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77gr SMK Possible Powders

G

GUNENTHUSIAST

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 8, 2010
297
20
SE PA
I have a couple thousand 77gr SMKs, LC brass just got delivered today after 6 months on order and have pleanty of 41 primers. I have a fresh 8# of W748 I was hoping to use but cant find any load data for the 77gr bullets. I have about 4# varget but not enough to load all 2000 rounds. I cant find any varget in stock anywhere!

Any idea where I can get an 8# of varget or what other powder I can use?
 
Varget or RL-15 are the two most popular powders for the 77s among HP Service Rifle competitors. V-V N140 or N540 are also very good choices and should give you a bit better velocities. The W-748 is a pretty decent powder for the 69s, but it seems a bit more touchy with the heavier 77s and 80s.
 
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Although not listed by Hodgdon, Give a try between 22.5 and 24.0.

The 748 should work well.
 
20" Barrel. Bullet seated to 2.260 OAL

21.4 Min - 23.6 Max loads, Winchester SM Primer, Lee Factory Crimp

My MV would not be realistic for you due to my elevation.
 
rdsii64 said:
.......
My goto powder for all my centerfire rifles is AA2520.
Click to expand...
What temps are you shooting the 2520 at ?
I have some and am afraid to take a bunch prarie dog shooting next month where no shade and high temps prevail.
Not to hijack, relevant.
 
8208XBR. I have had good results. The guys that have shot a ton of it have said its "boring" in the groups it consistently puts out.
 
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I've been shooting 77SMKs with N140 out of an 18" SPR for about 5 years now with excellent results. I was initially trying to build a load that would get me close to 2800fps, which is a challenge, and I found Varget and IMR4064 a bit too hot. RL15 gave me good results but they weren't as consistent as N140, so I stuck with the latter and did some refining. It's not something you'd obviously want to plink with, but for precision 5.56 shooting, it's a great combo.
 
I will be shooting these out of 10.5 in and 14.7 in gas guns with 1/7 twist barrels if that changes anything.
I have a few pounds of AA2520, 1 pound of 8208xbr and a few pounds of varget. I have 8 pounds each of 748 and surplus 844t.
The bullets were not cheap so I don't want to load with a powder that won't be ideal for the 77gr like the 748 seems to be.
I was hoping I could find a powder thats available, performs well, and meters in a Dillon 1050 to save me many hours.
 
Just like stated above, 8208XBR in that charge range. Very stable and consistent. RL15 also groups well for me, but is 100fps slower than the XBR.
 
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I have had good luck with both RL-15 and IMR 8208,I use 24.2 of Rl-15 and 23.3 of IMR 8208.Both shoot real good groups .The IMR 8208 is more Temp stable.

Regards,Mike
 
With the short barrels, the XBR 8208, 748, & 844T should all work well. You're never going to get great velocities which is what some of the slower burning powders like Varget and RL-15 would help with.

IMR or H-4895 would probably work well too.

Another good powder is Ramshot Tac but good luck finding any. I've been watching for a while for it.
 
8208 Sucks! I would go with something else ( seeing how we are in the same area that mean more for me ). All kidding aside 8202 is my go to powder for the 77's. I don't have any sbr's yet but in the 18" ar it shoots lights out. 23.1 gr loaded to mag length puts me just a tad under 2700 fps. I did get some CFE but haven't had time to test it yet.
 
I've had good results with both Varget and CFE223 behind the 77 SMK. CFE223 is easier to drop since its a ball powder and doesn't need to be packed down like Varget.
 
I'm trying to decide whether it's worth trying to run down some CFE223. Does anybody have any experience with the temperature sensitivity of the powder? We get some pretty significant temperature changes in Texas, and I don't want to have a situation where a load shoots really well in the summer OR winter.

I have an H380 load for a .22-250 that is driving me crazy with this issue right now. I really want to avoid it with .223 loads if possible.
 
I've been using Ramshot Tac and it has been working pretty dang well. You can push 77s a good amount faster with it and it meters very well.
 
AA2520 was know for quite a few years as "perry powder" as in camp perry, works very well with 77's, only reason I use RL15 now is the 2520 is one of the filthiest shootin powders I've used, an I've had the same fabulous results with rl15
 
BoilerUP said:
8208XBR...23.2-24.0gr.
Click to expand...

I went to the upper end of that range (which is a good bit above book charge) with NOS 77gr and averaged 2667 out of a 16", using an adjustable gas block pinched back a click or two outwards of reliable bolt lock back.
 
Thanks for all the good replies!

Well due to the total lack of availability of anything else it looks like I will have to load my 2000 77gr SMK with w748 since its the only powder I currently have enough that I can load them all. I really hope I am not wasting these bullets!

I'm thinking around 23 grains. This should prevent the Dillon from throwing over Sierras max load of 23.4. Any thoughts?
 
748 should meter well in your Dillon. I cant answer which powder you should use as Im not reloading .223 yet but I am very interested in this post and what you find out.

I just shot some factory Nosler ammo using a 77grn custom comp bullet and it shot really well out of my 1/7, 16 inch LMT. I plan on using 77 either SMK or Nosler CC's when I do tool up for .223.

My point, your safety margin of .4 grains is smart but if 23.2 shows better results your Dillon drop is really good with ball powder. My S1050 drops W231 ball for my .38 spcl and .45 ACP needs really consisently.

Stick powders I drop and trickle to desired weight.
 
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I have and it's in the right speed range for that bullet. For me, it was a little too dirty. YMMV.
 
BL-C2 works very well for that application, and the accuracy is acceptable. Not the most accurate powder but BL-C2 seems to be a bit more available at least in my area. Yes it is a bit dirty but that is why they make those guns so damn easy to clean.
 
GUNENTHUSIAST said:
Thanks for all the good replies!

Well due to the total lack of availability of anything else it looks like I will have to load my 2000 77gr SMK with w748 since its the only powder I currently have enough that I can load them all. I really hope I am not wasting these bullets!

I'm thinking around 23 grains. This should prevent the Dillon from throwing over Sierras max load of 23.4. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Fixin to throw 2000, I would spend two range days and shoot the OCW type drill. Learn something and seat a couple thousand you will get good accuracy from.
 
dentout said:
Resurrecting this thread a year later to see how some of the 8208 and W748 loads turned out.
Click to expand...

My results as posted in http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...depot/498-loads-223-5-56-a-7.html#post3253067

18" noveske with 8208, 77cc @2.257" Winchester cases and primers.
23 grains = 2637 for 5 with SD of 18
23.5 grains = 2682 for 5 with SD of 6
23.8 grains = 2700 for 6 with SD of 15

16" sabre defense
75 bthp Hornady
8208 in FC brass and WSR
23 grains 2600 for 4 SD of 10
23.8 grains 2700 for 5 SD of 30

Follow up post at 300 yards
23.5 looks like my load. Shot 3 groups of ten at 300y (23, 23.5, 23.8) and 23 sucked, 23.5 minus the one flier when into 3.3" (with the flier it was 4.5" and 23.8 went into 4.5"...

After shooting this for a month or so... after I exhaust my supply of 77's I will be moving to 69 for all my 223's except my 7t bolt made for 80's. I just don't see the advantage down range like I thought I would at the velocities I can get from each bullet/rifle combo. YMMV
 
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IMR 8208 XBR best yet!!
My Varget and CFE loads haven't been able to match it!!

82710765b32677551922d22fce8a7db1.jpg
 
I have had amazing results with Power Pro 2000MR. I use 26 grains for my gas gun and for my light load for my 24" Surgeon bolt rifle. For hunting and longer range 223 work the bullets are seated long and I use 27 grains and get insane velocity with that load ONLY in the bolt rifle. This powder meters like water and I throw all my 223 loads with great consistency and downrange results.

Loads out of the Surgeon 24" bbl:
light plinking:

26g 2000MR
LC 04 brass
CCI 41
77 SMK
2750 FPS

HOT LR and Hunting:

27g 2000MR
LC04 brass
CCI 41
77 SMK
3100 FPS!!!!!!!

Out of my 16'' AR:
26g 2000 MR
LC04 brass
CCI 41
77 SMK
2600 fps
 
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I like the Alliant Powder Pro 2000MR

My HCS MK 12 Mod 1 Likes alliant powder pro 2000mr. I used the recipe off the Alliant site.

BHA .223 match Brass
25.2 Gr Alliant PP 2000 MR
CCI #41
C.o.a.l. 2.260

Shot the 5 round group below.
 

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I'm getting better SD's with TAC rather than 8208xbr, still working up with 8208 though. I think a lot of the reason is that TAC meters better through the Dillon powder bar.
 
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1409790353.936556.jpg

Lake city brass trim to spec
77gr Sierra match king
24gr Varget
2.250OAL
Average velocity 2750 from 20" Krieger barrel


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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