Ar-15 Service rifle loads

[260Remshtr]

So now that I've broke down and spent the money on building a high-grade service rifle, where should I start looking for accurate loads? In particular powders, primers, and brass. I will be shooting 77SMK, and 80SMK

Here's what I was thinking, and if anyone wants to correct or suggest go ahead...
H 4895 with Remington or WW Primers, and Winchester brass. I might use 2520 or Varget because I've had decent luck with both of them.

Any help is appreciated,
Thanks,

 

[Taildrag15X]

My CLE likes Sierra 77 gr. Match Kings (either one) over 24.1 grs. R-15, LC brass (sorted if for more than 300 yds.) Federal or CCI primers and loaded to mag. length.

I use 69gr. MK's for practice and the reduced 100 yard course Matches over 2230 and pump them out by the thousand on a Dillon 550, again LC brass and either of the prior mentioned primers.......

Running a 1/8" twist Krieger barrel with Franks chamber that's throated for the 77/80gr. Sierras.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

In my WOA, 75 hpbt Hornadys out shoot and out b.c. the 77 smk. And they are way cheaper. Mag length over 23.5 gr or rl-15, cci primer. .5 moa. Please work up, as this load is warm.

 

[servicegun]

There are plenty of powders and combinations out there but most folks are using either RE-15 or Varget with their 77 and 80 smk's. I use 24gr of RE-15 for both bullets. Lake City brass is hard to beat but Winchester and Remington will work fine too. Good luck!

 

[rminut]

I used 23.0g of H4895 with 68-80g bullets and had excellent results. I also used 24.0g RE15 but I thought the 4895 shot a little tighter. Both powders meter well too.
Lots of piercing problems have been reported with the newer WW primers. I would stick to Remington or Wolf Magnums.

 

[sbrabec]

Re15 or varget, lake city brass and wolf srm primers.

Scott

 

[audredger]

I would recomend CCI 41 primers... designed for the 5.56 loads

 

[cmillard]

brock, you know what i would tell you. LC brass, wolf primers, varget or aa2520 and some 77 bergers and 80 bergers.

 

[Erud]

Don't over think it, this wheel was invented a long time ago. If I bought a new Service Rifle upper today and needed to shoot a match with I tomorrow, I'd be perfectly comfortable loading 77 SMK's to mag length in any brass with (most) any primers and 23.5 grains of either Re-15 or Varget. If I didn't place well I certainly wouldn't blame the ammo.

Could you find something that would shoot a little better? Probably, but how much time do you want to spend and will you actually see a difference once you are slung up? Keep in mind that you are shooting from positions with a post-sighted rifle at a 2 MOA 10 ring. There are VERY few people that would be able to tell the difference between a 1/4 MOA load and a 1 MOA load while shooting this sport. Sure, you'd see it from a bench, but it won't matter when your off-hand string starts...

Good luck,
Erik

 

[hoverp]

My national match RR, with the factory Wilson barrel, and the carrier weight system from Tubb, loved the Nosler custom competition 69, for 200, and 300 yard events and shot really well at 600-1000yards with the 80grain. Didn't like the 77s at all.

My load I settled in on for both bullets was 24.5 grains of RL-15, Lapua brass, and Remington 7 1/2 BR primers.


Simple to remember and load for and shot lights out.

The Nosler CC are very good bullets with a J4 jacket. I think they are under rated and under used, try some, tell me what you think!

Good luck

Patrick.

 

[hoverp]

Not to start a flame but I respectfully disagree, with guys that say accurate enough, you cant tell the difference.

rifles shoot cone patterns, and I for one want the most accurate smallest I can have so when I make less than the perfect held shot, I reduce my chances of dropping points, if I'm on the edge of the 10 ring but I can hold in there then that's when I want to know I'm giving myself the best possible chance to reduce those that fall out side that .

All within reason of course, I don't neck turn my Lapua brass, but if it was over .001 runout I would. Confidence on the line with your ammo is a good thing.

When I put the thing on the thing and pull the thing, I want to know my bullet is going to go where I released it. To the best of my ability.

Again, not flaming on at all.

V/r

Patrick

 

[rminut]

Patrick,
I think what most Distinguished rifleman would say is that the ammo is a smaller part of the equation than people realize. What is the difference in my believing that 24g of RE15 and no brass prep is good enough to clean the 600 and you telling yourself you need to do all the tricks. If I believe it, then that is all the confidence I need.
It has been proven time and time again that RE15 with a out of the box 80 SMK will clean 600. I've done it and many dozens more have. Every couple of hundred rounds the thoat changes anyway, do you retest then?
I always wonder why people dwell on this stuff. any ammo will have a random error from perfect center and that cannot be controlled so until you can regularly shoot cleans, with 50% X count, at 200 rapid and 300 you will never see a point gained from .5 moa ammo. It's the smallest part of the equation to across the course HM. I guess knowing that 7 on the target is within .25 moa from where you pointed the rifle, instead of learning to point the rifle in the X ring, has some consolation?
What can I say i've earned two badges without once testing ammo, what do I know. shooting HM scores now without ever testing. Smallbore prone is another matter, I do agree different lots matter, even at 50 yards. But! in SB prone if you are not shooting X's you are losing the match, that is a lot different mentality than NRA HP.

 

[jhord]

I'm with Patrick, but I can see both sides. If you are HM and can "hold X ring" all day long, you have nothing to worry about. But if you can only "hold 10 ring" then it is a mathematical fact that you would drop points, 1MOA ammo vs. .5MOA. I agree that shooting skill trumps all, but if you can seek an advantage with ammo, and have the time/inclination, then why not? Points are points.

 

[nwflycaster]

While I agree that the ammo does not make the shooter better, I know from experience that the ammo can destroy your score. I'm in the process of load testing now because of this, I won't be spending the time to get 1/4 minute groups as that won't matter so much, but a good quality load that I know that I can count on to hit where I execute the shot, good or bad.

 

[westerngrizzly]

When I was shooting Service Rifle, I used multiple loads.
In the beginning I used 24.0 grains of Varget for both. then I ran low on varget and used 23.5 grains of VV N140 for 600 and varget for the rest.

Once I got more varget, I shot 24.5 grains of Varget with a 73 grain Berger and an 82 grain Berger. The rest of the California Grizzlies used almost identical loads. We set the record and won the rattle battle with a 75 grain hornady BTHP with 24.5 grains of varget.

I started with the winchester primers, but pierced so many (2-3 per day) that I switched to the Rem 7 1/2 and never pierced one again.

And breaking a good shot matters way more than the ammo.
Matt

 

[cmillard]

brock is a high master f-class shooter so he knows all about accurate ammo.