I loaded some ammo for my AR-15 last night and tested it today.
I have some Russian 55 gr FMJ bullets. They are cheap and perfect for close-in shooting, as I do in CQB. But at 100 yards, they are not what I would call “accurate”.
I usually test with my heavy barrel AR (20” heavy stainless), but in this case I also shot the 55gr in my garden variety commercial AR15 by PSA.
When I was loading my CQB ammo, I used DA4198. I load CQB ammo fairly mild, because my carbine is over-gassed. Besides, don’t need a lot of power to punch paper at 30 yards. At a 25 yard test today, it grouped about 1”, shooting off hand, so I am pleased with it.
I have tested from 17 to 21 gr with this powder and found it ran my carbines just fine, but did not cycle the PSA.
I recently was teaching a class for the ORA and explained that the accuracy of a bullet depends on a very consistent heel. This is why the soft point and hollowpoint bullets with solid bases are more accurate than the open base FMJ bullets. As I was loading the Wolf FMJ bullets I got to wondering if they would be more accurate if loaded up-side down. So I loaded some that way. Did not change the seating die.
They shot just fine. Fed from the mag perfectly. And accuracy was better than point end first. Cut nice wad-cutter holes, too.
Upside Down bullet
Same bullet, Pointy end first
The Dillon was set to throw 18 gr of DA4198 (a light load) so I decided to load some with a 62gr soft point. One flyer. Rest were a good group.
I usually load this bullet with 25 gr of surplus ball powder or 25 gr of RL15. The ball powder also gives me the flyers, whereas RL15 does not. The RL15 load runs around 1.5” in the AR and 0.8” in a Savage bolt rifle.
62 gr SP bullet of 25 gr ball powder - 3,000 fps
I have some Russian 55 gr FMJ bullets. They are cheap and perfect for close-in shooting, as I do in CQB. But at 100 yards, they are not what I would call “accurate”.
I usually test with my heavy barrel AR (20” heavy stainless), but in this case I also shot the 55gr in my garden variety commercial AR15 by PSA.
When I was loading my CQB ammo, I used DA4198. I load CQB ammo fairly mild, because my carbine is over-gassed. Besides, don’t need a lot of power to punch paper at 30 yards. At a 25 yard test today, it grouped about 1”, shooting off hand, so I am pleased with it.
I have tested from 17 to 21 gr with this powder and found it ran my carbines just fine, but did not cycle the PSA.
I recently was teaching a class for the ORA and explained that the accuracy of a bullet depends on a very consistent heel. This is why the soft point and hollowpoint bullets with solid bases are more accurate than the open base FMJ bullets. As I was loading the Wolf FMJ bullets I got to wondering if they would be more accurate if loaded up-side down. So I loaded some that way. Did not change the seating die.
They shot just fine. Fed from the mag perfectly. And accuracy was better than point end first. Cut nice wad-cutter holes, too.
Upside Down bullet
Same bullet, Pointy end first
The Dillon was set to throw 18 gr of DA4198 (a light load) so I decided to load some with a 62gr soft point. One flyer. Rest were a good group.
I usually load this bullet with 25 gr of surplus ball powder or 25 gr of RL15. The ball powder also gives me the flyers, whereas RL15 does not. The RL15 load runs around 1.5” in the AR and 0.8” in a Savage bolt rifle.
62 gr SP bullet of 25 gr ball powder - 3,000 fps
