ReloadingNotesGrammaton76 < Gunwiki

<!--
   * Set TOPICTITLE = Reloading Notes from Grammaton76
-->
---+ Reloading notes from Grammaton76

These are mostly semi-auto experiences.  Most of the non-functioning loads would probably work just fine in a bolt action rifle though, given that their only fault is being too light to cycle a semi-auto.
| *Chambering* | *Bullet* | *OAL* | *Powder Type* | *Powder Weight* | *Primer* | *Recommend?* | *Results* |
| *40 S&W* | 135gr SWC | 1.250" | Hodgdon HP-38 | 6.5gr | WSP | *YES* | Test fired 10rds 7/7/07 in a Sig 229, all fine |
| *45 ACP* | 230gr SWC | | Hodgdon HP-38 | 4.3gr | WLP | *NO* | Did not cycle CZ-97B; felt really light. |
| *5.7x28mm* | 50gr PSP | | Alliant Blue Dot | 5.0gr | WSP | *YES, FOR PS90* | Cycled PS90 perfectly in slow + rapid fire.  Slight pressure signs.  Do not try in pistol without extensive research! |
| *5.7x28mm* | 40gr V-Max | | Alliant Blue Dot | 6.0gr | WSP | *YES, FOR PS90* | Cycled PS90 perfectly in slow + rapid fire.  No pressure signs.  But, do not try in pistol without extensive research! |
| _Above load "feels" and sounds like factory ammo.  Have fired over 250rds, no damage to PS90._ ||||||||
| *7.5x55 Swiss* | 150gr .308 PSP | 2.790" | Hodgdon H335 | 40.0gr | WLR | *YES* | No pressure signs, worked fine in a K-31.  Felt a tad lighter than surplus. |
| *7.62x51 NATO* | 150gr .308 PSP | 2.800" | Hodgdon H335 | 41.0gr | WLR | *YES* | Cycled PTR-91 (HK 91 clone) just fine, no pressure signs. |
| *7.62x39mm* | 123gr .311 FMJ | | Hodgdon H335 | 30.5gr | WLR/WSR | *YES* | Cycled AK just fine, no feed issues whatsoever. |
| _Above load behaves normally in an AK, without pressure signs.  Compared with Fiocchi factory ammo, much larger muzzle flash and more reliable cycling in an (experimental, new) AK pistol which wasn't cycling Fiocci factory loads at all.  Reliability increased from never cycling, to cycling about half of the time._ ||||||||
| *7.62x39mm* | 110gr .311 RN | | Hodgdon H322 | 29.0gr | WLR/WSR | *YES* | Cycled SKS and AK just fine; feed issues on AK. |
| *7.62x39mm* | 110gr .311 RN | | IMR 4198 | 24.0gr | WLR/WSR | *NO* | Didn't cycle SKS in semi. |
| _Berry round-nose bullets have issues in feeding from an AK magazine on Romanian AKM's, both hand built and factory.  However, they seem to feed just fine with the SKS.  At issue is that they're much shorter than the conventional pointy-tipped rounds, which results in major feed ramp issues.  Of course, because they're .311 caliber, they're useless for anything in my collection except the SKS._ ||||||||
| *50 Beowulf* | 335gr FMJ/JHP | | Hodgdon Lil' Gun | 36.2gr | WLP | *YES* | Cycled just fine, no pressure issues |
| _Beowulf is said to require magnum primers.  WLP primers are listed as 'for standard or magnum', and seem to work fine._ ||||||||
| *6.8mm Remington SPC* | 115gr FMJ | | Hodgdon H335 | 28.5gr | WLR/WSR | *YES* | Cycled just fine. |
| *6.8mm Remington SPC* | 115gr FMJ | | Hodgdon H335 | 27.4 | WLR/WSR | *NO* | Failure to cycle.  Will try 28.0 and 28.5. |
| *6.8mm Remington SPC* | 115gr FMJ | | Hodgdon H322 | 26.4 | WLR/WSR | *YES* | Cycled just fine between 26.0 and 26.6; 27.0 had one failure. |
| *6.8mm Remington SPC* | 115gr FMJ | | IMR 4198 | 23.5gr | WLR/WSR | *NO* | Even at 23.5gr (stated max load), never once cycled a Stag 16" upper. |
| *223 Remington* | 55gr BTFMJ | | IMR 4198 | 19.0gr | CCI SR | *YES* |<b>See Notes Below - not for all rifles!</b> |

---+++ Notes on my IMR 4198 load
This is the very cheapest load I've seen, heard of, or used for 223.  It's light, uses little powder, and doesn't have a lot of recoil.  However, various friends of mine have reported that it doesn't work reliably for their rifles.  I'm going to chronicle here where this load works and doesn't work, so that folks don't potentially waste time with this load in a rifle that isn't likely to work with it.

My friend Doug says on his tests, it seems that there's a consistent pattern of 20" rifles failing to operate.  The bolt carrier moves far enough back to eject a round, but not far enough back to catch the next round and chamber it.

|*Gun* |*Worked?* |*Gas System* | *Notes* |
|AR upper: Addax ZK Patrol mid-length|No |Piston | My test |
|AR upper: Armalite 20"|Yes|Rifle length? | My test |
|AR upper: Colt Match Sporter HBAR|No|Rifle length| Doug's test; 20.0-20.5gr |
|AR upper: Del-Ton 16"|Yes|Rifle length | My test |
|AR upper: DPMS 16"|Yes|Carbine length| Doug's test; 20.0-20.5gr |
|AR upper: Model1Sales 16" Dissipator|Yes|Carbine length| Doug's test; 20.0-20.5gr |
|AR upper: Retro M16A1 build|No|Rifle length| Doug's test; 20.0-20.5gr |
|AR upper: Ruger(?) 16"|No|Gas piston| Doug's test; 20.0-20.5gr |
|AR upper: Stag Limited 14.5" M4 |Yes |Carbine length? | My test |
|AR upper: Stag 16"|Pending|??? | My test |
|FN FS2000|Pending|Piston| My test |
|Kel-Tec SU-16CA|Yes|Piston | My test |
|Robinson Arms !M96CA|Pending|Piston| My test |
|Ruger Mini-14|Yes|Ruger| Doug's test; 20.0-20.5gr |
|Sig Sauer 556|Yes |Piston | My test |

---+++ Bullet Lookup
If you're trying to make sense of the abbreviations, see RefProjectileAbbreviations.  The reason the vendor isn't listed in the table above, is because I may end up buying bullets from multiple vendors.  If I end up loading different weights, I'll note the vendor here too.
   * 223 Remington: MidwayUSA brand, and Armscor
   * 5.7x28mm: 40gr Hornady V-Max polymer tip (red), 50gr Prvi Partisan PSPs
   * 40 S&W: Rainier
   * 45ACP: Rainier
   * 7.5x55 Swiss: Prvi Partisan
   * 7.62x51 NATO: Prvi Partisan
   * 7.62x39mm: Round nose bullets are from Berry Manufacturing.
   * 6.8SPC: Remington bullets.
   * 50 Beowulf: Rainier bullets.

---+++ Primer Lookup
   * *CCI SR:* CCI Small Rifle
   * *WSP:* Winchester Small Pistol
   * *WSR:* Winchester Small Rifle
   * *WLP:* Winchester Large Pistol
   * *WLR:* Winchester Large Rifle

---+++ Powder Lookup
   * *Blue Dot:* Alliant Blue Dot.
   * *HP-38:* Hodgdon HP-38.

-- Main.SeanNewton - 31 Oct 2006
This topic: Gunwiki > WebHome > RefReloading > ShopForReloading > ReloadingNotesGrammaton76
Topic revision: r21 - 18 Feb 2013 - SeanNewton