224 Valkyrie- Starting the Journey.

[ds1]

So reloading for a non-castrated JP scr11  AR 15 in 224v.

Velocity testing so groups shot at 50m to find out if it’s ball-park velocity and accuracy. 

Base line (50m) top group. Factory Hornady 88g Eld Match ammunition. At 12c 805 m/s on the Labradar out of a 22” tube. I’m happy with that, it’s representative of any other groups that I have shot with this ammunition. All I want to do is duplicate it or near as.

Attempt 1 (50m) bottom group. Vhit N140, 23.5g (max Vhit listed load) using same COAL as factory 88g Eldm’s, Federal primers. 791 m/s (ave). I think that I am happy- some slight minting but a gas gun is a bit different. I expected less velocity with a single based powder but it’s very acceptable.

Next session, test 23.0g Vhit N140 and see if there is any noticeable change in minting and what the velocity reduction is.

 

 

 

 

[English Rifleman]

What bullet wieght did you choose?

 

Nice groups

[shoppe]

Hi. What is minting? 

I have never heard the expression. 

Cheers 

Shoppe

[ds1]

English Rifleman, They are Hornady 88 grain Eldm’s.  I have some 90grain A Tips and 90 grain MKs to try also but if I can near enough replicate the factory 88 grain ELD Match ammunition with the same bullet but using a single based powder (N140) I will be very happy.

 It’s  going to be around November before I can test at 300m but I can at least get some velocity data beforehand.

Shoppe, basically I guess minting is shooter slang for  ejector marks on the case head caused from over pressure. Not that U.K. need to worry about it but It can be a bit more involved with a gas AR15 as the bolt rotates - timing the bolt unlocking either through gas regulation (adjustable gas block) or / and mass regulation of the bolt carrier can have an influence.

[shoppe]

Cheers for that.

I thought it may have been something to do with the gas system. 

[ds1]

Shoppe, sorry I didn’t express myself very clearly- bolt guns still get minting. It looks for want of a better description like a small horse shoe stamped into the case mouth from the ejector.

With a AR 15 gas gun because the bolt rotates during unlocking you sometimes see a ‘wipe’ or ‘swipe’ mark on the case head.

[shoppe]

Oh aye. I know what you mean now.

I have a southern gun company speed master in 223. 

Sometimes I get that small horse shoe shape depending on the speed I rack the bolt back.

Cheers 

[ds1]

Finally some free time to test at 100m and 300m. It was a real crap day weather wise 1C and snowing which obscured the targets somewhat. 

Rifle JP AR semi-auto with Harris bipod and Tab Gear rear bag, 7-35 NF ATACR scope so not a bench rest rig. 
 

Load 23.0 grains N140 with Federal GMM primers and once fired Hornady cases, annealed and trimmed etc. Bullet was 88grain Eldm loaded to same COAL as factory ammunition.. I know at 12C this load was giving 780 m/s. No way to measure it today.

I fired a couple of more groups but could not get the wet paper off the backing to measure them. Anyway these are representative.

100m

300m, only one group would come off the backing but I photographed a second group 

So with bugger all load development I am getting 1/2 Moa at 300m. I am happy with that in a semi-auto. 

224v seems to have gotten a bad press by YouTubers. But I am enjoying it.