180gr 7mm SMK performance

[Quickoz]

G'day all,

How does the 180gr SMK go for F-Open these days? I run a 7mm08AI. My current barrel does 180gr VLD at 2765fps so thinking about the SMK for new barrel due to availability of Berger in Australia. Any feedback would be awesome thanks.

 

[rimfiremac]

You likely won't notice a difference in performance between the two. Of course the barrel may take some work to please, but once either slug is in the air, it is affected by conditions nearly identically.

 

[Quickoz]

Rimfiremac,

Do you mean the SMK is a hard bullet to tune?

 

[rimfiremac]

No, simply rather that the external ballistics will be very very close. In my experience with tuning, it has a lot more to do with the Indian than the Arrow.

The Internet is the worst place to start tuning- you can find the information you want to see, in either regard here. The range and the paper tell only facts. Much better use of time. Odds are the SMKs will not be duds for you.

 

[Quickoz]

Ok cheers. Thanks. Anyone else who has and advice/feedback with this bullet please post it up

 

[284winner]

Wow that's awesome speed from a 7-08. Never would have thought you could get nearly 2800 from a 180 vld from a 7-08. I'd be happy to get 2800 with a 162 from an 08. Have to give that cartridge some consideration for my next fun gun. I'm getting around 2800-2860 from a 260 pushing 140s. That's top speed pretty much without losing too much accuracy. Maybe should have put together a 7-08 for my son rather than the 260.

 

[280man]

If I were you I Would go with the 175 SMK or the 183 SMK. When Sierra came out with the 180s back in 2011 or so we all tested them and they simply did not work very well for Fclass. They might be ok in a hunting or other target shooting application but who knows.

 

[Quickoz]

284winner,

Its a 7mm08 Ackley Improved, not standard 7mm08. It does run higher pressures but when using 308 Palma Brass, it has great case life. H4350 is the powder for this cartridge. It doesnt give up much to the straight 284 wind drift wise.

280man,

Ive got some 175gr smk so will try them aswell but I think I'm going to go ahead with getting some 180gr smk, I can do the 183 without going to a 8 twist barrel and that could make it harder for the other bullets I have in stock to run accurately. It all depends if the barrel likes them.

 

[Ringostar]

With your case capacity, I would also try 162-168 bullets. They should shoot fine in calmer conditions, and get a little more velocity.

 

[284winner]

Ya I saw that yours was an AI. Just didn't figure a few extra grains of powder would get you almost 2800 with 180s. Pretty impressive. I never would have imagined. I shot 185 vlds out of my 308 and had trouble getting 2700 without leaving the RP logo of the cartridge stamped on the bolt head and primers blown into the magazine box. Must have everything working just right for you. That's great.

 

[Quickoz]

Ringmaster, I have but BC for F-Open wins so 180gr class bullets is what I want to use and at 2750fps I dont give up much to a 284 doing 2820fps.

 

[284winner]

Don't fix what's not broke. Try it all and winner takes all. Sounds like the 180s rock. Keep sending them down range. Good luck.

 

[Quickoz]

284winner, my reamer print should be on file with PTG. I have a 220 FB with shoulder foward 17 thou. Feel free to grab it. Bear in mind that the FB is set for 180gr VLD so if your gonna use 162 or alike, the bullet will be seated a bit more out of the neck. But for 180gr bullets, its perfect. H4350 is you friend for heavys with this cartridge. I have yet to get a good load going with 162gr amax. Going to try Varget and RL15 as H4350 didnt want to work with it.

 

[284winner]

Currently shooting a saami 284win with primarily 162-168 vld type bullets. Short action but can run to 3.050. Not exactly conducive for top velocities but happy with the 3000+ I get from the 162 Amax bullets. May give 180s a go with 4350 or RL17. If I could see 2800-2850, I'd be pretty happy. Built the gun for a hunting platform so barrel is only 25".

 

[Quickoz]

Dunno if you would get 2800 plus with H4350 in the 25" barrel but maybe wth RL17. Most guys are running around 2800-2850 with H4350 in 28-30" barrels.

 

[284winner]

Ya I'll try it out. RL 17 is fast with 162s and accuracy is good too ( 1.5 @ 300). 4350 and 4831 brings typically better all around results in SD and accuracy combined.

 

[C. Collins]

I shot the 180 smk last year. They preformed very well. My best was a 398 20x out of 400 at 600 yards. You need to sort these. They can vare in base to ogive measurement of up to .012. Other than that they shoot well.

 

[shoot4fun]

Sierra points the 183SMK. I've seen how it performs in a 280 Ackley Improved and it was very impressive. Perfect conditions and a well built rifle turned in barely a 4" five-shot at 1250 yards. Just wish it had been me shooting.

 

[Endyo]

If I were you I Would go with the 175 SMK or the 183 SMK. When Sierra came out with the 180s back in 2011 or so we all tested them and they simply did not work very well for Fclass. They might be ok in a hunting or other target shooting application but who knows.

Rick, can you share your findings on the 180Sierras? I have about 600 I bought for practice/possible match use. I may refrain from the latter depending on range results.

 

[280man]

I personally never fired any of the 180s. Everyone I knew gave such a dismal report that I never got around to testing them.