95gr SMK's for HighPower

[Rtheurer]

Looking for some High power shooters who shoot 6BR in matches with the 95gr Sierra Matchkings. Are you shooting them at 200 and 300 stages and then moving to the 107's for 600 yards or just shooting them all the way through?
Picked some up last month, What a great looking bullet. looks like a perfect bullet for the 6BR.

RussT

 

[infantrytrophy]

The 95 SMK shoots great. This is my first 5-round group fired after about 15 break-in rounds. SMK 95, RE-15 29.5 gr, 100 yards on MR31 target, iron sights from rest. Rifle: Pierce action, Eliseo R5 stock, Broughton 27" barrel. Group size = .214".

I have not had the opportunity to shoot the 95's at 200 or 300 yards, but I can't think of anything better to use.

Randy

 

[dfry]

Well I am not shooting the 95s yet but know people that do at 300. They are very accurate and are ok at 600 in a slower than 1x8 twist, but you have to push them at least 200 fps faster just to equal the drift of a 107 at 600. I shoot a wildcat 6-6.8 in an ar spacegun, the 107s are very accurate at 2700.

 

[Rtheurer]

Randy
That looks very promising. I have a 6BR Ive been shooting in Prone Midrange matches. Ussually shoot 105 Berger VLD's Norma Brass, 450CCI, and Varget. Now that I going to put that Remington action in a Ellisio R5 Stock Im lookin at short line loads. My inital test of the 6BR shot every thing I fed it real well. 107 SMK, 105 Berger, 95 VLD Berger, even 80gr Balistic tips. Shot a clean on the 300 yard reduced target with the balistic tips. Ill be shooting more Volume so a cheaper bullet is my thought about the 95 SMK. My normal shooting range is not very windy so an inch or two here or there does not matter to me at 600. I know how to read wind. See it put it on the sights and shoot it.
My reamer is a .104 freebore though. Might be alittle long. Thanks for the post. Thats a damn nice group for a NRA Highpower rifle. Almost a shame to shoot 10 rounds down range in 60 seconds when it shoots llike that. I can see the score board now. 10X and 10X

RussT

 

[Forum Boss]

We have been waiting for the 95gr SMKs to be available again, but have done a lot of 6BR work with Berger and Lapua 90-grainers, and the Berger 95gr VLD.

One advantage of the 90-95s we found is that you can fill the case fuller with the Varget, RL-15 class of powders. Also we were able to drive the 90-grainers and the 95 VLDs comfortably at 3050, compared to 2890 fps with the 105gr Bergers. At 300 yards, that speed difference compensates, in large part, for the BC difference. In fact, the 95gr VLD actually comes out ahead compared to the Berger 105 Boat Tail match.

Here's data from JBM Ballistics, using G7 Coefficients (500' alt, 70deg):

Bullet (G7 BC) Drift at 300 yards (10mph wind, 90deg)

Berger 105 VLD ............5.3" @ 2890 fps MV
Berger 95 VLD .............. 5.4" @ 3050 fps MV
Berger 105 Match BT........ 5.8" @ 2890 fps MV

LESSON: Don't always assume that the heavier bullet has superior ballistics. You have to test, find the accuracy nodes for each bullet, and run the numbers.

In our Broughton-barreled Tubegun, the most accurate bullet so far has been the 90gr Scenar. But we really want to try the 95gr Sierra.

 

[dfry]

Right now, it looks like November or December for more 95 SMKs. bummer, they are great in the 6BR for up to 300, they are to long for me to shoot in my 6mm WOA (6-6.8SPC) for rapid fire. I also cannot drive them fast enough in the 6 WOA to beat a 107 or 108 at 600, maybe in the 6BR. I need to do more testing to see how they do on the primer pockets with the 6WOA, just finally found a load that isn't streatching them in a few firings, I'm a half grain below most others, goes to show how some barrels are just that much different!

 

[dfry]

Russ, also try the 90 Berger for rapids, but the bullet that I am using in rapids is the 87 Hornady BTHP, don't count it out, in my 6WOA it is scary accurate, shot a .225" 5 shot group at 100 yds with that bullet with match sights! And, as you said, a very cheap bullet for short line loads. The Berger 90s shoot nice but are a little expensive. For 200, you may also want to try the 70 SMK, that bullet is very accurate and screams with the 6BR and has really light recoil and it takes alot of jump. Just some thoughts, I normally shoot the 87BTHP for 200 and 300 since it is so accurate and cheap, and 107s/108s at 600 in the 6 WOA, I am just getting my 5R done so for now 107s at 600 in the 6BR for prone only, will try some 105 Bergers, but I usually have great luck with the 107SMK and if it shoots better than me, which it usually does, I'm not payig the extra for Bergers unless I need too. Haven't started shooting the R5 in xcourse yet. Had some bad luck with a T2K and s sticky bolt in rapids and am just starting to get my scores back were they were and beyond, so I am not moving from the AR match rifle until I feel up to the bolt again! I shot HM in the last 500 yd prone match (MR65 target) and that is the first time I have ever done that, and that was with the 6WOA and the 107s doing 2700 fps, the only dropped points were me and not the rifle. I use to shoot 107 at all lines xcourse in the tubb, but unless it is really windy I really didn't need them at 200 and 300 and the lighter bullets and loads give you quicker follow up in rapids, just some thoughts, Dave

 

[Rtheurer]

Dave
Thanks for the post. I have had the exact same issues as you it appears. Ill pass on the T2K and keep with a Rem pattern bolt gun. Plenty of time now in the rapids with the rule change. Im a gas gun shooter looking to shoot a bolt gun too. I tried it back in the 308 hayday and lost intrest as a Sharp shooter back then. my plan is to attempt to load short line ammo on a Dillon. If it works and im happy with the results thats good. If i dont get the results I like Ill just go back to my normal routine. Ill stick with the Gas gun in 223 until I have all the kinks worked out. I love the 6BR. should be a natrual move for me. I beleive its moved me into about 18 National Midrange records. Alot of them are new since the course of fire is new. But a 15X clean or More is a solid performance. Trudy Fay broke my highest one of 17X at 500. I thought that one would stand longer than a year.

RussT

 

[Rtheurer]

Forum Boss

Nice thing about the 6BR just about any bullet shoots well in this case. Cant help but like the little fella... Kinda like a puppy.

Concure on all mentioned in your post. Sub 1/2 MOA in a NRA Match rifle is more than plenty accuracy for our game.

RussT

 

[dfry]

I hear that!, nice shooting, I would have or should have been further along than I am, but I'm back on track now. I really see alot of Tube guns out there now and really like the rifle. Just got mine to night, so will be working up loads for it and see how it shoots. Couple guys here shooting 95 SMKs for shortline and they just shoot! Good luck with your rifle, hope it goes well, I am looking forward to shooting mine for prone matches and hopefully in xcourse, but right now my 6WOA is shooting great so I'm concentrating on the sights and position and once I feel it is holding me back (fat chance) I may try the bolt again! hold tight, Dave

 

[HPMike800]

I have a 6BR tube gun and shoot 95 SMK's at 200 and 300. There only a penney apiece more than 77gr SMK's. I shoot 105BGR's at 500 or 600. The testing groups were never as tight with 95's as 105/107/108's, but, their good enough. I did shoot 95's at 2950 for 500 a few times but my x-count was down.

The only problem with 95's at the long line is that 105BGR's are out there, that's a kind of magic. If we shot more 300M around here I might spend more time on loads and shoot them there. With a 6BR bolt gun and any decent 80-95gr bullet the problem is going to be your group size and group location for rapids.

load development for 6BR tube guns in HighPower - set 105BGR's at 2780 to 2800, take 0.4gr out of it for 107/108's and take 1.0gr out with 95's for rapids. Easy bolt lift, long brass life and good scores.