NOE 22-055 FN in AR15

[29yrsreload]

I decided to test a few loads using some of the W748 powder I've accumulated for my J bullet loads, using my NOE 22-055 FN bullets instead. It also gave me an excuse to use the Hornady AP press I bought back in November, but hadn't used yet (have been using its grandaddy, the Projector) :p.
With gc and 2500+ lube the bullets average 61.5 grains, using wheelweights and 2% tin, and water dropping. Lyman's 3rd Edition Cast Handbook listed from 20 to 26 something grains of W748 with a 55 grain boolit, so I decided to load up about 20 using 21.0 grains W748. Used LC10 cases and CCI 400 primers, and was aiming for about .020 off rifling, but ended up about .023.

63524

The gun used is DPMS lower with M&A upper and 24 inch heavy stainless barrel, in a 5.56 chambering, and 1 in 7 twist.. Shot first 50 yard group on center of target; first 3 touching then I think I started hyperventilating :holysheep . Then shot upper left at 50 and decided to tweak scope and shoot next group at 100 yds (upper right). The last 2 shots in that group are the 2 furthest right ...grrr. But still decent.
I loaded up another 5 with the only difference being the dacron, but haven't been able to shoot them yet, maybe tomorrow. On the next free day I may try varying the powder a bit. Didn't have time to set up chronograph, but extrapolating from the manual they should be in the 2000 fps neighborhood. The empties were landing out about 9 foot away, at a 2:00 position. I may be able to load them a bit faster; there was unused lube at the muzzle.
I was happy enough with the results that I loaded up about 100 more of the little devils [smilie=w:

63532

[bmiller]

Good shooting! I love this mold!

[blackpowder man]

I am about to begin the same process of trying to get this bullet to shoot from an AR and cycle the action. I shoot the lyman 225438 single shot sometimes in an AR and through a bolt gun. Keep us posted as to your results. I don't have 748 or H4895 which seems to be the go to powder for this. I'm going to try sr4759 and imr 3031 and see what happens. I have some surplus wc 844 and 846, but they dont seem to take to reduced loads so well.

[29yrsreload]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?56750-First-223-boolits&highlight=3031+223

The above thread mentions using 3031; I never got around to adding 3031 to my stockpile, as when I started reloading years back my main rifle powder was IMR 4064 for 220 Swift and later 6 mm Rem with j words, and it worked so good I didn't think 3031 would offer any improvement.:mrgreen:

I justed looked in my data book, and I did get my AR to cycle with AA2230 in the range of 19 grains, and about 1 inch group at 50 yards. I apparently didn't try that at 100 yards; 21 grains at 100 yards went all over the place, so 19 or 20 grains may be the upper limit, but 19 grains cycled properly, so perhaps could still cycle at a lighter charge.

I definitely need to chronograph my 21.0 grains of 748. Hornady 8th edition lists 22 grains 748 pushing 60 grain J words at 2700 fps out of a 26 inch barrel. I realize that boolits usually go a bit slower than J words with the same powder charge, but I sure would be happy if my 21 grain 748 charge is pushing those pretty lil' boolits closer to that than the 2000 fps Lyman lists :-) . It will probably be Thursday before I can chronograph; will advise.....

[Screwbolts]

I am about to begin the same process of trying to get this bullet to shoot from an AR and cycle the action. I shoot the lyman 225438 single shot sometimes in an AR and through a bolt gun. Keep us posted as to your results. I don't have 748 or H4895 which seems to be the go to powder for this. I'm going to try sr4759 and imr 3031 and see what happens. I have some surplus wc 844 and 846, but they dont seem to take to reduced loads so well.

I have shot over 24 pounds of WC844 out of ARs, My mostest favorite load id 21.5 gr of WC844 ot 844T but use a CCI 41 or equivalent primer. (2300+ FPS out of 16" carbines, 2500 from 20" tubes, from my crony) WC844 works fine at this loading with either NOE 55-225 and Mihec Natos. My Wolf primers are not hot enough to avoid an occasional slight hang fire with any WC powder, they work fine with all none surplus powders that I have used.

Just had a thought, the Wolf primers may work better in Wolf Cases as they have smaller internal capacity as compared to brass.

Ken

[nhrifle]

I just got this mould in the mail today. After cleaning and going through its heat cycles, it casts beautifully when warmed up. I installed gas checks, sized to .225" and lubed with Lyman Super Moly. Almost dark outside so I loaded up 5 rounds for a quick test. I seated the boolits to the bottom of the top driving band over 23 grains of AA2520. They will need to be seated a little lower in the future, since the Encore I was using to test them had to be forced closed. I rigged up a quick target using a white box and a Shoot-N-See repair dot and shot off hand at about 50 feet. Only a few minutes of light left, so I fired quickly while I could still see the crosshairs. Got a nice group about an inch of vertical dispertion and 1-1/2 inch horizontal. Test was mostly to check for function and to see if I will have any leading problems. The bore is as shiny as it was before I fired and the brass and primers look good. I am pleased, to say the least. This will be a fun boolit with which to do some load development as the weather warms.

This is my second NOE mould and I love Swede's work.

[Gunor]

I used 21 grains of 748 today - just testing for function in M-4 style (16').

Works - I'll load some more for accuracy. Really just looking for M193 accuracy, as per guru Larry Gibson.....

Geoff in Oregon