Norinco CJ 95 ammunition powder and projectile measured weights
- Thread starter alpining
- Start date
I hate to see those cute little bullets not realize their destiny... But seriously, I think it would still be cheaper. Even a rough sort discarding the top and bottom ten percent should improve things significantly.
Couldn't agree more. Need more data...
Gunnerlove
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vancouver Island
Or if looking for small groupings at 100m 52-53gr HP Flat Base bullets.
The only reason I can see to pull down factory ammo and make Mexican match is wanting to retain the crimped primer, which might help you chase MK262 velocities.
I would not want to push the limits with Norinco brass.
The only reason I can see to pull down factory ammo and make Mexican match is wanting to retain the crimped primer, which might help you chase MK262 velocities.
I would not want to push the limits with Norinco brass.
Runningfool
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Norinco 223 ammo does not have crimped primers afaik.
Ar180shooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
When factoring in the cost to buy the ammunition and time required to pull the bullets, measure the weight and diameter of the bullet and reload the projectiles, and the fact that you won't be getting near to the same accuracy from these reloads as you would from regular tuned handloads, is it worth it? I say no.
arcticcathonda
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
Depends on if reloading is a job for you? It is not like I get paid to sit and watch TV on my couch otherwise....
Gunnerlove
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vancouver Island
So there is zero reason for me to have anything to do with Norinco 5.56mm other than fishing separated and rim stripped casings out of peoples rifles.
Ar180shooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
I don't mind reloading... But to spend hours to get something that is only slightly better than Norc 5.56, I'll pass. I'd want match ammo for that sort of work. You figure $.30/bullet, $.05/primer, $.14/powder charge and brass is essentially free, you're looking at match grade ammo with a premium bullet for less than $.50/round. You can cut the projectile cost in half if you go with something like bulk Hornady 55gr FMJ, as well as several cents off the powder and primers if you go with bulk purchases of Surplus powder and non-match primers. At the end you can get down to less than $.30/round and have it shoot better than this "Norinco Mexican Match". Not that it wouldn't be an interesting experiment to do up a few dozen rounds just to see what happens, but something practical, it is not.
Maybe. Maybe not. I wouldn't necessarily expect bulk Hornady fmj bullets to be that much better than the Norinco bullets, but that would be easy enough for anyone to confirm. Anyone have data on the bulk Hdy?
I'd be interested to see just how precise you could rebuild the ammo just by replacing the bullet and applying your desired crimp. Option one, replaced with quality commercial bullets (additional cost $.25/bullet). Option two, replaced with sorted Norinco bullets (a rough sort-by-weight adds say 5 seconds per bullet). Brass prep and powder metering take up a large majority of my reloading time, so both of these options would offer huge time savings over reloads starting from once-fired brass. And they might yield a useful "compromise load" (time+money cost/benefit). Or they might not. But it will almost surely come in somewhere between bulk Norinco/Federal ammunition and premium commercial ammunition.
I don't have an accuracy-oriented AR (irons), so it will be problematic for me to do a useful test. But who am I kidding... I'll probably try it anyway!
arcticcathonda
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
I don't know, I have never tried it. I am not the type of guy to dismiss something until I have tried it though! Maybe Alpining will do all grunt work on this....
Ar180shooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
Maybe. Maybe not. I wouldn't necessarily expect bulk Hornady fmj bullets to be that much better than the Norinco bullets, but that would be easy enough for anyone to confirm. Anyone have data on the bulk Hdy?
I'd be interested to see just how precise you could rebuild the ammo just by replacing the bullet and applying your desired crimp. Option one, replaced with quality commercial bullets (additional cost $.25/bullet). Option two, replaced with sorted Norinco bullets (a rough sort-by-weight adds say 5 seconds per bullet). Brass prep and powder metering take up a large majority of my reloading time, so both of these options would offer huge time savings over reloads starting from once-fired brass. And they might yield a useful "compromise load" (time+money cost/benefit). Or they might not. But it will almost surely come in somewhere between bulk Norinco/Federal ammunition and premium commercial ammunition.
I don't have an accuracy-oriented AR (irons), so it will be problematic for me to do a useful test. But who am I kidding... I'll probably try it anyway!
Hornady 55gr FMJ projectiles are top notch for what they are. They shoot quite well.
Ar180shooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
Your end product is only as good as the components you put in to it. This sort of thing has been done before, do don't think I'm just dismissing it on a whim.
If you have some on hand, I'd appreciate some measured weights and dimensions if possible.
I'll be adding some diameter measurements to the original data, as well as comparison data for Lot 01 CJ95 and some American Eagle bulk 223 that I have on hand.
Okay i'll contribute.
I have a 500 round bag of Hornady 55gr FMJ cannelure that i bought two years ago for a crazy price of $44.
I grabbed a handful and pulled out my scale and vernier caliper.
So, here are the numbers.
9 - 55gr
6 - 55.1gr
3- 54.9gr
1- 54.8gr
6- 54.3gr
Bean counters can do the variation, percentages etc.
What struck me as really weird is that there was no middle ground between the light bullets and normal weight. 0.3grand variance around 55gr then a sudden fall to 54.3 grain territory with nothing in between. The light ones i measured several times to verify i wasnt getting screwy scale reading.
Now, diameter every single one of them came out to be 0.2235" No variance. Mind you my Mitutoyo caliper reads in 0.005" steps, a proper micrometer would probably give us more precise number.
Quality, i've never come across any weird 55gr FMJ's from Hornady. I cant say the same thing with their 52gr Boat tail hollow points. Several ones i've come across with exposed lead on the side.
Anyways, there some info for you.
I have a 500 round bag of Hornady 55gr FMJ cannelure that i bought two years ago for a crazy price of $44.
I grabbed a handful and pulled out my scale and vernier caliper.
So, here are the numbers.
9 - 55gr
6 - 55.1gr
3- 54.9gr
1- 54.8gr
6- 54.3gr
Bean counters can do the variation, percentages etc.
What struck me as really weird is that there was no middle ground between the light bullets and normal weight. 0.3grand variance around 55gr then a sudden fall to 54.3 grain territory with nothing in between. The light ones i measured several times to verify i wasnt getting screwy scale reading.
Now, diameter every single one of them came out to be 0.2235" No variance. Mind you my Mitutoyo caliper reads in 0.005" steps, a proper micrometer would probably give us more precise number.
Quality, i've never come across any weird 55gr FMJ's from Hornady. I cant say the same thing with their 52gr Boat tail hollow points. Several ones i've come across with exposed lead on the side.
Anyways, there some info for you.
Gunnerlove
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vancouver Island
IMO PRVI makes some very decent 62gr FMJ bullets.
Consistent, long and slippery.
Consistent, long and slippery.
