AT3 FF-ML 20 Inch Faxon 6.5 Grendel Upper Range Result

[Jimla]

https://www.at3tactical.com/products/at3-ff-ml-20-inch-6-5-grendel-complete-upper-6-5-grendel-type-ii-20-inch-faxon-firearms-barrel-15-inch-m-lok-free-float-handguard

[Rosecrans1]

That looks extremely promising! Especially with a <120gr pill! Please keep the group updated on this new upper! Very curious!

[CaptnC]

What? No gun porn?

Let's see it!

[Redraider]

I am curious as to the order of the shots(left right left, rt rt lft. lft lft rt), I mean two shots of every group are together, and one is the "flyer".....hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?

Redraider

[Jimla]

That looks extremely promising! Especially with a <120gr pill! Please keep the group updated on this new upper! Very curious!

123gr Factory, getting about 1MOA in the wind during break-in is very promising, >120gr.

I already have multiple loads put together, just need the weather to agree. I should have more results over the next 2 months.

Loads I have Ready to try:
Hornady 123 SST with 27.0-27.8 IMR 8208 XBR (I am thinking of adding a few more 27.9+ but not sure how high I can go safely with a COL 2.245)
Speer 120 Gold Dot with 30.5-31.4 Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR

[Jimla]

What? No gun porn?

Let's see it!

Unlike you, I don't live in a free state. Legally, I can't stop to buy gas when driving the range or hunting. New law in the works, it is a crime not to report a firearm that is lost, stolen, or damaged within 2 days.

[Jimla]

I am curious as to the order of the shots(left right left, rt rt lft. lft lft rt), I mean two shots of every group are together, and one is the "flyer".....hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?

Redraider

The three 90 TNT targets I posted, are the most promising loads, most likely accuracy nodes. All of my results, includes flyers, my estimate is about 20% of my shots are minor flyers. So, having two flyers in a three shot group in very rare, having two touching is very positive result. I did not shoot all three shots in a row. I shot at targets 1-10 one shot, then 10-1 one shot, then 1-10 one shot, this is to minimize the effects of a hot barrel. No idea of the order on each target. With a cheap barrel accuracy will have problem as barrel heats up, this barrel being high quality performed well even when going from cold to hot.

[Rosecrans1]

Loads I have Ready to try:
Hornady 123 SST with 27.0-27.8 IMR 8208 XBR (I am thinking of adding a few more 27.9+ but not sure how high I can go safely with a COL 2.245)
Speer 120 Gold Dot with 30.5-31.4 Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR

I use a COAL of 2.245" and have taken my 123 ELD-M's over 8208 XBR up to 28.3 with no high pressure signs at all. Again, not the SST but very comparable in size and base so just be careful and you'll be fine.

[Jimla]

I use a COAL of 2.245" and have taken my 123 ELD-M's over 8208 XBR up to 28.3 with no high pressure signs at all. Again, not the SST but very comparable in size and base so just be careful and you'll be fine.

From my past experiance 8208 XBR seems to like near max loads, was your most accurate load happen to be 28.3g or was it a little less?

[Rosecrans1]

From my past experiance 8208 XBR seems to like near max loads, was your most accurate load happen to be 28.3g or was it a little less?

I had two sweet spots with that powder.
28.2 and it lobed in a 0.8 MOA at 100 with 27.1 where I started my ladder study at. (don't ask me why).

[Jimla]

I had two sweet spots with that powder.
28.2 and it lobed in a 0.8 MOA at 100 with 27.1 where I started my ladder study at. (don't ask me why).

Thanks, very helpful, I will go up to 28.3, I like trying .1 higher than the target amount.

[Jimla]

New AT3 FF-ML 20 Inch Faxon 6.5 Grendel Upper Range Result;

Speer 120 Gold Dot with 30.5-31.4 Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR Results, much better then the Speer 90gr TNT,

30.6gr Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR 0.59 MOA
30.8gr Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR 0.59 MOA
31.2gr Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR 0.52 MOA

31.2gr is most likely the best with a 4fps SD (31.1gr, 31.2gr, 31.3gr all had the same average Velocity)

I was a little disappointed in the velocity of the max charge only 2463fps (Speer Manual Adjusted for barrel length should be 2540fps) 77fps short

I need the extra 70-100fps so my 308 reticle will work with the lower BC of this bullet, any suggestions or experience with the Speer 120 Gold Dot with other powders?

120SpeerGD_1.jpg120SpeerGD_2.jpg120SpeerGD_3.jpg

[VASCAR2]

[Jimla]

Johnny's Reloading Bench tested the same bullet with PP2000-MR and AR-COMP with a 18" barrel

PP2000-MR 2380fps vs 2500fps(Adjusted Book) -120fps

AR-COMP 2320fps vs 2293fps(Adjusted Book) +27fps

AR-COMP was about the same as PP2000-MR for velocity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvx2F0G5GvY

I have both CFE223 & LeveRevolution, but no load data for this bullet. This bullet is not a normal one, it has a lead core heavily electroplated with pure copper. So other load data for traditional 120gr bullets may not be safe to use.

My next range test will be Hornady 123 SST with 27.0-28.4 IMR 8208 XBR, I hope I will have good weather so I can measure velocities. It is possible the barrel can't reach the velocity of other barrels, my guess is bad Speer velocity data in their manual, PP2000-MR velocity was out of place 137fps higher than the next best powder.

[Jimla]

New AT3 FF-ML 20 Inch Faxon 6.5 Grendel Upper Range Result:

Hornady 123 SST with 27.0-27.9 IMR 8208 XBR Results, was going to try 28.0-28.4 but too much sun for Chrono to work reliably, too much risk of over pressure 27.9 looked like it had ejector marks.

27.0-27.4 had very similar Point of impact (I think the node was in the 27.0 or 27.1 area)

27.7-27.9 Had small groups but double the Point of impact shift

27.0 IMR 8208 XBR 0.68 MOA
27.7 IMR 8208 XBR 0.56 MOA
27.9 IMR 8208 XBR 0.70 MOA

typical group size was .85 MOA for the 27.0-27.9 range

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