FT/R-Sierra 80 MK's and a question

[Bully]

I will (finally) be shooting my first FT/R. I believe it's considered "mid-range", 600yards. I will be shooting a 223 bolt gun.
I am running the 80grain Sierra Match Kings.
If they are running at 2800, is that enough speed? It seems to be a node in my rifle. I will be exploring it further for better accuracy shortly. I'm just wondering if I need to push them faster.
Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[MGYSGT]

I shoot 80 gr Amax at that speed and they do just fine if I do my part. Which I don't always do.

 

[Bully]

I shoot 80 gr Amax at that speed and they do just fine if I do my part. Which I don't always do.

Funny. I tried the ELD-M and just can't get them to shoot. Probably me. Great bullets and I would love to switch to Hornady for their stance on NY and other states but if it don't work, I just can't justify it. In the off season, I'll explore further.

Thanks for the input.

 

[DR_2297]

Yes that is plenty of MV for 600. About what the MV is for my service rifles (20”) with my XTC ammo.

As long as it shoots well for you go with it. If you can find a higher node that shoots tiny groups then use that.

 

[chkunz]

I am shooting the 75 A MAX with 23.9 grains of AA2520 in 600 yard matches and they do well. I shoot this load in a 26 inch 1 in 7 bolt gun and a 26 inch 1 in 8 AR match rifle.

 

[Bully]

^^^Thanks much!^^^

 

[dcali]

There is never enough speed, so you just have to find a good, fast, accurate load. That's the challenge of trying to hit such a small target so far away. I look at it this way: accuracy is required - no amount of skill can make up for poor accuracy. A little more wind deflection can be countered by good wind reading. So go with the accuracy.

Most of the guys doing well with a .223 are shooting 90s, and they're pushing them hard. But 80s aren't terrible bullets either.

 

[chkunz]

There is never enough speed, so you just have to find a good, fast, accurate load. That's the challenge of trying to hit such a small target so far away. I look at it this way: accuracy is required - no amount of skill can make up for poor accuracy. A little more wind deflection can be countered by good wind reading. So go with the accuracy.

Most of the guys doing well with a .223 are shooting 90s, and they're pushing them hard. But 80s aren't terrible bullets either.

I chose the 1 in 7 twist for the bolt gun to try the SMK 90s. I did testing to compare the SMK 90, Berger 82, SMK 80 and the 75 A MAX. l got the best combination of accuracy and wind drift from the 75 A MAX. I was using stiff loads but not max or over max loads. The problem with the 90s seems to be that you have to go over max loads to take advantage of the weight and I am not willing to do that.

 

[Bully]

I'm going with a slightly slower load, 2780. I'll give it a whirl and see how she does.
Everyone shoots competitively with un-tested loads...? Right?

 

[MGYSGT]

Haven't shot the ELD's in 80 gr yet. Hope they do as good as the 80 Amax, cause I have 2,000 of them.

 

[mtncwru]

I'm going with a slightly slower load, 2780. I'll give it a whirl and see how she does.
Everyone shoots competitively with un-tested loads...? Right?

My very first high power match was a Mid-Range Regional 3x600, and I took 1st Master with factory Lapua 155s. My first match with handloads was with a completely un-tested load, also at 600 yards; I put together the minimum load of Varget for SMK 155s, and shot 6 Xs in a row before I got excited and cross-fired. That was still a called 9. Granted this was in Match Rifle, not F-T/R, but still...

As for your load, 2780 is more than plenty to get you out to 600 yards. It could, theoretically, make it out to 1000, though I wouldn't be willing to bet a match on that with what the Hornady ballistics app is giving me.

So yeah, go shoot what ya got. Be honest with yourself about your shot calls, and shoot your first string across a chrono if you can; might as well get data if your Match Director will allow it. Make sure you check your brass for pressure signs the first few rounds, too. If you see them, call it a day; no sense in risking your gun and/or the face of all the guys around you, yourself included.

 

[chkunz]

My very first high power match was a Mid-Range Regional 3x600, and I took 1st Master with factory Lapua 155s. My first match with handloads was with a completely un-tested load, also at 600 yards; I put together the minimum load of Varget for SMK 155s, and shot 6 Xs in a row before I got excited and cross-fired. That was still a called 9. Granted this was in Match Rifle, not F-T/R, but still...

As for your load, 2780 is more than plenty to get you out to 600 yards. It could, theoretically, make it out to 1000, though I wouldn't be willing to bet a match on that with what the Hornady ballistics app is giving me.

So yeah, go shoot what ya got. Be honest with yourself about your shot calls, and shoot your first string across a chrono if you can; might as well get data if your Match Director will allow it. Make sure you check your brass for pressure signs the first few rounds, too. If you see them, call it a day; no sense in risking your gun and/or the face of all the guys around you, yourself included.

Point of order, a cross fire is a miss and is scored as a zero even if it hit the X ring on another target, I only bring this up because you need to know this for future reference.

 

[Bully]

Thanks again all.

Yeah. Looks like this load wouldn't have enough behind it to make 1000 which is fine with me. This rifle is a 100/300/600 yard gun.

 

[Zero333]

When I find a solid 1/3rd moa node at 2,800 fps and a 1/2 moa node at 2,900 fps, I always go with the tighter node. This way I have more confidence in my rifle and ammo.

From there, the performance is all on me being able to execute each shot and read the wind. And just as importantly, I can examine with Confidence the shots that didn't land where I wanted them to land.

 

[mtncwru]

Point of order, a cross fire is a miss and is scored as a zero even if it hit the X ring on another target, I only bring this up because you need to know this for future reference.

Point of order: being able to honestly call your shots, including crossfires, and knowing where they landed on the target in relation to that call is crucial to accurately driving your rounds to the center on follow-up shots. I am well aware that a crossfire goes on the score card as a zero, but knowing how it landed is still useful data for driving the next shot.

I only bring this up because you need to know this for future reference.

 

[Bully]

Thanks again.
I have 100 rounds loaded up for the match, which is tomorrow. I'm thrilled to be able to have the time to shoot much less to shoot a match. My buddy, that won the last one, will be with me. As long as everyone comes home safely it'll be a successful day. If for some reason I get down there and am not able to shoot the match, for whatever reason, I'm gonna hang out and do some learnin'.

 

[CharlieNC]

Bully take a look at the Berger 80.5 Fullbore too. I have a nice node at 2985fps that shoots well out to 600yd. It is not sensitive on seating depth like the vld.

 

[Bully]

Bully take a look at the Berger 80.5 Fullbore too. I have a nice node at 2985fps that shoots well out to 600yd. It is not sensitive on seating depth like the vld.

Charlie, what powder are you using? I tried it but did not get a good result initially. I’d like to give it another go soon.

 

[CharlieNC]

Charlie, what powder are you using? I tried it but did not get a good result initially. I’d like to give it another go soon.

Cfe223, and a couple of my partners use it too. Another shooter does well with Varget. Try jumping them .015in.