Finally took my .223 CLE varmint barrel build to the range today......

[Fret]

to dial in the scope and do the break in. This thing is pretty accurate. Shot 60 rounds of Hornady 75 grain BTHP Black box ammo. All the 100 yard 5 shot groups were under 1 MOA. That's a first for me. I'm going to start reloading soon after getting great advice watching the Elfster reloading series and the live action ones. Can't wait to see what this gun can do.

 

[uncle_smokey]

That gives me a warm and fuzzy. I am taking 2 new CLE barrels out for the first time Sat. Bartlein 18” and a Douglas 16”. We just finished moving so I finally get range time for the first time in months. Thanks for sharing your findings.

 

[Bigjake83]

to dial in the scope and do the break in. This thing is pretty accurate. Shot 60 rounds of Hornady 75 grain BTHP Black box ammo. All the 100 yard 5 shot groups were under 1 MOA. That's a first for me. I'm going to start reloading soon after getting great advice watching the Elfster reloading series and the live action ones. Can't wait to see what this gun can do.

Congrats and nice shooting, if you would have tried some Black Hills 77gr .223 those groups would have been cut in half.

My CLE Pet Load is.

77gr SMK
LC Brass sorted by weight and year
CCI BR4 Primer
23.5gr RamShot Tac
Load to PMag Length

 

[Fret]

Congrats and nice shooting, if you would have tried some Black Hills 77gr .223 those groups would have been cut in half.

My CLE Pet Load is.

77gr SMK
LC Brass sorted by weight and year
CCI BR4 Primer
23.5gr RamShot Tac
Load to PMag Length

Thanks BigJake! I'm going to give your favorite load a try and order some 77gr SMK and Tac. There should be some sales for the holiday. I bought a bunch of brand new never fired LC brass so I'm good to go there.

 

[Alpine 338]

Fret, what barrel length did you go with? My CLE 18" SPR shoots crazy accurate with BHA red box. Last weekend I put 5 for 5 on a 14" plate at 800-yards practicing hold overs and wind hold with a Tremor 2 reticle. Getting ready for a team match, where I'm the carbine shooter.

Wanting to build another with 20" barrel.

 

[RTH1800]

I have found the exact same load as BJ. Exception being my rifles max out at 24.3 grains.

 

[Fret]

Fret, what barrel length did you go with? My CLE 18" SPR shoots crazy accurate with BHA red box. Last weekend I put 5 for 5 on a 14" plate at 800-yards practicing hold overs and wind hold with a Tremor 2 reticle. Getting ready for a team match, where I'm the carbine shooter.

Wanting to build another with 20" barrel.

It's a 20" varmint. Glad to hear your SPR is an excellent shooter.

 

[LeadZeke]

Good shooting. Classic CLE work there, flawless.

 

[deersniper]

Congrats and nice shooting, if you would have tried some Black Hills 77gr .223 those groups would have been cut in half.

My CLE Pet Load is.

77gr SMK
LC Brass sorted by weight and year
CCI BR4 Primer
23.5gr RamShot Tac
Load to PMag Length

What do you think of the TMK BH load?

 

[Bigjake83]

What do you think of the TMK BH load?

I haven't tried any of it yet I played around with the 77gr TMKs doing some reloading, I just feel the TMK is too long. I always had great success with the regular 77gr and the now the 73gr ELDs

 

[garandman]

Great looking gun.

I'm not the greatest semi shooter (or bolt shooter for that matter, tho I'm decent) but I maxxed out my handloads at 0.50 - 0.75" groups at 100.

Looks like yer real close, w/o even handloading yet.

Git some

 

[Fret]

Didn't have much time but took a quick trip to the range this morning to try out some reloads and see if I would blow myself up. Kept to the conservative side on powder amounts since I'm a rookie and don't know what I'm doing. LOL There are way too many powder and bullet choices and gets confusing.
Luckily, this barrel doesn't seem to be very picky. The 5 shot groups at 100 yards went from around 3/4" to around 3/8".

 

[Bigjake83]

Didn't have much time but took a quick trip to the range this morning to try out some reloads and see if I would blow myself up. Kept to the conservative side on powder amounts since I'm a rookie and don't know what I'm doing. LOL There are way too many powder and bullet choices and gets confusing.
Luckily, this barrel doesn't seem to be very picky. The 5 shot groups at 100 yards went from around 3/4" to around 3/8".

View attachment 7112028

Lookin good Brother, happy to see more accuracy geeks getting involved in Precision AR Shooting. Past 10 years have been huge as far as people seeing the true potential of ARs.

 

[garandman]

For me personally, its easier to shoot consistent good groups with a bolt gun, than with a gas gun. So I choose to focus on the cheap and easy thrills.

6x5s tell the real tale.

Is it the indian or the arrow ?

Yes, it is.

 

[Fret]

Lookin good Brother, happy to see more accuracy geeks getting involved in Precision AR Shooting. Past 10 years have been huge as far as people seeing the true potential of ARs.

Thanks Big Jake. It's just confusing with the almost limitless combo of bullets/ powder+weights/bullet jumps and on and on.............

 

[Bigjake83]

Thanks Big Jake. It's just confusing with the almost limitless combo of bullets/ powder+weights/bullet jumps and on and on.............

What's the deets on your barrel again?

 

[Fret]

It's a 1 in 7.7 twist 20" varmint with CLE chamber and matching bolt from CLE. The muzzle has 5/8-24 threads with Miculek .30 cal brake to fit the threads.

 

[Bigjake83]

It's a 1 in 7.7 twist 20" varmint with CLE chamber and matching bolt from CLE. The muzzle has 5/8-24 threads with Miculek .30 cal brake to fit the threads.

That barrel is made for the 77gr SMKs, pick a powder, Varget, XBR, TAC, sort and prep some LC Brass, and get yourself some REM 7/12 or CCI BR4s primers.

 

[Fret]

That barrel is made for the 77gr SMKs, pick a powder, Varget, XBR, TAC, sort and prep some LC Brass, and get yourself some REM 7/12 or CCI BR4s primers.

Thanks Big Jim for the tip. I have a box of the 77 SMKs, a bit of Varget, XBR, and a bunch of LC brass ready to go. I need to get some TAC and only have CCI 400 primers. I'll try out some combos and see how it goes. Thanks again for your help.

 

[DukeGSP]

Awesome!