• New Contest Starting Now! This Target Haunts Me

    Tell us about the one that got away, the flier that ruined your group, the zero that drifted, the shot you still see when you close your eyes. Winner will receive a free scope!

    Join contest

AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

M

mrhog

Major Payne
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 8, 2009
17
6
73
central florida(polk county)
#1
Today I tried my handloads out to 1000yds. I'm useing 175SMK's over 44.6 gr. of Varget in FGMM brass loaded to 2.80". This load has always worked for me with sub MOA out to 500yds. Today was the first time I was able to check the mv of this load. It was an avg. of 2615. Is this not a little slow for 1000 yds?
Needless to say I was not impressed with my results. All around the 10" plate but no hits.
Anybody have a proven load for a 20" AR-10 to 1000?
confused.gif
 
#3
Re: AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sinister</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's very close to an optimum load and velocity for the 175 to get to 1,000. </div></div>
That's what I thought; but somewhere I read that they needed to be around 2650-2700 fps.
 
#4
Re: AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

Wonder if you would gain a little bit of precision if you increased your COAL to 2.815. I do that just cause that's what M118LR is at and that's about all I can squeeze into a PMAG.
On the other hand, shooting a 10" plate at 1000 isn't the easiest thing to do, either. All around the 10" plate... you mean over, short, left and right? Just curious.
 
#5
Re: AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

Yes; All over the plate over,under,left and right. I know somebody is going to say it's me;and it could be. I just want to make sure my rounda are up to the task.
I have loaded a few out to mag. length but I haven't checked the mv of these loads.
 
#8
Re: AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

well your scope aint the problem. It could be shooter error , if your not using a level , its easy to have big shitty groups that far out. I dont use an AR10 , but if your firing from the magazine , i would say that would explain it. With my AR's , if seat my rounds to fire from the mag , my group size practically doubles. If you seat your bullets into the lands and fire single shot your accuracy would probably go up.

how does your reloading process work ? what kind of brass ?

being honest , 40 moa drop is allot , i see allot of guys shoot loads like that ( 175 smk @2600 fps) but, my 6.5mm shoots at 2900 fps , i get about 21-22 moa drop at 1000y , half what your getting. I'd say part of the problem would be the ineffecient cartridge/gun setup, not that guys dont have sucess with that combo , it just appears like alittle bit of an uphill battle compared to 260s , 338 mags and 50 cals.

what was the wind like ? how much drift are you getting ?
 
#9
Re: AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

We've worked up a load for my buddy's AR10 that uses varget and the 178gr amax that shoots well but, we're at 2.856 oal and a little lighter powder charge... ( If I remember correctly it was 43.6gr ) and using LC match brass. He's also got a 24" barrel so, mv is probably pretty comparable to yours. At 2600 mv, that will get you out to the 1000yd line.

Of course with a 7.62x51 and it being a gas gun, there's only so much you can expect at the 1000yd line but, his doesn't have any trouble staying inside the a-zone on a torso plate with an a-zone flapping target that moves when you hit it. He hits a lot more than he misses but, as you'd expect, wind can really play hell with that round as it is falling out of the sky at the 1000yd line.
 
#10
Re: AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

All my brass is FGMM; I've cleaned, debured and uniformed the primer pockets. every charge is weighed and the cases are full length resized Right now the COAL is 2.80 but I am going to try 2.850 which will still work in my mags.
I'm thinking of going to IMR 4895 with 45grs.
 
#12
Re: AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

I had the same problem when I shot my 18" at that distance. My muzzle velocity was 2570fps. It's just not enough and then there's shooter error when it comes to wind mirage and that is magnified.

With practice you could probably make what you are using right now work or you can try a heavier or lighter bullet.

Also if you want more velocity 2000MR powder is the way to go.

DON'T seat what you have now out to 2.85 that will only increase pressure on an already HOT load...
 
#13
Re: AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BCP</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I had the same problem when I shot my 18" at that distance. My muzzle velocity was 2570fps. It's just not enough and then there's shooter error when it comes to wind mirage and that is magnified.

With practice you could probably make what you are using right now work or you can try a heavier or lighter bullet.

Also if you want more velocity 2000MR powder is the way to go.

DON'T seat what you have now out to 2.85 that will only increase pressure on an already HOT load... </div></div>

Do you have load datavwith this powder?
The 2.85 will still load in the mags. with no problem. I might try one or two and see what the pressure signs show up.
Mabe a 24" barrel?
Or just be happy with a 800yd rifle
confused.gif
 
#14
Re: AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

FWIW, the AR10 load used by the AMU for 1000 yds is 45.0 Varget Lapua cases, and a 185 berger LRBT.

Also try 190's with 42.0 RE15 or a appropriate charge of varget. No idea what that would be, but the bearing surface of the 190 is alot more than the 185 or 175 and they will develop pressure sooner than they will. I have interchanged the 175 and 185 with RE15 charges in my AR10 with success, that is of course with the 185's seated to about 2.95, in a barrel throated specifically for this. I run the 190's at mag length however and they can get to 1k without much issue.
 
#15
Re: AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mrhog</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Do you have load datavwith this powder?
</div></div>

46.5 in heavy brass 47.5 in light, 175smk or 178amax @ 2.81-2.82 COAL.

43.5 varget + LC brass and 175SMK is 2450 or so out of my 16" 308...47 grains of 2000MR in LC brass was 2550 same everything else.

You could also single load a heavy bullet like 208amax 2.9" with varget. That is what I do with my 20" LTR.
 
#17
Re: AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

i'm using 44.5 grains of varget pushin the 175 smks 2660 via POI test (after the chrono reading)...
here is a quick video over 1100yds with the 175's, its on a 2.5ft X 3.5ft plate but the group is good for a gas gun... i have upgraded the scope to a NXS 5.5-22X56 NP-R2 since.

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/liJgmENH8f8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_vxl-JxRoPM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
#18
Re: AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: skinney</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i'm using 44.5 grains of varget pushin the 175 smks 2660 via POI test (after the chrono reading)...
here is a quick video over 1100yds with the 175's, its on a 2.5ft X 3.5ft plate but the group is good for a gas gun... i have upgraded the scope to a NXS 5.5-22X56 NP-R2 since.

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/liJgmENH8f8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Thats about the same as mine with 44.6. I see that I have more research and testing to do. Right now I need to pick up some more powder and different bullets.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_vxl-JxRoPM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div></div>
 
#19
Re: AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mrhog</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm thinking of going to IMR 4895 with 45grs. </div></div>

I wouldn't go that hot with IMR4895.

If you're wanting to go with 4895 and change your seating depth, I'd start much lower than that. My go-to load with 4895 in my M1A is only 41.5gr and that's a stout load in the M1A.

Also, as said above, pushing your seating depth out will raise your pressure a lot so, what was close to max before will be MUCH higher than that by changing the depth.

I'd change my seating depth then, start of with a lighter powder charge and work my way back up.

My 20" barrel on my M1A will make the 1000yd line with 41.5gr of IMR4895 under a 175gr SMK. It's not the optimal load or anything but, it will make it there. It's probably a lot like what you're experiencing, however. It's not the right tool for the job at 1000yds.

Some good advice on this thread... I'd stay with varget if it were me... I'd change your seating depth out as far as mag length will allow and work up from there and see where you get. That's what we did with my bud's rifle and, it worked out pretty well honestly. He's got a 24" barrel but, we never went to a max load either to find the sweet spot.
 
#21
Re: AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

I shot the AZ State Palma Championships two weekends ago. The All Guard team was there. They were shooting Armalite M110-like rifles with a custom loaded 190 grain SMK and doing just fine with it at 1600' ASL. Note that these (and the likes of the 185 Berger Hybrid) are loaded beyond 2.800" OAL so must be single fed not mag fed.

None of the 155s are designed to be transonic stable, so unless you are running a LOOONG barreled AR10 (28"+), I'd skip them for trying to get to a grand around sea level as they need an MV of 2975+.
 
#22
Re: AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

That 190 load is 40.5 of Imr 4064 in a winchester case. Not a smokin hot load at all. Worked in the M14's too. We used M118LR at 800 and 900, then went to the 190's for 1000. They were loaded to mag length, the AMU 185's are loaded long however. The AR10 is new to the NGMTU and most are privately owned by the shooters, as the Guard still maintains ansd supports the M14 for MTU use. The 190 sierra load shoots very well. 42.0 of RE15 will dupe it pretty closely with a little more speed.
 
#23
Re: AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _9H_Cracka</div><div class="ubbcode-body">None of the 155s are designed to be transonic stable, so unless you are running a LOOONG barreled AR10 (28"+), I'd skip them for trying to get to a grand around sea level as they need an MV of 2975+. </div></div>

9H Cracka: Can you explain the last part of your statement. I'm shootin Lapua 155g's in my bolt gun at 2850 from a 22" barrel and get to 1K with no problem. Calculator says I'm still supersonic with ease. Do things work different in a gas gun?
 
#24
Re: AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

Grand -

Two things. One, not everyone's expectations for performance at 1k yards is the same. Two, supersonic and transonic are two different things, and different bullets behave differently in the transonic zone, hence the reason Berger came up with a "transonic stable" 30 cal bullet for short barreled 308s. There are other transonic stable bullets on the market, the 175 SMK being one of them.

Read this article for context on my comments above about 155s and transonic stability.

http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/2011/01/cartridges-1000-yard-308-load.html
 
#26
Re: AR-10 Handloads to 1,000 yds.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Grand</div><div class="ubbcode-body">9H Cracka: Thanks for the link. I was missing the transonic discussion and assuming I was stable above mach 1. </div></div>

Many do.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Quick review of 16" Criterion Hybrid 416R Nitrided barrel, 1:8" twist, .223 Wylde, midlength
Replies
10
Views
1K
TonyAngel
T
G
AR-10 Barrel with significant Copper fouling - Sub MOA just a pipe dream
Replies
8
Views
739
GunnyUSMC
G
J
Help Me Develop a 308 AR-10 Load
Replies
16
Views
5K
Kickin45
Kickin45
E
New PRS rifle for old benchrest shooter
Replies
57
Views
5K
Kocher
Kocher
B Man
Am I expecting to much???
Replies
55
Views
3K
captain_toad
C
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Merch
Alerts