M118LR Specs? I got a 1.5 Group @ 500

[kilo7788]

I am having a friend work up loads for my Rem 700 SPS Tact. I also had 9 rounds left over of M118LR. My first 3 shots were the M118 and I shot a 1.5 inch group at 500 yards. He worked up 3 loads for me. Some 180gr SMK BTHP, 168gr SMK BTHP and some 155s. I did get a chance to shoot only the 180s but my best group with those was 6 inches.

My question is what is the specs for M118LR if I were to have him load some?

 

[benjaminzero]

Re: M118LR Specs? I got a 1.5 Group @ 500

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...rue#Post1400218

 

[hydro556]

Re: M118LR Specs? I got a 1.5 Group @ 500

You are chasing a ghost. Search, you will see.

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: M118LR Specs? I got a 1.5 Group @ 500

Sometimes the wind can blow a bullet INTO the group as well.

 

[kilo7788]

Re: M118LR Specs? I got a 1.5 Group @ 500

Ya I know it was mostly a fluke. But it was the best that shot as well. There was hardly no wind when I shot the first group. And I have trired to search all over multiple times.

 

[lrs50bmg]

Re: M118LR Specs? I got a 1.5 Group @ 500

kilo,

bottom line is this....

You can develop a load with commercially available canister powders that is very similar in performance to the 118LR, or sometimes even better. You will never duplicate it because the powder that is used in the 118LR is a custom blended powder that only the major manufacturers have access to.

 

[kilo7788]

Re: M118LR Specs? I got a 1.5 Group @ 500

Sweet. That is pretty much what i wanted to know. Because it shoots well out of my gun. Just trying to find a starting point.

 

[BillCominos]

Re: M118LR Specs? I got a 1.5 Group @ 500

Here is a link to a link that provides the best history of military match ammo that I've read to date... GL!

History of M118

 

[clmayfield]

Re: M118LR Specs? I got a 1.5 Group @ 500

I don't know if I would base my opinion of a load on a single 3-shot group. Still, I understand the desire and it is all the data you got.

I should note that the links above are to a great article, but the link above is a history of National Match Ammo, M118LR is similar but different.

I would focus on 175 grain SMK's and use a thicker brass, Lapua, IMI, Norma, or shoot and reload some M118LR brass if you can find any. Reloder 15 for the powder. I don't know about the primers, but I would probably use Federal 210M, or these days, any large rifle match primer you can find.

The stickies on handloading for long range in this forum provide an excellent guide. Did your buddy actually work the loads up using your gun? In other words, did he do a ladder test or some equivalent with your rifle or did he just load up some relatively safe generic loads using different components? If he did the latter, the loads really weren't "worked up" for your gun. You can still do some work on the optimal charge length and distance to lands.

 

[BHP9]

Re: M118LR Specs? I got a 1.5 Group @ 500

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Carter Mayfield</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't know if I would base my opinion of a load on a single 3-shot group. Still, I understand the desire and it is all the data you got.

I should note that the links above are to a great article, but the link above is a history of National Match Ammo, M118LR is similar but different.

I would focus on 175 grain SMK's and use a thicker brass, Lapua, IMI, Norma, or shoot and reload some M118LR brass if you can find any. Reloder 15 for the powder. I don't know about the primers, but I would probably use Federal 210M, or these days, any large rifle match primer you can find.

The stickies on handloading for long range in this forum provide an excellent guide. Did your buddy actually work the loads up using your gun? In other words, did he do a ladder test or some equivalent with your rifle or did he just load up some relatively safe generic loads using different components? If he did the latter, the loads really weren't "worked up" for your gun. You can still do some work on the optimal charge length and distance to lands. </div></div>

+1 on what Carter said.

RL15 <span style="font-style: italic">IS</span> the powder used in the M118LR. The current charge is 43.1gr. This is with the 175gr SMK bullet.

I suggest you use the Fed210M primer but you won't be sorry if you use CCI BR2 primers either.

I use Norma brass but need to try some LC match brass.

 

[kilo7788]

Re: M118LR Specs? I got a 1.5 Group @ 500

Thanks for all the good info!