.223 Remington FMJ Shootout - Part 2 - CFE223

Published on February 7, 2018
Duration: 21:11

This video details a shootout comparing five different 55-grain Full Metal Jacket boattail bullets in .223 Remington, using CFE223 powder. The presenter, Johnny, discusses his experience with a new Lauro MBT two-stage trigger and addresses previous trigger issues. He presents detailed ballistic data, including velocities and group sizes at two different overall lengths, and analyzes the performance of each bullet, highlighting the Everglades and Lauro bullets as top performers in specific configurations.

Quick Summary

In this .223 Remington reloading test using CFE223 powder, 55-grain FMJ bullets were evaluated for accuracy. The Everglades bullet achieved an 0.813-inch group at a shorter overall length, while the Lauro bullet shot an impressive 0.365 inches. Velocity consistency was a concern due to worn brass, with many standard deviations exceeding 30 fps.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction & Trigger Issues
  2. 01:15Lauro MBT Trigger Installation
  3. 02:45Bullet Selection for Test
  4. 03:43CFE223 Powder & Charge Weight
  5. 06:08Hornady Manual Data & Pressure
  6. 06:30Reloading Components: Primers & Brass
  7. 06:50Overall Length Testing Strategy
  8. 08:11Range Setup & Conditions
  9. 08:42Short Overall Length Groups - Hornady
  10. 09:25Short Overall Length Groups - Bob's Bullets
  11. 09:49Short Overall Length Groups - Everglades
  12. 10:10Short Overall Length Groups - RMR
  13. 10:32Short Overall Length Groups - Lauro
  14. 10:38Short Overall Length Velocities & SD
  15. 11:51Short Overall Length Group Analysis
  16. 12:56Long Overall Length Groups - Hornady
  17. 13:47Long Overall Length Groups - Bob's Bullets
  18. 14:11Long Overall Length Groups - Everglades
  19. 14:34Long Overall Length Groups - RMR
  20. 14:56Long Overall Length Groups - Lauro
  21. 14:58Long Overall Length Velocities & SD
  22. 15:38Long Overall Length Group Analysis
  23. 16:55Overall Bullet Performance Comparison
  24. 17:44Concerns about Standard Deviations
  25. 18:15Brass Wear & Annealing Theory
  26. 19:52Future Bullet Considerations
  27. 20:44Next Video Preview & Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

What powder and charge weight were used for the .223 Remington CFE223 shootout?

In this .223 Remington shootout, CFE223 powder was used with a charge weight of 27.2 grains. This charge weight is slightly below the maximum of 27.4 grains recommended by Hornady for their 55-grain bullets.

How did the different 55-grain FMJ bullets perform in terms of accuracy with CFE223 powder?

At shorter overall lengths, the Everglades bullet achieved the best group at 0.813 inches, while the Lauro bullet shot an exceptional 0.365 inches. At longer overall lengths, Hornady and Bob's bullets tightened up, and Everglades opened up, showing seating depth preferences.

What were the main concerns regarding velocity consistency in this .223 Remington reloading test?

A significant concern was the poor standard deviations in velocity, with many groups exceeding 30 fps. This is believed to be due to the Starline brass being used for multiple firings, leading to inconsistent neck tension and elasticity.

Which 55-grain FMJ bullet was considered the most impressive performer in the .223 CFE223 test?

Across both Varget and CFE223 powders tested in this series, the Everglades 55-grain FMJ bullet was highlighted as the most consistently impressive performer in terms of accuracy, delivering good groups in various configurations.

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