The NATO 77gr load is very hot. I wouldn't load to that spec. Add heat from rapid fire, and maybe a 90 degree day in the summer and pressures ramp up quick on an already hot load.
It does about 2,848fps out of a 20" barrel. Most SAAMI data tops out in the 2,700 range.
Regardless, any load at or around 2,800 with a 77gr bullet is beating up the brass. I wouldn't call it a dangerous load, but definitely hot. You can see it in the primers. They begin to flatten. They definitely look different than primers from a SAAMI load. Ignore these Highpower nutjobs who load 75gr+ bullets at nearly 3,000fps. Some have gotten kabooms in the summer with a load that worked in winter. There's no room for any amount of bullet setback. Just too many variables.
Just not worth it. Load to a lower speed and you'll be fine. Loading past 2,800 to get a few more yards of "terminal performance" ?? Just the fact that it is a 77gr bullet makes it more effective than military ball at ALL ranges. Hornady TAP FPD is loaded in the 2,650fps range, and there's no doubt that it's effective and safe. This is one of those "be happy with what you've got" type of things in my opinion. You get superior effectiveness, more range and more accuracy. Even without the extra NATO fps.
I really like TAC. Good powder. It is very, very, very clean burning powder. When they say 2 patches and clean, they aren't kidding. A shooting session with TAC is like shooting literally 50% of the volume with a different load or factory ammo in terms of barrel and action filth afterward. It is also more speed appropriate for the mid to heavy .223 bullets out of 16-20" barrels.
Ah, quick story. Was thinking about making a thread about it but haven't gotten around to searching the forum to see if it hasn't been posted already.
THIS IS WHY YOU DO NOT LOAD OVER MAX:
For one, the military uses huge lots of primers that get tested in advance. Keep that in mind as I tell this quick story.
Bought some CCI BR4's.
I would shoot strings, and out of the blue - I'd have 1 shot go 200-220fps faster. Started scratching my head. Thinking....bullet setback? So I was feeding this into the chamber by hand and closing the bolt behind it and then tapping the forward assist. Same thing. HMmmm? Could be be my weight? Scale messed up? Nope. I have a check-weight set and the scale gets checked every use and has never been more than .1gr off at any weight. Each charge is weighed by hand during work-ups and I have never had that kind of an anomaly before.
Turned out it happened a couple more times and I called it quits as I was on my mid-range charge. Didn't want to risk it.
Then, earlier this year in an issue of Handloader magazine, the author was doing a .223 primer test for accuracy. See if there's any practical difference between the various primers. Sure enough, he came across the same problem and was puzzled by it. He would get 1 shot out of a 5 shot string go 200fps faster. Ruining groups and killing the ES/SD of a load. Not to mention, being unsafe.
Haven't heard anything about that since. But that happened with the CCI BR4. I wonder if a defective lot had been released? No primer should have that kind of fluctuation out of no where. I need to dig up the article and scan it.
Anyway, that's my story. Now, imagine loading that 77gr load to over 2,800fps. Add in a hot barrel from a shooting session, add in a hot day ...come across a primer like that giving you 200fps. Add it all together and you've got a load that could be 350fps hotter or more. KABOOM! I know a hot day and a hot barrel can add 100fps from all my chronographing. That alone is reason to stay at SAAMI max or a touch lower. Let along a freak defective primer, a slight bullet setback or some other factor adding dangerous pressures.
Always build in some safety in your loads. Because it isn't a perfect world. The military does insane amounts of testing on their components. They force their suppliers to do real world large volume batch testing of everything. Also, all their rifles are proof-load tested then MPI tested, they also use the strongest gun barrel steel and have big sloppy chambers.
FPS isn't everything. Hits count. Badguy isn't going to care when he gets smacked downrange by a 77gr Nosler whether it is doing 2,400fps or 2,475fps. And if this is for competition, these hot loads are absolutely not the most accurate.
Proceed with caution. Your eyes/face/fingers/life isn't worth a few fps.
