Posted: 9/18/2024 2:43:19 PM EDT
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Last year I shot in my first Appleseed Project shoot and I shot a Distinguished score in the regular 25meter event. Last fall I tried the Rimfire Known Distance (out to 200 yards) and shot a Distinguished score there as well. So this year I tried my hand at the Pistol Clinic and shot another Distinguished score. SO, since they only offer one more event, the regular Known Distance, I figure that should be on my "to do" list for next year. This Known Distance event is shot at 100 yards (offhand), 200 yards (rapid fire sitting), 300 yards (rapid fire prone) and 400 yards (slow fire prone). I am a smallbore 3-p shooter and I shoot in local CMP type matches at 100 yards during the summer for fun/practice, so the rifle and the positions will not be an issue but I have never shot my AR over 100 yards so i am concerned about the accuracy at 300 and 400 yard lines. My current match ammo for 100 yards consists of 55gr Hornady FMJ bullets over 24gr of Varget and it shoots well in my RRA NM rifle with 16" Larue Tactical barrel and MBT trigger. BUT, I have some friends that shoot CMP matches out to 600 yards and they say I should get a load set up using some heavier bullets like the 77gr SMK to handle the wind better at 400 yards. I am hoping to use CFE223, H335, BL-C(2) powder or the like with the 77gr SMKs in order to save my varget. I did load a couple of varget rounds yesterday and at 24 grains it was a compressed load and I didn't even seat the bullet to mag length...but I didn't want to compress it any more. So what kind of loads are you using from 300 to 600 yards and what kind of velocities are you getting. I know the velocities will be a little lower out of my 16" larue, but it is accurate and it is what I have to use for now. |
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24.0 grains of Varget. Use a drop tube and the charge will settle with a little less crunch. The other powders will all work as well. No need to over-think it. Flat-base benchrest bullets may be a little more precise at 100 and 200 yards -- you can save your Varget for 300 and 400 yards. Your 16-incher will do well over the 400-yard course. Single-load 80s will be better for winds at 400 but will not keep you from winning. In the old days at the Navy and Fleet Matches everyone shot 77s (to 500 yards) issued off the rear of the ammo truck. One of the USAMU's best Service Rifle shooters, SFC (retired) Brandon Green was the JROTC 3-Position National Champion with an air rifle. His senior year in high school he asked to enlist for the International Rifle (Olympic) Team but the coach wouldn't take him without collegiate-level competition experience. The Service (M16) Rifle Team NCOIC and Coach told us they wanted to hire him right-then/right-there. My Command Sergeant Major asked, "Are you sure? He hasn't shot a real M16 yet." They both replied unanimously, "All he needs is bullets. He already knows how to shoot." |
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USA
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Not sure how to use a drop tube but I guess I can figure that out since i have all winter. 24gr of Varget is at/near/over MAX depending on what book I look at. What is the MOST powder (varget) anyone uses? and What kind of speed should I be getting? I tried a few different loads/powder last night (but not the 24gr as it was MAX and I was running late) and most were only 2200fps or 2500FPS at the highest. Seems that the speed needs to be bumped up to make it flatter shooting according to the ballistic calculator I was using. The best Accuracy I got was with 22.5gr of CFE223 but that was only one 3 round group. |
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Originally Posted By OHBuckeyes: Ravensrock has 77gr Barnes match burners for 15 cents per bullet shipped. |
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CA, USA
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24.0 grains of Varget with the 77 SMK seated to mag length. Nosler C.C., and 75 Hornady HPBT Match are also well established and proven loads for Service Rifle shooters. Several of my fellow shooters also use RL15, CFE223, H4895 with those same bullets. Throughout the last 10 years, I have only had one 20" Krieger barrel that favored a charge of 23.8 Varget with the 77 SMK. I re-barrel the rifle every 3400 - 4000 rounds depending upon how well the groups can hold together. At this point, I no longer even experiment with load development for this rifle. It just works. This load is great for across the course, but most of us shoot heavier bullets at 600 yard line, and seat them long. We single load each round at 600 slow fire prone, so longer seated bullets are not a problem. I still load 24.0 Varget with 80 SMK bullets. Several others have used Hornady 75 AMAX, Berger 80.5 with great success. I would, but I have way too many 80 SMKs on hand. For the 24.0 Varget load with the 77 SMK, it may seem like a compressed load because you get a little crunchy sensation when seating them. The suggestion to use a powder drop tube is a good idea. I used to, but now I just carefully tap on the loading tray (50) to help the powder settle in. I have had barrels chambered with the .223 Wylde and .223 CLE (Compass Lake) and never observed any excessive pressure symptoms. The CLE seemed to be a tighter chamber than Wylde. Best of luck to you! Glad to see another new service rifle shooter out there. |
| I don't use 8208XBR since it's impossible to find 98% of the time. It's not worth the effort to work up a load, then not find it again for 2 or 3 years. Sticking with Varget or StaBall Match. |
NRA - Benefactor
AZ State Rifle and Pistol Assoc Life
NRA Chief RSO
NRA Instructor - Home FA Safety, Basic Pistol, Pers Prot in the Home, CCW
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AZ State Rifle and Pistol Assoc Life
NRA Chief RSO
NRA Instructor - Home FA Safety, Basic Pistol, Pers Prot in the Home, CCW
NRA Qual Distinguished Expert - Pistol, Defensive Pistol 1&2
USCCA - Qual Level 1, 2&3
