“Other than” 168 & 175SMKs in the M1A?

[fatelvis]

Does anybody use Berger’s Hybrids or Vlds, or something else for stellar accuracy in their M1A? Anything other than the age old SMKs? Please share your load info. Pleeease?! Lol

 

[fatelvis]

Ok, is anybody using “other than SMKs” in a AR10 or other semi-auto 308?

 

[BigWyoming]

I am using 155 AMAX in my M1A - not necessarily for accuracy, but it's what I had. They do shoot pretty well with an initial loading. I might tune with them going forward.

 

[Metal God]

Not really sure why the questions being asked because I don’t have an M1A but let me assume they’re famous for not being that easy to get high accuracy from? .

If that’s true and/or accurate my guess is the ogive of the Sierra match King‘s is where the sweet spot lies . Which in turn means VLD’s are not likely gonna do well . The custom competition bullets tend to be a tick cheaper than Sierra match King‘s and are basically the same thing . I get acceptable results from the Hornady BTHP’s . Not really as good as Sierra match King‘s but pretty good for plinking for accuracy .

The thing that I found when it comes to sincant or tangent ogives and I forget which is which off the top of my head sorry drawing a blank . They both can be worked up to be quite accurate but one of them takes a little more effort with seating depth and charge weights .

If you want quick easy to find accuracy in a semi auto , Stick with Sierra match King’s or custom competitions and IMR 4895 . I never have a problem finding a pretty darn good load with that combination Regardless of Firarms

 

[Doom]

For what purpose are you looking at different bullets? Hunting, Long Range Accuracy?

For the M1A, I'm sure that someone is using something other than SMK's but I doubt many are using anything us old people call exotic. The rifle and cartridge were designed together for 150-173/5 grain tangent ogive bullets seated to mag length and with a gas system designed for a fairly narrow range of powders. VLDs are probably not going to shoot well. Hybrids might or might not. Probably the the best "new" design is going to be the 169 SMK which eliminates the stability issue with the 168.

As for AR-10's, much of the same reasoning applies although the gas system is more accommodating to a wider range of powders.

 

[fatelvis]

For what purpose are you looking at different bullets? Hunting, Long Range Accuracy?

For the M1A, I'm sure that someone is using something other than SMK's but I doubt many are using anything us old people call exotic. The rifle and cartridge were designed together for 150-173/5 grain tangent ogive bullets seated to mag length and with a gas system designed for a fairly narrow range of powders. VLDs are probably not going to shoot well. Hybrids might or might not. Probably the the best "new" design is going to be the 169 SMK which eliminates the stability issue with the 168.

As for AR-10's, much of the same reasoning applies although the gas system is more accommodating to a wider range of powders.

I wasn’t even aware that Sierra had a 169 SMK out. Interesting…
Can the 169 be loaded to magazine length, without crowding powder capacity?

 

[Doom]

I wasn’t even aware that Sierra had a 169 SMK out. Interesting…
Can the 169 be loaded to magazine length, without crowding powder capacity?

That depends on you, the powder, the charge weight you select, and what kind of velocity you are trying to achieve. By the nature of its design, with a tangent ogive and a longer boattail, it will be longer than a 168SMK but shorter than a similar weight secant or hybrid ogive bullet.

I haven’t shot these but I don’t load for over 600yds so the 168 works for me.

 

[Bamban]

Does anybody use Berger’s Hybrids or Vlds, or something else for stellar accuracy in their M1A? Anything other than the age old SMKs? Please share your load info. Pleeease?! Lol

Yes, with my double lug guns service rifle legal I used 168 Hybrids for 1000 yard matches. Can't go wrong with the Hybrids. They fly well.

For rack grade, or factory "match" guns, not set up for higher pressure loads, I would limit the gun with irons to mid range matches and have fun.

 

[danny]

I have been using Berger 185 Juggernaut Target projectiles for a while now.

Danny

 

[Straightshooter1]

I wasn’t even aware that Sierra had a 169 SMK out. Interesting…
Can the 169 be loaded to magazine length, without crowding powder capacity?

I've acquired 2,000 rounds now (couldn't resist the price they've been selling at ) as the first batch has done very well for me at 200 yds. so far as I've been working at tuning up some loads to shoot long distance as their BC of .527 and the velocities I'm getting show they should do well past 1000 yds. The powders I've used for 168's are working well for the 169's. I've sorted through all of them and from these different lots the bullets OAL's run 1.288 - 1.317" with some outliers on either side. . . just to give you some idea. So, they're not only longer than 168's, they're longer than 175's too.

 

[fatelvis]

Not really sure why the questions being asked because I don’t have an M1A but let me assume they’re famous for not being that easy to get high accuracy from?

Actually, the M1A platform is pretty easy to get to shoot well with the age old loads using Sierra’s 168 and 175SMK bullets and 4895 or 4064 powder. They are proven loads, but I was wondering if anybody ventured out from them, possibly using bullets with better Bcs, or that performs even better than the old standbys. It looks as if there ARE possibly better options!
The 169SMK looks to me as a possible perfect match for the M1A. Without loading it too hot for the rifle, it allows the same velocity as the 168, but improves its long range and wind bucking performance. You gotta love modern bullets!