View Full Version : 77 GR Nos, clones, accuracy, blah...
I've been chasing loads for years, and I'm finally ready to just settle on a few. But I have a couple more factors in the equation to ponder, neck tension and crimping... Is a full length sizing die going to do anything for neck tension? And is a light crimp going to do anything to remedy varying tension? I'm beginning to think some, but not all of my vertical stringing is a result of this.
At this point I'm settling on three loads, two for accuracy, one for speed and fragmentation...
A Varget load works well, as does markm's h322 house load. I had actually found the h322 load in the past, but discounted it for its lack of velocity.
And an AA2520 load for fragmentation, pictured below(25.1), in a 10 round test shoot. This is also where I seem to keep seeing at pesky stringing. I'd really like to find something with a higher velocity, all the while keeping all 10 under an inch.
Anyhow, thought I'd stop by, ask and share.. thanks for reading.
45468
What die set are you using?
I really don't see vertical stringing in your groups. Without knowing the shot order and witnessing a shift in group though a scope, I would say those groups are round.
What die set are you using?
RCBS full length set
I really don't see vertical stringing in your groups. Without knowing the shot order and witnessing a shift in group though a scope, I would say those groups are round.
I guess I'm referring to the vertical shot placement I experience more than the lateral.
Your 25.1/AA2520 load looks pretty consistent.
Have you shot at 2/3/400 with it- and how does it hold up at increased distance if so?
I have experienced better MOA groups at 300 (without wind) than at 100 -not infrequently.
Often wondered if it just took a bit more distance for the bullet to "settle down".
I also use rcbs full length dies for most cartridges. However i use them in conjunction with these
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/477756/rcbs-precision-mic-223-remington
That way you can adjust the sizing die for appropriate use in our gas guns.
Your 25.1/AA2520 load looks pretty consistent.
Have you shot at 2/3/400 with it- and how does it hold up at increased distance if so?
I have experienced better MOA groups at 300 (without wind) than at 100 -not infrequently.
Often wondered if it just took a bit more distance for the bullet to "settle down".
It did a 1.9 5 shot at 200, with a mean radius of .71. That's as far as I get until the snow melts at 3k feet. The ten shot, 100 mean radius is.41..
This may be stupid, but once I've full length sized my brass and cleaned it, it all gets run through a Lee Neck sizing collet die. This step also removes media from the flash hole and primer pocket, and gives instant feed back to neck tension. You'll know instantly if you have a loose neck. After the rest of the process is complete, i put a very light crimp for accuracy loads or a medium crimp for plinking loads with the Lee Factory crimp die. Extensive? Yes. But there are a few months every year where I live where I'm doing more loading than shooting due to sub-zero temps.
What kind of press are you running?
I run a RCBS Rockchucker. I'm planning on picking up more h322 up this weekend, along with some primers. I want to try something different than the cci 400's I've been using. I'm also going to start using a light crimp, as I have just realized my seating did is capable of this.
I'd strongly recommend against using your seating die to crimp. I tried it before and ended up buckling the shoulders of my cases. When i asked the forum for its wisdom i was told exactly what im recommending now. That's what's nice about the one Lee makes. Its forgiving and not affected by case length in the manner a seating die would be. I still do my rifle reloading on a single stage as well. It makes for a very easy last step.
I also use the Lee crimp dies. Good product.
I also use the Lee crimp dies. Good product.
I'll go ahead and use that one the. I did have it queued up for order..
Are you batching your brass? Or is it a mixed batch? I use h335 and cci 41 primers. The lee collet crimp die is awesome. On the crimping, I crimp, rotate the brass about 25 degrees and do again. It smooths out the marks in the brass. This is especially on heavy crimps. For .223 I only light crimp.
Are you batching your brass? Or is it a mixed batch? I use h335 and cci 41 primers. The lee collet crimp die is awesome. On the crimping, I crimp, rotate the brass about 25 degrees and do again. It smooths out the marks in the brass. This is especially on heavy crimps. For .223 I only light crimp.
Mixed, I gave up on sorting.
Ned Christiansen
05-08-17, 22:46
Me too. For my purposes I'll usually take groups that are 1/2 MOA larger to super-streamline the loading process, although sometimes I will sort after loading.
Sometimes, when brass coming into my loading process is already all of one kind, I will load them as a batch..
I've been chasing loads for years, and I'm finally ready to just settle on a few. But I have a couple more factors in the equation to ponder, neck tension and crimping... Is a full length sizing die going to do anything for neck tension? And is a light crimp going to do anything to remedy varying tension? I'm beginning to think some, but not all of my vertical stringing is a result of this.
At this point I'm settling on three loads, two for accuracy, one for speed and fragmentation...
A Varget load works well, as does markm's h322 house load. I had actually found the h322 load in the past, but discounted it for its lack of velocity.
And an AA2520 load for fragmentation, pictured below(25.1), in a 10 round test shoot. This is also where I seem to keep seeing at pesky stringing. I'd really like to find something with a higher velocity, all the while keeping all 10 under an inch.
Anyhow, thought I'd stop by, ask and share.. thanks for reading.
45468
What length of barrel and twist of barrel are you shooting?
^^^ Centurion Arms SPR, 18" 1-7
Kansaswoodguy
05-12-17, 20:49
What trigger you using?
What trigger you using?
Geissele SSA-E, the rifle is very capable of sub moa..
45578
In my 16" PRI, 24.1 grn TAC pushing a Nosler 77 w/cann @~2650 = BH 5.56 77 SMK (retail MK262). In my experience ammo of this type is MOAish...
In my 16" PRI, 24.1 grn TAC pushing a Nosler 77 w/cann @~2650 = BH 5.56 77 SMK (retail MK262). In my experience ammo of this type is MOAish...
That's what I'm beginning to finally settle on. I'd still like to try some actual MK 262 though, as I've read of excellent results.
FWIW that same load in my Centurion 16" recce clocks @~ 2750.
I'll have to dig my TAC numbers out, but at around 2700 fps, it was around moa.. nothing to brag about though.
That load (MK262/clones) sacrifices accuracy for terminal/long range performance to some degree IMO.
Is ~2700 FPS out of a 16" barrel about average for mk262 variants?
More like 2650 with typical 5.56 chambers.
In my 16" PRI, 24.1 grn TAC pushing a Nosler 77 w/cann @~2650 = BH 5.56 77 SMK (retail MK262). In my experience ammo of this type is MOAish...
At 24.1 GR of TAC, and a 77 GR CC, I'm averaging around 2636. And that's from an 18" barrel. I need to push 24.6 GR to average 2700..
I can't find any old targets, maybe I'll run a few more loads. And now that I have a can, results may very.
I spoke with a ramshot guy. The 2 1lb containers I have are energetic, ~ +1%. The next 8lb lot is -4% so if your 24.1 is slower it could be from a less energetic lot. Load to velocity. An 18" should probably be ~2750 but a more accurate load will likely be less. These loads (~MK262) sacrifice accuracy for performance, plus loading this hot is hard on brass...
I will say that Mark's house load works well. I found this earlier, before reading about it here, but passed because it wasn't fast enough for my clone. Well I revisiting it yesterday with the last bit of h322 I had left. I'll definitely be loading more for my accuracy load.
I had a chance to make it up to my 3500", 550 yard shooting spot today. I used my 2520 MK 262 clone load. As I've found before, it seems to work better the farther out I shoot it. Consistent torso and head sized shots were easy once I dialed in my zero. Next time I head up I'll try and set something up I can get measurements off.
45753
To say that I'm jealous of your shooting spot is the understatement of the year. My gosh that's beautiful. Is that in Colorado?
To say that I'm jealous of your shooting spot is the understatement of the year. My gosh that's beautiful. Is that in Colorado?
Western Washington
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