MK262 Black Hills anyone successfully clone it?

[B_Thomas]

I have a M12 mod 1 clone with 1/8 twist 18" barrel.

My MK262 recipe is same lot LC brass trimmed to 1.750". Chamfered neck ID & OD. CCI 450 primer, 23.75g Varget , 77g SMK with cannelure. .003" neck tension Seated to 2.260" with a light neck crimp. Scope dial up at 600 yards shows velocity around 2800fps.

 

[Park ranger]

You can get 2850 fps with a 77 in a 20” barrel. Around 24.5 or more , say 25.0 of AA2520. Just toss the brass afterwards

 

[Milo 2.0]

Never try to duplicate a factory load. Every one i know blends their powders.

+1 And don't rule out a flame retardant in their mix that we as reloaders don't get in the powders we buy.

 

[Rtheurer]

+1 And don't rule out a flame retardant in their mix that we as reloaders don't get in the powders we buy.

I agree with both of these Gentlmen. The Ammo Manufactures work with the Chemists at the Powder Manufacture to create a blend of powder that is not available to us in canister form. Might be close.. But not exactly, despite what it may or may not look like. St Marks in Florida does a lot with the smaller company's supplying them with the needed blended powder.

 

[memilanuk]

Bullets were welded in- dissimilar metals. Next time if you run them in deeper by a few thou in a seater die theyll come right out.

Negative. And yes, I did try that - once I found a seater die I wasn't worried that they would freakin' split the stem on. Didn't work. Not my first rodeo, even back then.

 

[nonnieselman]

What do you think about lapua .223 brass? I’ve been told it can be scrappy(compared to their other calibers). If you were getting 2775 then you were faster than 262.

Its been good stuff so far. But ive found out that processed Winchester brass shoots the same for a whole lot cheaper. Now to see which wins the longevity race. Ive got about 8 reloads on the Lapua brass and 5 on the Winchester.
I get a weird flyer with the Lapua brass every now and again though.

 

[Milo 2.0]

Negative. And yes, I did try that - once I found a seater die I wasn't worried that they would freakin' split the stem on. Didn't work. Not my first rodeo, even back then.

I can't imagine any ammo mfg not crimping 223 or .556 loads, selling to the masses, broad spectrum from knowledgeable down to plain idiots.

 

[Canuckenstein]

So I had a moment today,went on Ramshots website. I looked at their burn rate chart and noticed that TAC and H335 are on the same level as far as burn rates. Anyone else try this powder for heavy bullets in the .223? What were your results? Pressure signs,velocities, SD,ES and group sizes? Thought I would ask before I rush out and buy a pound.

 

[riflewoman]

I’ve avoided H335 for years due to its temp sensitivity and lot to lot variability. Used WW 748 instead. It was slightly better in sensitivity and better lot to lot.

So, all that said. I’d look more towards CFE 223 and Accurate 2520 if I wanted a ball powder and to match the velocity of Mk262. If you want an extruded powder.. ARComp and 8208 but it’s at the high end. Varget and RL 16 might also work...

This guy has been testing a lot of loads to clone 262.

 

[Milo 2.0]

I hear this cloning crap more and more, I'm lost on the train of thought. Why not just make a load that works? Sounds like one gun to load for. I have a number of AR 223's, my one load happens to work well in all the rifles, was it planned, no. Then again, the accuracy I demand may not be that of others.
If the need to clone is because factory ammo shoots so much better, I'm going to say all the avenues have not been addressed.

 

[riflewoman]

I don’t understand the cloning deal either. Mk262 has a MV of 2750. Trying to reach that velocity with canister powders might be doable might not. But you can reach 2700 easily with several powders and still have good velocity and brass life not to mention not overgas the gun. Unless you’re gonna shoot 1000 yards you’ll never miss the 50 fps, and there are better bullets for 1000 anyway.