Which round for long-range shooting?

[wild_wild_wes]

Is the 69gr SMK only available from Black Hills?

My new ARs will come in three barrel lengths: 14.5", 16", and 18".

Should I consider a lighter bullet for the 14.5", since it will have the lowest velocity? It is 1/6 lightweight chrome lined, for general use.

[Gunfighter13]

I would recommend the Federal TRU 77 gr Sierra Match king BTHP and the Federal Gold Medal Match 77 gr BTHP for anything out past 300 yards. They have worked for me out to 600 yards. I like the TAP ammo to but my gun seems to like the Federal 77 better.

[KevinB]

Is the 69gr SMK only available from Black Hills?

My new ARs will come in three barrel lengths: 14.5", 16", and 18".

Should I consider a lighter bullet for the 14.5", since it will have the lowest velocity? It is 1/6 lightweight chrome lined, for general use.

Federal makes a good 69gr SMK loading in their GM line.

I would guess you meant 1:7 twist not 1 in 6 ?
I prefer the BH NATO loaded Mk262 from pretty much everything in the 77gr weights - as I find the extra fps gives it the edge for work outside 300m

HSM's 77gr is a nice load - but its slower and got the trajectory of a rainbow. I dont have a lot of experience with other commerical loads - I made a reload Mk262 Mod0 clone loading that has been good for me - and for civilian shooting I have not looked back.

That said the Mk262 Mod1 I have here - I have been extremely please with - from 10.5-16" bbls - and given the opportunity I would stock up for home too.

[Low Drag]

What group sizes are you looking for at these longer ranges? It sounds like you want to compete given the target you mentioned?

I'll try one last time to upload that pic...... I had to resize it, I hope it comes out OK.

[Robb Jensen]

What group sizes are you looking for at these longer ranges? It sounds like you want to compete given the target you mentioned?

I'll try one last time to upload that pic...... I had to resize it, I hope it comes out OK.

Oh man, you hit the no-shoots ! j/k

I find that with 77gr BH or 75gr TAP that my groups shrink by half at 500-600yds. M855 isn't very consistent.

[Low Drag]

Oh man, you hit the no-shoots ! j/k

I find that with 77gr BH or 75gr TAP that my groups shrink by half at 500-600yds. M855 isn't very consistent.

No shoots? Don't you mean collaborators?

[AR15barrels]

Oh man, you hit the no-shoots !

He broke rule #3.

For those not aware of the rules on how to win at competetive shooting, they are:

#1 Shoot fast.
#2 Don't miss.
#3 Don't shoot white guys.

If you do all three of those, you win.
Break any rule and someone else beats you.
Rule #1 is relative to all the other shooters in your class.

[Low Drag]

He broke rule #3.

For those not aware of the rules on how to win at competetive shooting, they are:

#1 Shoot fast.
#2 Don't miss.
#3 Don't shoot white guys.

If you do all three of those, you win.
Break any rule and someone else beats you.
Rule #1 is relative to all the other shooters in your class.

Ahhh, I don't know how to break this but........

I was shooting at the white side of the targets because the tan blended in. I wouldn't be pleased with my shooting if I was aiming at a "brown target" and hit the "white target" by accident.

[wild_wild_wes]

Yeah, Kevin, I meant 1/7.

I guess I should have posed two questions instead of confusing the issue:

Which round for general-purpose shooting from 14.5" 1/7 crome-lined barrels out to 300m?

and

Which round for precision shooting form a 16" and 18" 1/7 stainless barrels out to 300m and beyond?

The "Rainbow Trajectory" of the TAP concerns me, but so far I have been unable to find any Mk262, and the TAP is plentiful.

After some training with my new rifles, yes, I'd like to try a competition or two...so, what is a desirabe group size at 300m?

[Cameron]

I think it is important to know what optic you will be using, if any, and just what volume of shooting you are anticipating too???


Here are some pics of LowDrag taping the holes of the 500 yard target you can see the 400yard target behind him and our shooting position was the pine trees in the distance.
While the tan sides on the targets could been seen with optics... they just blended too well with the tan grasses on the Rockies...

Cameron