I have been hand loading for quite a while and had some old black hills ammo sitting in the bottom of my bag. I had run out of my normal load, and decided to give the bh a shot. It grouped tighter than my loads. I was very impressed. Does anyone have good load data on the 77gr .223 bthp blue box load? I believe it is a sierra match king 77gr. I'd like to know the powder charge, and oal. If anyone can help me out I would REALLY appreciate it.
replicating black hills blue box .223 77gr bthp
- Thread starter Pyrex
- Start date
Re: replicating black hills blue box .223 77gr bthp
The best I have found so far is this:
LC Brass
CCI-400's
24.0gr. Ramshot TAC
77gr. SMK's
2.255" OAL
With this load I am getting an average of 2750 fps and 10 shot groups that are right at MOA out of a 20" WOA barrel.
This load works well in MY rifle. Dont try it without working up first.
The best I have found so far is this:
LC Brass
CCI-400's
24.0gr. Ramshot TAC
77gr. SMK's
2.255" OAL
With this load I am getting an average of 2750 fps and 10 shot groups that are right at MOA out of a 20" WOA barrel.
This load works well in MY rifle. Dont try it without working up first.
Re: replicating black hills blue box .223 77gr bthp
If it's any help the M262 round is loaded with TAC, don't know the charge. I chronographs at 2833 for an average. My load is 77 SMK, CCI 400, 24 grains of Varget, and BHA brass (WCC), mag length under 2.260. It runs at 2700 fps. 24.5 grains of Varget will get you 2750 fps.
Reloader 15, Varget and TAC seem to be the favorites. There are several other good powders out there.
If it's any help the M262 round is loaded with TAC, don't know the charge. I chronographs at 2833 for an average. My load is 77 SMK, CCI 400, 24 grains of Varget, and BHA brass (WCC), mag length under 2.260. It runs at 2700 fps. 24.5 grains of Varget will get you 2750 fps.
Reloader 15, Varget and TAC seem to be the favorites. There are several other good powders out there.
Re: replicating black hills blue box .223 77gr bthp
Real M262 is loaded with a belgian powder, Not TAC, also not St. Marks. ( this info from the AMU reloading shop ) Tac is similar, but not the powder used. Black Hills commercial 77 match is loaded, or rather has been /was once/ could still be/ loaded with a cannister grade of TAC.
24.8 is the listed max for TAC @ 5.56 pressures. Most people seem to get Mk262 performance around 24.5, and some as high as 25.0 with no ill effects. Its up to what your gun can handle and likes.
My go to 77 load is 24.5 of N140,or RE15.
also 23.2 and 24.0 of IMR 8208 are starting to win favor.
I hope this helps you in your quest. The Black hills ammo is good, and you can make better with little effort. Varget works well, and even H4895 does well. Seat it 2.250, and go.
Real M262 is loaded with a belgian powder, Not TAC, also not St. Marks. ( this info from the AMU reloading shop ) Tac is similar, but not the powder used. Black Hills commercial 77 match is loaded, or rather has been /was once/ could still be/ loaded with a cannister grade of TAC.
24.8 is the listed max for TAC @ 5.56 pressures. Most people seem to get Mk262 performance around 24.5, and some as high as 25.0 with no ill effects. Its up to what your gun can handle and likes.
My go to 77 load is 24.5 of N140,or RE15.
also 23.2 and 24.0 of IMR 8208 are starting to win favor.
I hope this helps you in your quest. The Black hills ammo is good, and you can make better with little effort. Varget works well, and even H4895 does well. Seat it 2.250, and go.
Re: replicating black hills blue box .223 77gr bthp
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gunsnjeeps</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If it's any help the M262 round is loaded with TAC, don't know the charge. I chronographs at 2833 for an average. My load is 77 SMK, CCI 400, 24 grains of Varget, and BHA brass (WCC), mag length under 2.260. It runs at 2700 fps. 24.5 grains of Varget will get you 2750 fps.
Reloader 15, Varget and TAC seem to be the favorites. There are several other good powders out there. </div></div>
+1 on 24-24.5gr varget load. I have had problems with tac in my .308, and it has completely discouraged me from using on anything else. It completely fouled my barrel in about 30 rnds. I can fire hundreds of rounds with varget without ruining accuracy.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gunsnjeeps</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If it's any help the M262 round is loaded with TAC, don't know the charge. I chronographs at 2833 for an average. My load is 77 SMK, CCI 400, 24 grains of Varget, and BHA brass (WCC), mag length under 2.260. It runs at 2700 fps. 24.5 grains of Varget will get you 2750 fps.
Reloader 15, Varget and TAC seem to be the favorites. There are several other good powders out there. </div></div>
+1 on 24-24.5gr varget load. I have had problems with tac in my .308, and it has completely discouraged me from using on anything else. It completely fouled my barrel in about 30 rnds. I can fire hundreds of rounds with varget without ruining accuracy.
Re: replicating black hills blue box .223 77gr bthp
24.0 of varget got me the following mv's:
2726
2766
2722
2715
2760
2699
2743
2760
2732
2726
2766
2737
2693
2754
2699
2749
2715
2704
2704
2682
Out of my 24" barrel. Seems like I might need to wax my powder funnel on my Dillon 550 again. Too much SD. It was crunching at 24.0 and my seating die was leaving a ring indent on my bullets. I was not happy.
24.0 of varget got me the following mv's:
2726
2766
2722
2715
2760
2699
2743
2760
2732
2726
2766
2737
2693
2754
2699
2749
2715
2704
2704
2682
Out of my 24" barrel. Seems like I might need to wax my powder funnel on my Dillon 550 again. Too much SD. It was crunching at 24.0 and my seating die was leaving a ring indent on my bullets. I was not happy.
Re: replicating black hills blue box .223 77gr bthp
24 is a compressed load. Which seating die are you using? The Redding Competition die leaves a slight ring. It has not had an affect on accuracy. Out of 2 10 round samples (one set is WCC 06 cases the other WCC07) I had a spread of 52 fps and std dev 16.50 in the 06 and 32 fps and std dev of 12.55 with the 07. The average was the same 2705 and 2704 with the high and the low being in the 06. As a 20 round sample it has a spread of 52 fps, a std dev of 14.28 and an average of fps 2705. If the stats are refigured with out the one round at 2738 the stats are nearly identical.
I have shot 80.5 Bergers with a 25 grain load it is over 2800 fps, seated out farther than 77's not compressed/as compressed. I would suspect that with a 77 it would be about the same as the MK262, but don't know if the extra velocity or pressure is needed. I would probably rework the load with TAC since Varget is compressed at 24 and more so at 24.5.
I found part of a blue box that I forgot that I had from around 2000. I'll run a some over a chronograph when the weather is more cooperative, it is supposed to be 60 and rain tomorrow so I may get a chance to do a run after our match.
24 is a compressed load. Which seating die are you using? The Redding Competition die leaves a slight ring. It has not had an affect on accuracy. Out of 2 10 round samples (one set is WCC 06 cases the other WCC07) I had a spread of 52 fps and std dev 16.50 in the 06 and 32 fps and std dev of 12.55 with the 07. The average was the same 2705 and 2704 with the high and the low being in the 06. As a 20 round sample it has a spread of 52 fps, a std dev of 14.28 and an average of fps 2705. If the stats are refigured with out the one round at 2738 the stats are nearly identical.
I have shot 80.5 Bergers with a 25 grain load it is over 2800 fps, seated out farther than 77's not compressed/as compressed. I would suspect that with a 77 it would be about the same as the MK262, but don't know if the extra velocity or pressure is needed. I would probably rework the load with TAC since Varget is compressed at 24 and more so at 24.5.
I found part of a blue box that I forgot that I had from around 2000. I'll run a some over a chronograph when the weather is more cooperative, it is supposed to be 60 and rain tomorrow so I may get a chance to do a run after our match.
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