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.223/5.56mm load data 77gr SMK

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04cobra

Private
Minuteman
Jan 22, 2010
7
1
41
California
I have been searching this forum for about 30min and I can't find what I am looking for. Hopefully someone can help me here. I have some 77gr SMK that I am loading for my AR-15 with a 18" bull barrel 1-8 twist. My gun loves the buffalo bore .223 77gr 2900fps ammo, so I am trying to copy that load. I currently have 4 different powders I bought for experimenting this load, they are:
BLC-2
Accurate 2230
Reloader 15
Ramshot TAC
Does anyone have load data using any of these powders that they got good results with. Thanks in advance for the help.
 
Re: .223/5.56mm load data 77gr SMK

I am at Tac's max listed load with a 77 in my 18" Ar and all I can get is 2650. I did bump it up as much as 6 tenths and my groups didn't open up to till 4 tenths with a velocity of 2710. Getting the 77 to 2900 is a tough feat and I don't see a big advantage. With my load I get 3/4" groups and I would prefer accuracy over a little velocity. I have a friend that tried VV540 and he got his to 2775 at 2 tenths over with an 18" AR and the groups were still good. But going 5 tenths over was pushing primers out. Good Luck.
 
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Re: .223/5.56mm load data 77gr SMK

24.0 of RL15 or TAC is common load for hipower shooters with the 77smk. Dont think its going to do 2900 even in the 20" or even the 24" barrels in a 223. It should be lightly compressed already in the RL15. 2230 is considered a faster powder, and would be better suited for the 52-55gn bullets, not the 69-80's in the 223.
 
Re: .223/5.56mm load data 77gr SMK

Thanks for the input. Accuracy is my main concern, I would like to get as much velocity out of it as possible with out sacrificing accuracy. I have a 850 yd target that I like to plink at with my ar every now and then so I could use the extra velocity.

Just out of curiosity, what do you think the chances are of me calling up buffalo bore and asking them if I could buy 8lbs of their powder??? Is that something they might be willing to sell?
 
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Re: .223/5.56mm load data 77gr SMK

Mussman,
How much h4895 are you using?
 
Re: .223/5.56mm load data 77gr SMK

24.5 grains of AA 2520 gives me an avg vel of 2835 FPS out of an 18 inch RRA. I could bump it some but settled for this as a safe load.
 
Re: .223/5.56mm load data 77gr SMK

Just found that 22.5 Varget and a 77 SMK work better than any other load in my 24" Lilja 1-8. Also 22.0 Benchmark and 77 SMK or 69 SMK come in a close 2nd. Will try loads with Blc(2) this weekend. Sorry I dont have anything shorter with enough twist for 77 SMK
 
Re: .223/5.56mm load data 77gr SMK

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">22.5 Varget and a 77 SMK</div></div>

Any ideas on your velocity with this load? I know 24.5gr gives me around 2700 out of a 20" barrel, so I would guess this load in a 24" would be around 2550 or so.
 
Re: .223/5.56mm load data 77gr SMK

Lyman says about 2590 but i haven't checked them yet. I was just extremely impressed with accuracy. I am going to try to speed them up a little and see what happens
 
Re: .223/5.56mm load data 77gr SMK

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jason280</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">22.5 Varget and a 77 SMK</div></div>

Any ideas on your velocity with this load?<span style="font-weight: bold"> I know 24.5gr gives me around 2700 out of a 20" barrel, so I would guess this load in a 24" would be around 2550 or so. </span></div></div>

If you get 2700fps out of a 20" bbl, the same loade out of 24" bbl will give you a faster velocity.
 
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Re: .223/5.56mm load data 77gr SMK

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 7x57</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Dont think its going to do 2900 even in the 20" or even the 24" barrels in a 223. </div></div>

AS a reference, I have chronoed Atlanta Arms 77 gr. AMU load at 2850 from a 20 service rifle, and 3010 from a M700 5R 24 inch barrel. Proprietary powder we can't get of course. The MK262 Mod1 has been about 100 fps slower in my rifles. All out of the AM ammo now, best I can get is right at 2700 in a 20 inch AR with 77's and 24.5 of N150, LC cases Wolf SRM primers.
 
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Re: .223/5.56mm load data 77gr SMK

No they chrono at about 2800. With my frieds 20" barrel he gets about 2860-2870.
The primers always looked fine.
 
Re: .223/5.56mm load data 77gr SMK

on my 18" 1:8 Douglas barrel, I use 25.1 of Varget and that's crushing the powder some. Seated mag lenght. My average Velocity was around 2675 using CED M2 chrono. No signs of pressure.
 
Re: .223/5.56mm load data 77gr SMK

<span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">69gr. Sierra Matchking</span>:</span>
24.5gr. Varget
22.3gr. Benchmark
25.0gr. H-4895
25.5gr. BL-C(2)
25.2gr. Win748

<span style="font-style: italic">All with Winchester brass and Federal 205M Primers, OAL 2.260"</span>

<span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">77gr. Sierra Matchking:</span></span>
23.5gr. Varget
23.4gr. RL-15
24.0gr. BL-(2)

<span style="font-style: italic">All with Winchester Braas and Federal 205M primers, OAL 2.260"</span>

Using 18" WOA 1:7 Twist barrel
Using 16" BCM 1:7 Twist barrel

These loads have worked well for me but it seems the Varget and RL-15 is the better of them.



























 
Re: .223/5.56mm load data 77gr SMK

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you get 2700fps out of a 20" bbl, the same loade out of 24" bbl will give you a faster velocity</div></div>

You didn't read the posts. I'm using 24.5gr out of a 20" barrel to get 2700, he's using 22.5gr in a 24" barrel (thus the lower velocity).
 
Re: .223/5.56mm load data 77gr SMK

I am getting 2780fps with 25.8gr of Varget in a 20" wylde chamber with no pressure signs. The same barrel on the same day gets 2830 from TAP 5.56mm which I am trying to duplicate. Accuracy remains around 1 MOA.

I will be trying to go a little hotter in two weeks perhaps up to 26.6 if the accuracy holds and no pressure signs exist. Not sure if the LC brass will hold that much, as they are already slightly compressing the powder at 25.8gr.
 
Re: .223/5.56mm load data 77gr SMK

With 24 grains of TAC powder I am getting around 2670 fps from a 16" 1 in 7" Douglas barrel. When I tried 24.2 grains I started to see some pressure signs on the primers.
 
Re: .223/5.56mm load data 77gr SMK

2830 out of a lilja 1-8 16incher. No pressure signs. Holds just under MOA using an ACOG.

23.8 H335
LC brass
77smk with canular, no crimp
wolf small rifle mag primer
2.25 coal
 
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