Published loads centered around a 16" barrel are very scarce. Most of them are done on 20" barrels.
I wondered how those loads would work in my 16" AA barrelled AR15.
After reading all I could on the matter, I chose as propellant ARComp. My bullets of choice, with the intention of hunting white tails, are the Hornady SST 123 gr.
Up to know I had only shot factory loads, Hornady AMax with which I obtained groups of about 1 1/8" at 100 yrds with the AA barrel. On my previous build, I used a Precision Firearms 16" barrel and the groups with the same ammo were consistent at <0.75".
Components were as follows:
Primers: CCI 450
Shells: Hornady, one use, full sized with Hornady dies.
Bullets: Hornady 123gr, SST
Powder: Alliant ARComp
Cartridge overall length 2.249" with a very light crimp at the cannelure.
Yesterday I went to the range and here are the results:
ARComp. Grouping
26.6 gr. 2.16"
26.9 gr. 1.2"
27.2 gr. 0.77"
27.5 gr. 1.40"
27.8 gr. 1.26"
Neither the 27.5 or the 27.8 gr loadings showed any signs of over preassure.
It looks that my rifle likes the 27.2 gr loading, but I need to refine these preeliminary findings, so I prepared today a new series around the 27.2 gr loading as follows:
ARComp
27.0 gr
27.1 gr
27.2 gr
27.3 gr
27.4 gr
I'll report on my findings next time I get the chance to go to the range.
I wondered how those loads would work in my 16" AA barrelled AR15.
After reading all I could on the matter, I chose as propellant ARComp. My bullets of choice, with the intention of hunting white tails, are the Hornady SST 123 gr.
Up to know I had only shot factory loads, Hornady AMax with which I obtained groups of about 1 1/8" at 100 yrds with the AA barrel. On my previous build, I used a Precision Firearms 16" barrel and the groups with the same ammo were consistent at <0.75".
Components were as follows:
Primers: CCI 450
Shells: Hornady, one use, full sized with Hornady dies.
Bullets: Hornady 123gr, SST
Powder: Alliant ARComp
Cartridge overall length 2.249" with a very light crimp at the cannelure.
Yesterday I went to the range and here are the results:
ARComp. Grouping
26.6 gr. 2.16"
26.9 gr. 1.2"
27.2 gr. 0.77"
27.5 gr. 1.40"
27.8 gr. 1.26"
Neither the 27.5 or the 27.8 gr loadings showed any signs of over preassure.
It looks that my rifle likes the 27.2 gr loading, but I need to refine these preeliminary findings, so I prepared today a new series around the 27.2 gr loading as follows:
ARComp
27.0 gr
27.1 gr
27.2 gr
27.3 gr
27.4 gr
I'll report on my findings next time I get the chance to go to the range.
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