The following are two loads that shot well at 50 yards during my initial load development:
AR15 with CLE 20" barrel (1:7 rifling, wylde chamber, bull barrel)
1) 64gr Nosler bonded, 25.0gr H4895, remington 7 1/2 primer, 2.18" C.O.L., ~ 2946fps muzzle velocity based upon chronograph data at 15ft
~0.3" 5 shot group at 50yards
2) 64gr Nosler bonded, 25.6gr (compressed load, 5.56 pressure) H4895, remington 7 1/2 primer, 2.18" C.O.L., ~3026fps muzzle velocity based upon chronograph data at 15ft
~0.5" 5 shot group at 50yards
The bullet itself is capable of fine accuracy, MOA or better with tuned handloads shot out of a quality barrel.
Now that I have the two accurate loads initially established, i'll make some more of each and try 100 yard, 10 shot groups for confirmation. Since the effective range of this bullet is limited significantly by it's poor Ballistic Coefficient, I believe either would work well within 200yards, a reasonable upper limit for hunting and/or defensive purposes.
The velocities written on the targets were initial estimates based upon a 15' distance to chronograph but with the incorrect Ballistic Coefficient(B.C.). The velocities listed above are more accurate because theh utilized a more realistic B.C.. See below for more details.
Based upon my experience with several other .223 and 5.56mm loads, I would expect velocity from a 16" barrel to be about 4% less (120fps). If this trend holds true, and given velocity data for Winchester's RA556B factory load that was posted by LEID on AR15.com (2829fps w/16" barrel), then I believe that the 25.0gr h4895 load closely duplicates the factory RA556B loading.
Also note that i regressed the actual B.C. of the Nosler bullet at 0.175 vs. 0.231 advertised. I did this by measuring the difference in muzzle velocity vs. velocity at 50 yards (laser ranged) as measured with a chronograph; 1) 5 shot average taken at 15' then converted to muzzle velocity and 2) 5 shot average at 50 yards (chronograph at 50yards). i then used adjusted the B.C. in a ballistics program until it matched my data. My B.C. aligns well with the velocities listed on Winchester's RA556B box so I believe it's much more realistic than Nosler's value. Bad news is that it's much worse than advertised. Never trust a bullet manufacturers data on face value.
UPDATE: PERFORMED SAME EXPERIMENT BUT AT100 YARDS. B.C. WAS 0.195. SEE UPDATES LATER IN THREAD.
Adding pictures of expanded bullets (into water):
Note that the 2280fps bullet is representative of the 25.6gr load at ~150-155 yards based upon the 'real' B.C.. The bullet slows down very fast! Bullet weights are 56.1gr (.462" widest point, .434" narrowest point) and 63.3gr (.464" widest point, .395" narrowest point).
AR15 with CLE 20" barrel (1:7 rifling, wylde chamber, bull barrel)
1) 64gr Nosler bonded, 25.0gr H4895, remington 7 1/2 primer, 2.18" C.O.L., ~ 2946fps muzzle velocity based upon chronograph data at 15ft
~0.3" 5 shot group at 50yards
2) 64gr Nosler bonded, 25.6gr (compressed load, 5.56 pressure) H4895, remington 7 1/2 primer, 2.18" C.O.L., ~3026fps muzzle velocity based upon chronograph data at 15ft
~0.5" 5 shot group at 50yards
The bullet itself is capable of fine accuracy, MOA or better with tuned handloads shot out of a quality barrel.
Now that I have the two accurate loads initially established, i'll make some more of each and try 100 yard, 10 shot groups for confirmation. Since the effective range of this bullet is limited significantly by it's poor Ballistic Coefficient, I believe either would work well within 200yards, a reasonable upper limit for hunting and/or defensive purposes.
The velocities written on the targets were initial estimates based upon a 15' distance to chronograph but with the incorrect Ballistic Coefficient(B.C.). The velocities listed above are more accurate because theh utilized a more realistic B.C.. See below for more details.
Based upon my experience with several other .223 and 5.56mm loads, I would expect velocity from a 16" barrel to be about 4% less (120fps). If this trend holds true, and given velocity data for Winchester's RA556B factory load that was posted by LEID on AR15.com (2829fps w/16" barrel), then I believe that the 25.0gr h4895 load closely duplicates the factory RA556B loading.
Also note that i regressed the actual B.C. of the Nosler bullet at 0.175 vs. 0.231 advertised. I did this by measuring the difference in muzzle velocity vs. velocity at 50 yards (laser ranged) as measured with a chronograph; 1) 5 shot average taken at 15' then converted to muzzle velocity and 2) 5 shot average at 50 yards (chronograph at 50yards). i then used adjusted the B.C. in a ballistics program until it matched my data. My B.C. aligns well with the velocities listed on Winchester's RA556B box so I believe it's much more realistic than Nosler's value. Bad news is that it's much worse than advertised. Never trust a bullet manufacturers data on face value.
UPDATE: PERFORMED SAME EXPERIMENT BUT AT100 YARDS. B.C. WAS 0.195. SEE UPDATES LATER IN THREAD.
Adding pictures of expanded bullets (into water):
Note that the 2280fps bullet is representative of the 25.6gr load at ~150-155 yards based upon the 'real' B.C.. The bullet slows down very fast! Bullet weights are 56.1gr (.462" widest point, .434" narrowest point) and 63.3gr (.464" widest point, .395" narrowest point).
