Black Hills 69 Grain Match Ammo Propellant

**rickgman** · 02-05-17, 22:03

Does anyone know what propellant is used in the Black Hills 69 grain match ammo?

**opngrnd** · 02-05-17, 22:16

Tagging for interest. As a side note, if I could have an unlimited supply of anything, it'd be the 69 grain SMK.

**RustyKnifeUSMC** · 02-05-17, 22:36

Tagging for interest.

**ST911** · 02-05-17, 22:39

Originally Posted by taekwondopreacher

Tagging for interest. As a side note, if I could have an unlimited supply of anything, it'd be the 69 grain SMK.

Originally Posted by RustyKnifeUSMC

Tagging for interest.

Please don't "tag" threads at M4C. Under "thread tools", click "subscribe to this thread" and follow the prompts.

And if you like the BHA .223 69 SMK, try the 5.56 69gr TMK.

**mgrs** · 02-10-17, 20:10

If you are trying to duplicate it, it's tough as ammunition manufacturers tend to buy large lots of bulk powder and adjust weights accordingly whereas blended canister powders are what you will find on the shelf.

I can't speak to BHA's 69 gr, but TAC is the closest equivalent to what they were using in the 77gr 262. Charge weights even line up.

**rickgman** · 02-10-17, 20:32

Originally Posted by mgrs

If you are trying to duplicate it, it's tough as ammunition manufacturers tend to buy large lots of bulk powder and adjust weights accordingly whereas blended canister powders are what you will find on the shelf.

I can't speak to BHA's 69 gr, but TAC is the closest equivalent to what they were using in the 77gr 262. Charge weights even line up.

Yep, I'm aware that ammo manufacturers most frequently use bulk propellant that does not exactly match the energy content of cannister grade propellant. I want to know what propellant they use so I can match the burn rate. I have found that I can adjust the propellant charge to get the MV I want but if I don't use the right propellant, the burn rate is different and that can affect the barrel harmonics and shift the POI. Seems AR type rifles are a bit more sensitive to that phenomenon than many other rifles. I, too, figured that they might be using TAC propellant. I've loaded up some ammo using TAC and 69 grain Sierra MK projectiles that I hope is a clone of the BH's 69 grain 5.56mm match ammo but I haven't had a chance to test it yet. Maybe when it warms up a bit.

**Ryno12** · 02-12-17, 17:02

As an experienced reloader, why not just roll your own then? You should be able to customize a load just as good, if not better, for your setup than any factory load.

Other than fact finding purposes, I don't ever see myself buying factory ammo again.

**ST911** · 02-12-17, 17:14

OP- The ammo you're asking about is a highest-quality factory loading, with a number of proprietary components and processes that help it do what it does. Your quest to clone it is a compliment to its makers, but the best you can hope for is to mimic some of its attributes. markm appears to have given you good advice. If you are a competent loader, play with the components and information already known to you, and report your results.

**rickgman** · 02-12-17, 20:49

Originally Posted by Ryno12

As an experienced reloader, why not just roll your own then? You should be able to customize a load just as good, if not better, for your setup than any factory load.

Other than fact finding purposes, I don't ever see myself buying factory ammo again.

For rifle match competition and SHTF situations, I never use reloads. Here's why - I have on one occasion experienced a blown out primer and I ended up with a barely functional rifle when the primer found its way into the trigger group. When I am serious, I want to only use ammo with crimped primers - period. It has been said that we are all products of our experiences - mine have not all been positive.

Originally Posted by ST911

OP- The ammo you're asking about is a highest-quality factory loading, with a number of proprietary components and processes that help it do what it does. Your quest to clone it is a compliment to its makers, but the best you can hope for is to mimic some of its attributes. markm appears to have given you good advice. If you are a competent loader, play with the components and information already known to you, and report your results.

Your assumption that BH's uses proprietary components and processes is not necessarily factual. They use LC cases & Sierra Matchking projectiles. I do not know what primers are used but I would bet that they are commercially available primers. The propellant is ball propellant and is very easy to meter (at least when compared to extruded propellant). I have a lot of faith that I can meter ball propellant as good as they do. What I don't know for sure is the exact type of propellant. I assume it's TAC and I have loaded a number of cartridges with that propellant. I'll let you know how that combination performs relative to the factory ammo.