .223 70GR. TSX:----------- 2376 FPS (This is a .223 pressure loading)
2013 SSA 5.56MM 70GR. TSX:----------2205 FPS (The 2013 SSA load is 370 FPS slower than the 2010 load but both are listed as 5.56MM)
77GR. TMK loads fired from 10.0" 1x7 M4 with M4 can at approx. 80F/300FT. MSL/29.92":
BHA 5.56MM 77GR. TMK: 2379 FPS