Rem 5-R Loads and velocities

[JS Stokely]

Stock Rem 5-R, round count 125, chronograph at 10', 60-65, and calm. Rained earlier in the day. Only shooting three shot groups, I know how they shoot...just checking speeds. These are loads that have been developed over several weeks and didn't just happen. I don't want to give the impression that this rifle will shoot anything you stuff in it, it will not. But, if you take the time to match prep the brass, including turning the necks, it will shoot really well. Better than many rifles costing three and four times as much. I'm shooting a 32x scope w/ fine wire while I develop loads. I guess I'm old school, but I did the shoot and clean breakin every shot for the first ten, then shot three and cleaned for the next 30. I then cleaned after 25, now I'll go 50-100 before cleaning unless I see a problem.

If you have any 4064 numbers I'd love to know how close mine are. I am sure my 4064 is several years old. Will try a new can this weekend.

BTW Nosler 175 CC's shoot the same as the SMK 175'. I can interchange them and still shoot small holes. Here are the loads I shot this afternoon.

1.168grn. A-Max w/45 grns of Varget,CCI 200, Fed Case, 2.880, neck turned brass and trimmed to 2.005.
Average velocity: 2754 ES 11
.40 CTC group, usually a little better

2. 175 SMK same as above with 43grns of Varget. AV: 2585 ES 15
.310 clover leaf

3. 175 SMK w/IMR 4064 43 grains AV: 2467 ES 13
.240 nasty little hole ctc

4. 175 SMK w/4064 at 44 grains AV: 2484 ES 9
.250 clover leaf with the inside missing

5. Factory Fed Gold Medal Match 168 AV: 2640 ES 15. Can't count this group, it was shot by a friend, it was about an inch. I know these will shoot well below that.

 

[desertHK]

Re: Rem 5-R Loads and velocities

curious to know if your chrono is accurate? In particular, the 175 SMK with IMR4064 load. I load my 175 SMK with 44.2 grains of IMR4064 and I was getting a around 2750 fps in my old AIAW 26" barrel with a 1:12" twist. Your 5R is a 1:11.5" twist and a 24" barrel I assume? Either mine is way off on velocity or yours is a bit slow. What chrono are you running?

 

[JS Stokely]

Re: Rem 5-R Loads and velocities

The chronograph is a new "ProChrono Digital Chronograph". I believe it is correct, because of the velocities that were recorded for the Fed Gold Medal ammo. I think they are supposed to be 2600, mine were slightly more.
The barrel is 24" w/ a 1:11.25 or 11.27, supposed to be the same as the mil spec.
If anything, the 4064 I have on hand is very old. I believe I used to load 220 Swift with it. I'll get some more and shoot it over the weekend. I hope I can get more out of it. With Varget, the rifle tops out right in line with the charts, pressure wise but the 4064 has shown no signs at all. 43 grains sure shoots good, pretty much one ragged hole.
I'm still working on it so, it will be right shortly. I'll try to get some pictures up this weekend.

 

[JS Stokely]

Re: Rem 5-R Loads and velocities

Shot some new 4064 this afternoon. Old powder was weak, (165 -200fps slow)but it sure shot good. Will try to duplicate the same velocities as yesterday and see if they maintain the same groups.

So far my best load and speed combo is, 168 A-Max w/ 46 grains of Varget and CCI 200, Fed case. This load averages 2760 and shoots clover leaf groups.

Old Powder:175 SMK w/IMR 4064 43 grains AV: 2467 ES 13
New Powder: same as above w/new 4064 AV: 2632 ES 25* had one case that may have accounted for this difference

Old Powder:175 SMK w/4064 at 44 grains AV: 2484 ES 9
New Powder: same as above w/new 4064 AV: 2689 ES 5