1000 yard load question.

[gunsnjeeps]

I'm looking for a sanity check on an idea and load. 5.56 at 1000 yards, most folks call it marginal but this is the plan this month. As I mentioned earlier today I'm going to shoot the 1000 after our National Match Course. I plan on loading Berger 80 VLD's over Varget. My regular load is a 77 SMK and 24 gr Varget in a CCI 400 primed WCC case. I haven't had problems with the primer but plan on using a Wolf Magnum for the 1000 yard load and trying both 24 and 24.5 gr loads.

As a sanity check, has anyone tried this load combination? I figure if this load doesn't work for 1000 yards I'll use the rest of the Bergers for 600 yard loads.

PS. Early apology if you read this in another thread. Some people only read 1 or 2 threads.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

I have a bolt rifle throated for 75-80 a-max but I have also been trying 80g berger’s and jlk’s to 1000. My rifles accuracy node is 24.8-25g varget with the 80g berger. It works, but gets a little hard to see impacts on steel past 700. Shoots inside of my 308 load with 175 smk’s...

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

Niles, thanks for the post. I was reminded in a thread that I didn't mention rifle. RRA NMA2, Wylde chaber 1 in 7 twist. I think 25 might be getting hot (for AR)but I think I may be on the right track.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

FWIW,

My findings on the bullets with BC highest to lowest are: JLK 80, A-max 80 and Berger 80 VLD. They are all real close. Bryan Litz's updated book list's it as the same BC as the a-max but it continues to use less elevation and less wind vs. the a-max when shot round robin...

 

[Mudcat-NC]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

You wont see me out at 1000 with a service rifle...so keep that in mind while reading this. You can shoot the AR at 1000, but its tough. heck, its tough enough going out there with a bolt gun and irons, (I dont even shoot my 223 palma gun at 1000!) and with the AR, its tough. Its hard to get the 80s running hard enough to be effective and at 25 grs, yeah, your going to be pushing the limits in the AR. I also dont fart around with vlds anymore as they are just too finicky at times and the 80.5 and 82 are better anyway.

Yes on the Wolf SRM primers...cant go wrong there, or try the 223 version, they are good too.

But, if it was me, I would be out there with something a little more robust than the ar in 223.

John

 

[memo43]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

Give it a whirl, my 1000 yard load for my ar is at 24.5 and 24.8
with an 80grn SMK with a 30 thousands jump.
to make it easier on the eyes I recomend the microsight.
go shoot them and post the results.

memo

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

Hey John,
I've been going back and forth on the 1000 yard try. See my old posts on the national match thread. Since our match fee covers the 1000 whether we shoot it or not all I'm out the cost of components to try it (and a little more barrel wear). I'm looking at getting serious at 1000 with a Savage but it's not together yet. Need a sight base and I'll probably get better glass. The bad part is I started with a .30-06 sporter and just wanted a new stock for it. Now I have a Palma long action stock and a .308 bull barrel. If I buy a new action I can get an Accu-trigger and build a second rifle.
Sam

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: memo43</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Give it a whirl, my 1000 yard load for my ar is at 24.5 and 24.8
with an 80grn SMK with a 30 thousands jump.
to make it easier on the eyes I recomend the microsight.
go shoot them and post the results.

memo </div></div>

Is that Varget or RE15? I'd hate to assume with powder. (Assumption is Varget. In this case they are in the same range.)

 

[Mudcat-NC]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

Now, by all means, if its shoot the AR at 1000 or nothing and you already have paid the fees, the only thing you are spending then is time and ammo money, I say go ahead and play. Just be ready for some not so stellar scores. Figure your avg 1000 yard score is going to be south of your avg 600 yard score.

Get that palma rig done and come out and play at Butner. LR is fun and makes shooting 600 seem like childs play.

John

 

[memo43]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

GunsJeep
Sorry the powder charge is with Varget.
My RL15 is 24.2 but have not shot it at a grand only at 600, it still shoots X ring height with me behind it.
hope it helps, have you gone to the Weapons Training Bn at Quantico to shoot with the club there. If I remember correctly they seem to shoot every weekend.
Hope this helps

memo

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

Thanks memo. I shot the Fleet Match up there in April. I'm going to try a couple of there club matches when I get a chance. I have to play with a couple of powders and see what happens.

 

[memo43]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

Guns Jeep no worries after all that is what we are here for, to help each other out. what powders are you looking at trying.

memo

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

Pretty much Varget and RL15. I've been shooting Varget in 5.56 for about a year, I have Reloader 15 but have only used it in .308. I've talked to a lot of shooters using RL15 and hadn't realized it was as popular as it is in 5.56. I worked up a few loads early on and haven't played with them since they work well. Since the standard answer was "just shoot your 600 yard load with an 80 on it" I figured I'd go with Varget but I've had a lot of input on RL15. I've also noticed that they are very similar but not quite interchangeable. I also have about 6 pounds of each. I found Berger 80.5s in stock last night so I'm geting them and I'm loading a few of both powders to find 2800 fps.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

I can't speak to the potential for success; but I will definitely suggest you go for it. You will learn things that can't be bought at any price.

Greg

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

Quick update. I found 80.5 Bergers at Sinclair. I should get them early next week. Since I don't have any primed cases with Wolf's I'll be doing flash holes on the ones I do this weekend. Not that I have low expectations but I'll be content to shoot a 160, I'm shooting high 460's XTC. Not quite consistant enough to get out of "expert".

 

[memo43]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

I also started working the flash holes for more consitant ignition.
Hey we all had to start somewhere score wise. I remember when it was a good day when I had less than 4 misses offhand. or 10 shots on paper during rapid fire.
we all crawl before we can walk/run.
what range (location) are you going to shoot

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

Norfolk County Rifle Range runs a match at US Training Acadamy. NCRR los their range several years ago to the state for an interstate extension. They shot at Dam Neck unti 9/11 and they lost access to the base. A couple of years agothey started renting a range one day a month for XTC matches. So we shoot a National Match Course, then the Long Range Match is ran after wards. Match fees are for the day to cover the range.

 

[memo43]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

so how far are you from quantico, there was alwaysa good group of guys there willing to help out. Anywhere from XTC, palma and long range shooting.

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

It's about 3 to 3 and half hours drive. Close enough I could get up early to drive up for a day or just far enough to make an overnight/weekend trip of it.

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: 1000 yard load question.

Finally shot my first 1000 yard match Saturday, 140-2X. I had a wind change I missed mid string cost me a couple of points. Between being on travel and weather, I missed the four scheduled matches this summer. The club added one on the 8th.

Thanks to everyone who helped or offered suggestions on a load. I ended up with this:

80.5 Berger
25 Grains Varget
Winchester (virgin brass)
Wolf Small Magnum primer
Velocity 2800 ish

Seating was the shank boat-tail junction at the base of the neck. (Long worn throat, never could seat to the lands.) I seated a little deeper than my my load development rounds were seated because of inconsistant velocity readings. I'll run a few over the chrono next week.