Velocity vs Accuracy and the SPR/MK262

[2ac]

As I'm working up a load for my Centurion Arms barrel I keep coming up with questions. In anticipation of receiving my upper I purchased a good amount of TAC. I was thinking I'd load up some MK262 clones, but I thought I'd try some 69gr mk's first. All I can say is that I'm less than impressed with the results, which leads to one of my questions.
When you guys are loading your "clones", are you going for velocity over accuracy? Now I know I haven't given the 77 grainer a try yet, but TAC and 69gr's aren't really producing anything to write home about. And I can't imagine much of a difference would be expected with the 77gr projectile.
I do believe the 69gr and the barrel do have potential. It was shooting .75 MOA it's first time out using Varget, without really trying too hard.
So to sum up my rambling, what should I be expecting for accuracy if I keep trying TAC? I'm not so concerned with max velocity, I'm more interested in the accuracy potential of my barrel. I'm also only shooting to 200 yards, with maybe a chance to triple the distance now and then.

 

[BCP]

Re: Velocity vs Accuracy and the SPR

Loading "clones" is a waste of time. People who do that are spending money to try to duplicate a load while missing out on genuinely good loads for their rifle that could be found via traditional load development.

What is your 3/4MOA varget load?

 

[2ac]

Re: Velocity vs Accuracy and the SPR

Without looking at my targets, as I'm not at home, I think it was 24 or 24.5.

 

[Raider Power]

Re: Velocity vs Accuracy and the SPR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BCP</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Loading "clones" is a waste of time. People who do that are spending money to try to duplicate a load while missing out on genuinely good loads for their rifle that could be found via traditional load development.

</div></div>

I couldn't have said it much better. I might use the same or a similar bullet, but I do a full load work up on it to find what combination it shoots the best with in my rifle.

My loading philosphy is to run the most accurate and highest velocity loads that my rifles will shoot. With the caveat that im not gonna load a .22-250 to .223 velocity just to shoot bugholes. I generally follow book max, but I have a few rifles that will tolerate/prefer slightly hotter loads. With the rifles I load for, I generally find an accuracy node at or very close to max load listings.

 

[Beef82]

Re: Velocity vs Accuracy and the SPR

I've had acceptable (MOA) results with TAC in .223/5.56 and .308, but in the significant amount of testing I've done loading both cartridges with various bullets I have never found any remarkable (1/2MOA or better) loads. I do love how well it meters though, as such I've delegated it to high volume loading. Varget and RL15 are my go to powders for heavy projectiles when utmost accuracy is the goal.

 

[big45guy]

Re: Velocity vs Accuracy and the SPR

My best loads for 69g smk's have been with N133 and followed up by Varget

 

[308sako]

Re: Velocity vs Accuracy and the SPR

xxx

 

[mark5pt56]

Re: Velocity vs Accuracy and the SPR

I tried to duplicate that dang load one time as well-don't waste your time. I spent way to much effort on it, time and beating my head against the wall. I also ran into pressure issue trying to get there. I ended up using Benchmark with a lower velocity than Varget H4895 and it was the most accurate in my rifle.

 

[Huckleberry75]

Re: Velocity vs Accuracy and the SPR

Quite a few guys run the 77's with 24-25gns of Varget. It is a warmish load, but pretty common, especially for service rifle matches.

 

[2ac]

Re: Velocity vs Accuracy and the SPR

I'm going to work on fine tuning the Varget load with a 69 & 77 gr SMK. As the chamber is cut for that projectile, I'm pretty confident I'll find a nice load. I have one more TAC load to try but that's about it. I'm more interested in aiming small and hitting small over hitting hard.

I'm still wondering though, what kind of accuracy are the MK262 loads producing?

 

[ssatt68]

Re: Velocity vs Accuracy and the SPR

It has all ready been said in this thread, but it is worth saying again. Your load should be as fast as you can get it without sacrificing accuracy or blowing up the gun. Velocity is essential to long range accuracy, becasue it is flatter and provides for less wind drift. I have a few service rifle loads on the 77 SMK. 24.4 (compressed) of Varget, 24.5 of AA 2520, 24.4 of R-15 and 23.6 of 8208 the all run the 77 smk over 2750 fps. The 8208 load is the fastest 2820fps and is also the most accurate. 8208, AA 2520 meter the best. I load my 223 in a progressive press and still get fairly low SDs out of the gasser.

 

[jbailey]

Re: Velocity vs Accuracy and the SPR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 2ac</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm still wondering though, what kind of accuracy are the MK262 loads producing? </div></div>

I'm not a MK262 expert, but I would say 0.75 to 1.0 minutes at 100 with a well made SPR and good driver. Some guys and guns can produce groups under 0.75, but probably not consistently in the real world (as opposed to the internet world, were if you aren't sub 0.50 with your SPR AR, you are a joke). With a bullet that wind drifts around as much as a 77gr SMK however, the difference between a 0.50 minute and 0.75 minute group is really not significant; your ability to read wind totally overwhelms any precision advantage of the smaller 100yd group.

If you are getting 0.75 minutes consistenly from your clone load, I would say "go forth and shoot it!"

 

[mark5pt56]

Re: Velocity vs Accuracy and the SPR

've pulled sub 1/2moa with the actual 262 loads, generally, .75 was a norm.

Some HP folks used to or still may pull the heads from M855, dump powder and recharge with their powder and top off with match bullets. They did this for the crimped primers so they didn't blow them out. They of course were getting the M855 for "cheap"

 

[hofhine1]

Re: Velocity vs Accuracy and the SPR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 2ac</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

I'm still wondering though, what kind of accuracy are the MK262 loads producing? </div></div>

I did a little work on this last summer (I think) see the results here.....

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...924#Post2717924

I had them just under an inch at a hundred with my service rifle, and was easily beating that with my own loads. Most of the serious shooters that are <span style="font-style: italic">issued</span> that ammo will not shoot it at the 600 line, but generally post some impressive scores at the 200 and 300 lines with it.

I've had great results myself with TAC in a 308, which leads me to believe I could make it work in an AR platform, but I've pretty much settled in to the WC844 mode, it works for everything I want to do to 400 yards with an AR.....And it's cheap.

But 24.5 of Varget behind a 68 or 69 match bullet should run circles around 90 percent of what you buy off the shelf at the hardware store.


sean