26" 223 - 69 gr Sierra Matchkings
- Thread starter IA_shooter
- Start date
At my elevation on a cold day the 69SMKs are still super sonic to 1070yd with a MV of 3092. I use BLC-2 since it meters like water and is $35 a jug less than the Hodgdon 'extreme' powders. There are higher BC projectiles of similar weight but I have a few thou of these 69s and they're the most economical for shooting my local LR steel matches. Next best for me and my mag-length limitations are the 77 SMk at 3040. They stay super sonic to 1160 despite being 50fps slower. That extra 10% BC makes a difference.
As for prairie dogging, there are better projectiles for blasting PDs than the SMK. I have not used the 69SMK but once I used some 70VLDs at ~3100fps and while it did kill PDs, the terminal effects were not very dramatic and 'center punched' dogs inside 300yds would flop around and sometimes make it back to their hole; no red mist like a 50 Vmax at 3550. Perhaps at a greater velocity SMKs'd be more impressive.
I cannot comment on Coyotes.
As for prairie dogging, there are better projectiles for blasting PDs than the SMK. I have not used the 69SMK but once I used some 70VLDs at ~3100fps and while it did kill PDs, the terminal effects were not very dramatic and 'center punched' dogs inside 300yds would flop around and sometimes make it back to their hole; no red mist like a 50 Vmax at 3550. Perhaps at a greater velocity SMKs'd be more impressive.
I cannot comment on Coyotes.
If shooting p dogs and coyotes you need to be using the TMK bullets period. At the speeds that a .223 can drive them SMK will just act like a FMJ bullet on live game. No fun for the game or you. Been there, done that. Think plastic tipped bombs! 
Paul
Paul
Some bullets make it thru the transonic region better than others but most have problems and this does nothing positive for accuracy. Most long range shooters know all about this and they make sure their loads stay above the transonic region. A good example is the 168 SMK which was a favorite for XTC to 600 yards for many years but when they are shot at 1000 yards they go subsonic and even key hole sometimes. I have pulled targets where these bullets were shot and sometimes they even scored well on the conventional prone target but many times they were erratic and some key holed.
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