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6/29/2013 1:28:52 PM EDT
I fully intend to keep updating this thread as I develop more loads and make more tests with AR-COMP powder.  
Haven't been able to find much data on AR-COMP, and even less with my weapon set-up...so I am developing my own load data to work from. Today was the first day.  Please Note:  The data for the loads that I post here are all for a 16" RECCE 5.56 barrel with a 1:8 twist and with a suppressor.

Didn't have much time due to storms, but I timed it between downpours.  I had originally intended on running 4 batches starting with 22gr of powder and working up - 10 shots per batch, but the sky was black so I changed it up a bit just to get some data.  

The Ammo:
55 grain Hollow Point Flat Tail
Case Trimmed length - 1.746" (Presized)
Overall Length - 2.222" (after sized and seated)
Powder - Alliant's AR-COMP
Primers - CCI 400
Weapon platform - 16" RECCE Barrel in 5.56 with a 1:8 twist (Suppressed)


Batch 1:
25.3grs of AR-COMP Powder

Shot 1 - 3039ft/s
Shot 2 - 3028ft/s
Shot 3 - 3027ft/s
Shot 4 - 2995ft/s
Shot 5 - 3028ft/s
Shot 6 - 2984ft/s

Average ft/s on Batch 1 = 3016 ft/s

Batch 2
25.5 grains of AR-COMP Powder

Shot 1 - 3001ft/s
Shot 2 - 3004ft/s
Shot 3 - 3033ft/s
Shot 4 - 3049ft/s
Shot 5 - 3059ft/s
Shot 6 - 3091ft/s

Average ft/s on Batch 2 = 3039 ft/s

I had doubts about using AR-COMP on the lighter bullets, but it looks like I'm good to go.  I can maintain an excess 3,000 ft/s from a 16" barrel (suppressed) with the lighter 55 grain rounds - and that is frigging awesome for the longer distance shooting.  

Have to wait for the storms to let up to chrony the 62 and 68 grain bullets.

Thoughts on my methodology?
6/29/2013 1:42:37 PM EDT
[#1]
Looks like it is working out for you.
Are you checking the condition of the brass afterwards too?  How did the primers look?
6/29/2013 2:04:12 PM EDT
[#2]
Quoted:
Looks like it is working out for you.
Are you checking the condition of the brass afterwards too?  How did the primers look?


The primers are seated perfectly.  There is zero issue there at all.  
None of the cases appear to be deformed, or neck split or otherwise out of shape.  I'll be putting them on the micrometer in a few and measuring the before and after trim length for the cases.  It will be interesting to see if they grew.  This is a 5.56 barrel...so I'm not sure what to expect there. But visually, they look great.

EDIT:  - Just measured the spent brass.  The original trim length was 1.746"    What I didn't expect was to get a shorter case length...  They measure out now at 1.743"...   Is this normal?  Obviously this could be accounted for in 2 different ways of measuring the brass, and I can assume to say there was zero change in the length.  However I fully expected to see SOME growth...  What gives?

6/29/2013 4:32:30 PM EDT
[#3]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Looks like it is working out for you.
Are you checking the condition of the brass afterwards too?  How did the primers look?


The primers are seated perfectly.  There is zero issue there at all.  
None of the cases appear to be deformed, or neck split or otherwise out of shape.  I'll be putting them on the micrometer in a few and measuring the before and after trim length for the cases.  It will be interesting to see if they grew.  This is a 5.56 barrel...so I'm not sure what to expect there. But visually, they look great.

EDIT:  - Just measured the spent brass.  The original trim length was 1.746"    What I didn't expect was to get a shorter case length...  They measure out now at 1.743"...   Is this normal?  Obviously this could be accounted for in 2 different ways of measuring the brass, and I can assume to say there was zero change in the length.  However I fully expected to see SOME growth...  What gives?


It will grow/stretch when you size it again.
6/29/2013 5:12:58 PM EDT
[#4]
25.3gr is way too much! You should give the rest of that AR-Comp to me before you hurt yourself! Seriously though I'm tinkering with it lately myself. Chrony wasn't cooperating last trip out but I'm getting around 2630 fps with 69gr SMK's using 23gr of AR-Comp. That's .2gr below max according to Sierra, so I'll try to push it a little faster but I'm getting excellent accuracy so far. Anyone else have a source for load data?
6/30/2013 3:03:02 PM EDT
[#5]
]Today, I conducted another chrony test.  This time, I was using the 50gr Hornady V-MAX.  

The Ammo
50 grain - Hornady V-MAX Polymer Tip Boat Tail
Case Trimmed length - 1.746" (Presized)
Overall Length - 2.240" (after sized and seated)
Powder - Alliant's AR-COMP
Primers - CCI 400
Weapon platform - 16" RECCE Barrel in 5.56 with a 1:8 twist (Suppressed)

Batch 1:
23.5gr of AR-COMP Powder
Shot 1- 2825
Shot 2- 2826
Shot 3- 2798
Shot 4- 2839
Shot 5- 2835
Shot 6- 2776
Shot 7- 2798
Shot 8- Chrono Error - data discarded
Shot 9- 2791
Shot 10- 2856
Average ft/s on Batch 1 = 2816ft/s with a standard deviation of 26.32


Batch 2
24 grains of AR-COMP Powder
Shot 1- 2926
Shot 2- 2894
Shot 3- 2901
Shot 4- 2891
Shot 5- 2906
Shot 6- 2913
Shot 7- 2895
Shot 8- 2905
Shot 9- 2889
Shot 10- 2880
Average ft/s on Batch 2 = 2909ft/s with a standard deviation of 29.40


Batch 3
24.5 grains of AR-COMP Powder
Shot 1- 2967
Shot 2- 2916
Shot 3- 2958
Shot 4- 2948
Shot 5- 2924
Shot 6- 2911
Shot 7- 2953
Shot 8- 2968
Shot 9- 2944
Shot 10- 2899
Average ft/s on Batch 3 = 2938ft/s with a standard deviation of 24.55


Batch 4
25 grains of AR-COMP Powder
Shot 1- 2982
Shot 2- 3017
Shot 3- 2023
Shot 4- 2987
Shot 5- 2974
Shot 6- 3025
Shot 7- 2995
Shot 8- 2985
Shot 9- 3013
Shot 10- 2972
Average ft/s on Batch 4 = 2997ft/s with a standard deviation of 20.39


Batch 5
25.3 grains of AR-COMP Powder
Shot 1- 3029
Shot 2- 3046
Shot 3- 3049
Shot 4- 3046
Shot 5- 3052
Shot 7- 3049
Shot 8- 3032
Shot 9- 3039
Shot 10- 3033
Average ft/s on Batch 5 = 3042ft/s with a standard deviation of 8.256

It is interesting that the instant I broke and maintained the 3,000ft/s mark on batch 5, the standard deviation tightened up TREMENDOUSLY.  This tells me that this is my most accurate round when I go to the range. The others had too much of a deviation to be "the" accurate load for this round.  

Thoughts?
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