Moved:: 69 gr SMK (stuck with this)

[Eb1]

Everyone, I know I am at a disadvantage shooting these, but I think I am stuck with this being the heaviest my Colt HBAR 1:9 will handle. What has been your experience with this bullet at 600 yards?
I am a newbie with this bullet and with competition, and is money tight. I am more interested in being a marksmen (learning the sport and my rifle) than buying a new upper for right now. You all think I can make this workout for me?

I might put a WOA on order. I know I can send half now to place the order, but please help me out with your experience.

I have a loading right now that is shooting pretty good at 2830 fps.

24.0 gr H4895
2.260 OAL
LC brass
CCI 450
69 gr SMK

Thanks for sharing.

 

[M1key]

I am not a competitive shooter, so take my advice with a grain of...

Try a box of 75 BTHP. Never know until you try them. If you have at least a 20 inch barrel, they may work fine. A good load that works for me (in my 1:7) is ~24.0-24.5 grains of Varget with Winchester commercial brass.

Otherwise, my favorite load with the 69 Sierra is 22.0-23.0 grains of Accurate 2015 loaded in commercial brass...

 

[taliv]

you're not at THAT big of a disadvantage.

think of it this way... you'll learn just a little more about calling the wind because the wind will push your bullets just a little farther off than the 80 grainers.

other than that, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that bullet.

WOA makes a very nice rifle, but if i were on a budget and already had a rifle, i'd MUCH rather spend my $ on ammo, match fees, gas, etc.

 

[Eb1]

thanks. reading on the box. i bought some 75 gr AMAX since it says for 1:9 twist. i have pushed them to 2680 fps, and they started to tumble. i wonder if the HPBT 75gr would do the same.

I am out to push the 75 AMAX up to 2850 to see if it will be stable. We will see. Thanks for you info.

 

[Eb1]

Thanks, taliv.

That was encouraging. I need to hear things like this.. Working up a good load, and just going with it. Thanks.

 

[Coronach]

Just because you don't have the absolute bestest of the bestest bullets (which changes month to month, it seems) doesn't mean you're at a disadvantage. It's not like you're "stuck" shooting 55gr ball ammo of unknown eastern european provenance.

Being "stuck" with SMKs is a high-class problem to have.

Mike

 

[taliv]

btw, you don't actually need to get a whole new upper. what I did was shoot my Rock River for a couple years and then sent it to WOA to be rebarreled and have the sights pinned. A house barrel (douglas or wilson or something) is pretty cheap and he doesn't charge a ton to install it. it's definitely cheaper than buying a complete upper.

 

[Eb1]

nice idea to take into consideration.

The HBAR I have is an A3 upper. So I might have to adjust the front post to get out to 600 yards; you think?

 

[Eb1]

thanks for comments on the bullet. sometimes people just need to hear things from someone else. thanks.

 

[Eb1]

I would like to say that I think I have found my loading for this bullet, and I think I am going to like it.

Sunday with the wind at full 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock at around 25 mph. I shot reduced target at 100 yards. I put all of the test loads in the X-ring after adjustment of my sights.

I think my AR-15 just found a new friend. The 69 grain SMK. They averaged 2842 FPS. This should stay supersonic to 600 yards shouldn't they?