SMK tipped 77 grain ?

[rebs]

I haven't found load data for this bullet in 223 cal for a bolt gun. Not even in sierra manual. Is anyone shooting these that can give me a starting point ? I have Varget and Reloader 15 powder.
Maybe the same load as regular 77 smk's without the tip ?

 

[Texas10]

Sierra warns that the bearing surface on the TMK is longer than the SMK so adjust charge (downward) accordingly. 22 grs of Varget to start, work up slowly. CCI BR4 or Fed 205M-AR for the harder cups if you see cratering issues without signs of pressure.

 

[newbieshooter]

I haven't found load data for this bullet in 223 cal for a bolt gun. Not even in sierra manual. Is anyone shooting these that can give me a starting point ? I have Varget and Reloader 15 powder.
Maybe the same load as regular 77 smk's without the tip ?

posted several years ago - probably still applies today?: https://sierrabulletsblog.com/2015/06/22/do-you-have-load-data-for/ (2nd paragraph)....

 

[T-shooter]

I played with them in an AR15. 23.5 to 24.0 grains of Varget and I set the overall length to the tip at 2.300" as that is the maximum my magazines can take. They shot in a range of 2,450 to 2,515 fps from a 16" barrel with a 5.56 chamber. No pressure signs seen at those loadings.

 

[T-shooter]

Just noticed that you are using the tipped version. I was not.

 

[Kurz]

Here is the data from Hodgdon's website:



When I shot some tests with the heavier Sierra bullets up to and including the newer 95 grain, I found that most of the published data was far too simplified and amazingly low quality. This is typical as represented above.

The powders I found to have the appropriate burn rate and performance were Alliant AR-Comp and IMR-8208XBR. One of the best is still an old school powder, IMR-3031, but being a stick powder it can be tedious getting it into the case...

Varget and Re-15 are too slow with Varget being very dirty. This doesn't mean that they won't provide some form of performance but there are far better choices.

 

[rebs]

Thank you for the replies

 

[10XSHOOTER]

24.1 Varget or RL-15 with a 77gr bare bullet. 24.5 of either with a Moly bullet Kinda like a Timex, Takes a lickin and keeps on a tickin"

 

[Thor357]

I haven't found load data for this bullet in 223 cal for a bolt gun. Not even in sierra manual. Is anyone shooting these that can give me a starting point ? I have Varget and Reloader 15 powder.
Maybe the same load as regular 77 smk's without the tip ?

I realize this is a post from 2 years ago but I just recently got into reloading for my AR15 using 77gr. SMK's.
Also I am aware that you are asking for load data for a bolt action that you wish to shoot 77gr. SMK's out of.
This book is among the most complete for .224's that I have come across (Amazon).
Here is what I found. Nothing for what your OP asked but maybe this can help?

 

[Jeff Porter]

I shot a few hundred of the TMK in a 20" Service Rifle using my normal SMK load of 23.2gr 8208 at 2.250" a little slicker in the wind at 300 and 600 but not enough difference in the scores on a big Highpower target to make up the extra cost.

 

[Bamban]

25 grains of N540 from a lightened NM 20 inch barrel, the 77 TMKs are devastating on whitetail deer. Harvested a couple last year, surprisingly bang-flop in the boiler room.

 

[Walt Krafft]

Another zombie thread comes to life.

 

[Bamban]

Another zombie thread comes to life.

lol..