Hornady 68 gr. vs. Sierra 69 gr. bullet

[ks_shooter]

I have been working on a handload with the Hornady 68 gr. BTHP match bullet. My rifle seems to like 26.0 gr. of W748 the best, but the groups that I am getting are not what I would hope for. These are loaded to magazine length, and in my rifle they have to jump about 80 thousands to engage the rifling. I bought some Sierra 68 gr. BTHP match bullets thinking that I would try them instead. I haven't had a chance to use them yet, but I have noticed that the Sierra bullets are less pointed than the Hornady bullets. This allows them to only jump 40 thousands when loaded to magazine length. Would the shorter jump for the Sierra bullet tend to provide tighter groups? If so, would this be worth the lower Ballistic Coefficient that the Sierra bullet has compared to the Hornady bullet?

 

[Steve Smith]

Great question!

I don't know of anyone using the 68 Hornady in match use. The 69 SMK is quite popular, however. In a good barrel the 69's oughtta shoot less than 1MOA out to 300 in good wind. I wouldn't take them furthen that that though. Switchy wind will mess with your accuracy at that distance, too, of course.

The shorter jump is a benefit, of course, but the SMK's are known to be very jump-friendly anyway.

Is the loss of jump worth the loss of BC? Well, based upon actual target results and chrono data performed by several friends, Sierra's BCs are often very conservative in comparison with other companys. I say the proof is in the pudding. Shoot them and see.

Make sure to report your findings!

 

[Poodleshooter]

I don't know of anyone using the 68 Hornady in match use.

Well I do, but that probably doesn't count
I got a deal on a bunch of cannelured 68gr BTHP Hornadys that were apparently some sort of production overrun.
I use 25grs of WC846 in Malaysian or Remington cases and a CCI SR primer. I shoot them on 100yd RCOF. They run into about an inch at that range. Nothing spectacular, except for the price and the cheap practice.

 

[Steve Smith]

BTW, as the guys at AR15.com told you (I shoot with quite a few of them) you should try the 77 SMKs. Your rifle might not stabilize them, (don't know your true twist rate) but they're worth a try. They are built for mag-length loading.

That's what I use for 200/300 and they shoot VERY well.

Poodleshooter, try them with a CCI BR4 or Rem 7 1/2.

 

[Poodleshooter]

I'll be switching away from CCI in my rifles after I finish the next thousand .223 that I've already primed for the season.
I'm too cheap for the BR primers as they run about about 150% of regular CCI here in VA, but I may try Remingtons. I've used them in pistol competition, but never in any rifle.
What's the word on the Winchester blue box? Inconsistent?
I like my Hornadys. They run $10.15 per 100, and less than .10 apiece if I buy in real bulk.
Short bullet jump means low ballistic coefficient when you're limited to 2.26 or so. Luckily it doesn't make a hair's worth of drop on that 3/4" X ring @ 100yds!

 

[Steve Smith]

Win primers are very easily pierced with heavy bullet loads. I suppose they probably work fine with 55's. I started piercing them at 23 grains of RL15 iwth a 69 SMK. Pretty regular, so I stopped and gave it up. Got lots of Win primers now that I can't use.

CCI BR4s are more expesive. The Rem 7 1/2s are just a little more than standard, but not much.


BTW, I can get 69 SMK's, 500 for $50, no shipping, no tax.

 

[WalkerTexasRanger]

Remember, just because the bullet is slightly longer does not mean it will jump less. You need to measure to the ogive to determine actual jump.

I had much better luck with the 68s than the 69s actually. Depends on the barrel though. I guess that was until I tried a Hornady 75 and it smoked them both, again, at least in my rifle.

You need to try several and see what works best for you...

I would second the comment on the Win primers, easy to pierce with a full load and heavy bullet. I have had much greater success with the Rem 7 1/2s....

Good shooting!!!!!