.223 - SMK, ELD-M favorite loads with 8208, CFE223?

[DownhillFromHere]

Guys, could I ask you to post your most accurate .223 loads (especially to include COAL) with ONLY the following components:

• 69, 77 grain Sierra Match King
• 75 grain Hornady ELD-M
• IMR-8208 XBR
• CFE 223
• CCI 400, -450

I'm struggling to find a consistent load for a fairly new build (Defiance Deviant, Bartlein 1:8, Timney Calvin Elite, MDT ACC, ZCO 5-27x56). I have substantial stocks of all of these components. Brass is once- or twice-fired Starline, AMP-annealed, FL resized to .002" bump after each firing, and trimmed (if needed) to 1.752 +/- .001. Barrel round count is 432.

ES values on my rounds are in the 20-30fps range. Charges weighed on FX-120i.

By "consistent," I mean 1/2 MOA or better with far fewer fliers. The photos (100-yard groups) exemplify my annoyance: 3 or 4 rounds of a 5-shot group are nice and tight, then one or two wander off someplace. This phenomenon has been consistent since day 1. Scope has been switched (Vortex Razor 4.5-27x56 to the ZCO; same behavior with both). This is a switch-barrel rig; I don't see the "frequent flyers" with the 6.5CM barrel&bolt - which would seem to greatly reduce suspicion of a chassis issue.

I have searched through the .223/5.56 thread in the reloading depot and have concentrated on IMR-8208 charges in the 23.0-23.8 grain range with the 75 and 77 grain bullets, with starting seat depth of .02 off the lands. Velocities 2890-2970 for 23.5-23.8 grain loads.

I did one test with 77SMKs and TMKs wherein I loaded 5 rounds each at .02, .05, .08, and .11 off the lands with 23.5 gr 8208. Best groups were at .02 and .08 off; both were just under half-inch at 100 - with one @%&*! flyer.

I appreciate your sharing your accuracy loads. It's frustrating to shoot three rounds into 1/2" at 300 yards and have the next ones land over an inch away in dead-calm, diffuse light (dusk) conditions! One thing I have not done is to have a trusted friend shoot my ammo in my rifle and see if anything changes...

5-shot groups at 100 yards. Grid is 0.36"

 

[Steel head]

77’s 23-24 grains of 8208 and #450’s is a pretty famous combination.
Watch the Erik cortina bullet jump video.

 

[bunsen27]

My 77 SMK 8208 load is 23.1gr seated a little under mag length at 2.245”. If I recall the 77SMK likes to jump.

 

[ICU22250]

Just seen this post and I'm interested as well.. I've got very few Prime 77 gainers left and am getting ready to start rolling my own. I have 77TMK bullets and some 75 grain ELD's to try. Powders are as follows

IMR 8208
TAC
H4895
RE15

I hope some more fellas jump in here with their findings and experiences...

 

[bunsen27]

Just seen this post and I'm interested as well.. I've got very few Prime 77 gainers left and am getting ready to start rolling my own. I have 77TMK bullets and some 75 grain ELD's to try. Powders are as follows

IMR 8208
TAC
H4895
RE15

I hope some more fellas jump in here with their findings and experiences...

If you are running this in a bolt gun (Wylde or 5.56 chamber) with MDT magazines, a 75gr ELD-M seated long (OAL-2.2545) over 25.2gr of TAC lit by a CCI 41 in Lapua or LC brass should get you 2975fps out of a 26" barrel with great accuracy. It's definitely 5.56NATO pressure so work up to it.

 

[ICU22250]

I am indeed running this in a bolt rifle, A Tikka T3X varmint in a manners with MDT mags.. I am tinkering with 8208 right now trying to get going..

 

[needham]

my OCW that I did showed:

23.3 node
23.6 as a scatter node
23.9 node

both nodes are 1.5% from the scatter and 3% from each other.
if you haven't ran an OCW, I would as soon as you can.

I load 23.9 gr of 8208xbr in lake city brass, topped with a 77 gr SMK with a federal 205mar primer. loaded to 2.255 to 2.260 oal
it's a solid 1/2moa load when I can hold 1/2moa.
ES is middle teens on average
SD is single digits

in my experience the 77smk won't change much in group sizing with seating depth change.
but it is worth a seating depth test as it will tighten ES and SD.
that's my experience, I know others have different mileage with seating depth with 77smk.

also this is in an AR15/gasgun

*LOADS DISCUSSED IN THIS POST ARE OVER BOOK MAX SO DON"T BLINDLY TRUST INTERNET FOLKS- WORK UP*

 

[ICU22250]

Thank you Needham, so far as high as I've been is 23.2grains of 8208.. I was thinking I read that was at book max, I may start to creep up in increments of .2 to get there and see what I find along the way.. Im using Lapua brass and CCi Br4 primers in my initial loads which had my ES at 36 and my SD at 15.2, im hoping I can decrease these numbers quite a bit and get SD in single digits. Thanks for your input...

 

[needham]

Thank you Needham, so far as high as I've been is 23.2grains of 8208.. I was thinking I read that was at book max, I may start to creep up in increments of .2 to get there and see what I find along the way.. Im using Lapua brass and CCi Br4 primers in my initial loads which had my ES at 36 and my SD at 15.2, im hoping I can decrease these numbers quite a bit and get SD in single digits. Thanks for your input...

indeed
My loads are over published book max with IMR8208XBR, but so is everyone else's.
you are correct that the publish book max is 23-23.2 grains.

It is common to find very good loads with 8208 topped with a 77smk between 23.0 and 24.0 grains.
I would take a wild guess and say close to 90% of the folks who load the 8208/77smk combo fall in that load range. mostly in the 23.4-23.8 range.
which is why most guys do their chosen load development method with 23 up to 24.

my barrel is a rainier arms ultramatch 18 in 223wylde for reference

you are close, so keep inching up until you find SAFE pressure for your gun.
as always, don't blindly trust me. work up and be safe!

 

[ICU22250]

indeed
My loads are over published book max with IMR8208XBR, but so is everyone else's.
you are correct that the publish book max is 23-23.2 grains.

It is common to find very good loads with 8208 topped with a 77smk between 23.0 and 24.0 grains.
I would take a wild guess and say close to 90% of the folks who load the 8208/77smk combo fall in that load range. mostly in the 23.4-23.8 range.
which is why most guys do their chosen load development method with 23 up to 24.

my barrel is a rainier arms ultramatch 18 in 223wylde for reference

you are close, so keep inching up until you find SAFE pressure for your gun.
as always, don't blindly trust me. work up and be safe!

I will indeed creep up and be mindful of safety. I appreciate your feedback and experience on the matter.. I may also play with seating depths once I get where its looking pretty good.. Thanks again needham..

 

[Chase214]

I'm shooting 75 amax with n140 seated at 2.411 oal out of a tikka sporter with 20 in barrel im getting .3 to .4 inch group at 100

 

[Skg_Mre_Lght]

My 77 SMK 8208 load is 23.1gr seated a little under mag length at 2.245”. If I recall the 77SMK likes to jump.

I'm right there.

My magic load for all of my precision ARs is:

LC brass
Rem 7.5
23.2gr 8208
77gr SMK and TMK

It's a magic load with both bullets.

 

[308sako]

So much depends on your chamber and throating of same. Then if a bolt rifle, the cartridges overall length and "jump" if any to the lands. I have had tremendous good fortune with the 23.2 grain & 77 grain SMK load in .223/5.56 chambers, but my Wylde experience's preferred 22.9 grains and was more precise in the end. As to a long throated Sako bolt action (M85) when shooting the Hornady 75 grain ELD-M's loaded extremely long, but just short of the lands, more than a grain more powder is required to give the same outstanding results. So as always, work up and enjoy the discovery and mastering of the art.

 

[ICU22250]

Thank you fellas, I appreciate all of the first hand knowledge and I'm looking forward to some more rounds on paper sometime this week.. The 223 is just a pleasure to shoot, and so much fun... Too bad all of our reloading supplies are drying up....