.308 - Sierra 169 SMK loads

[Sardious]

A few years ago, Sierra came out with the 169 SMK in an attempt to iron out the short comings of the 168 SMK especially past 800 yards.

Has anyone worked up any loads for .308 with the 169's that they have shot past 800 yards? Do share.

My pet load for .308 WIN 168 SMK's (300-600 yard) in a bolt rig is: 45.0 grn of VARGET, Lapua Brass, Wolf LR primers. 2.800" or mag length.
Barrel: 1-11 twist Bartlein (30") with 95 Palma chamber.

I hope to use the 169's with a similar load and have it print well at 1K. -S

 

[simonp]

I’ve honestly never tried the 169’s, seemed like a solution to a nonexistent problem to me.
600 yards - 168’s
600 plus parts - 175’s

What’s the appeal of 169?

 

[JMGlasgow]

Federal brass, 43.1gr IMR4064, 2.85 COAL. With a DA of 6200ft I'm dialing 8.3mrad at 1000. Muzzle velocity is around 2750 from a 26" Criterion barrel.

 

[supercorndogs]

I’ve honestly never tried the 169’s, seemed like a solution to a nonexistent problem to me.
600 yards - 168’s
600 plus parts - 175’s

What’s the appeal of 169?

Same BC as the 175, so you can push the same BC bullet faster with less recoil.

 

[supercorndogs]

I’ve honestly never tried the 169’s, seemed like a solution to a nonexistent problem to me.
600 yards - 168’s
600 plus parts - 175’s

What’s the appeal of 169?

Same BC as the 175, so you can push the same BC bullet faster with less recoil.

 

[nn8734]

I’ve honestly never tried the 169’s, seemed like a solution to a nonexistent problem to me.
600 yards - 168’s
600 plus parts - 175’s

What’s the appeal of 169?

A few years ago, Sierra came out with the 169 SMK in an attempt to iron out the short comings of the 168 SMK especially past 800 yards.

Has anyone worked up any loads for .308 with the 169's that they have shot past 800 yards? Do share.

My pet load for .308 WIN 168 SMK's (300-600 yard) in a bolt rig is: 45.0 grn of VARGET, Lapua Brass, Wolf LR primers. 2.800" or mag length.
Barrel: 1-11 twist Bartlein (30") with 95 Palma chamber.

I hope to use the 169's with a similar load and have it print well at 1K. -S

The 169 has a G1 BC of .527 while the 175 has a BC of .505...similar but the 169 is noticably flatter and handles wind better esp beyond 500m.

I shoot my 308s regularly beyond 800m with the 169 and it's a better performer than the 175 overall.

Load work up is the same as the 175 however you will be seating it a bit longer (or deeper if mag-limited) into the case. You shouldnt habe any issues with either standard dbms or adl/internal magazines. Use any powder that you have for the 175s with the 169sm(IMR4064, Varget, Reloader15, 8208, AA2520, etc).

Here's a direct comparison I did between them a while back:

Mk11 Mod 0 Load Development and Testing - 169g Sierra Matchking

Had a chance to load up and test the new 169SMK in my Mk 11 Mod 0. Overall, I like the 308 but found the 175SMK to be lacking consistency beyond 700m (that’s after I factor me as an average shooter out of the equation). I developed a few quick loads using Sierra’s new 169 Matchking and tested...

www.snipershide.com

I no longer shoot the 175s, have switched over to the 169s.

 

[Sardious]

Good write up!

 

[straightshooter1]

The 169 has a G1 BC of .527 while the 175 has a BC of .505...similar but the 169 is noticably flatter and handles wind better esp beyond 500m.

I shoot my 308s regularly beyond 800m with the 169 and it's a better performer than the 175 overall.

Load work up is the same as the 175 however you will be seating it a bit longer (or deeper if mag-limited) into the case. You shouldnt habe any issues with either standard dbms or adl/internal magazines. Use any powder that you have for the 175s with the 169sm(IMR4064, Varget, Reloader15, 8208, AA2520, etc).

Here's a direct comparison I did between them a while back:

Mk11 Mod 0 Load Development and Testing - 169g Sierra Matchking

Had a chance to load up and test the new 169SMK in my Mk 11 Mod 0. Overall, I like the 308 but found the 175SMK to be lacking consistency beyond 700m (that’s after I factor me as an average shooter out of the equation). I developed a few quick loads using Sierra’s new 169 Matchking and tested...

www.snipershide.com

I no longer shoot the 175s, have switched over to the 169s.

Likewise, I no longer shoot the 175's and the 169's are my preferred round. Last year I tried some of the new 177 SMK's as they're a new design like the 169's. The 177's also performed extremely well for me with their published BC of .545. As well as the 177's performed for me, I'll be sticking with the 169's for the most part, but am keeping a little supply of the 177's just for special occasions.

You might try the 177's an see what you think???

 

[nn8734]

Likewise, I no longer shoot the 175's and the 169's are my preferred round. Last year I tried some of the new 177 SMK's as they're a new design like the 169's. The 177's also performed extremely well for me with their published BC of .545. As well as the 177's performed for me, I'll be sticking with the 169's for the most part, but am keeping a little supply of the 177's just for special occasions.

You might try the 177's an see what you think???

Oh I have thought about it and, to be honest, fear I may like the 77smk too much, given how many 169s i have accumulated, haha...I may order a box and give them a whirl in my M40A5...I also have a boat load of 185 Jugs that Ive been meaning to mess with as well...

 

[AR-180]

I like 44.4 of Varget with a 169. I use Lapua and a CCI 200 or BR2.

 

[straightshooter1]

I like 44.4 of Varget with a 169. I use Lapua and a CCI 200 or BR2.

. . . at what COAL?

 

[Bobby Ball]

I had a really hard time trying to get them to shoot in my gun. I've run mostly 185 juggs, and 200's. I was really hoping to make them work, but it wasn't meant to be.
Having said that...
I had to pull the barrel shortly after due to finding it had an obscene amount of freebore, and my guess is that the only reason the 185's and 200's were shooting "ok" was the longer length of the bullet. I would give them another shot if I was going back with another 308 barrel, but I'm working on a pretty large rebirth in a different caliber.
I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying them. More than anything I'm bummed I couldn't make them work.