95gr bullet in a 223?

[SteveOak]

I saw a post of someone selling 95gr 22 caliber bullets. I didn't know there was a bullet that heavy in 22 cal so I went looking for load data, expecting to find something like a 22 SAUM. Much to my surprise, Sierra lists load data for their 95gr 22 cal bullet in a 223. 2,450 fps mv. Anyone using this bullet/case combination successfully?


6.5 twist. I can't imagine. I whine about the torque of an 8 twist in a 6 BR. LOL

 

[Nowhere Man]

Yes. The 95 coming out of a 6.5 with a throated long shoots extremely well.

 

[Rocketvapor]

I've shot a few out of my 28" 7 twist 22 Nosler.
Comparing the 95gr SMK to the 90gr A-Tip, the 95 does wind a little better.
2850-2900fps, and a long throat.

 

[Jdne5b]

I get 2720-50 in a 223 with h4895 and a mile long throat. I’ve shot them in 6 and 7 twist barrels.

 

[padom]

I get 2938 SD 3 / ES 8 with 37.7gr H4831sc out of my 26" 22GT 1-7 with 95smk...

 

[Someone online]

I got a large box of the 95smk. Load them up for 224 Valkyrie at 2500fps.

 

[Ned Ludd]

The good news with a bullet as long as the 95 SMK is that the amount of freebore needed to load them optimally means they're already way more closer to the target than the other competitors' bullets before you even pull the trigger. When I recently had a couple barrels chambered for a .223 Rem F-TR rifle specifically intended for use with the 95s, I stopped measuring freebore length in inches. Now I just pick my spot on the map. For example, my current barrels are throated from here to Alamogordo. I thought about only having them throated from here to Kansas City, but realized that wasn't nearly enough, so Alamogordo it was. That turned out to be a really good choice.

All kidding aside, it's a VERY good bullet design. The only downside is that you really want a purpose-built rifle setup in order to shoot them optimally. They are so much longer (BTO) than anything else out there that a throat optimized for the 95 SMK will even have the Hornday 88 ELDM jumping a country mile when seated with an acceptable amount of shank in the neck, and the 88 is already a very long .224" bullet. FWIW - the 95s have been very hard to obtain lately, but Sierra did a run of them very recently. If you're thinking about buying some to try them, now would be the time.

 

[markm87]

I'm sticking with the 88 gr ELDM. But bravo to those willing to launch these cruise missiles.

 

[Jdne5b]

 

[clowdis]

How about 199-19X at 600 yds with a sling. Nope, the 9 wasn't the last shot! I'd say they shoot really well in .223.

 

[padom]

22BR
90smk on left, 95smk on right


90 SMK
Base to Ogive: 1.769"
COAL: 2.378"

95 SMK
Base to Ogive: 1.831"
COAL: 2.469"

Difference in base to Ogive (where bullet is going to contact lands) between the 90smk and 95smk dummy rounds, 0.062"

 

[Someone online]

22BR
90smk on left, 95smk on right


90 SMK
Base to Ogive: 1.769"
COAL: 2.378"

95 SMK
Base to Ogive: 1.831"
COAL: 2.469"

Difference in base to Ogive (where bullet is going to contact lands) between the 90smk and 95smk dummy rounds, 0.062"

How much bearing surface is inside the case mouth there on the 95smk? Looks barely just the boat tail is inside.

 

[padom]

How much bearing surface is inside the case mouth there on the 95smk? Looks barely just the boat tail is inside.

A lot actually. This was a happy medium when having my custom 22br reamer made where the 95 weren't shoved far down into the case but not out so long the 90smk would jump 10miles.. these 95s actually should be out farther if I was designing a reamer just for the 95s. May look that way but the 95s are stupid longggg

 

[padom]

Here you go. I prefer the 90smk for my 22BR... I like the 95smk in my 22GT much better.