.223 20" Barrel 69gr SMK vs 77gr SMK

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A-bolt243

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In a bit of a conundrum with my tikka CTR 223. I have found 0.4" groups with both 69gr and 77gr smk's. Not sure which one to settle on.
69gr SMK - 2845 fps
77gr SMK - 2660 fps

Mostly shooting targets, maybe the odd coyote.
 
The 77’s will drift a wee bit less wont they?
My 223 likes both 69’s and 77’s but i get a smidge less wind variability with the 77’s.
I shoot matchburners but sam sam.

Also what is your recipe if you dont mind.
 
For Fox I found 68 Hornady HPBT and 69gr Nos CM to be a very good compromise. Probably shot well over 100 with them out to 550m. The big difference in the heavier bullet is the better penetration and seems to knock them better from any angle. 40-50gr are ok for side on and 300m max. I have also used 75 A-Max in 223 which was very good and 75 ELDM now in 22-250.
Target 77, Fox etc 69.
edi
 
I have a similar setup with an 18". I settled on the 77gr TMK. It shot as good as the 69gr SMK. I am mainly shooting steel out to about 800, and doing it comfortably with that setup. Because the steel gongs do not run or move the increased drop is fine, the range never changes. For hunting, you may prefer the higher velocity and flatter trajectory of the 69gr SMK.

Personally, when hunting I reach for my hot rod 22's before my 223 Rem.
 
77's will take you further and buck the wind better. I haven't shot anything lighter than a 75 grain in my 223's for years. Having said that Inside 300 there's not much difference. Once you step out further, the 77 outpaces the 69.
 
I have shot zero coyotes with a 22 cal SMK but I wonder how much splash they'd have on impact compared to a TMK or a Vmax etc
 
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