223 7 twist question

[chet]

been shooting a new 223 7 twist, trying to get the 80 SMK's to work, so far no luck, better luck with the Berger 80.5gr bullet, what puzzles me is, example the bergers are zerod for 100yds, and the 80SMK's same powder chg, hit about 6" higher. i am surprised i hear so much positive results with the 80SMK's also i might add the group does open up on the SMK's to around 3/4" where the Bergers are tighter. anything to add before i give up on the 80 SMK's.

chet
ps any word on the new nosler 85RDF

 

[Shiyfire]

Have you tried 24.4 varget /SMK 80 gr?
Its Sierras accuracy load. It worked in my savage 7 twist

 

[chet]

i tried 24.5 varget with the 80 smk .010 off the lands, it was ok, maybe i will try jam in the lands
chet

 

[Shiyfire]

I loaded to 2.40 OAL for my savage and Remington rifles with those

 

[AJC]

Have you tried 24.4 varget /SMK 80 gr?
Its Sierras accuracy load. It worked in my savage 7 twist

I use 24.4 with cci br4 to push the 80 eldx also. Worked well on steel varmint match

 

[Jdne5b]

i tried 24.5 varget with the 80 smk .010 off the lands, it was ok, maybe i will try jam in the lands
chet

Go out to .025-.035 off.

 

[watercam]

Go out to .025-.035 off.

Or even more. I use .040" off...

 

[AJC]

After looking at the above replies i am guessing you have not done a full seating depth test. If your going to expend the effort, go all the way so you can get a difinitive answer.
http://www.bergerbullets.com/getting-the-best-precision-and-accuracy-from-vld-bullets-in-your-rifle/

 

[KevinThomas]

Before getting too far off in the weeds, is this a bolt gun, or an AR?

 

[Fotheringill]

After looking at the above replies i am guessing you have not done a full seating depth test. If your going to expend the effort, go all the way so you can get a difinitive answer.
http://www.bergerbullets.com/getting-the-best-precision-and-accuracy-from-vld-bullets-in-your-rifle/

Absolutely please do this. BTW- You might be very surprised to see what happens in your groups with a lighter load.

Do you have a Savage with a 30" barrel?

 

[Rsadams]

Smk likes to jump....

 

[wkdickinson]

My AR with a Kreiger 1:7.7" barrel shoots 24.6gr of Varget, 0.20 jump at -0.5 MOA at 200 yds (5 shot groups)

 

[natdscott]

27 off, 40 off. If longer than 2.400", you're looking at probably 24+ grains RE15, and just a little less Varget. Light it with a 7.5BR or a BR4

In a WC, LC, casing, if that won't shoot, or at least at some other length, then it's not going to.

 

[JimSC]

Smk likes to jump....

that is what I used to think also, and I also thought Berger 80's had to be jammed. Criterion 26" 8 twist

oh and the both the SMK targets were at 300

 

[chet]

sorry guys, the rifle is a savage LRPV 26" stock barrel 7 t

 

[Ned Ludd]

Chet - if you want to do meaningful load development, you need to test a over range of charge weights in small increments; 0.2 gr increments are pretty good for a .223 with heavies. Likewise, you need to test seating depth over some reasonable range in small increments. Of course there are variations on this theme but in general, if you are not doing incremental load workups, any load you find that works is pure chance (i.e. luck). The downside is that you're also far more likely to miss a good combination.

With respect to the 85 RDFs, I just started the development process and shot some today. IMO, they definitely show promise. However, unless your rifle is chambered with a ridiculously long freebore (at least 0.200"+), I wouldn't put them at the top of your list. They have a very long bearing surface and therefore a very long BTO measurement. IMO -having to seat the 85 RDFs way down into the neck/case would take away much of the advantage of using a heavy high BC bullet.

 

[MGYSGT]

Serria's tend to have tuff jackets. Don't be afraid to seat off the lands and try a test of different loads. I.E. 22.5 23.0 23.5 24.0 24.5 Set them up in a horizontal line and shoot them after fouling the barrel. Then shoot them in reverse order. You will see the nodes. Don't be supprised if the high and low are the accurate nodes. After you find the node you can work on seating depth.