03-18-2014, 05:51 AM
I start out my nephews and children at 400yds on the 16" Grendel just for their first shots, then start pushing out. To date, first-time shooters have always made 1st-round hits at the "short" ranges.
I even surprised myself when challenged to shoot out to 1200yds with it. I'll be doing a lot more long-range work with the Grendel this spring and summer, as I have 3 new blaster to play with, but CFE223 is performing amazingly well for me right now. I'll also be testing N530, which should be very temp stable, with ideal performance in the Grendel. It's at the same level as RL12 on a burn rate chart...
I agree on the bolts, where metallurgy really has to be paid attention to, and that is already true with the .223 Rem and especially 5.56 NATO. Neither of those cartridges existed when the AR15 bolt was designed, rather they are an evolution of the .222 Remington, which has a 50,000psi MAP.
I'm looking for lower and lower pressures, with optimally burning medium powders that don't spike, but extend the curve down the barrel a bit, without hitting the gas port too hard.
A .420 BC at 2750fps vs. a .510 BC at 2550fps actually does well for trajectory, but not as well for wind. We could also compare custom bullets to each other with the 95gr GS Customs, but the 123gr A-MAX, Noslers, SMK's, and Scenars are more affordable than GS Customs, and do really well as is, staying supersonic longer, hitting 1 Mil of wind drift at 450yds, etc. with lower pressures on the bolt and operating system.
I personally have found Grendel mags to be priced about the same as other AR15 mags, definitely under $20, and I think I've paid $15 per for all of mine.
Stanc's topic seems to explore what else there could be to deliver good performance from the system, and we certainly have looked at .257" bore before. I actually think .257" would make an excellent military bore for assault rifles and LMG's, especially with high SD projectiles for the LMG's and DM/SASS weapons, but you would have to go to a different case if conforming to trends in COL, and the magazines that are common for assault rifles. Basically, don't exceed that 2.260"-2.350" COL. The reason is how the mags stack on the soldier's load bearing equipment, and the varying body types of soldiers.
Does the 1.700" COL of the .25-223 open up some particular projectile options off the top of your head, that a simple .223 1.760" case would swallow the ogive on?
Have you done any development with the 110gr Nosler Accubond?
I even surprised myself when challenged to shoot out to 1200yds with it. I'll be doing a lot more long-range work with the Grendel this spring and summer, as I have 3 new blaster to play with, but CFE223 is performing amazingly well for me right now. I'll also be testing N530, which should be very temp stable, with ideal performance in the Grendel. It's at the same level as RL12 on a burn rate chart...
I agree on the bolts, where metallurgy really has to be paid attention to, and that is already true with the .223 Rem and especially 5.56 NATO. Neither of those cartridges existed when the AR15 bolt was designed, rather they are an evolution of the .222 Remington, which has a 50,000psi MAP.
I'm looking for lower and lower pressures, with optimally burning medium powders that don't spike, but extend the curve down the barrel a bit, without hitting the gas port too hard.
A .420 BC at 2750fps vs. a .510 BC at 2550fps actually does well for trajectory, but not as well for wind. We could also compare custom bullets to each other with the 95gr GS Customs, but the 123gr A-MAX, Noslers, SMK's, and Scenars are more affordable than GS Customs, and do really well as is, staying supersonic longer, hitting 1 Mil of wind drift at 450yds, etc. with lower pressures on the bolt and operating system.
I personally have found Grendel mags to be priced about the same as other AR15 mags, definitely under $20, and I think I've paid $15 per for all of mine.
Stanc's topic seems to explore what else there could be to deliver good performance from the system, and we certainly have looked at .257" bore before. I actually think .257" would make an excellent military bore for assault rifles and LMG's, especially with high SD projectiles for the LMG's and DM/SASS weapons, but you would have to go to a different case if conforming to trends in COL, and the magazines that are common for assault rifles. Basically, don't exceed that 2.260"-2.350" COL. The reason is how the mags stack on the soldier's load bearing equipment, and the varying body types of soldiers.
Does the 1.700" COL of the .25-223 open up some particular projectile options off the top of your head, that a simple .223 1.760" case would swallow the ogive on?
Have you done any development with the 110gr Nosler Accubond?