Anybody load for their AR rifle using Sierra 69-gr MatchKings? And if so, do you have any trouble stacking such loads into 30-rd magazines and/or getting them to feed reliably? If not, how far off the lands are you by the time you've seated them far enough into the case necks that they will stack up in your magazines and/or feed reliably?
Handloading for ARs using Sierra 69-gr MKs
- Thread starter SRMohawk
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You gotta load them to fit the mag... unless you want to load and shoot one at a time... the distance to the lands will be different with just about every rifle..... You got to use a stoney point tool or smoke a dummy round to see the distance to the lands for your rifle.. good luck
FlyinBryan
Member
ya, what dirtman said.
ive had the best luck loading longer/heavier bullets for my ar's using h322.
varget is good too but it takes quite a bit more and be prepared to hear the powder crunch when you seat the bullets, which is fine but it still feels weird if your not used to it.
my best accuracy for heavier bullets has been h322, varget, benchmark, and even h335.
my favorite for them is h322 though. it takes quite a few grains less to get decent velocity, plus its cut really short so it leaves a lot of room for the longer bullets. (sierra 69g are really long)
ive had the best luck loading longer/heavier bullets for my ar's using h322.
varget is good too but it takes quite a bit more and be prepared to hear the powder crunch when you seat the bullets, which is fine but it still feels weird if your not used to it.
my best accuracy for heavier bullets has been h322, varget, benchmark, and even h335.
my favorite for them is h322 though. it takes quite a few grains less to get decent velocity, plus its cut really short so it leaves a lot of room for the longer bullets. (sierra 69g are really long)
MutinousDoug
Member
"69gr SMK, 2.55 OAL, 24.2 RL-15, LC brass, Rem 7 1/2 primer - good out to 300
/Bryan"
I believe Bryan has mis-typed the OAL, as a 2.55" cartridge will not fit in an AR magazine. 2.30" OAL, yes.
/Bryan"
I believe Bryan has mis-typed the OAL, as a 2.55" cartridge will not fit in an AR magazine. 2.30" OAL, yes.
I've used the Sinclair setup for years now for determining OAL of my handloads. It's much more accurate than the Stoney Point tool.
As for propellants, I've always burned Vihta Vuouri's stuff in my 6.5 x .284 Norma, .300 WSM, and .338 Lapua with superb results, so I'm gonna start out with their N140 for this new AR project. 'Sides, it comes highly recommended by Hornady's 7th edition manual, and they research and publish their findings for the AR platform independently.
I guess I'll pull out the rifle and get to taking some measurements this weekend. I just hope I don't find that by the time cartridge OAL with these Sierra 69s is short enough that they fit into the mags, I'm not something like 0.0002" off the ojive when the bolt closes! Seriously, I'd be thrilled if I ended up under 0.005" off.
As for propellants, I've always burned Vihta Vuouri's stuff in my 6.5 x .284 Norma, .300 WSM, and .338 Lapua with superb results, so I'm gonna start out with their N140 for this new AR project. 'Sides, it comes highly recommended by Hornady's 7th edition manual, and they research and publish their findings for the AR platform independently.
I guess I'll pull out the rifle and get to taking some measurements this weekend. I just hope I don't find that by the time cartridge OAL with these Sierra 69s is short enough that they fit into the mags, I'm not something like 0.0002" off the ojive when the bolt closes! Seriously, I'd be thrilled if I ended up under 0.005" off.
SRMohawk,
“I've used the Sinclair setup for years now for determining OAL of my handloads. It's much more accurate than the Stoney Point tool.”
The stoney point tool has been very accurate for me, repeatable....
perhaps it depends on the user..:banghead: its real easy to get 002 off the lands.... or whatever that particular rifle needs to get its best group..... we are all just trying to help......
“I've used the Sinclair setup for years now for determining OAL of my handloads. It's much more accurate than the Stoney Point tool.”
The stoney point tool has been very accurate for me, repeatable....
perhaps it depends on the user..:banghead: its real easy to get 002 off the lands.... or whatever that particular rifle needs to get its best group..... we are all just trying to help......
Rollis R. Karvellis
Member
This is the load I use, it is on the low end power wise, but has been very good for me. Load the bullit so it fits the mag and you shouldn't have any problem's. Load #3
Bullet: 69gn. HPBTM Sierra
Powder: IMR 4895 23 gn.
Primer: W.S.R.
Case: Winchester
Crimp: no
Bullet: 69gn. HPBTM Sierra
Powder: IMR 4895 23 gn.
Primer: W.S.R.
Case: Winchester
Crimp: no
My 200-300 yard cartridge has been the 69g SMK, using Reloder 15, 25.0 grains in a LC 08 commercial casing. I'm getting just under 2900 fps and the specs say it should be supersonic to 788 yards and it shoots MOA, which is better than I can do unless I'm benched.
I use Pmags and I seat them to an OAL of 2.265 and they feed just fine.
I load a different round with 75 grain Amax's and seat those .015 off the lands and they will not even come close to fitting in a magazine.
So, my feeling is that if you're seating to mag length, don't worry about getting too close to the rifling - you won't be anywhere near them in an AR.
I use Pmags and I seat them to an OAL of 2.265 and they feed just fine.
I load a different round with 75 grain Amax's and seat those .015 off the lands and they will not even come close to fitting in a magazine.
So, my feeling is that if you're seating to mag length, don't worry about getting too close to the rifling - you won't be anywhere near them in an AR.
FlyinBryan
Member
you welcome dirtman.
another thing i really like about the h322 is that i can get over 50 more rounds per pound than i can with varget.
to be honest i think i could work up more accurate loads with varget but for me 3/4" accuracy and 2900 fps is plenty good enough.
its really thrifty as far as charge weights go, but accurate like varget, benchmark, and the r15 that hj857 mentioned.
below is good advice (at least in my opinion)
like he said, you dont have to seat to the lands to get great accuracy, even sub moa.
its impossible to seat to them and still fit the magazine, at least with a standard barrel or even with most target barrels.
Thank you, gentlemen. I'm much obliged for all your feedback. And I'm quite relieved at it, too, as I'm about to 'light this candle'.
Again, this is my first venture into self-loading rifles and it's been FAR more anxiety-provoking than ANY of my bolt-rifle projects over the years -- so many moving parts and such complex mechanics compared to a bolt rifle! I owe my having made the leap solely to people like yourselves, too (i.e. THR members/contributors). I mean, with ALL your talking over the months and years about how much of a liability is a long, heavy bolt-rifle in most situations, despite the extraordinary range and accuracy, I just couldn't say 'no' any longer. I think I'm gonna be pleasantly surprised in more than just the obvious ways, too. After all, this little carbine is SOOOO light, and shoots such light ammunition, that I wouldn't be intimidated by the prospect of having to 'bug-out' with it. Any of my bolt-rifles, however, is an ENTIRELY different matter!
Wish me luck, fellas!
Peace, Out!
Again, this is my first venture into self-loading rifles and it's been FAR more anxiety-provoking than ANY of my bolt-rifle projects over the years -- so many moving parts and such complex mechanics compared to a bolt rifle! I owe my having made the leap solely to people like yourselves, too (i.e. THR members/contributors). I mean, with ALL your talking over the months and years about how much of a liability is a long, heavy bolt-rifle in most situations, despite the extraordinary range and accuracy, I just couldn't say 'no' any longer. I think I'm gonna be pleasantly surprised in more than just the obvious ways, too. After all, this little carbine is SOOOO light, and shoots such light ammunition, that I wouldn't be intimidated by the prospect of having to 'bug-out' with it. Any of my bolt-rifles, however, is an ENTIRELY different matter!
Wish me luck, fellas!
Peace, Out!
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