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AR15.COM
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12/20/2012 3:27:09 PM EDT
I have numerous reloading manuals & 1 more ordered specifically for AR15s - but they really don't give  all the info needed. I've been reloading for 40 years and also shoot benchrest so would like to think that I know what I'm doing. I would really be interested in your favorite loads for accuracy for the following 2 rifles:

Colt LE6940 - 16" bbl carbine 1 in 7 twist: Colt says they have the best accuracy with a 62 gr bullet but that's all they said - surprised I got that out of them.

Windom Weaponry WW-15 16" bbl 1 in 9 twist: Factory tech says he gets best accuracy with a 69 gr Federel Gold Medal Match Boat Tail hollow point.

No comment from either on primers, brand of powder or gr of load - not surprising for liability reasons. I like to load the powder till it almost fills the shell. Also, do y'all do any head spacing, should it touch the rifling, back off, etc? On my 6.5 Creedmore BR I seat the bullet to where it butts up against the rifling - then back off 10 thousandths.
I know all rifles, even the same make and model have different sweet spots for loads but need a good starting point.
Brass?
Powder brand & grains?
Bullet wt, brand & specs?
Primer?
Any headspace?

Many thanks for any of your favorites.

bojangles5169

12/20/2012 3:38:56 PM EDT
[#1]
Quoted:
I have numerous reloading manuals & 1 more ordered specifically for AR15s - but they really don't give  all the info needed. I've been reloading for 40 years and also shoot benchrest so would like to think that I know what I'm doing. I would really be interested in your favorite loads for accuracy for the following 2 rifles:

Colt LE6940 - 16" bbl carbine 1 in 7 twist: Colt says they have the best accuracy with a 62 gr bullet but that's all they said - surprised I got that out of them.

Windom Weaponry WW-15 16" bbl 1 in 9 twist: Factory tech says he gets best accuracy with a 69 gr Federel Gold Medal Match Boat Tail hollow point.

No comment from either on primers, brand of powder or gr of load - not surprising for liability reasons. I like to load the powder till it almost fills the shell. Also, do y'all do any head spacing, should it touch the rifling, back off, etc? On my 6.5 Creedmore BR I seat the bullet to where it butts up against the rifling - then back off 10 thousandths.
I know all rifles, even the same make and model have different sweet spots for loads but need a good starting point.
Brass? I prefer Win
Powder brand & grains? Varget, H4895 or TAC
Bullet wt, brand & specs? Sierra 69 SMK or 77 SMK
Primer? FGMM
Any headspace? mag length seating

Many thanks for any of your favorites.

bojangles5169



12/20/2012 4:19:01 PM EDT
[#2]
The tried and true load that works well in all 1/7, 1/8 twist ARs is 24-24.5 grains Varget and 75 grain Hornady hpbt. I have never been wronged using Sierra's "accuracy" combinations either.
12/20/2012 5:43:05 PM EDT
[#3]
My favorite load for my varmint AR (26" heavy 1/7 WOA upper w/ Wylde chamber, RRA match lower) is









Winchester brass,



Remington 7 1/2 primer,



Sierra 77 gr. HPBT,



24.0 gr. Varget,



OAL 2.260".










Gives me just over .5 MOA, and has worked well from 100 out to 800 yds.


 
12/20/2012 6:17:18 PM EDT
[#4]
Have had very good accuracy with Sierra's data for their 77 Matchking using Alliant Reloder 15 in both Remington and LC brass with RP 7 1/2 primers. I use Sierra's max load listed at 24.1 grains of Rel 15 with no issues. Noslers 77 Custom Competition 77 grain bullet shoots equally well or maybe even slightly better in my 20" 1/7 twist barrel using the same data as for Sierra's 77 MK. Overall length of 77 MK or CC is 2.250-2.255". You might try some 52 HP's for the 1/9 twist rifle. Lots of shooters have good luck with Varget and the 69 gr MK. My 1/7 20" also likes the Sierra 80 MK seated .015" off the lands but they have to be loaded one at a time into the chamber. I use Rel 15 for the 80 gr. MK also.http://accurateshooter.net/Downloads/sierra223ar.pdf
12/20/2012 6:58:09 PM EDT
[#5]



Quoted:


I have numerous reloading manuals & 1 more ordered specifically for AR15s - but they really don't give  all the info needed. I've been reloading for 40 years and also shoot benchrest so would like to think that I know what I'm doing. I would really be interested in your favorite loads for accuracy for the following 2 rifles:



Colt LE6940 - 16" bbl carbine 1 in 7 twist: Colt says they have the best accuracy with a 62 gr bullet but that's all they said - surprised I got that out of them.



Windom Weaponry WW-15 16" bbl 1 in 9 twist: Factory tech says he gets best accuracy with a 69 gr Federel Gold Medal Match Boat Tail hollow point.



No comment from either on primers, brand of powder or gr of load - not surprising for liability reasons. I like to load the powder till it almost fills the shell. Also, do y'all do any head spacing, should it touch the rifling, back off, etc? On my 6.5 Creedmore BR I seat the bullet to where it butts up against the rifling - then back off 10 thousandths.

I know all rifles, even the same make and model have different sweet spots for loads but need a good starting point.

Brass? Win

Powder brand & grains? CFE 223 or IMR-8208 XBR I use the max listed load I worked up to.

Bullet wt, brand & specs? Sierra 69 gr MK. My 1 in 9 twist AR will not stabilize the 75 gr bullets.

Primer? Rem 7 1/2

Any headspace? FL size, not sure what your asking. OAL 2.250, no crimp.



Many thanks for any of your favorites.



bojangles5169









 
12/20/2012 8:02:29 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
I have numerous reloading manuals & 1 more ordered specifically for AR15s - but they really don't give  all the info needed. I've been reloading for 40 years and also shoot benchrest so would like to think that I know what I'm doing. I would really be interested in your favorite loads for accuracy for the following 2 rifles:

Colt LE6940 - 16" bbl carbine 1 in 7 twist: Colt says they have the best accuracy with a 62 gr bullet but that's all they said - surprised I got that out of them.

Windom Weaponry WW-15 16" bbl 1 in 9 twist: Factory tech says he gets best accuracy with a 69 gr Federel Gold Medal Match Boat Tail hollow point.

No comment from either on primers, brand of powder or gr of load - not surprising for liability reasons. I like to load the powder till it almost fills the shell. Also, do y'all do any head spacing, should it touch the rifling, back off, etc? On my 6.5 Creedmore BR I seat the bullet to where it butts up against the rifling - then back off 10 thousandths.
I know all rifles, even the same make and model have different sweet spots for loads but need a good starting point.
Brass? Win or LC
Powder brand & grains? H335 @ 25.0gr's
Bullet wt, brand & specs? 52gr SMK
Primer? Rem 7 1/2 or BR4
Any headspace? -.002" from fired length
OAL? 2.255"

Many thanks for any of your favorites.

bojangles5169



This 52gr SMK load shoots .2"-.3" groups easy from my 1:8 twist 16" BCM barrel @ 3K fps

My rifle also loves the 75gr BTHP w/24.0gr of Varget @ 2.250" COL, it produces 2550 fps from the 16" 8 twist barrel and my last 10 rd group was .35" CTC.

EWP
12/20/2012 9:13:23 PM EDT
[#7]
You have some great suggested loads here already.

At those twists, it should be obvious that 62 on up should show the best as the distance increases and the SMK77 at mag length is about the top end without single loading.

I will only make two more suggestions. One is to scan the pet loads for Service Rifles on the NJ Highpower web page under the Reloading Stuph link.

NJ Highpower

The second suggestion is to get hold of some typical match loads to see what your rigs do with good quality match ammo, then see if there is a standout to try and copy with your loading plan.

For example, PRVI 75, Black Hills SMK69, Black Hills SMK77, Fed GMM, etc. Seeing if your rig likes one of these high quality match loads makes a good starting point for launching your reloading hunt in a particular direction. Match loads are typically at magazine length and form a good goal baseline for your reloads.
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