14.5" Gas gun real world data

[phidelt208]

I'm looking for some load data for 69-77gr bullets out of a 14.5" barrel.
Just of clarification I'm not looking for published load date, I'm asking for loads that people have personally shot from there rifles.
Kind of looking for data from people who have actually used their loads out of a 14.5" barrel.
If you have data and wouldn't mind posting your groups that would be useful.
Thanks in advance.
Updated: Thanks Gastav for the replies it was indeed not specific enough, I'm looking for loads that shoot good groups meaning 5 shots or larger groups 1 MOA or better consistently. The goal being 5 shot groups the always print 1.5 -1.0- 3.0 MOA whatever your rifle does.
Sincerd seemed to get it and posted exactly what I was looking for.

 

[Gustav7]

I'm looking for some load data for 69-77gr bullets out of a 14.5" barrel.
Just of clarification I'm not looking for published load date, I'm asking for loads that people have personally shot from there rifles.
Kind of looking for data from people who have actually used their loads out of a 14.5" barrel.
If you have data and wouldn't mind posting your groups that would be useful.
Thanks in advance.

What are you trying to do with it? The question is a little vague and will get you answers all over the place.

Is this for Home Defense?
Hunting? What kind of hunting
Bulk ammo?
Precision?

 

[Sincerd]

14.5 CHF CL Noveske

77 smk
25.1 grains power pro varmit 2690 fps right at 1moa

xbr 8208 & tmk.



Start low and work up and all that jazz

 

[Mr Tibbs]

First off any loads that work for me may not work for you (Chamber specs/components/gas port diameter/desired use... lots of variables).
+1

 

[phidelt208]

Updated: Thanks Gastav for the replies it was indeed not specific enough, I'm looking for loads that shoot good groups meaning 5 shots or larger groups 1 MOA or better consistently. The goal being 5 shot groups the always print a consistent MOA whatever your gas gun does.
Sincerd seemed to get it and posted exactly what I was looking for.

 

[Sincerd]

Again ill highlight that power pro varmit velocity. NOTHING can push a 77 faster in 223. And thats a bold statement right thur

 

[phidelt208]

Anyone else out there with their own groups and data on 14.5” barrel.

 

[81sfo]

My go to load that shoots in my mk12s and my friends mk12 rifles aswell ....
77 smk or 77 tmk or 77 nosler
24 Imr 8208 xbr powder
2.250
Lake city once fired
Cci450, Federal AR , ccibr4
This load is good in my rifles for 223 wylde and 556 nato chambers I do not know if its too hot for 223 rem chambers.

 

[Gustav7]

My go to load that shoots in my mk12s and my friends mk12 rifles aswell ....
77 smk or 77 tmk or 77 nosler
24 Imr 8208 xbr powder
2.250
Lake city once fired
Cci450, Federal AR , ccibr4
This load is good in my rifles for 223 wylde and 556 nato chambers I do not know if its too hot for 223 rem chambers.

24gr of 8208 behind a 77 is pretty damn hot, even for a NATO chamber.

OP, work up to anything like this. Most max NATO loads of 8208 behind a high 70's bullet is around 23.8. I believe there was an article on here at some point of guys recreating Mk262 loads with 8208 and they backed down from 24.0gr and stopped at 23.8gr.

My precision load with 75's is 23.5gr. LC18 brass. CCI 450's.

 

[81sfo]

It is a proven safe load in many or our rifles but may not be for everyone's rifles ,yes always work up slowly checking for pressure signs on your brass and each brass manufacturer will vary in internal case capacity so NO this load may not work for you if using a different brass manufacturer. I use lake city 556 once fired brass Only and have found this load to be less than 1 moa at 100 with also low SDs of 9 to 12 depending on the primers i have available to use.
**Please use common sense and don't just skip the load work up these loads are my own and my friends personal loads .
He has a 14.5 recce with a Colt barrel well used and he was getting good hits on steel yesterday at 550 yards with mk4 2.5-8 glass on top.
I've used this same handloads in my rifles from 8.5" barrels up to 18" spr barrels. Xbr 8208 is an excellent powder and has worked for us during the summer and the winter season.

 

[phidelt208]

24gr of 8208 behind a 77 is pretty damn hot, even for a NATO chamber.

OP, work up to anything like this. Most max NATO loads of 8208 behind a high 70's bullet is around 23.8. I believe there was an article on here at some point of guys recreating Mk262 loads with 8208 and they backed down from 24.0gr and stopped at 23.8gr.

My precision load with 75's is 23.5gr. LC18 brass. CCI 450's.

Do you have any groups out of your 14.5" barrel. It seems like everyone has there precision load but very few people cans show string after string of good groups with their pets load. This is what prompted me to start this post, there is a lot of ladder tests and optimal charge weight tests with groups but once a load is found no one seems to test it for consistency. At least not that they are showing on forums

 

[Gustav7]

Do you have any groups out of your 14.5" barrel. It seems like everyone has there precision load but very few people cans show string after string of good groups with their pets load. This is what prompted me to start this post, there is a lot of ladder tests and optimal charge weight tests with groups but once a load is found no one seems to test it for consistency. At least not that they are showing on forums

I have plenty of groups on paper out of my 18" barrel...but thats because thats my precision based AR. Naturally I shoot more groups with it, and I shoot longer ranges on paper with it as well. My 18" Lothar Walther barrel, with my handloads, and me behind the trigger is a consistent 2/3-3/4 moa gun with 5 shot groups. Sometimes I'm closer to 1/2 moa, some time more like 0.8-0.9moa. Recently I upgraded my scope and trigger, so I'm sure I may be able to shrink that a bit with some more practice.

I don't know of too many guys running a 14" precision barrel with the same mindset they use on their 18 or 20in barrel. Meaning a 14" barrel is usually a fighting rifle (carbine) style AR. So its more of a 3 gun shooting style, close range, CQB, etc. My 14" barrel is a lightweight barrel that I shoot at 10-25yds most the time, and occasionally out to 200/300yds on man sized steel. Maybe thats why there aren't as many guys with a lot of groups from shorter barrels.

Plus... if a load is accurate in an 18" barrel, its going to be accurate in the same barrel if it was 14".

 

[db2000]

It’s not 14.5 but...if you’re interested, hope it helps.
12” BA government profile and low pro Geissele super gas block. PA PLx 1-8x24 ACCS Griffin at 100 yd.
FWIW, I can consistently hit a 10” plate at 575 yd prone.

76F 26% 29.86mmHg @ approx 1000 ft

SMK 77 gr HPBT
H4895 23.8 gr
Fed 205M
BTO 1.843
COL 1.750
Magneto V3
2566, 2603, 2540, 2562, 2579,2433, 2560, 2544, 2483


SMK 77 gr HPBT
RL15 24.5 gr
Fed 205M
BTO 1.843
COL 1.750
CBP chrono 6ft from muzzle
2387, 2415, 2386, 2454, 2409

*These targets may not have been this exact day but they are the same loads.

 

[Sincerd]

24gr of 8208 behind a 77 is pretty damn hot, even for a NATO chamber.

Most data stops near 23.0 maybe 23.5. Ive never seen published data for 77s at 24.

 

[Gustav7]

Most data stops near 23.0 maybe 23.5. Ive never seen published data for 77s at 24.

Thats cause its not...at least not to my knowledge. I think Hodgdon's max is 23.2gr or something like that.

Ramshot TAC is one of the few powders where they do list NATO specs, which is nice and I wish all companies would do that but I'm sure their legal team wouldn't like that.

"book" max is not the bible, but as with any reloading at all, it should be worked up to. Every legitimate shooter I know of does some form of pressure testing or workup for every barrel they get. Gotta know where the ceiling is.

For my barrel and 8208, I did 0.2gr increases up to 23.8. I had mild pressure signs but nothing out of the ordinary for my rifle. Gas in my face increased quite a bit around 23.6.. I ended up sticking with 23.5gr. and its a solid load.

 

[thefuzz250]

Saved for later...I have an Adams Arms 14.5" upper I'll be trying to use for precision matches.

 

[Nimothy]

25gr of 748 with lake city brass and a 68gr Hornady bthp and cci SRP has been a go to for me in both my 11.5 and 14.5m bcm barrels. They are both open or red dot but supported on a bench I can put most of them in a 3-5” circle at 100. And 10” plates at 300 pretty easily. Plus they load @ 300ish/hr on a progressive with prepped brass