6.5 Grendel Preferred Loads

[Ultramag Brion]

I managed to go throw two more groups down range just now .

One with 24.4g , and another at 24.6g . They opened back up to an inch plus and started showing pressure signs...faint ejector mark and slight cratering .

It's a bit more windy today , and a front rolled through last night with a bit of rain.

The keyhole is from my 300RUM ,yesterday , testing with 230 Berger Hybrids (Much fail)

[Blacklab]

I like your signature ultra mag

[Ultramag Brion]

[lamrith]

Thanks for the Info Ultra!! I just picked up 4# of H4198 and 1# of 8208 this morning, plus my H335 I have for 223..

I will back off a bit and work up toward your 24.1grn with my amax 123's

[NugginFutz]

The setup is 20" w/ rifle length gas and a JP silent capture buffer (rifle buffer on a PRS stock) I have dialed down the gas block to the min setting for functioning but I have been looking at changing out the spring to a heavier option and see what that does to slow things down. I do understand 28.5gr is on the limit and I did work up to it, I did loads from 28.5 down to 27.7 and like mentioned in this thread the 28.5 was the most accurate. Other than the belting and a handful splitting there were no pressure signatures on the primers at all which is why I found the case issues odd, I haven't seen that happen to brass without issues on the primers too.

Did you ever find a root cause for your belting cases? I seem to recall others mention unlocking as their issue. Also wondering if you've got the correct bolt for your chamber - .124" vs. .135" bolt face depths...

[NugginFutz]

In the spirit in which this thread was started, nearly 3 years ago, I would like to share the results of my first experience with CFE223 in my BHW 22" 264 LBC. While others have posted their CFE223 Grendel loads, I don't recall seeing one for a 264LBC chamber.

Conditions were nearly ideal for running a 200 yard OCW series, with a mild 75'F and a steady 5mph wind at my back. Rifle was on the Harris bipod, with a rear bag for fine adjustments. I had my Vortex PST dialed up to 24x, and could very easily resolve the 1" target stickers without mirage. In other words, I have absolutely no excuses for any of the operator flubs, of which I acknowledge a couple.

Load: 29.4 to 32.1 gr CFE 223, shot in Round Robin fashion.
Bullet: Hornady 123 gr A-Max, seated @ 2.260" COAL
Hornady cases with Remington 7 1/2 primers.

Disclaimer: Some of these loads went beyond what some have indicated as their maximum charge weights. As is always the case, you should approach published maximum loads in safe increments, starting at least 10% below them.

To the results:

As seen in the picture below, I found a couple of very promising accuracy nodes - one near 30.0 gr and another near 31.5.



Maddeningly, the group @ 30.0 was a .1 MOA cloverleaf until shot #4, when I pulled it. Similar issues at 31.8 gr. Those pulled shots were all me. As I said, no excuses. Even still, they average out to a respectable .5 MOA.

I assembled the following chart to illustrate the Velocity curve.



What does it mean? Aside from the aberration at 30.0 and 30.3, it shows a reasonable increase in velocity as the charge increases. No weirdness or scary spikes as I approached the max charge.

Lastly, since I was definitely running into compressed territory at 31.5 gr, I thought I would include some pics of the cases. What I would like to point out is how there are few, if any, visible indications of high pressures, flattened primers or bulging cases. Velocity curve seemed reasonable, as well.



Temperature stability is the main concern I have. Once the temperatures get into the 90's, I'll check the upper charge ranges again (won't take long, around here).

[Blacklab]

Great read NugginFutz.

[davidj]

Good info....thanks Dave.

[davidj]

03/07/15
123 Amax
27.3 8208 XBR
Tula 5.56M primer
Hornady Brass
COAL 2.255
.291 Neck Bushing
Velocity: 2500 fps.
24" 1/8 twist Liberty/Satern barrel (throat reamed)
Temp: 34-47F
Humidity: 57%-33%
Barometer: 30.47 - 30.44
Elevation: 800'+
Wind 3 mph from West switching to 9 mph from South

Used virgin brass and the group opened up to .445 next 3 shots, two touching and one outside. Took it out to 200 yards and shot .497. Pretty consistent.

What is the web address for this measuring tool?
Thanks!

[37L1]

What is the web address for this measuring tool?
Thanks!

Here ya go:

http://www.ontargetshooting.com/index.html

the free download is near the bottom of the page.

[davidj]

Thank you. I had this on my computer and it just disappeared.

[Ultramag Brion]

Here ya go:

http://www.ontargetshooting.com/index.html

the free download is near the bottom of the page.

Nice . . . . I'll have to try it out. Thanks

[Joseph5]

NugginFutz,
My velocities with CFE and 123gr SST's were almost identical to yours out of a 22inch Lilja barrel. So was my accuracy.

[Savage Shooter]

Here ya go:

http://www.ontargetshooting.com/index.html

the free download is near the bottom of the page.

I found it was worth the $75 to spring for the full version if you want to get a little more anal, er detailed about the analysis. Jeff Block of OnTarget is a nice guy and helpful and the program makes accurate group measuring and comparing various group centerpoints relative to the POA (something important to do in OCW development) much easier.

[208Grendel]

In the spirit in which this thread was started, nearly 3 years ago, I would like to share the results of my first experience with CFE223 in my BHW 22" 264 LBC. While others have posted their CFE223 Grendel loads, I don't recall seeing one for a 264LBC chamber.

I also have this exact barrel, a 22" BHW 1:8 .264 LBC, in a semi-bull contour however. I am interested to compare my results with yours. I have only just started working up loads for mine, but I will update as time allows.