AR @ 1K with e-targets

[bpm990d]

So how many of you have had good results? I've shot 90 Sierras at 600 with great results, but according to the AB app, with CDMs, the 90s are going to be subsonic unless they get launched at 2600fps. We were getting the velocity with PP2000, but the accuracy was just not there. It was ok but nothing to write home about.

Has anyone had good results with the 80gr Hornady ELDMs? Looking at the AB tables (also with CMDs) they should be comfortable supersonic at 1k with a MV of 2700fps, which was easy to get to with N140. We also had good accuracy.

The reason I'm asking, is the AB app shows the Hornadys should be supersonic, but the Hornady Ballistic calculator on their website, shows that they will be subsonic at 1K. I was using the 4DOF option, which should be more precise, but with the same parameters as I put into AB, it's saying they will be well below subsonic.

If I was shooing on paper this would be a non issue, but with e-targets it would be no fun having nothing register at 1K.

B

 

[jrh84]

If it's warm (80 deg +), the 80 elds will work. The 88 elds or 90 VLD will give you more velocity margin at 1000.

I've tried the 80's and had good luck (at least getting shots to register) one day, and not so good luck the next. Some of it depends on how the wind is blowing too, but that's a .223 @ 1000 yards issue in general, not specific to ARs.

You've obviously got to be comfortable loading over book max to achieve these velocities, but it sounds like you're aware of that already.

Others have said it, but I'll repeat it....it's kind of a waste of time, but several of us do it anyway, and it's fun, so go for it. I just lower my expectations and am happy with anything close to a 190 on the sling target with my service rifle.

Good luck!

 

[Jeff Porter]

20” service rifle AR or longer barrel?

I competed this weekend in a Palma match with a 223 AR Match rifle 26” barrel with a +2 gas system using 88 ELDM bullets on e targets with no issues. 2800 FPS with a LARGE amount of 8208 in LC brass. It was over 1300 at 1000 with decent SD at the target in high winds.

 

[bpm990d]

Hey thanks for the replies. Nice shooting Jeff, those ELDM's getting launched at 2800fps? How confident are you in the MV, did you verify it with a chronograph or work your way back from the terminal velocity? Also what was the temp on the day of the match?

I forgot to mention that it's with a 20" Service Rifle. If I had my way, we would shoot a Berger 90 VLD, but this gun has a 1/7 twist and the VLDs are marginally stable with that twist rate. The Sierra 90s are over 1.5 SG however, and the 80 ELDMs have an even higher SG.

I have shot successfully at 1K with bullets that had an SGs below 1.5. Years ago I tried Berger 175gr VLDs in a 1/13 twist Palma Rifle with surprisingly good results, but I don't think the juice was worth the squeeze with that experiment.

Anyways, this is for a buddy of mine. He has a SR and wanted to go shoot 1K and then when I realized it was on e-targets I got nervous about the terminal velocity.

 

[Jeff Porter]

It back calulated to 2800 ish from the Etarget twice. Once on a cold day at 100 yards and Sunday at 70 degrees, 40% RH at 700 ft. ele. This is in a 7 twist too.

You may need an H3 buffer and or a CWS in the BCG to get 80's to work on a warm day. Try the 88. I was pleasantly surprised. My first 10 shots at 800 were a 99-8X... then I got behind the wind ..