65gr Sierra Game King SBT for long Range

[Scrumbag]

@grovey A 60 TMK does have a very good BC compared to many of Sierra’s older ones like the 1375, like 30% better, and with the OP’s twist rate, I agree he may want to give them a try as well.

I’m retired now and don’t get to visit with folks who have the interest in Geneva like I used to, so I have no idea how hard/easy it is to find components. It would be interesting to hear from @Scrumbag in terms of how things like bullet availability work in Switzerland. In my working days, folks over there could get reloading components when retailers put in the efforts to import them, but the effort meant everything from the US came at an increased price compared to say what we pay for Lapua products by comparison.

@RegionRat I'm afraid I'm not living in Geneva anymore, moved back to the UK. I will say that a lot of components aren't so easy to find here.

I don't load any 30 Cal but understand they aren't so common. .224 bullets are very tough to find. 7mm isn't too bad. Anything from Nosler though is virtually unobtainium.

Scrummy

 

[Scrumbag]

Depends what you want it for. Going too heavy will loose the flatness which is just as handy as BC. And if Hornady jackets would stay together that would tempt me to look at them more.

Yes I think you are right on you want a balance. With a 1:9 twist even the 68gr Hornady BTHP are looking a little long to be stable (According to the Berger calc anyway)

I use the 65gr SBT for muntjac here in the UK (Small deer originally from India but now running rampant) and they like cover so you tend to take shots down rides (paths) / clearings in woods. Seeing them at more than 200yds is quite a rare thing so a 65gr bullet @ 2900-3000fps zeroed for 200yds is flat and fast enough for most purposes.

Scrummy

 

[RegionRat]

@Scrumbag agree. You will have to factor for the altitudes in the UK and that can affect your twist and bullet selection relationship. If you were to get lucky, the 69 or 68 can work with a SF of about 1.38 at sea level. Better with a 1:8 for sure, but I have seen 1:9 work near sea level with the SMK 69, just not in every gun.

 

[Scrumbag]

@Scrumbag agree. You will have to factor for the altitudes in the UK and that can affect your twist and bullet selection relationship. If you were to get lucky, the 69 or 68 can work with a SF of about 1.38 at sea level. Better with a 1:8 for sure, but I have seen 1:9 work near sea level with the SMK 69, just not in every gun.

I'm not sure I'm feeling that lucky my friend.

I shoot at Bisley which at about 160 ft above sea level, often about 10C with fairly high humidity - "lovely" thick, heavy air

Scrummy

 

[RegionRat]

"Pea Soup" at times as I recall... made you want to go find the Macallan 18 and sit near the fire....

 

[Scrumbag]

"Pea Soup" at times as I recall... made you want to go find the Macallan 18 and sit near the fire....

And that's in summer...

 

[Scrumbag]

It's no joke. I looked at the weather for this morning.

9am observation:

6C (43F)
11 mph winds from SW
87% humidity

Thick, sluggish, heavy, cold air - did I mention the wind is very variable as well?

Scrummy