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Posted: 12/24/2022 10:00:09 PM EDT
[Last Edit: BlackdogADV]
We’re snowed in so I have some time to commit to this project. I have a box 500 77gr SMKs and another of 69gr SMKs plus 4 or 5 powders I could try. My goal is to find a load that will shot a consistent 1 MOA or better. I use both a 18” and 16” LaRue Stealth barrels. So far I’m thinking these loads will be a good starting point.
69gr SMK, 25.2-25.5gr of CFE223 77gr SMK, 24.4gr CFE223 I have achieved 1 MOA before but is was never consistent enough for me. Will the above be a good start? Thank you and merry Christmas! |
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Do epic shit.
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[#1]
Here for information.
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[#2]
First off, what powders do you plan on using?
I've developed accurate loads for the 77gr SMK's with Accurate 2520 and 8208XBR powder. The velocity on the A2520 left a lot to be desired but very accurate. |
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[Last Edit: cruze5]
[#3]
https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center
23.5 grain up to 25.8 for the 69 then trial and error in your firearms |
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[#4]
I'm a big fan of Varget wtih 69 SMKs. From memory I think I'm at like 24.5gr or something, roughly in the middle of the book load. That is where they seemed to settle in the best for me. I also have some good loads with IMR4895 that I've been playing around with as I like that a lot for my M1 Garand loads. I ended up using a pretty hot compressed load there so would suggest you work up to it on your rifles if going that way.
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Do kids still play Cops and Robbers, or are they just taught both are equally bad and given a participation ribbon after a rousing game of scoreless Everyone's a Winner Ball? - BehindBlueI's
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[#5]
Originally Posted By Nobody69s: First off, what powders do you plan on using? I've developed accurate loads for the 77gr SMK's with Accurate 2520 and 8208XBR powder. The velocity on the A2520 left a lot to be desired but very accurate. View Quote Powders on hand: Attached File |
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[#6]
Not sure if this helps at all or not but here is what I use:
69 gr SMK 24.5 gr Reloader 15 CCI 41 primers White Oaks service rifle upper Rock River NM lower At 100 yds with iron sights off a bench, I shot a 10 shot group at 0.94". A slightly higher powder amount also shot under 1". |
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[#7]
77MK
IMR 8208 @ 23.4 CCI 41 primers LC brass Crimp with Lee factory crimp die |
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[#8]
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Do epic shit.
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[Last Edit: eye-gor]
[#9]
Not a very "precision" load but ...
Mixed brass (mostly PMC, some Norma, Hornady Frontier, Wolf Gold) trimmed to 1.750 WSMRL primers 24.0gr BLC2 62gr Hornady FMJ seated to cannelure with no crimp (single shot bolt gun, why add a step on my single stage) Gives right about MOA for me in my Savage bolt gun Same brass, primer, powder and the 60gr Sierra TMK seated with the same seater setting as the above 62gr FMJ shaves off maybe 1/8 moa from that Note that this is barely at the starting load for this powder, so velocities will be a tad lower than you may think (about 2750fps from my 26" barrel) Midsouth sells the 62gr FMJ for 11c/ea ... Edit - this site says for BLC-2 and the 69gr MK 24.5 start to 26.5 max 2.235" COAL - https://shootersreference.com/reloadingdata/223-remington/ |
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[#10]
Here’s 23.4 gr 8208 XBR from my 16” LaRue Stealth barrel. I also got .67” on my ladder test with 24.2 of 8208.
Attached File |
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[#11]
23.5gr H4895 is sparks of Mjolnir.
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"Technique isn't something that can be taught. It's something you find on your own." - Bunta Fujiwara
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[#12]
24.2 grains TAC with a 69
23.9 grains TAC with a 77 |
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They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin, 1775 |
[#14]
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[Last Edit: W_E_G]
[#15]
Originally Posted By azmp5: Id have to double check my notes but im pretty sure is my load as well. I love xbr and smk's. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By azmp5: Originally Posted By RedTeam98: 77MK IMR 8208 @ 23.4 CCI 41 primers LC brass Crimp with Lee factory crimp die Id have to double check my notes but im pretty sure is my load as well. I love xbr and smk's. That’s a solid load for sure. Except I don’t crimp 5.56. At least not since 1988. Try this: Without a crimp, carry a round over to your gun safe. Then, with one hand, and moderate pressure, press the nose of the cartridge against the gun safe. If the bullet does not set-back in the neck, you don’t need to crimp. If the bullet DOES set-back, you need to reduce the diameter of the expander-plug on your sizing die. Crimping should not substitute for inadequate or inconsistent neck tension. The 5.56 - with adequate neck tension - does not generate enough recoil to cause bullet-shift in the ammo-stack during firing. A heavy crimp risks deforming the case-shoulder. A very light crimp, it won’t be enough to secure the bullet if you mash a round during cycling. I get it that some shooters report that a crimp provides better accuracy. In isolated instances I won’t argue against anecdotes. Find what works for you. But my belief is that squashing the case neck after seating the bullet should NOT be needed for top quality 5.56 ammo. And query: Do BENCHREST competitors usually crimp their ammo? I believe the answer is that the overwhelming majority do not. Yet they do go to great lengths (lathing case necks) to attain CONSISTENT NECK TENSION. I’ll close this spiel with one exception for the crimp-avoidance: FLAT-BASE BULLETS You may have to FLARE the case mouth a bit to seat a 5.56 FLAT-BASE bullet. Otherwise, you won’t be able to seat the bullet without shaving copper. In that instance, of course you will have to smoosh the flare down (“crimp”) in order to finish construction of a round. I generally avoid flat-base 5.56 bullets for this reason. |
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They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin, 1775 |
[#16]
Originally Posted By azmp5: Id have to double check my notes but im pretty sure is my load as well. I love xbr and smk's. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By azmp5: Originally Posted By RedTeam98: 77MK IMR 8208 @ 23.4 CCI 41 primers LC brass Crimp with Lee factory crimp die Id have to double check my notes but im pretty sure is my load as well. I love xbr and smk's. Mine is 23.6. 23.8 was even better but was blowing out 25% of my primer pockets |
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[#17]
My reference load to test AR-15 accuracy is 24.5 grains of Varget with 69 grain SMK's seated @ 2.250".
Very accurate from a large number of barrels. 100% reliable feeding and function. Slightly below SAAMI maximum pressure resulting in long brass life. |
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[#18]
77gr SMK's
25.2 grains of A2520 Loaded to magazine length, 2.250" Lightly crimped with Lee Crimp Die This is basically a clone of the Black Hills Mk262 round. Out of my Ruger American Ranch 5.56 16" bbl, it's pushing 2750fps. 10 shots @ 100 yards is 0.83". The rifle shoots sub-moa out to 500 yards (furthest I've been able to test it). |
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[#19]
77 grain SMK
2.26 oal Lc brass Rem 7 1/2 21.7 grains AR-Comp 2650 fps 5 shot groups .622” 4/11/22 .685” 6/4/22 18” SPR barrel |
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[Last Edit: BlackdogADV]
[#20]
I just shot 5 groups, 5 shots each. .87”.
77gr SMK 24.2 gr 8208 XBR One group that screwed me up was 1.38 |
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[#21]
.223 Wylde Chambers:
24.4 Grains TAC Under Nosler 77 grain CC CCI 450 primer 2.250" LC brass 25.0 Grains TAC Under Nosler 69 grain CC CCI 450 primer 2.245" LC brass |
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[#22]
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[#23]
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Do epic shit.
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[#24]
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We have to protect our phoney baloney jobs here, gentlemen! We must do something about this immediately! Immediately! Immediately! Harrumph! Harrumph! Harrumph!
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[#25]
Originally Posted By morning_would: Almost exactly the same for my tac loads, except 24 gr for a 77. But my most consistent 77 gr load is 22 grains of Benchmark in a piece of Norma Brass with a 450 primer seated to a 2.25 COAL or 1.85 CBTO. Here's a recent confirmation of that load thru a hodge podge of parts but a 20" Super Sniper Wilson Combat barrel. Pulled the 5th shot....ouch. https://imgdump5.novarata.net/dtvcsk.jpg View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By morning_would: Originally Posted By W_E_G: 24.2 grains TAC with a 69 23.9 grains TAC with a 77 Almost exactly the same for my tac loads, except 24 gr for a 77. But my most consistent 77 gr load is 22 grains of Benchmark in a piece of Norma Brass with a 450 primer seated to a 2.25 COAL or 1.85 CBTO. Here's a recent confirmation of that load thru a hodge podge of parts but a 20" Super Sniper Wilson Combat barrel. Pulled the 5th shot....ouch. https://imgdump5.novarata.net/dtvcsk.jpg Benchmark and H322 have always given me good accuracy but the velocity is not always there. |
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[#26]
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[#27]
With a premium barrel and 69 or 77gr SMK you have to actually try hard to exceed 1moa with the following powders:
R15 Varget 8208xbr Those + smk = magic |
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Fundamentally the marksman aims at himself.
— D.T. Suzuki |
[Last Edit: tronco15]
[#28]
Here’s an archived thread about 77 SMK that I thought was super helpful
https://www.ar15.com/forums/armory/Powders-for-77gr-SMK-/42-534580/ |
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[#29]
Never tried the 77gr SMK, but have excellent results with 69gr SMK with both H335 and 748.
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[#30]
69gr Sierra's
- Varget (25.3gn) - IMR4064 (23.4gn) - RE-15 (24.6gn) 77gr Sierra's - Varget (23.6gn) - RE-15 (23.6gn) - 8208XBR (22.2gn) Those group the best for me out of my 18" AR (1:7 twist) and the 69gr Sierra's with IMR4064 (23.4gn) are probably the best in general out of my 20" .223 Bolt Gun (1:9 twist) |
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[#31]
I found I’m getting match accuracy with the 53gr Hornady V-MAX. It’s right with the SMKs. I shoot .70” with a 18” LaRue Stealth barrel.
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Do epic shit.
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[#32]
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[#33]
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