I'm thinking of going in a different direction with my bolt and M1A rifles. Getting away from the 175s and going with the 155 Sierras and Bergers for less recoil and flatter trajectory at 600yds. Are these bullets generally more finicky or harder to make shoot well? Any tips or pointers you could give to help smooth my transition would be appreciated. Thanks!
- Thread starter Fatelvis
- Start date
There are 2 Sierra 155's, the 2155 (old Palma) and 2156 (new Palma). Get the new Palma, it has a much better BC. In my rifle, both it and the Berger 155.5's shoot very well, at least out to 600 yards, which is the distance at the ranges I shoot at.
Do they need to be seated close or touching the rifling?
Every rifle shoots different. I have a 1:12 barrel and the Sierras are loaded .035" off the lands and the Berger's .070" off. But, again, that's in my rifle.
I would recommend doing a ladder test with them to see where your rifle shoots them the best. Powder and primers also makes a difference. I use 8208 and Wolf primers. Others use Varget, etc.
It is extraordinarily difficult, if not impossible to touch the lands with these bullets with a standard chamber. A Palma chamber will enable you to get close. The shape of these bullets has the ogive set back very far in relation to the length of the bullet. If you seat them long, your surface bearing area will be very little, and the bullet will almost come out of the case with little effort. I seat mine with an OAL of about 2.87", and I'm still jumping 0.1" to the lands. The good news is that these particular bullets do very well when they jump.
Care to elaborate? Inquiring minds want to know...
About the ex-girlfriend or load?
I found them to be very easy to load, i use imr 8208xbr and seat them deep. They have to run fast though, mine do best around or above 2900 fps.
When I did my research, I saw a lot of people loading them for M1As with great success.
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When I did my research, I saw a lot of people loading them for M1As with great success.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
You "load" the ex-girlfriend, I am curious about the loading of the cartridge.
To FatElvis: I have had my best results with N140 under the 2155, 42.5-43.5
don't overlook the 155grn Lapua Scenar, they shoot excellent too.
xdeano
xdeano
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Good point...
Once fired Winchester brass from my chamber. Bumped shoulder back about a RCH using a Wilson Gauge. 46.5 grains Varget, CCI BR-2 primer, seated to 2.800" OAL.
Rifle is a Rem LTR, 12 twist, 20". Only mods I did to it is Timney Trigger, bed the action, and shoot through a TBAC can.
I don't know my velocity as I don't have a chrono. I seated a bullet to just touch the lands, then measured to the ogive using a PTG Comparator Nut. Seated the Palmas to 2.800 to fit into the internal mag, and measured the difference in ogive length for a .23" jump. This method is not as precise as other methods, but this is all I have, so the .23" is as close as I can get.
This load recipe is pretty standard for 155 grain projos. I use the same for the 155 Amax and it works well also.
As always, work up to it and watch for pressure signs. Long throat on the Remmy allows me to run this with no pressure signs. Your chamber may be different.
Hope this helps.
Bill
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Thanks much WB300!!
To FatElvis: Bolt, SPS Tac, haven't tried it in M1a yet, but I intend to.
To FatElvis: Bolt, SPS Tac, haven't tried it in M1a yet, but I intend to.
What's your recipe with the 4895? I have a 12' twist Win 70 HBV and love 4895 in my 308 and 223's.
