50 Gr Frangible Loads

We bought a bunch of projectiles that have zero load data, because they are not sold as components that we are aware of. They are pulled. These are believed to be pulled Federal 50 Grain Frangible, or what we call "Brown Tip". They are Z556NX1 we think. Since there is zero load data, we had to make our own but we do not have pressure testing equipment, so we used the common method. Measure cases, measure primers, see if bolt locks back, felt recoil, etc. We used a Proof Research 16" Barrel for our testing

Here is some information about loading these...

Federal Specs

Federal makes them to 2820 FPS, probably in 20" Barrel. So that is a good check there

2 50 grain (Left/Middle) Right is 77 SMK

Notice the 50 Grain Frangible is BARELY longer?

Very similar length to 77 Grain BT Match bullets

Subheading

Picture is from Federal

Those look like same bullets to us...

21.7 N133 2.240

Primers definitly do not look super high compression, BUT top edge is slightly mushroomed, so it might be slighter higher than desired level

Accurate 2230 24.0 Gr using 53 Grain Hornady Match bullet

As you can see from the primer, and the load, this is probably under maximum, and thus, the primer looks very healthy

Left = 21.7 N133
Right = AA2230 24.0 Grains using 53 grain Match Bullet

Left side, you can see a slight bit of cratering, so pressure is higher than set on right almost certainly. We would guess pressure on right is near 50kPSI because max charge is probably from 24-24.5 grains. That load of 24.0 grains, 53 grain bullet was only 2888 FPS out of 16" barrel.

N133 21.7 grains

Slight cratering, so pressure a little higher than 55k "probably". Just guessing. Not much though as primer did not flatten, and many of the primers had same Outside Diameter as unfired primer....so we are around max here..guessing. I would guess max is 21.3 grains. Lets continue...

100 Yards

You can see, these bullets were slightly longer than Sierra 77 SMK. Thus, load data should be similar to 77 SMK, so that is where we went with this. And it turns out, its ballpark close.

21 grains of N133 did not hold bolt open on our gun. BUT we have the gun to only hold open if things are above 50k PSI or so, a reduced load. So its not like a shelf gun, with full gas. A full gas gun will shoot all these loads fine, we are confident in that.

You can see that 22.6 grains of Accurate 2230 was similar in velocity to about 20.8 grains or so of N133, or almost 2 grains more to get same velocity.

So the load we choose to shoot en-mass is between 21 grains and 21.3 of N133 and have shot hundreds of it.

The AA2230 were all good loads, and NONE of the primers or brass were anything unlike normal loads. Primers didn't mushroom, nothing to report.

So if Federal is selling these at 2820 FPS in a "guessing" 20" barrel, and we shot 16" barrel, which is going to be less FPS, then we can assume we are in the right ballpark.

We like the two loads in bold the N133, and the AA2230 Loads. The AA2230 load is better we think, because its more gas. The N133 21.3 may not cause some bolts to stay open, if you have heavier buffers and springs.

100 yard target

This is not match accurate ammo. And this is 100 yards. This ammo is made for "run and gun" practice, where you are blasting as fast as you can from ranges between 5 yards and 50 yards. So its great for that. Its perfect actually.

Reduced richochet (frangible)
Reduced Recoil
8 cents per bullet, cheap
shoots reliably
uses similar to 77 grain load data in 223. What max is in 77 grain SMK is probably near max for these, but do not do what we do, start WAY lower and work up.

Where do you buy these? One of my favorite component sites in the world...American Reloading...

GO HERE and buy everything they got, do not forget discount codes!! Free Shipping and 10-15% off Bullets! Great company! I thank them. Not sponsored, I paid for everything.

GO HERE to check them out