.223 - CCI / Federal Comparisons

Morning Fellas  >>  Went up to 50's Saturday morning with a couple development projects to work on.  One was for my .223 .  I had worked up a load towards the end of summer, 2004 using the 75 gr. A-Max, Hodgdon's BL-C(2) and CCI 450 primers.  In efforts to get all my rifles switched over to one primer manufacturer, I needed to re-work a load using Federal's 205 primer.  Thought this would be a neat opportunity to compare and contrast primer performance.  The CCI offering is designated a "magnum" primer, Federal's is not.  Guess I had it in my mine that the Federal would be a smidge milder in its ignition because of this.

Things went fairly well.  Accuracy wasn't spectacular.  On occasion, groups would sneak into that 1" range at 100 yds., but I'd say it averaged between 1 1/4" and 1 1/2".  Was thinking about taking this load down to Nebraska as a back-up rifle when we go on our ram hunt (and accuracy would be more then appropriate for what the ranch owner claims typical shot distances are) but just don't know.  Like to get something a little finer tuned then what I'm seeing.  Gonna fiddle with seating depths if I can find the time this week and see how that helps things.

Anyway, tallied up the #'s when I got home.  Rounds were loaded with the same charges and to the same COL's as the originals.  I'll just list the 3-shot velocity average for comparison :

•                     2004       2007
• 23.5 grs.     2683 fps     2705 fps
• 24.0 grs.     2729 fps        n/a
• 24.5 grs.     2782 fps     2827 fps
• 25.0 grs.     2841 fps     2858 fps
• 25.5 grs.     2903 fps     2898 fps
• 26.0 grs.     2958 fps     2965 fps
• 26.5 grs.     3020 fps     3035 fps

Results, velocity wise anyway, were pleasing.  Not a single shot for the 24 gr. load yesterday read over the chrony.  Shot while a nasty cloud had rolled past the sun and it screwed things up a bit.  Temperatures were approx. 35* cooler Saturday then for the Aug., 2004 development.  In general, I believe this would lower working pressures of the identically charged rounds.  Shooting in 75* - 80* temps., I suppose it reasonable to expect a shade more velocity then what was read Saturday.  We'll test that thinking later this summer.

After this limited test run, I'd venture that the Federal 205's are easily as hot a primer, if not mildly moreso, then the CCI small rifle magnum 450's.

I'll tweek the load a little bit to see if a consistent 1" is attainable.  This Savage 12FV has shot ragged little holes using the light 37 gr. Calhoons so I know the potential is there for good stuff.  I know I'm going way, way to the other end of the weight spectrum.  It may not like that near as well as the light ones that's why I'm keep expectation reasonable.  Not stellar, but reasonable for a closer range varminter.

I think that 75 gr. A-Max would do a # on the smaller bodied exotics we'll be after next week but just don't think I'll have time to wrap things up by leave time on Sunday.  We'll see.  >>  klallen