Recommendations on .223 loads with 77 Sierra MKS?

[Jayman_10x]

I had an AR .223 built a couple years ago. Very accurate, Krieger Heavy barrel w/1:7.7" twist. I've found great accuracy loads with 69's for target shooting and just as accurate w/55's for prairie dogs. I am looking for a slightly heavier target bullet and have heard the 77's are optimum for that twist rate. Any suggestions would be appreciated thanks

 

[mac86951]

I've got tons of 77 load information posted in old threads, you should find them with a search. I found AR Comp to be a good powder, or N140 if you have a 24" barrel. Otherwise anything in the Varget/H4895 burn rate is good.

 

[Jayman_10x]

Thanks, I will do a search

 

[waldo1979]

Jay, I use the 80gr SMK with N135 in my 24" 1:7.7 Krieger. This is the load that compass lake recommended. IIRC, my load is 23.0gr in lake city brass with a BR4 or Tula SR mag primer and Compass lake uses a 23.3gr charge with old Winchester primers. The 80gr has a much higher co efficient over the 77gr. Great long range round.

Keep in mind that a faster twist doesn't neccarially require a heavier bullet for stabilization (the opposite is however true). For inside 200yards a 55gr Hornady Zombie Max has given me amazing performance. Also, my go to round for 300 yards is a 75 grain Hornady HPBT.

Check out Zediker's competition hand load book. He has a whole section on bullet weight selection with an emphasis on .223.

 

[waldo1979]

for lighter bullets I use Benchmark. For heavier bullets I use H4895, N135 or Varget. reloader 15 and CFE 223 work in a pinch but produce much more carbon.

Also, I forgot to mention the 80gr SMK w/ 23.0 gr if N135 fills the case and is right next to max pressure. So I'd only use it if you're squeezing out every last bit of performance. The 75gr Hornady is my go to now, it has great performance and a great price.

 

[Cold Bore]

I use 24.5 grains of Varget, WSR primers, and LC brass.

 

[Jayman_10x]

Jay, I use the 80gr SMK with N135 in my 24" 1:7.7 Krieger. This is the load that compass lake recommended. IIRC, my load is 23.0gr in lake city brass with a BR4 or Tula SR mag primer and Compass lake uses a 23.3gr charge with old Winchester primers. The 80gr has a much higher co efficient over the 77gr. Great long range round.

Keep in mind that a faster twist doesn't neccarially require a heavier bullet for stabilization (the opposite is however true). For inside 200yards a 55gr Hornady Zombie Max has given me amazing performance. Also, my go to round for 300 yards is a 75 grain Hornady HPBT.

Check out Zediker's competition hand load book. He has a whole section on bullet weight selection with an emphasis on .223.

As stated I have had excellent luck with 55 BK's and 69 MK's. Consistently shoots 0.15 moa or less with the 55's and the 69's I got to shoot between 0.1 and 0.04 moa at 100M! I was going to try some testing with the MK 77's, with CFE 223 powder which is what shot the 69's so well. I've noticed a tremendous difference using that powder and the very little fouling it leaves, which makes me inclined to think barrel life should be a little better as well

 

[Jayman_10x]

I use 24.5 grains of Varget, WSR primers, and LC brass.

Thanks! Not opposed to trying Varget, if it shoots it will be the first accurate Varget load I've found in any of my rifles. Maybe its just my luck with that powder, as most shooters tend to have at least a few good accuracy loads with Varget

 

[Das Capitolin]

Thanks! Not opposed to trying Varget, if it shoots it will be the first accurate Varget load I've found in any of my rifles. Maybe its just my luck with that powder, as most shooters tend to have at least a few good accuracy loads with Varget

Varget is a favorite on the Internet, but there are far better powders that put much less wear on the throat. Personally, I think it's a poor choice for 223. Message me the following and I'll send you a propellant table:
* Cartridge/make: (eg: .260 Remington, .308 Winchester, .270 Savage)
* Bullet weight/make: (eg: 140gn Hornady BTHP Match, 168gn Sierra Match King)
* Rifled barrel length: (do not include muzzle brake or compensator length)
+ Cartridge overall length: (if known - otherwise cartridge specification used)
+ Maximum case H2O capacity in grains: (if known - otherwise typical capacity used)

 

[Cold Bore]

Varget is a favorite on the Internet, but there are far better powders that put much less wear on the throat. Personally, I think it's a poor choice for 223.

My experience, in my rifles, says different.

But I've only put many thousands of said rounds downrange, using Varget to win more than an insignificant match or two, while earning my Distinguished Rifleman badge, so what do I know....

 

[Das Capitolin]

My experience, in my rifles, says different.

But I've only put many thousands of said rounds downrange, using Varget to win more than an insignificant match or two, while earning my Distinguished Rifleman badge, so what do I know....

Other than getting upset over my personal opinion of a powder followed by being downright condescending, it remains to be seen what you know.

 

[chkunz]

I had an AR .223 built a couple years ago. Very accurate, Krieger Heavy barrel w/1:7.7" twist. I've found great accuracy loads with 69's for target shooting and just as accurate w/55's for prairie dogs. I am looking for a slightly heavier target bullet and have heard the 77's are optimum for that twist rate. Any suggestions would be appreciated thanks

For a 1:8 twenty inch WOA barrel and 77 SMK and 80 SMK bullets I got the best combination of accuracy and velocity with N140, MR-2520, RE 15 and H4895. I shot several ten shot groups with each. I got significantly less velocity with Varget so I did not pursue it for accuracy testing.

 

[aloreman]

i can tell ya in a service rifle load development is a waste of good barrel. Load what everyone else does and the guy who holds hardest wins.

 

[chkunz]

i can tell ya in a service rifle load development is a waste of good barrel. Load what everyone else does and the guy who holds hardest wins.

The OP did not say service rifle or match rifle, my load testing was with an AR in the match rifle configuration. I was looking for the best combination of accuracy and velocity with the AR in the match rifle configuration. I did testing with 20 and 26 inch barrels. The results I obtained for the 20 inch barrel would have been comparable to the AR in the service rifle configuration, the only difference would have been in the sights, I was using a scope. I do not know if the results I obtained would have been different from "what everyone else does" but they were the best I could achieve with the rifle configuration I was testing and may be of some value to the OP. I assume that the OP is a "hard holder" like you and I.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

My compass lake likes rl15 and 75bthp hornadys. Should work for a 77 as well

 

[Jammer Six]

Never heard of "holding hard". Well, not in shooting.

 

[aloreman]

Holding hard is a term used by iron sight sling shooters

 

[Cold Bore]

Never heard of "holding hard". Well, not in shooting.

Go to a Service Rifle match, and you'll hear it.

" He's a hard holder".

 

[Liven The Dream]

R-15 24.5 Rem. Cases Fed 205M 69 Sierra 75 Hor. 200 &300 yards 80 80.5 82 for 600 yards .020 jump
worked in every 1-7.7 Wyle chamber I ever had.
And I was in the Winners Circle many time .
Hard to make the wheel round, it has been done already.
Good luck .

 

[skidmarks]

I have a WOA 18" SPR 1-7 twist that really likes 77 gr SMK's and 22.4 gr of Tac. Shoot it regularly at 600 and have stretched it to 800 but starts to fall apart for me beyond 600.