223 77gr SMK Load Help

[fotohunt]

JonD,
Since everyone is discussing other powders, I thought I’d mention my go to load for my W.O.A. National match AR. I load (safe in my gun maybe not in yours) 24.0 gr of Ramshot TAC with CCI 41’s in LC ‘09 brass at 2.268” with a light crimp. This yields about 2750-2780 depending on temp and will easily and absolutely shoot 1/2” at 100 yds and 3/4-1” at 200 yds consistently with my rifle. The same load out of my bolt gun will shoot 2800-2825 with a 26” barrel, but a little tighter.
Varget and H4895 at around 24.3 grains will both shoot well also.

-Darrell

 

[LVLAaron]

“80g going ~2900FPS out of a 20 inch barrel”

That’s smokin. Just today I was testing 24.2 gr of Varget & Fed 205m in a 24” bolt rifle. Shoots 80 SMKs great (1/2 MOA at 500) and 2850 fps, but after 50 or so rounds and warmer temp (about 80*) I started to get nervous with a cratered primer or two.

Was thinking I may need to drop it down a tad.

Varget will get me 2750 MAYBE... and primers are very flat. AR-Comp yields much higher velocity and lower pressure.

 

[dantiff2]

2750 doesn't sound out of the realm. I shoot 69 smks with Varget at 2850fps with no pressure signs @3:30/4 o'clock ejection from a 20" 7 twist.

 

[velocette]

I need help working on a load for a 20" AR 223. I have a 7 twist kreiger barrel with a Wylde chamber. Due to the component shortage right now I want to use what I have on the shelf. 77gr smk's, lake City brass, Remington 7-1/2 or federal gold medal match primers, and varget or h4895. Loads have to be mag length. This will be used for the 200 and 300 yard stages in high-power.

Please provide input on what powder powder you would try out first, charge weight, neck tension, etc.

I found in my AR, with its 24" Krieger barrel using Winchester brass, Federal AR match primers, 24.5 gr of VV N 140 gave me excellent accuracy and an average velocity of 2849 fps SD of 9. These rounds were single loaded with LOA just beyond mag length.

 

[Gunracer]

Interesting tip about cutting out the front of the mags. With the Wylde chamber there is going to be considerable jump for the 77's. No idea if that is allowed by the rules or not, but I can look it up. I believe on of my local shops still has a pound or two of n140 on the shelf. I my play with that if I get some time. With a bit of luck I can get a few rounds loaded over the next day or so and let you guys know the results. Thanks for all the help!

My go to H4895 load was 24.0 grains with the 77 SMK. Reloader 15 and Varget also worked great at 24.0.

 

[Della]

Varget will get me 2750 MAYBE... and primers are very flat. AR-Comp yields much higher velocity and lower pressure.

24” barrel with 80SMKs? (At 24.2 Varget my primers are flattish)

 

[JAlfred]

So it sounds like something around 24 grains of varget is one load to work up to and try. Any suggestions for where I should try to end up at with the h4895? Being a little faster burning powder, it should be a little lighter charge. Just looking for a good ball park number.

Lots of good things happen between 23.5 and 24gr of Varget. You are not going to set any speed records, but accuracy is relatively easy to come by. Primer selection is not overly critical, Rem 7 1/2 have done best by me. I would not feel naked with 450s, 205Ms, or br4s. I do avoid win and cci 400s.

As mentioned, with stainless steel mags by asc or c products, you can load out to 2.30" or so and maybe gain a little juice, if you are of a.mind to do so.

You are well positioned for sucess, go out and have fun.

 

[B muzguy]

Don't laugh too hard. It all came together for me with CFE223 powder in 223 Wylde 1:7.

My compass Lake engineering AR 24-inch Krieger CLE chamber also loves cfe223 24 grains Lake City brass Sierra tipped matchking games 77 grain

 

[LVLAaron]

24” barrel with 80SMKs? (At 24.2 Varget my primers are flattish)

I was talking about a 20"

 

[kevinbritvec]

77's have been harder to tune for me than 68/69's.

I can run 24.5 grains of Varget with 68/69 grain match bullets seated at 2.250" and they will do everything I need at 200/300. Easy on the gun and the bras. Velocity around 2750 fps from most of my Wylde chambered 20" uppers.

Commonly used loads for 77's include:
24.0 grains of RE-15
23.0 grains of H4895
23.0 grains of IMR-8208
23.5 to 24.0 grains of Varget

Start lower, work up, consider these loads maximum or very close to maximum.

You really have to have 2550 fps minimum velocity from a 20" to be useful. I feel anything faster than 2650 fps with 77's is too hot. Shoot what groups the tightest and dial windage as needed.

 

[Jon D]

Thanks for all of the help guys. Life has been crazy here lately. Finally got to the range. 24 grs of varget shot lights out with 77 smk. Lake City brass and rem 7.5 primer. 1-7, wylde chamber. Put six shots into the x-ring at 100 yards with the group measuring 0.43" center to center. Counting every shot, no excuses. Those were the last six I had after working up the load. Wish I had more. The rifle was hammering. That was the easiest load development I have ever done to get such good groups. Now I have to get the 80's flying well before a match next weekend. I may play with other powders in the future for more speed, but this is plenty adequate for now.

 

[rebs]

In my bolt gun with 24" 1 in 8 barrel I shoot 77 smk with br4 primer and 24.4 of varget and shoot 1 1/4" groups at 300 yds.

 

[Beau]

23.5 - 24.5gr Varget, seat the bullet to 2.25" and forget about it!