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What's everyone using in their AR15s

20Incher

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 28, 2010
298
0
54
Westchester
I'm currently using Varget 25 gr 75amax 2975 fps it's a great load but I can't stand scrubbing the crap out of my gun.What's a clean powder I can try?
 
Re: What's everyone using in their AR15s

You're using a good load now. Could probably substitute R15 and be a little cleaner, but would have to watch temperatures

PS don't ever try a suppressor, I only thought my ARs got dirty before
 
Re: What's everyone using in their AR15s

No Sir it's loaded to 2.5 my Smk 69gr are mag length with 24.6gr Varget @2800fps same poi.I guess I'll keep scrubbing then.
 
Re: What's everyone using in their AR15s

I shoot suppressed and I've found that the new CFE burns cleaner than Varget. Grouping was similar at 100 yrds, around .75 moa. My load is 25.5 CFE with a 60gn v-max. Either way your going to scrub. Try a chrome bolt. That also seems to cut cleaning time.
 
Re: What's everyone using in their AR15s

Get an ultrasonic cleaner and just drop your BCG in there. No scrubbing necessary. As for powder, I hear CFE223 is quite clean.
 
Re: What's everyone using in their AR15s

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BCP</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There are a few other choices. H4895 and AR COMP for example. </div></div>

Absolutely. H4895 is all I use in 223 now. Its clean, meters good and gives better accuracy for me than N140,RE15 or Varget, which I don't use anymore at all. H4895 also meters very well. It recoils less than other powders, and the book max is sorta low, work up a little and it will suprise you. 77 Lapua Scenars at 2850 fps with no pressure signs. Really suprise you. Behind a 75 VLD or hornady 2900 is very achievable with less pressure. 20 in barrel.
 
Re: What's everyone using in their AR15s

Benchmark has been good in my AR. Much better than 748, H335 or BL-C2.
 
Re: What's everyone using in their AR15s

2ndPanzer,

Are you getting these velocities from mag-length AR-15s or are you also loading to 2.5"?

Presumably, this is your 600yard slow-fire load?
 
Re: What's everyone using in their AR15s

What 2ndPanzer said. H4895 w/Horn 75g hpbt in a LC case, 23.5 to 24g (work up this load) is an awesome hammer.
18" CLE Douglas barrel. 2675-2750fps is a sweet spot.
 
Re: What's everyone using in their AR15s

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tx_Flyboy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">2ndPanzer,

Are you getting these velocities from mag-length AR-15s or are you also loading to 2.5"?

Presumably, this is your 600yard slow-fire load? </div></div>

It is the 600 yd SF load, or I will just shoot the 77's all the way.
Ill load the 75 VLD's to about 2.4 ish. they like either a .010 jam,but only in one gun, or a .030-.040 jump, both the guns seem to like this load. (Tip for you HP guys, measure in a dirty throat, as thats what the measurement will be for real when you get back to 600. Unless you clean and decopper your rifle after 300.. of course.) I was using N140 and RE15, but have seen the light, and all is right with my world now...
wink.gif
 
Re: What's everyone using in their AR15s

@nd Panzer,

I'm a little confused about your advise to "measure in a dirty throat". I was/am under the impression that the distance to the lands is the same whether the barrel is clean or dirty?

Are you using a chamber length gage for your measurements?

I was gonna seat a bullet in the case, about 0.5" past SAMMI COAL, mark the bullet with a black marker, chamber it, and notice where the rifling contacts the bullet, subtract the difference between COAL and the where the marker is disturbed, and use that as the chamber length...am i mistaken?

I'm stunned that H4895 yields those velocities...i thought it was too fast burning for heavy 223 loads...are you still using Varget/RL-15 surplus powder for 308s?
 
Re: What's everyone using in their AR15s

Yes I am still using the Surplus LR Powder for 308. Its real good for that. I meant Varget I don't use anymore at all. Been years. When I am out of my LR powder I may go full H4895 as it works good for 308 as well.
I am absolutely loving H4895 so far with the 77's. I used it before with the 75 Hornady, but always thought it was too fast for 77's etc, and no one else ever mentioned using it. So now I have more experience with the 77's I gave it a try and asked around the HP community and lots of guys are using it with success, and have been for years, it just got overshadowed by varget and RE15 because" thats what Demile shoots" or whoever the hero of the day happens to be.
wink.gif


The measure dirty was advice given to me from the AMU guy that developed the load I am using at 600 now. There is a difference as the throat will have some copper on it,and of course some carbon as well. It makes sense to do it as thats the condition the throat will be in when you fire at 600. Sometimes the window the bullet likes to jump can be pretty small, might as well be precise about it and get it centered up. Doesent seem to hurt. I probably won't jam them anymore as every gun didn't respond to that, just one, but they all really liked the jump.
 
Re: What's everyone using in their AR15s

Much Thanks 2nd Panzer,

Love the bit about "that's what Demile shoots"...there's def a bit of herd mentality in the HP community.

Couple of things.

1. On paper, the the surplus powder is supposedly temperature sensitive...have you had any issues with keeping your groups tight at 600yards when shooting your 308s? I really like the extra velocity that powders such as RL-17, 2000MR, CFE-223/SMP-842 gives in the 308, but i dont wanna have horrendous accuracy & pressure issues in the summer.

2. What velocities do you anticipate out of a 20" AR-10 service rifle with H-4895? Will you be shooting heavies (185s Bergers for instance) with this powder?

Thanks again.

P.S. Which Surplus powder are you using for
 
Re: What's everyone using in their AR15s

With the 20 in AR10 I got this ( cut and paste from iPhone notes, sorry)

175 Sierra 42.5 H4895 lc 88
2724, 2728, 2725, 2720, 2722

Lc88 ball
2849, 2828, 2850, 2831, 2851

155 Palma 45.5 H4895 lc88
2926, 2913, 2919, 2941, 2918

190 Sierra 40.5 imr 4064 lc88
2540, 2581, 2591, 2605, 2595

M118LR lc05
2675, 2713, 2721, 2684

190 Sierra 42.0 LR powder lc88
2614, 2641, 2610, 2623, 2625

190 Sierra 46.0 re17 lapua
2613, 2644

175 Sierra 44.3 LR powder lc88
2768, 2761, 2788, 2771, 2756

That's old info and the surplus powder is the LR match powder. Basically pull down from M118LR. I used it 223 a little, it's not bad there. As far as temp issues, I really haven't noticed any. In the bolt gun with 24 i get around 2800 with the 44.3 load. With the 185 bergers long is where it really shines. 2725 is easy with 44.3, but admittedly a little hard on the brass. I'll have to read over my notes when I get home...
 
Re: What's everyone using in their AR15s

varget for match loads and Tac for plinking, don't know about sraping carbon fouling though, seems a bit excessive of a clean up for my lazy ass.
 
Re: What's everyone using in their AR15s

Secret weapon is H322 and WOLF PRIMERS. Yes wolf primers. They were by far the most accurate. I did a primer test with four other top end primers, GET WOLF. .5 inch load with my 18 inch SPR WHITE OAK BARREL.
 
Re: What's everyone using in their AR15s

RE-15, 69 gr. smk's, lake city brass & federal primers.