Alright I know there are much better powders to use with these bullets. But, I have a bunch of 8lb jugs that are collecting lots of dust, so I set out to find a powder I dont use for anything else with these bullets. I want to be able to run off 5000 or so on my Dillon once I find a load and fill some ammo cans.
The first 2 contenders, RE15 and AR Comp. I decided to start with RE15. I loaded up an OCW in .3gr increments up to my book max for 60 VMAX. Also, I loaded essentially 2 identical OCW's, only thing being different was primers..... I picked up like 10k Remington 7.5 Benchrest primers a few years ago at an insane price of like $15/1000. Well I have never had good luck with accuracy any time I use them so they have been my plinking primers. I decided to test out this accuracy problem so I loaded Federal 205's and these Rem7.5's in identical side by side OCW's.
Shot this OCW @ 50yd with a red dot form the bench, bipod and rear bag over LabRadar.
Test Gun
16" Wilson Combat 5.56 Ranger Barrel 1:7 Mid Gas
BCM Mlok Handguard
BCM MOD4 Upper Receiver
Geissele Super Gas Block
Toolcraft DLC BCG
Rugged 2 Port QD Brake
Geissele Carbine Buffer and Spring
Spikes 6 Position Buffer Tube
Magpul ACS-L Stock
BAD Ambi Safety
Geissele SD-E Trigger
Load
Reloader 15 OCW
3xLC Brass FL Sized, Trimmed
Sierra 60 TMK
Seated 2.26" COAL
Rem7.5 and Federal 205 Primers
For reference, very bottom right corner I shot a 5 shot group with my go to 55 VMAX loads. Just grabbed 5 out of the ammo can to take to the range that I loaded years ago. Down to about 500 of those left but as you can see, they shoot lights out in my AR's. I love that load.
So it looks like my primer theory was right. The 205's consistently shoot tighter groups than those Rem7.5's which has been my experience all along. My conclusion, these bullets are gonna shoot, but RE15 isnt the powder. The speed is too damn slow. My 55 Vmax load is about 3000 where the fastest RE15 load is sub 2750... And thats just getting compressed so no more powder going in these cases..
Next up, AR Comp and Ill probably load a H4895 OCW just to see how it compares to the 55 Vmax load speed and accuracy wise.