Request for Recipe (.223 77gr HPBT), also info to share

[Antihero47]

Ran some 77gr Noslers through my 1-8 20" Sabre Defense barrel yeserday using reloader 15. 24.2gr gave me a single ragged hole @ 100Y but when pushed to 300 was wholelly unimpressive. Thinking i need to push these a bit hotter, no pressure signs so far and from what im seeing the "max" loads are very conservative.

Intersting seeing the groups change as i progressed in charge weight. At the lower end, was having verticle groups, when I hit 24.2 the groups tighted up dramatically but were more inclined to be horizontal.

Think i had some scope issues when I switched my targets out to 300Y so im not giving up on the 24.2 just yet, just gonna see what pushing them a bit hotter will do.

Do you go out to Lytle Creek to test your loads? I just purchased 80gr SMK's, 8lbs of Varget, Hornady Ogive guage, Forster ultra micrometer seater and a chronograph. Looking to use my AR with 1:8 HB 223 wylde with Buckmaster 4.5-14 and 30 MOA base to 1k. I may be totally retarded for trying to do this with .223 and not keeping my .308

[bakokid]

Am I crazy for thinking about getting a 77g SMK 9377 out to 1k with a 20" 1:8 tube LC06 and BLC2?

the army marksman unit does it

[phish]

the army marksman unit does it

bzzzt, try again

on another note, I shot next to a Navy dude in Coalinga who used the much vaunted Mk 262 ammo. He told me he pulled a bullet and found that it uses ball powder, he had no idea what it could be derived from. just some food for thought

[xrMike]

on another note, I shot next to a Navy dude in Coalinga who used the much vaunted Mk 262 ammo. He told me he pulled a bullet and found that it uses ball powder, he had no idea what it could be derived from. just some food for thought

There are threads in other gun forums where a few people are guessing out loud (after doing load workup to create ammo with similar characteristics to MK262) that it's Ramshot TAC, or some close blend of it.

[new2mud]

I think it would be pretty hard to keep a .224 bullet supersonic to 1000 yards without single-loading longer (non AR mag-length), heavier bullets (>80 grains).

[Bolt2Bounce]

sorry guys, I've been out of the loop for a long time, the question was asked about wwc846 load data with 69 and 80 gr I've never loaded 80 gr bullets in the 223. I usually use H4895 for the 69 gr stuff.. I may have done a few tests but with it but I switched over to 75 and 77 gr bullets for High power and I'm out of 844 and 846 these days (I should have bought more of it) so I mostly run, RL-15 varget and 4895 4064 these days.. BTW the MK262 may be factory loaded with 846 and or 844 ball powders.. B2B

[Peter W Bush]

Well I got my hands on some Varget, LC and Black Hills match brass, Sierra 77gr BTHP with cannelure and some real Mk262 Mod 1. Now I just need to get my hands on a chronograph and try a few different recipes.

[3GunFunShooter]

Has any one tried the IMR 8208 XBR with 69 or 77 SMK?
Read the write up in the Hodgdon Reloading mag. Looks good but just wanted to check. Going to be using an 18" JP 1/8 twist. Looking for a 300-400 yard load that is close to the Black Hills 77 gr Match ammo which shot out of my gun at 2805 FPS. Drop was perfect with my Burris XTR BDC at 300 yds. 1.25" group at 300. When I win the lottery I'll shoot factory.

[swerv512]

anyone have any 77SMK loads for IMR 4064 out to 600yd (magazine length)?

[danpass]

Has any one tried the IMR 8208 XBR with 69 or 77 SMK?
Read the write up in the Hodgdon Reloading mag. Looks good but just wanted to check. Going to be using an 18" JP 1/8 twist. Looking for a 300-400 yard load that is close to the Black Hills 77 gr Match ammo which shot out of my gun at 2805 FPS. Drop was perfect with my Burris XTR BDC at 300 yds. 1.25" group at 300. When I win the lottery I'll shoot factory.

I've been shooting 77SMK out to 600:

77 SMK
LC case
23 grn XBR 8208
Wolf SRM primer

2.245 COL

RRA NM, 20in, 1/8, SS, Wylde chamber


No chrono data though

[new2mud]

I've been shooting 77SMK out to 600:

77 SMK
LC case
23 grn XBR 8208
Wolf SRM primer

2.245 COL

RRA NM, 20in, 1/8, SS, Wylde chamber


No chrono data though

Should be right around 2,670 fps with that load. I have almost the same setup, same load, incl. Wolf SRM primers.

[GeoffLinder]

I don't load SMK 77's to very high velocity for my 20" rifles. Accuracy and velocity are not interdependent on their own. You do not need a high velocity to get small group sizes.

Quite often a lower velocity will provide smaller groups downrange IF that velocity matches the bbl node. You will always find more than one bbl node across a good range of velocity so there is no real reason to load to the point of primer piercing.

High muzzle velocity is needed only for maintaining supersonic speed to a longer useful range AND reducing wind drift comparatively.

I typically like to see no more than 2650-2700 fps from a 77gr in a 20" bbl.

My pet SMK77 load goes 2665fps out of my 1:8 JP AR.

Recipe:
24.3gr Varget
LC brass (weight segregated and uniformed)
WW SR primer
2.250" COAL

I put 24.5gr Varget under the SMK69 at 2.245" COAL and get 2700ish fps and same point of impact at 200 yards as the SMK77 load. I like not having to change my scope settings on my multi-gun competition rifle

Here are some groups shot with the SMK77 load in my JP 1:8 20" mid-weight bbl.

BTW, 77gr boattails (VLD's actually) are still wallowing around and not fully spin stabilized at less than 125-150 yards so they tend to group larger than they ought to at 100 yards. 55gr flatbase is your best bet if all you want is the smallest group at 100 yards


10 shots at 200 yards





5 shots at 100 yards

[1lostinspace]

Best load I have found is

winchester brass trip 1.750"
24 gr TAC seat to 2.26"
and use a half turn on a Lee factory crimp die

[Sunday]

You guys are hard core !!! thanks for the info!!!

[ctrmass]

I havent read all 5 pages, but AA 2520 is a pretty good powder for the 77's.
Accurates site has them going 2900 + FPS out of a 24" bbl.

bullet start FPS max FPS psi OAL
"2520 77 SIE HPBT 23.0 2,674 25.5 2,925 62,200 2.260"
This a "nato pressure" load. It dont say but I'd assume a 5.56 chamber.

From their site.

http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/accurate_load_data_3.5.pdf

I'm not sure what you'd lose with a tube 4-6" shorter, but it cant be much.