Speed vs Accuracy

[2ac]

I've just completed a load for my AR, 1-7 18" Douglas barrel. I used 24 gr Varget with a Nosler 69 gr comp bullet. Yesterday was the first time I ran it through my new Chrony and it seemed a bit slow. I'm getting around 2619 fps avg. I was hoping it'd be a bit faster.

Is what I'm trying to get at is this. Do you settle on a little less velocity if it's shooting well for you? Or do you compromise a bit on the accuracy for that added velocity. All it's realistically going to be used for is punching paper and the like. And for now I'm only shooting out to 200 yards.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: Speed vs Accuracy

Accuracy. Your bullet isn't too slow, you can still push 600 with it. What good is a fast bullet if it doesn't hit where you want it?

 

[725franky]

Re: Speed vs Accuracy

It's not about what everyone tells you to do, it's all what you want. Accuracy vs speed is a question you have to answer for yourself (hope that doesn't sound too harsh).

Accuracy = better groups.
Speed = less wind drift and less drop.

My opinion:

If you are only shooting to 200 yards right now, only worry about the accuracy.

 

[Tx_Flyboy]

Re: Speed vs Accuracy

I'm a velocity whore...that's y i dont like varget. That, and because it meters like toothpicks.

If you want more velocity, try RE-15, CFE223, Alliant 2000MR...these powders will net you 80-100+fps faster, but at tge expense of temperature instability.

Lastly, your charge of Varget is rather low. A known accuracy node for 77gr SMKs is 24.5gr Varget at mag-lenth...this yields a velocity in the high 2600s and low 2700s.

For your 69gr pills, i would continue working up if you want to stay with Varget. Work up in .2-.3gr increments until you see pressure signs, then choose the highest velocity accuracy node below where you saw presure.

 

[cav.scout]

Re: Speed vs Accuracy

Velocity is not the end all be all. That being said use what is most accurate in your rifle, if your not shooting a K all the time there is no need to compromise on accuracy. The only reason I chrono is so when I get a new lot of the same powder I can match the velocity of the old load. My loads with a medium charge of varget do just fine at a K. If you want super fast loads they may shoot flatter and have less wind drift but accuracy will most definitely suffer. There are very few rifles that shoot great with max loads.

 

[hdbiker1]

Re: Speed vs Accuracy

Speed vs accuracy is a balancing act depending on what you're going for, as said above. I'm using the Sierra MKs and 25.3 gr of Varget for 2850 fps out of a 20" Kreiger. That is the accuracy load as stated in the Sierra manual. This load for me is very accurate (my standards). On a good day in the 5's, but on average 6-7's for ten rounds.

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Speed vs Accuracy

as fast as accuracy stays around 1/2 MOA.

 

[boltgunluvr]

Re: Speed vs Accuracy

Velocity is pointless if your bullet is not accurate. But a chrony can be handy for comparing powder lots, different brass, etc. And there seems to be a few people that dont understand this philosophy. This is "old school."

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: Speed vs Accuracy

What good is speed if you can't hit what you are aiming at?

Inside 1000 yards (850 yards for the 168 SMK) velocity is just a number on the elevation and windage dials. It is only when you are reaching out as far as the cartrige/gun can that velocity has any real bearing on shooting.

 

[2ac]

Re: Speed vs Accuracy

Thanks guys, most everyone seems to agree that accuracy comes first. This has also been my feeling. I too don't see how it matters how fast it's going if you can't hit anything with it. I was hoping that's what the consensus was.
It just seems that velocity gets more attention than accuracy. Now that I have a good accuracy round I'll play around with a velocity load. I have a couple other powders laying around to play with. Anyone have any suggestions for AA2230, TAC, or 748?

 

[00bullitt]

Re: Speed vs Accuracy

My thoughts on the Velocity versus Accuracy question are this:

Velocity has its place when engaging unknown distance targets that are ranged with a reticle. Your hit threshold will be higher if you have more velocity. (e.g. - you have to be .05mil accurate in your mil reading when ranging a 10" target to get a hit with a .308 shooting a 175SMK at 2600fps at 500 yards)

When you are engaging targets at known distances, velocity is not so relative. Accuracy becomes king until you bring wind in to the equation.

Velocity has its advantages when wind comes in to play. Les ToF(time of flight) means less time that wind can affect the flight path of the bullet.

I'm also a believer that it is possible, through some work, to obtain accurate velocity. It may take experimentation with various powders and projectiles, but it is very possible to arrive at a load that is extremely accurate with a good function of velocity.

At the end of the day, I prefer velocity with a strong function of accuracy. I will however give up 1/8moa for more velocity. I have many of my loads that are capable of 1/4moa at a lower velocity, but I am willing to accept up to 1/2moa assuming I achieve a targeted velocity.

On another note, a great alternative to Varget is Hodgden Benchmark. Try 24.5gr. of Benchmark under a 69SMK for a good accurate velocity node. It produces 287fps out of my 18" Lothar Walther barrel. It is very fine cut extruded powder so it meters excellent as well and temperature stability is phenomenal.

 

[tigerfan_9]

Re: Speed vs Accuracy

Well my comment/question would be that accuracy and velocity aren't mutually exclusive. Everyone is saying what good is velocity if you can't hit what you are aiming but that's like saying bc you go up in velocity you go from .25 moa to 2 moa or worse. What if you could increase 50-100 fps and go from .25 moa to .5 moa?

 

[rusty815]

Re: Speed vs Accuracy

I am kind of the opposite of what everyone here is saying, I am more inclined towards velocity, but that is not to say I don't take accuracy into account either. I do load development until I hit pressure signs, then I look to see what the most accurate load with the highest velocity was, and then I go with that. That is why most of my loads are really hot, I find very accurate loads with very high velocities.

I do a lot of long distance shooting, both hunting and target shooting. When hunting, we can see shots anywhere from 10-1000yards in southern California. I need an accurate, flat shooting round to take shots at that distance (I am confident in my accuracy at that distance to take a reliable shot), which is why I need the highest velocity. I also do target shooting at 600-1200yds, maybe once a year I try going further, so velocity is important.