Wanting to develop a load for my .223 Wylde AR platform. I am shooting a 18” stainless steel barrel with a 1:8 twist. I have tried load development with 68 grains and have not had the best luck and want to try moving up to the 77 SMKs. Wanting to develop an accurate load that I can reach out and touch 5-600 yards with ease. What powders and processes have you guys used and achieved the best results with? A temp stable powder is also a pretty big plus for me also. Thanks
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77 SMK load recommendations
- Thread starter wyattgtx
- Start date
I use the 77smk with 25g AA2520, Rem 7-1/2, LC 1x. Its not as temp stable as some of the other popular powders for 5.56 heavy bullets but has never bothered me. I shoot this load in all my carbines and Mk12 mod 1.
Lots of 77 grain data scattered in here.
www.snipershide.com
5.56 AR Only Loads
i really cant help it if the correct description of neck tension is in reality the amount of pressure needed to seat a bullet into sized brass. brass can get so hard that it can take well over 100 psi of force to seat a bullet . telling us that you have 2-3 thousands of resistance means nothing...
www.snipershide.com
23.8-24.2 grains of Varget seems to produce consistent results with 77’s
22.5 grains of h4895 is shooting well in my 18’ cle chamber 2715 fps
There's gazillions of info on mk262 and clone loads, which is proabbly the first step/start. Keep in mind component availability remains limited on certain things, like h4895 is unobtanium for past 3-4 years, ar comp is $500 a keg, etc
Yeah also a quick warning
I’ve used many powders and many loads for 77. Then one day I mis read the loads and notes and was .3-.5 grains over load
Blew out the sled bob ( single feed magazine tool ) broke and split the bolt and dam near wrecked the upper
Measure carefully and recall the exponential nature in small powder grain increases and start low and double check powder / load manufacturing recommended amounts of propellant
I’ve used many powders and many loads for 77. Then one day I mis read the loads and notes and was .3-.5 grains over load
Blew out the sled bob ( single feed magazine tool ) broke and split the bolt and dam near wrecked the upper
Measure carefully and recall the exponential nature in small powder grain increases and start low and double check powder / load manufacturing recommended amounts of propellant
- Nov 3, 2010
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Been playing with TAC some. Need to get with it and play some more to see how I truly like it. Or should I say, how the gun/barrel like it.
yes. http://www.natoreloading.com/n140/
i believe my load is at 24.0g of N140 with a 20in barrel/upper from white oak armament. norma brass 77smk.
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The kernel of N140 is larger and less uniform as compared to Varget or AR-Comp. In general, I have found it to be about 10-30 FPS slower than the same charge of Varget. Because the kernel is so bulky, I prefer to stick with Vgt/ARComp. It can produce accurate groups.
Been using H4895 also with good results, 18” 1:8 barrel. Will try TAC when the 4895 is gone, it’s been working well in .308, Grendel is next and then .223.
I've found pretty much all published max load data is conservative when it comes to loading for bolt action precision rifles. Berger is really a joke. I've used 24 grains of varget with the 77 smk at 2.260 coal. That's a very common load for the high power guys shooting them out of ARs.
Exactly, use the load data and start off safely to find your safe best load but most if not all is very conservative, definitely Berger and Sierra manuals are in my experience.
Every high power guy ive ever talked to about 77's has said just load it at 24.0 at 2.260" dont even bother with load development - not advice just what they have told to me, I did my load development and found what worked for me in each of my guns.
