80g SMK or 80.5 Berger?

[kyotekiller25]

Which would be your pick for a 1K bullet out of a 223 Wylde 28" 8 twist bolt gun?

If I can't get these 75g ELDMs to be a little mlre consistent, I've narrowed it down to 1 of those 2 bullets to try next.

The 80g SMK has a .461 BC and the Berger has a .441 BC. The 75g ELDM has a .467 BC, plus you can push it a little faster, so technically you'll never get either of those 2 80g bullets to ballistically beat that 75g ELDM, but I need a little more consistency if I'm going to be taking this 223 out to 1K. Currently using N540 at around 2975fps with the 75g ELDM. So would be hoping for at least 2900fps with the 80s.

The 80s are probably a more consistent bullet overall than the 75 ELDM, and I think the tangent ogive profiles of them won't be so picky as to seating depths like the 75 ELDM either.

Would like your thoughts and experiences with both out to 1K please!

 

[Clinton]

Which would be your pick for a 1K bullet out of a 223 Wylde 28" 8 twist bolt gun?

If I can't get these 75g ELDMs to be a little mlre consistent, I've narrowed it down to 1 of those 2 bullets to try next.

The 80g SMK has a .461 BC and the Berger has a .441 BC. The 75g ELDM has a .467 BC, plus you can push it a little faster, so technically you'll never get either of those 2 80g bullets to ballistically beat that 75g ELDM, but I need a little more consistency if I'm going to be taking this 223 out to 1K. Currently using N540 at around 2975fps with the 75g ELDM. So would be hoping for at least 2900fps with the 80s.

The 80s are probably a more consistent bullet overall than the 75 ELDM, and I think the tangent ogive profiles of them won't be so picky as to seating depths like the 75 ELDM either.

Would like your thoughts and experiences with both out to 1K please!

I shoot the 80.5 Berger out of a 223AI with a 26-inch barrel. With Varget I am getting 2,990 FPS and it has no problem getting to 1,000 (but hard to see the splash on steel with that small of an impact at 1,000 yards). With your 223, you should be able to get 2,900. I haven't shot the 80 SMK. You might also try the 80 grain ELDM. It shot better in my rifle than the 75 ELDM, and was on par accuracy-wise with the Berger 80.5 and is almost half the price.

 

[LVLAaron]

Berger 80.5!

 

[mgdietrich]

80 Hornady is best for BC, but any 80 at 1k is giving up to 90. With your twist you probably are limited to an 80.
Sierra vs Berger, both good bullets it depends which one your barrel prefers more than any small difference in BC

 

[akajun]

When Berger still made th3 82, I was pair firing at 600 with 80smk's at 600. I had to add .5 moa more windage than my pair fire partner with 82's and I switched to 82's thereafter. The popular term was that the 82's were "good for one scoring ring" 80.5's are the replacement for 82's so 80.5

 

[DLT]

Never shot the 80.5 but Never had a problem with the 80smk

 

[Walt Krafft]

Both will work fine.

 

[Tireguy]

Which ever will group best in your gun.

 

[Andy Legg]

We have had decent luck with the 80 SMK's at the Long Line at Camp Perry out of a 20" AR Tactical Rifle. A couple years ago my oldest son shot 97% there with pretty stiff & gusting (at times) wind coming off Lake Erie.
out
To get to 1000 yds. with a 20" tube we have to stand on it pretty hard.....even then the bullet is sub-sonic at the target. The bullet is still stable (not keyholing) but is going sub somewhere between 900-1000 yards. Note: They will pull you off the line at Camp Perry if your bullets are keyholing.

We are launching the 80's at around 2825 fps at the muzzle (20" barrel). With a 28” tube…You should not have a problem seeing 2900 fps especially if you are above sea level.......only issue is brass life kinda sux.

 

[bpm990d]

We are launching the 80's at around 2825 fps at the muzzle (20" barrel). You should not have a problem seeing 2900 fps especially if you are above sea level.......only issue is brass life kinda sux.

I would think 2900 fps with any 80 would be a stretch, unless that AR has a very long throat in the chamber.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

I would think 2900 fps with any 80 would be a stretch, unless that AR has a very long throat in the chamber.

He said it was a 28" Bolt Gun

 

[kyotekiller25]

Thanks guys. Going to give the 80.5 Berger a shot since I can get them locally. Hoping to see good accuracy around the 2900fps mark with N540 and my 28" bolt gun.

 

[JEFFPPC]

80 SMK in 1&7 was my choice. Was scary at 500 yards quite often.

 

[bpm990d]

He said it was a 28" Bolt Gun

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Some of the smallest groups I've yet to see in 22 were shot with the 80.5 Berger. And from multiple shooters. In some ways that bullet will shoot like a bench rest bullet. Shockingly small.

 

[kyotekiller25]

Some of the smallest groups I've yet to see in 22 were shot with the 80.5 Berger. And from multiple shooters. In some ways that bullet will shoot like a bench rest bullet. Shockingly small.

That is good to hear!

I might have 15 boxes of 75g ELDMs up for sale soon then haha.

 

[urbanrifleman]

That is good to hear!

I might have 15 boxes of 75g ELDMs up for sale soon then haha.

Get out your wallet.

 

[kyotekiller25]

Yah at the price differnece difference between the 2, I'd only be able to replace the 15 boxes of ELDMs with 11 boxes of Bergers, but that's ok. If the Bergers shoot that much better, consistently, than it'll be worth it to me anyway. Especially when I'll be shooting out to 1K with them quite often.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Yah at the price differnece difference between the 2, I'd only be able to replace the 15 boxes of ELDMs with 11 boxes of Bergers, but that's ok. If the Bergers shoot that much better, consistently, than it'll be worth it to me anyway. Especially when I'll be shooting out to 1K with them quite often.

I don't think they have the bc for 1000 yards.

Good at short range though.

 

[kyotekiller25]

No not great, the 75 ELDM is better all the way around ballistically with a higher BC and faster speed, but the 80.5 Berger is still supersonic right at 1K. So it will definitely work. Optimal no, doable yes.