SMK 175 FTR speed node?

[LVLAaron]

I have several thousand SMK 175's - Looking to use them in my FTR gun.

What are the common speed nodes for a 30 inch barrel?

 

[MikeMcCasland]

2700-2800 are where I ran them when I was playing around.

 

[LVLAaron]

2700-2800 are where I ran them when I was playing around.

So probably approximately the same load as a Juggernaut give or take a few tenths.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Yeah. I couldn't get them going as fast as I thought I'd be able to. I figured I'd be around 2850, but they were showing pressure before then.

I actually found my best accuracy right at 2700 with Shooters World Precision, and 2750 IMR4064. Admittedly I was just "messing around" with an old R700/McM A5/30" Bart cut with my FTR reamer, thus not burning up Varget, H4895, or N150 shooting these. You may be able to shoot them faster.

I shot a few cleans at 500 with them, but when the wind started picking up in the 3rd match, it became painfully obvious they weren't a 20x. I remember finishing my string and watching a buddy who was shooting 210 JLKs and the difference in the same condition was night/day.

I think at 300 they'd probably hang.

Shot best .028" off. .180fb chamber

 

[Liven The Dream]

2750 has worked well for a 30" 1-10 Krieger Barreled Rifle ?
The Guy Behind it got a Long Range Master Card in his First 3 day Match ?

Used Varget

 

[MikeMcCasland]

2750 has worked well for a 30" 1-10 Krieger Barreled Rifle ?
The Guy Behind it got a Long Range Master Card in his First 3 day Match ?

Used Varget

Getting an LRHM in F-T/R with a 175 SMK is insane. Like running a 4:00 min mile in flip flops.

Edit: Misread. Thought you said high master. Still, that's impressive.

 

[No.343]

I'm glad you asked this question. I'm down to less than a box of Juggernauts, but found some 175gr SMK.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Getting an LRHM in F-T/R with a 175 SMK is insane. Like running a 4:00 min mile in flip flops.

Edit: Misread. Thought you said high master. Still, that's impressive.

Mike,
I assembled the rifle for Him, I was not me shooting.
Now this may get you , The Bullets were the Green Tip 175 , the Chamber was a Full Bore Reamer ?
The Shamrock or Horse Shoe fell out later.

 

[D-4297]

Been getting low on Juggs , and was looking at the 175 SMK or the Lapua 185's . Sounds like I'd be beatin my head against the wall with 175's at BA , though . And for those who have shot at BA , no explanation is needed . On a side note ; I'm running my 185 Juggs at 2740 - 2760 with IMR 4064 out of a fairly new Krieger 30" , 5r , and getting closer to those HM scores . A 197 - 13x last time out . And now bullets are becoming a problem . Only shot 3,100 rounds this year , too . Money in the bank for bullets and no bullets . Last year ; no money , and bullets everywhere .

 

[XTR]

The 175 SMK is am old design. One of my team mates once described the 2155 Palma bullet as a tugboat, the 175 is in the same class. I seem to recall needing in the range of 36 MOA to get to 1000 with them when I first started.

 

[lb-ft]

I’m surprised to hear of the excellent success several have had with 4064 and 185s. I love that powder in many rifles but I’ve only gone up to 175 class in the 308 as I figured 4064 was a touch fast for anything heavier;

 

[Ned Ludd]

It's been a while since I used them, but my recollection is that the Berger 175 OTMs over Varget should tune in somewhere in the 2775-2800 fps range for 30" barrel. By comparison, 185s would consistently tune in between ~2720 and 2730 fps with Varget. Obviously, different powders/primers/case volumes will affect the exact tune velocities.

For those that mentioned they are getting short on 185s, I would strongly suggest you take a look at the Berger 168 Hybrid. I have seen these available on numerous occasions in the last 6 months at various vendors. The 168 Hybrid will usually work well in any chamber well-suited for shooting Juggernauts, but will seat slightly farther out in the neck. The 168 Hybrid is an interesting and rather unique design. It is rarely possible to drive a lighter, lower BC bullet fast enough to overcome the BC deficit it will typically have to the next higher weight class of bullets, without running into pressure issues. However, it is possible with the 168 Hybrid. This is because the 168 Hybrid has an extremely high BC for its weight class and it is possible to run pointed 168 Hybrids using H4895 to approximately 2900 fps from a 30" barrel in Lapua Palma brass. At this velocity and the BC obtained by pointing them (~0.280-0.285 G7 BC in my hands), they are predicted by ballistics calculators to actually outperform by a small margin the external ballistics of a typical load with 185 Juggernauts over Varget at ~2720-2730 fps. The performance of the 168 Hybrid will far exceed that of the 175 SMK. Obviously, the most important factor being that the 168s have generally been available in recent months. If you're running low on 185s, you might consider trying the 168 Hybrids.

 

[CNC-Dude]

I've tried shooting the 175 SMK's and have only gotten a best score of 190-6X at 300 with them. I thought that was OK, until I shot some 167g Lapua Scenar and scored a 199-6X. I'd be curious to see how the 175 SMK's do at longer distances, but this gun is primarily for use in shorter range competitions. I may try them again, or use them as a backup. Not disappointed by any means, just found the 167g performed a little better. Lapua brass on both 167g and 175's and VV N150 in both also.

 

[mauser284]

Load and shoot you will find it when you find it. The idea of shortcutting the process based on nodes is not reality for most and is often wrong in practice.