Berger 130AR - CFE223 and LEVERevolution

[rwh]

I finally got some of the new Berger 130 AR OTM Hybrid bullets and decided to try them out with CFE 223 and LEVERevolution.

Barrel: 24" Bartlein 5R SAAMI chambered by PF, 8" twist
Brass: 6 times fired Lapua
Bullet: Berger 130gr AR OTM Hybrid
OAL: 2.280"
Primer: CCI BR-4
Powder: CFE223 and LEVERevolution
Temperature: 74F
Altitude: 1000ft

I fired three shots with each powder at loads of 29.5, 29.8, 30.1, 30.4, 30.7 and 31.0. Velocity was measured using Magnetospeed V3 chronometer.

Chrono Data:

CFE223 29.5: 2389 FPS, ES=5, .961 MOA
CFE223 29.8: 2428 FPS, ES=30, .835 MOA
CFE223 30.1: 2440 FPS, ES=27, .474 MOA
CFE223 30.4: 2461 FPS, ES=15, .732 MOA
CFE223 30.7: 2486 FPS, ES=10, .691 MOA
CFE223 31.0: 2508 FPS, ES=7, 1.617 MOA

WARNING: ALL OF these LEVERevolution loads are likely unsafe!

LVR 29.5: 2485 FPS, ES=17, 1.64 MOA, flat primers
LVR 29.8: 2520 FPS, ES=9, 1.377 MOA, flat primers
LVR 30.1: 2538 FPS, ES=20, 1.599 MOA, flat primers
LVR 30.4: 2558 FPS, ES=5, 2.153 MOA, flat primers
LVR 30.7: 2563 FPS, ES=29, 1.862 MOA, flat primers
LVR 31.0: 2592 FPS, ES=19, .535 MOA, FLAT primers

I think it's safe to conclude from these results that LEVERevolution and CFE223 are not even close to being the same powders. The LEVERevolution accuracy was so bad that I thought my rifle was broken until that last group restored my faith in my sights. I think LEVERevolution was showing pressure signs even at 29.5 gr.

LVRTarget.jpgLVRPrimers.jpg

CFETarget.jpgCFE223Primers.jpg

[LRRPF52]

Thanks for that. We'll have to get pressure test data on it. With the BC on this pill, even at 2400fps, it goes really far and doesn't like to slow down.

Try seating a little deeper and see what happens, like at 2.270" or 2.260". You can vibrate your powder column so it will settle deeper into the case.

[Savage Shooter]

RWH, thanks for publishing this work. I also just got some of the 130 gr Hybrid ARs and have a 24" AA upper and a MagnetoSpeed Chrono, so I might duplicate some of your CFE223 loads and see what I get. I also have CCI 450, Fed 205 and Remington 7 1/2 primers I can try to see if there is any difference compared to the BR4s.

But I have a question as to your POA and POI - did you shift the scope reticle so the bullets shifted POI for testing purposes, so they groups were not on top of each other? Or did you keep the same POA and the shift we see on the paper is really the shift caused by the different loads? I would have to believe that you moved POA - otherwise those POI shifts are really significant for 0.3 gr increments.

[rwh]

I don't have a scope. I have a phoenix precision rear sight with an adjustable rear iris and an adjustable diopter to adjust for my vision and a 0.5 diopter and adjustable iris in the front sight. A good set of iron sights is every bit as accurate as any scope as long as you don't have much astigmatism. You just center the fuzzy blob in the front sight and make sure the front sight is centered in the rear sight. The advantage of iron sights is that the aiming mechanism is extremely repeatable over a wide range. I crank the rear sight adjustments to move the POI around between groups. I've experimented and have found no problems with POI shifting on this sight.

This rifle can shoot repeatable sub .5 MOA 5 shot groups using 8208 XBR and 123 gr Scenars.

I do plan to play some more with CFE223. I ran some ballistics programs comparing the 130 AR hybrid with the 6mm 105 hybrid and it looks like a 130 AR launched at 2600FPS is comparable in the wind with a 6mm 105 hybrid launched at 2800FPS. If a safe load can be found for the 130 AR that get at least 2550 FPS the grendel will have the bullet it needs to compete in 600 yard XTC.

[GSPHunter]

One thing about LVR is that it really seems to need CCI 450 primers...Looking back in my reloading notes, I recorded this in Feb.

5 rounds 30.0 grains of LVR 123sst cci400 2.245" 2373FPS cratered primers
5 rounds 30.0 grains of LVR 123sst cci450 2.245" 2314FPS primers look good

BR-4 primers also crater when 450's don't in my rifles. I just guessed that it was pushing the bullet into the lands, but not igniting enough powder to keep it going.
For a long time, the only powder I could get was LVR, with magnum primers, in my rifles, best loads are usually within a half grain of CFE.

[rwh]

Thanks for the tip GSPHunter. I loaded up another set of LEVERevolution replacing the BR-4 primers with CCI 450 and the results were much better. I've attached a target photo with the speeds for each load. The most promising load was a .616 MOA group at 2588 FPS with a load of 30.7 gr of LVR and 450 primer.

The primers didn't show any pressure signs up to 30.7. The 31 gr load seemed a little hot for my rifle.

IMG_0361.jpg

[GSPHunter]

Cool! Looking a bit better for sure. You're definitely into the land of higher pressures and diminishing returns with the 31.0gn. The ES spread is still a little high at 30.7gn too though? I'd be happy with anything over 2500FPS with that bullet :-)

[rwh]

I agree that the 30.7 is starting to show some pressure signs. I plan to do more tuning before I settle on a load. I'm impressed with this bullet.

[BluntForceTrauma]

Fantastic work! Breaking new ground!

[biodsl]

Barrel: 22” BHW, 264LBC, 8” twist
Brass: 2 times fired Hornady
Bullet Berger 130gr AR OTM Hybrid
OAL: 2.265”
Primer: CCI 450
Powder LEVERevolution
Temp: 66F
Altitude: 400 ft

29.7 grains
AV; 2454, HI; 2463, LO; 2442, SD; 9, ES; 21
2463, 2463, 2454, 2449, 2442

30.0 grains
AV; 2477, HI; 2485, LO; 2467, SD; 6, ES; 18
2479, 2476, 2481, 2485, 2467

30.3 grains
AV 2496, HI; 2530, LO; 2477, SD; 15, ES; 43
2520, 2499, 2493, 2494, 2477

30.6 grains
AV; 2512, HI; 2536, LO; 2491, SD; 17, ES; 45
2536, 2502, 2524, 2510, 2491

The best group was the 30.6 load; .67MOA @ 200 yards. Can’t explain my increasing SD and ES as the loads got hotter. No signs of pressure that I could see and I might up the charge .3 grains next time out. I also see a trend that my barrel prefers the Amax at 2.24 or 2.25 COL. I might try a 2.255 COL with the Bergers and see what happens.

[BluntForceTrauma]

Great report, Paul, thanks!

[biodsl]

Back to the range with Leverevolution and the 130 Bergers today. I shot another .7 moa group at 200 yards with 30.6 grains at 2.26 COL. This seems to be the most accurate load in my 22” BHW barrel (1-8 twist).

Increasing the charge to 30.9 shifted my POI to EXACTLY the same as my pet Amax load; 31.2 grains of CFE at 2.250. Unfortunately, it opened the group to 1.2 MOA. It only gained 8 fps over the 30.6 grain load in temperatures 10 degrees cooler.

To recap the last two range sessions: my BHW 22” seems to shoot .7 MOA at 200 yards with the Bergers. Velocity is around 2512 fps at 65 degrees. I’ll load up a bunch of these for next week, sand bag the rifle and see what happens at 300 yards. It’s been hinted that it might be taking a couple hundred yards for the bullets to ‘settle in’ to their flight.

I can’t find an accurate load with CFE. Well, the jury is still out actually. 30.9 at 2.27 actually shot 4 rounds under 1 MOA. The fifth shot ruined a good thing. The POI shifts 4 inches right at 200 yards! I may play with this load as well.

[kmon]

30.6 gr of CFE COL of 2.27 is what I settled on with that bullet in both the AR and bolt action. Load is sub MOA in both rifles. Haven't tried Lever Evolution in it yet.

[rwh]

I think I found my load

I've been playing with LVR and berger 130s off and on for a while now. I think I like this load. 30.5 gr LVR, CCI 450 primers, Lapua brass, 2.280 OAL.

TgtGfx.jpg

[Hunter307]

I've been playing with LVR and berger 130s off and on for a while now. I think I like this load. 30.5 gr LVR, CCI 450 primers, Lapua brass, 2.280 OAL.

[ATTACH]8981[/ATTACH]

That fps is pretty impressive with a 130gr whats the barrel length?