.223 Heavy bullets & AR mags??
- Thread starter Airborn_69
- Start date
skeetgunner
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Burlington
How does that work? If the cartridge is over spec for OAL, it wont fit in the mag....regardless of follower lenght....and if its in spec, it doesn't matter.
Shelldrake
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Right behind you,,
Didn't know anyone makes the 80gr Sierra avail as a cartridge,,
Anyway all the others you mention are all manufactured/loaded to mag length.
True! But I'm sure you figured out that Sierra doesn't make factory ammo.
Thanks for the data. Glad to hear they fit (I tried 69gr & those were ok but wasn't too sure on the others).
- Location
- Houston, TX
I loaded up some 80g Sierra to mag length for my Tikka - worked fine, just not quite as accurate. I think it's about the same size as an AR mag.
Steph,
Depends which 75gr Loading - as they make the two -- the ballictic tip (not good for mag lenght) and the BTHP -- which works).
The 80gr is a no go for mag length -- but you cvan get those single load followers if your so inclined (which is likely what
ron hilchey vbmenu_register("postmenu_1966443", true); was talking about - and they are common is US HighPower etc.)
I shoot a lot of 77gr in the form of the Mk262 Mod1
Depends which 75gr Loading - as they make the two -- the ballictic tip (not good for mag lenght) and the BTHP -- which works).
The 80gr is a no go for mag length -- but you cvan get those single load followers if your so inclined (which is likely what
ron hilchey vbmenu_register("postmenu_1966443", true); was talking about - and they are common is US HighPower etc.)
I shoot a lot of 77gr in the form of the Mk262 Mod1
Steph,
Depends which 75gr Loading - as they make the two -- the ballictic tip (not good for mag lenght) and the BTHP -- which works).
The 80gr is a no go for mag length -- but you cvan get those single load followers if your so inclined (which is likely what
ron hilchey vbmenu_register("postmenu_1966443", true); was talking about - and they are common is US HighPower etc.)
I shoot a lot of 77gr in the form of the Mk262 Mod1
Kev, they are Hornady TAP in BTHP's
I've tried loading them to mag length -- but the ogive is not in a friendly place and you cant get a decent crimp as its set too far in at a mag friendly length -- I loaded 50 to see if it "could" be done -- but I keep getting nasty bullet setback (even with a compressed load) as the crimp was next to non exisitant.
- Location
- big sky country
Try 24 gr Varget under 77 SMK @ mag length. Pure gold.
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Try 24 gr Varget under 77 SMK @ mag length. Pure gold.
up to 26 gr for long range rocks !
77 HPBT SMK's are the way to go with the 24 gr of Varget. 2.260 OAL just fits inside the mag. I shot some five shot groups with my Armalite AR-15T @ 100 yards in the low .1's and .2's . Sub MOA for sure! Look forward to see what it can do this summer at 300,500,600 etc. The 69 HBPT SMK's still shot not bad but not as good as the 77's. I just bought some 75 Hornady AMAX only to find out they need to be seated at 2.390. Won't even come close to fitting in an AR mag. I'll have to single feed those I guess.
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You may want to think about that load with that seating depth. I'm getting pressure signs at 24 grains (compressed) & velocities of 2700 - 2750 fps in a Colt 1:7 20" Hbar.
Sierra's manual prints 23.9 grains of Varget as max with a COAL of 2.260"; their test was a Colt AR-15A2 Hbar 20" 1:7
I realise every gun is different, but when I stuff 26 grains (with a drop tube) and seat a 77smk to 2.260", the load is so compressed the die (Redding Competition seater) leaves a well defined gouge in the ogive of the bullet.
It's your gun, your face -have at 'er.
For all others, I'd start at 23 grains and work up!
I have been running a compressed (around 24gr) Varget load with the SMK and Nosler 77gr.
In a Wylde chambered 1:7 Douglas SS 16" Middy -- I am getting 2750fps... identical to what I get with the Mk262 Mod1 ammo I run over here.
I do get the impression on the nose from the Redding Comp seater, however it is not affecting accuracy from what I can see as I am running 1/2 MOA groups when I pay attention.
I do urge caution running higher than SAAMI loads -- and ensure what brass you are using -- do to the different internal volumes of some casings - you can get dangeroulsy high pressures when trying to use the same load in different brass.
I view the SAAMI loads as overly cautious -- but thats me, and I view myself as immortal
In a Wylde chambered 1:7 Douglas SS 16" Middy -- I am getting 2750fps... identical to what I get with the Mk262 Mod1 ammo I run over here.
I do get the impression on the nose from the Redding Comp seater, however it is not affecting accuracy from what I can see as I am running 1/2 MOA groups when I pay attention.
I do urge caution running higher than SAAMI loads -- and ensure what brass you are using -- do to the different internal volumes of some casings - you can get dangeroulsy high pressures when trying to use the same load in different brass.
I view the SAAMI loads as overly cautious -- but thats me, and I view myself as immortal
My reloading manuals state 26gr of Varget as Max load for 69 grain SMK.
I'm loading them to 25.3 grains (hand weight each charge) using Winchester brass. No sign of pressures are noted and they shoot great out of my 16" LMT.
I'm waiting for some 5.56 IVI brass and going to start load development with this brass.
Loaded to 2.258" OAL brass trimmed to 1.55".
I'm loading them to 25.3 grains (hand weight each charge) using Winchester brass. No sign of pressures are noted and they shoot great out of my 16" LMT.
I'm waiting for some 5.56 IVI brass and going to start load development with this brass.
Loaded to 2.258" OAL brass trimmed to 1.55".
You are 110% right here. I did make a typing error and stand corrected. 24 gr of Varget for the 77 HPBT SMK's and 26 gr of Varget for the 69 HPBT SMK's was what I used. I edited the above post......Thanks for pointing that out.
