D4198 and 223 AR Chronograph Results Updated

Firehoser

Firehoser

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Here are the chronograph results in fps for my AR after two visits to my range. Fired 5 rounds of each load and took an average. 19 gr to 24 gr in .5 gr increments. Used Chinese casings with Tula primers, CamPro 55gr FMJBT with factory crimp die and 15 inch 5.56 chrome barrel, 1-9 twist and carbine length gas tube. Other rifles may vary by barrel length and twist. Stayed close to baseline loads for this sampling. No minus 10% as suggested by Canada Ammo.

Baseline
IMR 4198 spec: Min 18.8 gn 2885 FPS Max 20.4 gn 3122 FPS
Hodgson 4198 spec: Min 19 gn 2841 FPS Max 21 gn 3150 FPS

Important Note:
I also fired 5 rounds of Remington UMC 223 55gr to benchmark. Remington spec 3240 fps...chronagraph @ 2785. That is 365 fps slower because of my rifle.

Results:
19 gr 2511 fps
19.5 gr 2590 fps
20 gr 2632 fps
20.5 gr 2717 fps
21 gr 2741 fps
21.5 gr 2764 fps

No issues with primers or casings. Did shoot dirty with unspent powder and carbon in the bolt area. Should improve as I increase loads.

FYI:
I ran 30 rounds @ 21 gr D4198 through my AR and had tight groups at 100 yd. 15 inch 5.56 chrome barrel, 1-9 twist and carbine length gas tube. 55gr CamPro FMJBT and mixed casings. Federal and Tula primer mix. Cycled well and no FTF issues. There were no split/bulging cases or primer problems.

I will post results with hotter loads next time I go to the range but from the results above expect to max out at 23-24 gr.

Update: Went to the range and fired from 22 gr to 24 gr of D4198 in .5 grain increments. I used Chinese cases with Tula primers and 55 gr CamPro FMJBT. 5 rounds of each and took average. Chronograph was 4 yards out front to avoid muzzle flash. Velocity will drop slightly from the muzzle to the chronograph.



Results:
22 gr 2821 fps
22.5 gr 2932 fps (hot load)
23 gr 2968 fps (hot load)
23.5 gr 3057 fps (blown primers) (hot load)
24 gr 3128 fps (blown primers) (hot load)
Benchmark: Rem UMC 2785 fps


After checking the cases and primers there was some serious primer damage at 23.5 and 24 gr. 24 gr was the maximum fill that the cases allowed. Any more and the bullet would compress the powder. The rounds shot a little cleaner than before with less non spent powder and there were no FTL or FTF issues. Some split mouths.

Conclusion:

For my rifle I would not exceed 22 gr of D4198. Any load over 22 gr I would consider hot. 21.5 gr is close to par with the Remington UMC factory round and extrapolating 21.7 should be dead on. Based on the firing results 21 gn of D4198 is a minimum load for my rifle.24 grains fills my casing to the top of the shoulder and just short of the bullet compressing the powder. All loads cycled with no issues. No casing or extreme primer issues except with loads over 23gn. There was visible primer spalling from the firing pin over 22 gr. Federal primers may fair better. Had a few split case mouths common with Chinese surplus reloads. Every rifle could be different depending on barrel length and twist. Powder batch may also play a part. Factoring in the whopping 365 fps difference in the Remington factory ammo stats it appears to come close to IMR 4198. Again every rifle is different.Needless to say the less 10 percent and work up rule was not necessary in my case.

Good powder (although a bit dirty) for practice and CQB applications. Not tested beyond 100 yds.

View damaged primers.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zkmb62dw4fmuruo/Damaged%20Primers.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/pe1lgf8ebwkhdor/Primers close up.jpg?dl=0
 
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Good consistent groupings at 100 yds between 21gr and 22gr. I was shouldering and using a bag for support. More focused on chronometer sweet spot. Very slight differences and odd flyers may have been user error. Not concentrating on perfect shots.
 
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I'm more interested in what the consistency is like for each shot with the same charge. When you find an accurate load can you post the velocity for each round not just the average?

Thanks for putting this together, I've been tempted to try the powder but am a little nervous about it's consistency and I already have a few pounds of IMR4198.
Are you using load data for IMR4198 for your loading? I have a sub half MOA load with 36gr Barnes Varmint Grenades for my 223 bolt action and a sub MOA load for my 17 Fireball with IMR4198 and if this stuff can do the same for less money I'll definitely give it a try.
 
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cr5 said:
I'm more interested in what the consistency is like for each shot with the same charge. When you find an accurate load can you post the velocity for each round not just the average?

Thanks for putting this together, I've been tempted to try the powder but am a little nervous about it's consistency and I already have a few pounds of IMR4198.
Are you using load data for IMR4198 for your loading? I have a sub half MOA load with 36gr Barnes Varmint Grenades for my 223 bolt action and a sub MOA load for my 17 Fireball with IMR4198 and if this stuff can do the same for less money I'll definitely give it a try.
Click to expand...

I will give you the stats for 21.5 and 22 gr as well as Remington UMC factory rounds. Apples with apples so to speak. Hope this helps.

Here are the stats for 21.5 gr D4198 55 gr FMJBT in fps
1: 2774
2: 2708
3: 2827
4: 2741
5: 2772
Average: 2764.40

22 gr
1: 2797
2: 2816
3: 2834
4: 2825
5: 2832
Average 2820.80

Remington UMC 223 55gr bullet
1: 2740
2: 2776
3: 2809
4: 2783
5: 2819
Average: 2785.40

Note: The 22 gr (less one round) was almost dead nuts on. It was a little hotter than the factory rounds but not by much.
My rifle has a 5.56 barrel. I can shoot 22 gr no problem. 21.8 gr should be right on for me.
 
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I found D4198 to be very accurate with 55gr projectiles in .223. 21.5gr was giving me about 3050fps in an 18.5" barrel w/SD of 10. However, I found this powder to be very sensitive to gas system length in semi-autos, it produces much lower gas pressure the further down the barrel you go so I wouldn't recommend it for use in most semi-autos. It seemed to work fine in bolt guns and in a mini-14 tho.

Because of that I no longer use D4198 for .223 and instead save it for 7.62x39 and 45-70!
 
TheReal_Vader said:
I found D4198 to be very accurate with 55gr projectiles in .223. 21.5gr was giving me about 3050fps in an 18.5" barrel w/SD of 10. However, I found this powder to be very sensitive to gas system length in semi-autos, it produces much lower gas pressure the further down the barrel you go so I wouldn't recommend it for use in most semi-autos. It seemed to work fine in bolt guns and in a mini-14 tho.

Because of that I no longer use D4198 for .223 and instead save it for 7.62x39 and 45-70!
Click to expand...

I have had no problems shooting with my AR and know a few others using this but it is a dirty bird. I clean after every match. I would not recommend it to a lazy shooter. My son loaded some at 20 gr before I did testing and went to the range. He had a couple of double tap slam fires with his rifle. He later shot some at 21.5 gr and had no problem.
 
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Firehoser said:
I will give you the stats for 21.5 and 22 gr as well as Remington UMC factory rounds. Apples with apples so to speak. Hope this helps.

Here are the stats for 21.5 gr D4198 55 gr FMJBT in fps
1: 2774
2: 2708
3: 2827
4: 2741
5: 2772
Average: 2764.40

22 gr
1: 2797
2: 2816
3: 2834
4: 2825
5: 2832
Average 2820.80

Remington UMC 223 55gr bullet
1: 2740
2: 2776
3: 2809
4: 2783
5: 2819
Average: 2785.40

Note: The 22 gr (less one round) was almost dead nuts on. It was a little hotter than the factory rounds but not by much.
My rifle has a 5.56 barrel. I can shoot 22 gr no problem. 21.8 gr should be right on for me.
Click to expand...

The 22gr looks fairly consistent, not sure how much you chase accuracy but I would bet that if you went by 0.2 gr each side of 22gr you'd probably find something even more consistent.
Looks not too bad though, I could definitely give it a try and see what I can do with it, worst case scenario it looks like a fine powder for plinking loads.

Thanks for posting this
 
I use this for CQB which is 35 yd and under so reliability is important. Accuracy is pretty decent @ 100 yd but I would like someone to try this out to 200 & 300 yd. That would be a better accuracy test.
 
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