How fast is your 77smk load moving?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - How fast is your 77smk load moving?

Posted: 6/12/2017 2:40:17 AM EDT

Hey guys,

I'm wanting to know how fast your best/most accurate 77smk in .223 load is moving in a AR with 16" barrel or close to it. What fps are you seeing in your long range loads?

Posted: 6/12/2017 6:36:36 AM EDT

[#1]

Not a long range guy but I've got 75gr BTHP at 2600 from a 16" with 24gr TAC

Posted: 6/12/2017 8:22:56 AM EDT

[#2]

my 77's are doing 2664 with 23.2gr of 8208xbr from a 14.5"

never worked the load for "accuracy" but it has shot sub moa in all 3 of my rifles with a best of just under 3/4 moa (with a standard trigger, got a larue mbt on the way)

I mostly shoot steel these days so a hit is all I'm after.

Posted: 6/12/2017 10:47:00 AM EDT

[#3]

I shoot NRA high power and my goal is accuracy. I load:

22.0 - 22.5 grains of h4895

23.5 +/- of Varget, N140 or Re-15

Muzzle velocities from my 20" barrels runs between 2600 to no higher than 2650 fps. I lose a full 200 fps when shooting the same ammo through my 16" barrels.

Posted: 6/12/2017 3:41:26 PM EDT

[#4]

Thanks for the info guys. I'll tell yall where I'm at.

I use a AR in 16" for my precision long range gun. Using 22.0gr of 8208 and it is bloody accurate (1/4 to 1/3moa) but I'm wondering if it's a little slow.

I'm seeing about 2505fps average with 22.0gr of 8208.

Reason I made the thread is that I shoot @ 1000 yards with 23.5gr of Varget out of the same gun and can get a good amount of hits @ yards on a 16" steel dialing about 48-51 moa. I never chronoed this round so IDK how fast it was going. Well I haven't shot this load at 1000 yet and tables are showing that I might need to dial more than what I was with the Varget sooooo I'm wondering if I need to find another accuracy node with more velocity or if this will work at 1000yards.

I really don't want to lose accuracy at 100-600 yards just to have more precision at 1000 yards if a faster round sacrifices my short to mid-range.

.38 MOA @ 400 yards:)

Posted: 6/12/2017 3:51:36 PM EDT

[#5]

You should take a look at the TMK if that's the type of shooting you do IMO

Posted: 6/12/2017 4:23:38 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
You should take a look at the TMK if that's the type of shooting you do IMO

View Quote

Funny you say that. I have a box of tmk and have never used them because idk if they can fit in a mag. I only have pmags and seat at 2.255 with +- .005.

Is 2.255 too deep for TMK?

Posted: 6/12/2017 5:13:51 PM EDT

[#7]

Nope. Just right.

In my little experience with a box of TMKs, 22gr H4895 was slow (+ 4 MOA to 600yds compared to 23.8gr H4895/SMK) but precise. I'd bet 23.5gr would be a high node.

Posted: 6/12/2017 7:56:48 PM EDT

[#8]

I get 2850 from a 18 inch RRA Using 24.5 of AA2520

That was a typo, 2750 fps even though I did get up to 2800+ with no signs of pressure but the 2750 load was a tad bit tighter...

Posted: 6/13/2017 2:11:45 AM EDT

[#9]

My experience with 8208 has been that if I run lighter loads, it tends to open up a bit, and found a nice node at 23.8 grains. It's on the warm side, so work up to it with your rifle. 2650's from an 18" barrel and 77 Nosler CC.

My guess is that on your way up you will find another good node or two.

Posted: 6/13/2017 3:57:40 AM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
I get 2850 from a 18 inch RRA Using 24.5 of AA2520

View Quote

Jayzus.

Posted: 6/13/2017 4:59:10 PM EDT

[#11]

Welp maybe I'll ladder up to a faster load and see what happens. In the middle of making 900 precision 223 rounds as we speak.

I'll report back once I get it done.

Oh and so I can load the tmk's up to mag length?

Posted: 6/13/2017 6:42:19 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
Welp maybe I'll ladder up to a faster load and see what happens. In the middle of making 900 precision 223 rounds as we speak.

I'll report back once I get it done.

Oh and so I can load the tmk's up to mag length?

View Quote

When they came out with the TMKs Sierra said to use the same load you did with SMKs in .223.

Never played with them myself, but many see a small velocity increase as they are a touch longer and take up some more case volume to meet the same OAL, but unless I were at or over max I'd run a small batch at my SMK load and see how they shoot, then go from there. If at or near max I'd drop down a grain and work back up in .2gr increments in order to make sure I'm at an accuracy and velocity node without pressure issues.

Posted: 6/13/2017 8:08:12 PM EDT

[#13]

18" 1:7

77gr 2.260
24.3TAC
2787fps

23 IMR8208
2718fps

Posted: 6/13/2017 9:05:46 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:

When they came out with the TMKs Sierra said to use the same load you did with SMKs in .223.

Never played with them myself, but many see a small velocity increase as they are a touch longer and take up some more case volume to meet the same OAL, but unless I were at or over max I'd run a small batch at my SMK load and see how they shoot, then go from there. If at or near max I'd drop down a grain and work back up in .2gr increments in order to make sure I'm at an accuracy and velocity node without pressure issues.

View Quote

Interesting. I got so fired up about loading up a ladder I forgot about the TMK's. Making some now based on my accurate SMK load at 22.0 and might go up a touch.

For the SMK ladder I'm doing

22.8
23.0
23.2
23.4
23.6

10 of each. I'll shoot them this sat.

Posted: 6/13/2017 10:13:38 PM EDT

[#15]

Just loaded up a ladder of TMK. Now I remember why I never loaded these.. They have to seat .055... Yes that's correct 55 thou deeper then SMK

. That's quite a big jump to the lands. I don't have high hopes but non the less I did 10 each at

22.0
22.4
22.8

22.8 is compressed slightly.

Posted: 6/13/2017 10:16:31 PM EDT

[#16]

24 gr of TAC and a Wolf SRM is giving me just over 2,700fpes on a hot day from an 18" Faxon.

While it's sub MOA if I'm using prep per brass and doing my part, my 23.7gr RL15 load is more accurate, but much slower. I want to say right around 2,575fps but my notes aren't here so don't quote me on it.

Posted: 6/14/2017 12:24:17 AM EDT

[#17]

14.5" Noveske SS barrel 1:7 twist:

Varget= 24.5 grains with 77 gr SMK = 2516, 2594, 2521, 2531
RL15 = 23 grains with 77 gr SMK = 2442
RL15 = 24 grains with 77 gr SMK = 2543, 2534

Posted: 6/14/2017 1:59:01 PM EDT

[#18]

Same load, two guns:
Centurion 18" 2680
LaRue 20" 2700

Posted: 6/14/2017 3:06:18 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
Just loaded up a ladder of TMK. Now I remember why I never loaded these.. They have to seat .055... Yes that's correct 55 thou deeper then SMK

. That's quite a big jump to the lands. I don't have high hopes but non the less I did 10 each at

22.0
22.4
22.8

22.8 is compressed slightly.

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y410/rickriflifkin/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-04/BA5535E7-24AE-4626-8C5D-8C6E4452053C_zpsnbn3bobo.jpg

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y410/rickriflifkin/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-04/C38C685C-ECA9-40B3-B788-16DD594AA905_zpsn7e2yexo.jpg

View Quote

Unless you specified a SAAMI .223 Rem chamber, the SMKs are jumping a fair amount anyway.

Posted: 6/15/2017 11:03:32 AM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:

Funny you say that. I have a box of tmk and have never used them because idk if they can fit in a mag. I only have pmags and seat at 2.255 with +- .005.

Is 2.255 too deep for TMK?

View Quote

Ive had no issues with Lancer mags. I load my 77gr TMKs at 2.260". I am thinking about buying a couple ASC mags as you can get out to 2.300" OAL if you wanted to.

As far as powder, Im not sure on velocity, but I loaded 23.1gr of 8208 XBR and shot a .640" 6 shot group. This is a pretty common load for this bullet.

Posted: 6/16/2017 1:24:26 PM EDT

[#21]

Damn y'all got some quick barrels. I'm running 23.9gr of 8208 out of an 18" and I'm only at 2707

Posted: 6/16/2017 2:33:39 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
Ive had no issues with Lancer mags. I load my 77gr TMKs at 2.260". I am thinking about buying a couple ASC mags as you can get out to 2.300" OAL if you wanted to.

View Quote

I was thinking about ordering one of these modified PRI magazines that are in theory good for 2.360" OAL. That might be long enough to play with the 75gr ELD-M bullet with a 0.467 G1 BC.

Posted: 6/20/2017 8:23:31 PM EDT

[#23]

Wellllll in case anyone cares, I went out and did some testing.

I started at 22.8 then went to 23.0

As I suspected, velocity did increase marginally but pressure really increased, disproportionality to velocity. I was getting ejector swipes and very faint extractor marks at 22.8gr.

In the heat my pet load of 22.0 of 8208 gained about a 15fps increase. Pretty good for a 40degree increase in ambient (yesterday) to when I chronoed last (months ago at 65degrees).

So 22.8 yielded 2575 and 23.0 came in at 2,628.

So IMO an extra 100ish fps isn't worth the brass being questionable after that use. Also 22.0 was more accurate. So I didn't even try out the 23.2, 23.4 and 23.6. Anyone want these?

On another note, my pet load (22.0 of 8208) did fantastic at 800 yards. 10 hits in a row on 3moa of steel

Last but not least, the round isn't dropping much more than my pet load of 23.5gr of Varget and I have got crazy good accuracy out of the 8208. It only drops 1-2 moa more than Varget @1000 so looks like my 2 fav powders are still 8208 and Varget.

Posted: 6/20/2017 9:14:47 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:

I was thinking about ordering one of these modified PRI magazines that are in theory good for 2.360" OAL. That might be long enough to play with the 75gr ELD-M bullet with a 0.467 G1 BC.

View Quote

I shoot a spacegun in NRA Highpower competition. I use mags that DPMS sold as "VLD Mags." The downside is that capacity is limited to 8 rounds per mag, but putting the cartridge base in the rib allows loading out to ~2.43"; that leaves much more room for powder. I don't know if DPMS still sells them, but it would be worth a look; loading long lets me use as much as 26.0 - 27.5 gr of N-550 (I have to up the charge as the throat wears) under moly-coated Hornady 75 gr BTHPs to get 2930 fps from a 28" barrel.

Posted: 6/20/2017 9:17:27 PM EDT

[#25]

Here is a test load that I did awhile back. This was with a cheap AR Stoner 20" barrel, I have since gotten a WOA 20" SDM that I haven't gotten to the range with. Soon, I hope.

This is a commercial ammo test I did just to see what the numbers and accuracy were.

One of these days I'll get back to it.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - How fast is your 77smk load moving?

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