Service Rifle Loads

[bamawrx]

I am just getting started in reloading all due to my new interest in service rifle competition. I have been putting it off as long as I could, but the time came. I have studied all I could, and spent about $1200 on gear/supplies. Last box hit my doorstep yesterday. The threads here have been great on the topic in general.

I am specifically interested to see what you guys use for your loads for service rifle competition. I have a box of 80 grn A Max pills I plan to use up first, but I am open to other options for future loads. I have 8 lbs of varget too.

What loadings are you guys using for 200, 300, and 600 in .223. My rifle is a Compass Lake, and my shooting partners is a White Oak. Thanks for your input

 

[memo43]

Re: Service Rifle Loads

For my AR I use 77 smk (200 an 300) with 24.2 grains of Varget at mag length. For my 600 yard line load I use 80 grain Sierras with 24.5grains of Varget.i have them 10 thousand off the lands
my 77's are mily coated an 80 are naked

your 80's should do well with that load, but then again always work up.
I am useing them on a compass lake upper as well 1/7 twist
brass is LC 09 with CCI magnum primers.
hope this helps some.

 

[Sterling Shooter]

Re: Service Rifle Loads

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bamawrx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am just getting started in reloading all due to my new interest in service rifle competition. I have been putting it off as long as I could, but the time came. I have studied all I could, and spent about $1200 on gear/supplies. Last box hit my doorstep yesterday. The threads here have been great on the topic in general.

I am specifically interested to see what you guys use for your loads for service rifle competition. I have a box of 80 grn A Max pills I plan to use up first, but I am open to other options for future loads. I have 8 lbs of varget too.

What loadings are you guys using for 200, 300, and 600 in .223. My rifle is a Compass Lake, and my shooting partners is a White Oak. Thanks for your input

</div></div>

Just about anything you don't screw up will get the job done, except at 600, or surprisingly at the MR-31. For these targets, it's not just about the bullet and charge. For best results massage your brass and sort it by every means it can be sorted: weight, firings, etc. Making these handloads consistent will have a big payoff. Scores will be higher for whatever your classification.

 

[bcrich]

Re: Service Rifle Loads

80g Amax pills? I thought you couldnt seat them to mag length? or do you plan to single feed? I use 75g hornady hpbt with 23.5g varget in my A2 bushmaster and happy with the groups I get.

 

[bamawrx]

Re: Service Rifle Loads

Correct. The 80's are single loaded for a 600 yard target. The rules require single loading for this stage, so mag length is a non-issue.

I do however need mag length loads, which is my biggest question at this point. The 80's seem to be standard at 600.

 

[Sterling Shooter]

Re: Service Rifle Loads

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bamawrx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Correct. The 80's are single loaded for a 600 yard target. The rules require single loading for this stage, so mag length is a non-issue.

I do however need mag length loads, which is my biggest question at this point. The 80's seem to be standard at 600. </div></div>

Since you recognize, you don't need mag tolerant loads, single loading is the rule for both NRA, as well a CMP governed Service Rifle competition, why do you say you need a mag tolerant load? What I think you'd want is a high B.C. to resist the effects of wind.

Rule #1 don't make rules which undermine results. If you want a mag tolerant round, O.K., have at it. But, for competition, what's the point?

 

[bamawrx]

Re: Service Rifle Loads

I need a mag tolerant load for the other legs of the match that require use of magazine feeding. We are shooting rapid fire stages in addition to the single load stages. SO..I need two loadings (at least). There are thousands of HP competitors, just don't want to reinvent the wheel.

 

[kraigWY]

Re: Service Rifle Loads

There is no reason to load your 600 round loads to fit the Mag.

First off, those 80 + bullets are not made to be stuffed down the neck of the case. They won't shoot worth a hoot. If you insist on loading mag. lenght ammo for 600, then its better to stick to 77s SMKs or simular bullets. If you want to be competitive, then load the heavy bullets like their suppose to be loaded.

Ever wonder why the AMU developed the 77 instead of heavier loads for their SDM rifles, its because the heavy bullets don't work when loaded to fit the mags. SDM don't single load, Servive Rifle Shooters do.

 

[9H_Cracka]

Re: Service Rifle Loads

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bamawrx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I need a mag tolerant load for the other legs of the match that require use of magazine feeding. We are shooting rapid fire stages in addition to the single load stages. SO..I need two loadings (at least). There are thousands of HP competitors, just don't want to reinvent the wheel. </div></div>

DUDE - here is the deal. First, shoot mag length 77s with thrown powder charges (24.0 of RL15, N140, or Varget) in any case with any primer until you have your Expert card and are routinely shooting Master scores.

Second, shoot the same damned load until you can get your offhand scores up to 190.

Once you are there, you can stuff an 80 on top of the same 24.0 grain load for 600.

I've never seen anyone shoot a high X count clean sitting at a loading bench or swiping a Visa card.

 

[Sterling Shooter]

Re: Service Rifle Loads

Yes, for 200 rapid and 300 rapid you need mag tolerant rounds; but, you don't need or want an 80 for these or even 200 slow. Even if you could shoot an 80 across the course, as is possible with 75's and 77's, what is possible, or seemingly convenient, may not be ideal. More important is being able to recover quickly from recoil so as to have more time to re-build the position if necessary, settle-in, and perfect hold for better shot placement. Lighter bullets, producing lighter recoil help with recoil recovery.

I want light recoil, and fast for both 200 slow and rapid, so, I shoot flat base 53 grain bench-rest bullets for those stages. For 300, where wind can become an issue, I shoot 77's although 69's with their milder recoil will get me better results when wind is understood, and for 600 I shoot a very massaged loading topped off with an 80 grain Berger.

BTW, you can take what 9H said to the bank.

 

[bamawrx]

Re: Service Rifle Loads

Thanks for the info. I shot a 474 at my first outing across the course at a 500 pt match, so ammo is in play for me right from the start. It's my goal to make master class for initial classification, and I'm on my way so far. This weekend will be a 800 pt match so we'll see how that goes. 20 shots off hand will be a challenge for me on endurance front. I shot a 94 on the off hand stage last time, and I know I can clean that up some. I had one 8, and that was painful.

The 75's at 600 were BAD news, and that is why I am a new handloader. I need to keep it simple, so I may stay with 75's at 2-300 for now since I have a bunch of them, and focus on the 80's for 600. The 53'ers sound interesting, as I know a light recoil and fast bullet would improve some scores. I'm not going to spend my time and effort shooting shit ammo if I can help it, and I can.

Powder came in today, so I will start the work on the 80's tomorrow night. Going to be a ride...
Thanks again for thoughts

 

[9H_Cracka]

Re: Service Rifle Loads

A 474 will get you leg points about 70% of the time. You are starting out with these types of scores? Interesting.

What powder came today?

Basically bump your 75 load about 3 tenths, seat the 80s 10 thou off the lands on top of said load, and go to town with a better 600 load.

I watched a guy shoot a 195 with 69s in the tricky Wyoming winds in the state Service Rifle championship at 600 a few years back, so don't think your 600 issues are solely the result of your bullet choice. I made HM, DR, P100, etc. shooting 75s at 600 yards.

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: Service Rifle Loads

I'm not going to muddy the water much here. Lot's of good advice already. The Fleet and All Navy Matches are shot with M262, 77 SMK across the course. Same componets for all your loads and a little extra attention on the 600 yard ammo is all you'll need.

 

[Mudcat-NC]

Re: Service Rifle Loads

Yeah, if you shot a 474 first time out, full course, thats doing mighty fine. But, the guys are right, dont put too much emphasis on loading right now, regardless of those scores cause you can load up 77SMKs on the Dillon using Ramshot Tac that will shoot cleans at all stages all day long if you got a good nut behind the bolt. Ammo,IMHO, is the last place to look for points...or, in reality, Xs, when shooting HP. HP is more about the trigger puller, which is the way it should be, than equipment/gear/ammo.

Yeah, you cant load up some turds and expect to clean the course, but almost anyone can load up some good stuff in short order.

One more thing you might want to consider...while there are a few of us HP junkies on this forum, you may want to wander over to the National Match forum and join the fun there too....its ALL HP, ALL the time.

John

 

[bamawrx]

Re: Service Rifle Loads

The powder that came in was varget.

I used georgia arms reloads for the match because that is what I had. I'm sure the 75 would be fine if loaded properly, I should have been more clear. It was the specific 75 grn ammo I used that was bad news. When I spotted for my buddy who used the same ammo on a 600 yard match (not atc) many of the rounds would fly funny, and others were a lazer.

I'm sure that quality ammo can be had with decent attention to detail, which would allow for total focus on the fundamentals.

I do need to check out the National Match Forum.

 

[9H_Cracka]

Re: Service Rifle Loads

Welcome to the sport. Heck of a way to start your HP career - blaming your ammo.

Good luck.

 

[bfoosh006]

Re: Service Rifle Loads

http://radomski.us/njhp/

http://www.whiteoakprecision.com/info-reloading.htm