Sierra 183 1k testing?

[Alex Wheeler]

I am curious if anyone has data on these 183s. I will eventually get to shooting some in a 8.5 twist 284. Just wondering what they liked for seating and if you did anything to them like trim or point.
Thanks

 

[Kyle Schultz]

Mine are .004" off (jumping) zero as determined using your methodology. FalconPilot reported anywhere from 0.005" in to 0.005" off was the sweet spot. I like the bullets a lot.

 

[Cowtownup]

I've got a box but I've not loaded any yet.. Interested in this thread...

 

[BT1]

I have tested them at both 600 and 1000 yards. 3 shot groups at 600 last time out were very impressive. .6 to .7" vertical. These were jumped 20. Past tests at 1000 compared to Berger hybrids were not as good. This latest 284 barrel really likes them at 600 and I will have more test data in a week or so at 1000. The overall shape of the point is very consistent, bearing surface and weight differences are also = to Bergers. I would say the points are = to or better than the trimmed and pointed Bergers I usually use. I hate trimming and pointing bullets. A 1000 takes for ever.

Steve

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Steve,

I traded some to Alex. Looks like the price just went up.

Tom

Too late!

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have tested them at both 600 and 1000 yards. 3 shot groups at 600 last time out were very impressive. .6 to .7" vertical. These were jumped 20. Past tests at 1000 compared to Berger hybrids were not as good. This latest 284 barrel really likes them at 600 and I will have more test data in a week or so at 1000. The overall shape of the point is very consistent, bearing surface and weight differences are also = to Bergers. I would say the points are = to or better than the trimmed and pointed Bergers I usually use. I hate trimming and pointing bullets. A 1000 takes for ever.

Steve

Steve did you sort these at all? What twist barrel?

 

[alf]

I am curious if anyone has data on these 183s. Just wondering what they liked for seating and if you did anything to them like trim or point.

I shot them in a 27" 8.5" Kreiger chambered in a 7X300 WM at 3150 about .020" in the lands. No measuring or tinkering, just load & shoot.

Mine didn't like off at all. I have taken them to 1825 yards.

Visual comparison:

120 BT - 140 BT - 162 Amax - 168 VLD - 180 Hybrid - 183 Matchking

 

[alf]

120 BT - 140 BT - 150 BT - 160 Sierra - 162 Amax - 168 VLD - 180 Hybrid - 183 SMK - 195 Berger

 

[Mulligan]

Tag

 

[BT1]

Steve did you sort these at all? What twist barrel?

Right out of the box! If they do hold up at 1000 I will just sort BTO, 0.001 grouping, not by weight. 9 tw, 32" finished length, Krieger. My K284 reamer with the long 0.220 throat (thank you) There is no way I would trim and re-point. The pictures shown above do not show the near perfect points on the entire lot of Sierras. Good picture, but it does not do the 183's justice. Don't get me wrong, I will still be shooting the 180 Bergers trimmed and pointed (Hoover tools) until these 183s show me they can hold up on the longer trip down to 1000.

Just to keep the record straight this is the 180 Berger Hybrid 600 yard ladder with the same loads same day of H4350. These also were right out of the box no sorting. Getting lazy.

 

[BT1]

Steve,

I traded some to Alex. Looks like the price just went up.

Tom

I can be bribed to publish false information.

Steve

 

[Alex Wheeler]

So long as @Jay Christopherson doesnt catch wind of this. I need to make up for my lack of abilities with superior tuning. Thats the plan anyways.

 

[Cowtownup]

Here is what I've found at just 100 yard testing and labradar chrono results...

Straight 284 (.316 neck .225 FB)
30" Barlein 8.7 twist 1.25" straight
H4831sc & BR2 primers

My load for the 180 Bergers is 55.0 grains at .010 jump they average 2790 fps

The 183 SMK at same charge weight 55.0 grains at .010 jump they averaged 2762 fps

The velocity on the 183's plateau from 54.8 - 55.2 and then start to climb again at 55.4 and I've seen the least amount of vertical as well as the smallest groups at 54.8-54.9 grain charge. My rifle is shooting in the 3's with about 1/4" of vertical right there. It does not show signs of pressure at 56.1 grains where is just does get over the 2800 fps mark.. I'm wondering if I should try them a little faster to see what it does. Also, I've not shot these past 100 yards so I'm not sure what effect some range will have on the 183 SMK..

 

[Cowtownup]

Mine are .004" off (jumping) zero as determined using your methodology. FalconPilot reported anywhere from 0.005" in to 0.005" off was the sweet spot. I like the bullets a lot.

Further testing today in 90 degree weather showed similar results for me. Jam .005 and touch shot in the 3's and jump .005 shot low 2's.. This is at 54.9 grains of H4831sc somewhere around 2765 fps...

 

[BT1]

Finally got out to test the 183s at 1000 yards. They do hold up and actually performed better at 1000 than expected. 51.7 H4350. The 51.6 that I had great results at 600 did not do as well as 0.1 gn more. Just shot 4 shot groups at 2 different charges and 3 different seating tests. Don't ask why 4. That is how many I had primed in the bag. I can live with 1.25" of vertical at 1000. Now if I could only shoot for shit I would be golden

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Finally got out to test the 183s at 1000 yards. They do hold up and actually performed better at 1000 than expected. 51.7 H4350. The 51.6 that I had great results at 600 did not do as well as 0.1 gn more. Just shot 4 shot groups at 2 different charges and 3 different seating tests. Don't ask why 4. That is how many I had primed in the bag. I can live with 1.25" of vertical at 1000. Now if I could only shoot for shit I would be golden

Steve, maybe pull that one off and save it for the Nats. Or just send it to me

 

[17VLD]

Randy Dawson and I were shooting the 183 Sierras out of a straight 284W
in Tennessee at 2000 yards from a Stiller actioned 30" 9 twist barrel,what was of great interest to me was the Sierras shot 3 MOA flatter than the 180 Berger hybrid at that distance.The Sierras are all that and a bag of chips.
Matt

 

[kvd]

Further testing today in 90 degree weather showed similar results for me. Jam .005 and touch shot in the 3's and jump .005 shot low 2's.. This is at 54.9 grains of H4831sc somewhere around 2765 fps...

Cowtownup,
I've also had best results with 54.9 grains of H4831sc and the 183 SMK's. With BR-2 primers in a 30" Brux barrel I'm getting slightly higher average MV at 2810 fps. These were seated 0.015 off in a 7 SAUM.

Ken

 

[Cowtownup]

I shot one relay with the 183 SMK's this weekend at 600 yards and shot 199-7x... I shot unpointed 180 Hybrids the remaining 2 relays and shot 196-7x and 195-7x.... The one point I dropped with the 183's was just out the right side and lost only a couple points with the bergers due to elevation.. Conditions were good so I was hoping for a better X count, but I'm still getting use to the straight 284...

 

[Mulligan]

Just shot a ladder test this morning with the 183 SMKs, 54.8-55.0 of H4831sc looks like the sweet spot, in my .284 also.
CW