69 gr. TMK'd Coyote/AR .223 AI

[sscoyote]

Running the Sierra 69 TMK this year in my AR .223 AI at about 3075 mv, and nailed this dog at 330 yesterday. Spotted her off a high ridge but couldn't get her to come to the calls so I went after her, stalking to within 330. 1st stadia line down from 250-yd. x-hair zero did it in the Burris 3-9X Timberline Ballistic Plex reticle (1.5 MOA). Bullet stayed inside, and her hide's in the freezer for processing later. So far this bullet's been great for a higher BC varmint bullet out of my AR.

 

[shadrac]

nice job, good info on that bullet

 

[fredo]

Nice, Steve!

A buddy was shooting those 69TMKs out of his .22-250AI over the weekend, and they were doing pretty good out to 800yds. I'm curious to see how they're gonna do on called coyotes, his MV is ~3430fps. We'll see if that plastic tip facilitates expansion at close range...

Keep stackin' em up with that pistola!

 

[sscoyote]

THanks guys! Hey Cap'n Fred--shot a jackrabbit with it at 250 facing away from me and it was explosive out the front--almost took one of the front legs with it. Didn't hurt the backstrap though and I took 'em home for the crockpot (my favorite game meat, believe it or not). Nice to know they're doing well for your friend too--especially at that velocity sir! Coulda' used that rig of his as I spotted the dog at about 850, and had to put a stalk on him. Crawled for about 40 yards too at the end, and now my back's all screwed up.

My load was easy to work up as the 69 is the same bearing surface length as my old 65 JLK load.

Here's the VLD magazine that works great with my setup using the 65 JLK--

 

[pdhntr]

Here's the VLD magazine that works great with my setup using the 65 JLK--

Hi Steve,

Couldn't help but ask if you would explain that magazine. At first I thought, it was a mod to an existing AR mag, but after looking at it more, it looks as though it was made with longer lips.

So.......wouldn't the barrel extension and the bolt have to be different? The barrel extension would have to have a groove where one of the bolt lugs is on a normal AR.

Thanks.

Jim

 

[potatoe]

Man I wish I could hunt with my AR :'( Good shootin!

 

[17VLD]

Nice job Steve.But that sure is a funny looking SP
Matt

 

[fourpower]

people should also try a 70gr berger. at 900yds you should see the differents in the impact on a rock and it shoots way higher. we take 150yds off hold. this bullet with varget in AR coal holds range record at 900yds. 5 shots into 4.89in. .223 1in9 twist!

 

[sscoyote]

Interesting sir! I have also tried the 70 JLK and had great accuracy but so-so terminal effect. Best overall bullet so far has been the 65 SGK, but this new 69 is working great on game so far (2 shots...).

Jim, the VLD magazines require a special bolt catch only. The feed lips/spring may require some tweaking--I know mine did but my gunsmith worked it up--not me. It's a single-stack magazine--holds 9. Good luck trying to find one though. If this AR were an 8-T I would've gone straight to the 75 A-Max...as long as the terminal effect qualities were met.

Matt-loving this AR/VLD system-always have. I use working up the 69 TMK as justification for not using my 17 right now...but not for long. Probably the 1st fox I blow up might change my mind though.

 

[waterdog]

Give us some load data on the 69TMK and the Berger 70VLD for an AR!

Larry

 

[sscoyote]

Larry, i think i'm using 26 gr. Varget in my 223 AI. I actually used the same load as the 65 JLK Low Drag as the bearing surfaces are the same length.

 

[waterdog]

Thanks Steve. I will give it a try when the weather gets a little better. Haven't had much luck with CFE-223 with the 69 TMK's, but it does good with the 69 SMK's. Have some TMK's loaded with H-4895 and R-15. We will see how that works. By the way, mine is a regular .223 with a 20 inch barrel, 1 x 9 twist.

Larry

 

[Phil]

Steve,

Are you using that unobtanim magazine to help with the seating length of the longer 69gr. bullets, or are you seating to 2.25"???

Did you have to do anything special to get the AI case to feed in your rifle???

Phil.

 

[sscoyote]

Phil-- nothing special to get the AI to feed besides keeping the chamber clean...most of the time. Wish somebody would start making the VLD magazine again though!