Help! Cann't Afford Factory ammo. Need a great reload

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Help! Cann't Afford Factory ammo. Need a great reload

Posted: 6/29/2003 6:18:49 PM EDT

I have a pre-ban M1A with all GI parts and a medium match barrel. The rifle will shoot .75 inches all day @ 100 yards religiously and 1.25 @200 yards with M118. The best I can get with 168 Sierra MK BTHP is 5 inches at 200 yard and that was with 40 gr Varget set at OAL 2.81 in LC 77 brass. The lighter loads were a disaster. I have LC Match brass, Remington primers, Varget and H335. What weight bullet would you'all suggest? H335 works best in my Dillon but will individually measure Varget for better results. I plan on running a 300 round lot for an upcomming tactical match. Any ideas?

Posted: 6/30/2003 6:34:42 AM EDT

[#1]

Willie, I am not at home to give you the exact numbers. I run my 168's and 175's with IMR 4064 and Varget, using about 42.5 grains and 45.0 grains, respectively. Both hold 1 MOA at 300 without any problem. Both are hot! As always, work up and test before using! I use an OAL of 2.80 for both.

Posted: 6/30/2003 7:49:07 PM EDT

[#2]

The best I can get with 168 Sierra MK BTHP is 5 inches at 200 yard and that was with 40 gr Varget set at OAL 2.81 in LC 77 brass. The lighter loads were a disaster.

You've answered your own question and you didn't realize it.

Varget HATES (on edit, appparantly sometimes, maybe it hates it)

to be loaded lightly. Varget works better the closer you can get to filling the case with it, while staying within load limits of course.

Posted: 6/30/2003 10:14:12 PM EDT

[#3]

boy.. I HAVE to disagree with that last statement!!!! Varget doesn't like to be loaded light??? says who??? every HP shooter I know loads 'em light for 200 and 300yds... usually 39.5gr Varget and a 168gr SMK and that gives an average of 2400fps. out of my standard M1A, I achieve MOA with this load. It is so sucessful that I now use that load in my Rem700VS for HP silhouette.

Posted: 7/1/2003 1:02:49 PM EDT

[#4]

I have also had good luck shooting 168's with IMR 4064 loaded to 2.84"

Karl

Posted: 7/1/2003 3:29:41 PM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
boy.. I HAVE to disagree with that last statement!!!! Varget doesn't like to be loaded light??? says who??? every HP shooter I know loads 'em light for 200 and 300yds... usually 39.5gr Varget and a 168gr SMK and that gives an average of 2400fps. out of my standard M1A, I achieve MOA with this load. It is so sucessful that I now use that load in my Rem700VS for HP silhouette.

That's interesting, now I'll have to try it out. General internet reloading wisdom (contradiction in terms?!)and in my experience is that, at least as far as precision rifles, Varget will work far better with a case full of powder than it will with a light load. My own PSS and AR10T testing has shown this to be true.

Hehehhehe now I have a new load to try out in my new M1a. Here Varget varget varget, step aside 2520.

Posted: 7/1/2003 3:49:20 PM EDT

[#6]

the light load I listed above also works extrremely well in my Rem700VS this was shot last week at 200yds with my Rem700VS and a Leupold Vari-x II 3-9X by 50mm scope. The taregt was a SR-C HP target

Posted: 7/1/2003 8:33:24 PM EDT

[#7]

Wow I guess the proof is on the paper. I am learning alot. Maybe I should not write off the 168's. I have a Sako TRG-22 that I load 40gr Varget with 168s and can usually hold 0.165 inch groups at 200, but I have not been able to test them beyond 400. This load does not shoot well at all in my M1A/M21. Please keep the info coming. I may be successfull one day at loading for a gas gun.

Posted: 7/5/2003 3:44:24 PM EDT

[#8]

does the m1a like to eat the 175 smk

Posted: 7/5/2003 9:12:29 PM EDT

[#9]

The 175 SMK is all I use for 600yd HP matches and most if not ALL HP 30 cal shooter use the 175 SMK for longer rnage work. I load it up with 42.5gr Varget and I get an average velocity of 2560fps. which works just fine out of my M1A for ranges longer than 600yds Iload up 44gr Varget and that gives me around 2650fps and Varget is not temp. sensitive either.. that is why a LOT of HP match shooter who shoot the M1A as well as the AR use it.

Posted: 7/7/2003 5:09:34 AM EDT

[#10]

Thanks again everybody! Now I am waiting for Midway to deliver new 175's to experiment with. I cleaned out all the local stores experimenting with 3 diffrent rifles.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Help! Cann't Afford Factory ammo. Need a great reload

Armory » M1 / M14 / M1 Carbine

Win a FREE Membership!

Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!

You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.

Warning

Confirm Action

About AR15.COM

Stay Connected

Newsletter

Contact Us