Bullet weight for SR
- Thread starter ol'blacky
- Start date
Honestly, pick whatever you like, and shoot truck loads of them.
At least for me, I loose way more points on the trigger then the bullet. 77s shoot better for me on slow fire, but 55s on the rapids.
I am not sure what your experience is, but I would shoot 55s until you cross 450, then mess around. 55s are cheaper
At least for me, I loose way more points on the trigger then the bullet. 77s shoot better for me on slow fire, but 55s on the rapids.
I am not sure what your experience is, but I would shoot 55s until you cross 450, then mess around. 55s are cheaper
Probably the single most commonly used competition bullet is the 69gr, Sierra Match King.
55gr. bullets do get blown around at longer ranges, and I would suggest that use of 55 grainers is creating a competitive disadvantage past 200. Even at 200, in a deliberate match, 55s will be more affected by wind than 69s. If you are looking to maximize your score, you can't afford to lose points.
Wind is also an issue in snaps and rapids.
55gr. bullets do get blown around at longer ranges, and I would suggest that use of 55 grainers is creating a competitive disadvantage past 200. Even at 200, in a deliberate match, 55s will be more affected by wind than 69s. If you are looking to maximize your score, you can't afford to lose points.
Wind is also an issue in snaps and rapids.
One of the best bullets out there is the 77gr. Sierra Match King.
It'll consistantly perform better than the 69 at ranges past 300m.
If you have deeper pockets you could try similar offerings from Berger or Lapua, but you are better to spend the time and money on training.
Some shooters report better accuracy from Sierra 69s, that from Hornady 68s. Just have to try both in your rifle, and see which is best for you.
Experimentation is necessary. Give Sierra 77s a try, compare them with other bullets. I have noted a bit more muzzle flip with them in the rapids, compared with 68/69s, may or may not be a concern for you.
NSCC Service Rifle has been won twice in recent years with Sierra 69s. A couple of years ago the winner of Stage 1 at NSCC used 77s. He wasn't sure if he would continue to use them though.
Experimentation is necessary. Give Sierra 77s a try, compare them with other bullets. I have noted a bit more muzzle flip with them in the rapids, compared with 68/69s, may or may not be a concern for you.
NSCC Service Rifle has been won twice in recent years with Sierra 69s. A couple of years ago the winner of Stage 1 at NSCC used 77s. He wasn't sure if he would continue to use them though.
I've had success with both the 68 gr Hornady and the 69 gr Sierra MK at 500m. Won all my DCRA gold medals with the 69's and ORA medals with the 68's... It's all good, especially at Matches 1-12.
Now about the current 2010 Matches 1-4, I would select the 55 gr bullet for inside 200m and keep the 68/69 gr bullet for the 300m/yds and beyond. tiriaq is right, the 55 gr bullet really gets blown around. I found that annoying characteristic years ago when all I shot was the 55 gr bullet (really cheap at 5.00 per 100 bullets, and the 68/69 gr bullets sold for $ 12.00 / 100 box).
Didn't I tell you that I tried to shoot Service Rifle on the cheap?
Barney
Now about the current 2010 Matches 1-4, I would select the 55 gr bullet for inside 200m and keep the 68/69 gr bullet for the 300m/yds and beyond. tiriaq is right, the 55 gr bullet really gets blown around. I found that annoying characteristic years ago when all I shot was the 55 gr bullet (really cheap at 5.00 per 100 bullets, and the 68/69 gr bullets sold for $ 12.00 / 100 box).
Didn't I tell you that I tried to shoot Service Rifle on the cheap?
Barney
Thanks for the specifics, Barney. I'm going to try doing SR on the cheap too (I'll probably do terrible at first no matter what I spend); same rifle as my CQB setup, but with a detachable scope. Your advice on min/maxing the bullets by match will come in handy!
For CQB, bullet weight is irrelevant.
If you are going to use two different loads for Service Rifle, for different ranges, be really careful not to get them mixed up. Your elevations will likely be different, as will be your windage corrections.
If you are going to use two different loads for Service Rifle, for different ranges, be really careful not to get them mixed up. Your elevations will likely be different, as will be your windage corrections.
The first few I went to I tried messing around with bullet weights. I went with one weight for all 12 matches: 69's, 77's, then 55's.
The 77's did do the best job, but I came to the same conclusion as said above: I was better off shooting the cheap stuff and practising my positional shooting more.
The 77's did do the best job, but I came to the same conclusion as said above: I was better off shooting the cheap stuff and practising my positional shooting more.
I can't imagine competing at 400m and 500m at Connaught with 55s. Just had a quick look at the tables in the Sierra manual. With a 10mph wind at 90 degrees, 500y drift with a 55gr BTHP is 55 inches, with the 69gr SMK, 34 inches. Muzzle velocities of 3200 and 2800 respectively. There are enough things to deal with without fighting that much more drift. I do agree that effective position shooting is critical. A person can play all the equipment games he wants, but he can't buy success.
Incidentally, I bought some Prvi Partizan 75gr HPBT bullets to try. Price was right, much less than Hornady/Sierra/Nosler match bullets, closer to bulk 55s. Found that they shoot well enough for practice, but not for competition.
Incidentally, I bought some Prvi Partizan 75gr HPBT bullets to try. Price was right, much less than Hornady/Sierra/Nosler match bullets, closer to bulk 55s. Found that they shoot well enough for practice, but not for competition.
