Palma vs matchking?
- Thread starter Nikkisdad
- Start date
I'm not sure what the diff is but a couple of yrs ago they changed the design of the Palma to a VLD configuration. On Sierra's website, the MK looks like the old style Palma. Much shorter. The new Plama runs slower than the old ones in my guns but they shoot good out to 600.
The 2156 is NOT a VLD. The 2156 is longer, slightly higher BC than the 2155. The 2155 is the old Palma bullet, shorter, stubbier, etc. IMHO, the 2155 is easier to get to shoot well and is very forgiving of jump, etc. I personally find it to shoot a bit more accurate, more easily, than the 2156, but the 2156 does win the wind contest and yeah, its shoot really well too, bout like all SMKs. I think you would be making a fine bullet choice, in either, for 600 yards.
If I was shooting at 300, I would pick the 2155. for Palma (8,9,1000), I pick the 2156.
The Palma bullets are "tipped", as in being run through a tipping die, thus increasing their BC. Widden, among others makes a tipping die-good stuff. There are those that believe the heavier bullets (of same general shape) always have a higher BC than the lighter bullet, of course this is BS-they know more than all the bullet makers, and Palma shooters world wide, however; this stupidity is repeated enough times that it hangs in there (like a loose tooth) as "fact" in some circles. As the Palma bullet it longer, you may need to check your twist, but they work really well. BTW Berger's offering in the same class are no slouch!
How does the 2155 do with a jump? I've managed to collect a small handful of 2155's, a bunch of 2156's, some 155 AMax's, 155 Lapua's and near 1000 Nosler CC's. Do the Nosler's compare favorably to any of the above or should they be relegated to practice? Have had excellent results with Lapua's and 44.5 Varget in LC brass, but it was beginning to show pressure signs, but lots of prospect in 1:11.25 Schneider barrel. Thanks for any feedback.
the 2155 will do fine jumping, more than likely. But, like anything else, you need to try it in YOUR bbl. What works for us, might not work for you. The 2156 has worked fine in all of the 1/13 palma bbls I have tried it in and I do believe Sierra set it up to be run in a 1/13 as I would bet a lot of us palma freaks use that twist (though some have went faster to fun heavier bullets or at least in the case of one of my rifles, its 1/13 doesnt like to shoot the 155 hybrids, though my other 1/13s stablilize them just fine.)
Mudcat has a great point; you can't know without trying it in your gear.
I had a Remington (1:12) that wouldn't group them worth a damn... but my Savage (1:10) really likes the Palmas. Go figure! One would think (at least I did), based on twist, my results would be opposite.
I don't own a Palma-chambered rifle; I took in some 2156s in trade. I've done very little development with them, but they show a lot of potential. Flat shootin' little suckers
I had a Remington (1:12) that wouldn't group them worth a damn... but my Savage (1:10) really likes the Palmas. Go figure! One would think (at least I did), based on twist, my results would be opposite.
I don't own a Palma-chambered rifle; I took in some 2156s in trade. I've done very little development with them, but they show a lot of potential. Flat shootin' little suckers
I have been shooting the Lapua's loaded long-don't have notes in front of me, but near AR10 mag length in a long throated chamber. Felt okay with the Lapua 155's, but as the Sierra 155's are a good bit shorter, they only had about a half a bullet diameter in the neck when at 2.125 to ogive, so started loading shorter. At 2.125 to ogive, they're about .035 off the lands, and shot a handful last weekend in .005 steps shorter from there over 45.5 Varget, down to about .060 off lands.
I'm with both of you on results in MY gun, certain, just looking for other's experience to get a sense of a direction for a more positive result. I've got to go back to my original load spec for the 155 Lapua in LC brass-it was a shooter for sure, just have a lot more Noslers, Amax's and 2156's to work with than the somewhat rare, and expensive, Lapua's. Will keep experimenting till I have a consistent result. Have also been working with 168 Nosler CC's as an alternate to 155's, as I have a good inventory of them as well. Appreciate the feedback.
I'm with both of you on results in MY gun, certain, just looking for other's experience to get a sense of a direction for a more positive result. I've got to go back to my original load spec for the 155 Lapua in LC brass-it was a shooter for sure, just have a lot more Noslers, Amax's and 2156's to work with than the somewhat rare, and expensive, Lapua's. Will keep experimenting till I have a consistent result. Have also been working with 168 Nosler CC's as an alternate to 155's, as I have a good inventory of them as well. Appreciate the feedback.
The 2156 and the Nosler Custom, both in the 155 wt, are about all I shoot in my .308s. I have a couple of 20" rifles with1/10 twist tubes and the groups are nice and tight. Reloader 15, WW primers and brass get it done.
Curious where you ended up charge wise... And velocity too. I just picked some 155 Noslers to try in my AAC-SD with re15.
Wrhunter, I ran it all the way to 47g R15. For the. 300 yard range I shoot, though, 46g does just as well. Those bullets do their best when they are scooting at a fast pace. I loaded some 150g FMJs with progressively heavier charges. I used BLC2at 43g, 44g, 45g, 46g and 47g. It was obvious those little bullets like to move along.
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Thanks Nashlaw. I have a load using 150 accubonds that likes 47g re15. The 155's might just end up there too.
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