223 Rem 77 Sierra Tipped Matchkings

[SJB358]

Worked a little with buddies Ruger American Predator 223. Has a 1-8 barrel and I've been really thinking the long heavy bullets might be fun. Had some H4895 to try out so we used some Lapua cases, and CCIBR4's.

23.5 grains H4895



24.0 H4895



24.5 H4895



Pretty impressed with it. Still need to chrono it but it seems to shoot well. We ended up loading up the rest of them with 24.5 grains and hopefully we can get out and shake it out at longer ranges.





We tried to load up some 75 grain AMaxs but the magazine would've forced the bullet down past the ogive just to function. Neat little rifle.

 

[DrMike]

It appears to like that load. Fine shooting.

 

[SJB358]

Yeah...... I'm a 3 shot group guy I guess. Get too danged excited to ever make a 4th shot decent!

 

[tecumseh]

Good shooting!

 

[Dwh7271]

Nice shooting.
Nothing wrong with that 24 gr load either.
Looks like that 8 twist is working.
Is the American Predator in 223 a 22" barrel? I seem to remember seeing that somewhere.
Be neat to see one of those in the jugs. (hint, hint)

 

[SJB358]

It is a 22" barrel and your right, the 24 grain load was great as well. I'd imagine either one would work fine. Once we shoot through those I've got loaded I may try the 24 grain load. Need to chrono them as well but they shoot real nice. Plan on grabbing some more of them.

I will get some into jugs as well. Might make a decent small deer killer too.

 

[andrewctillman]

Norma 203-B, TAC and XBR would also be good choices.

 

[shoots_5]

I would check out cfe 223 as well. It will likely give you about 100fps more than the 4895.

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[Dwh7271]

Good call.
The CFE I've messed with in mine so far has been with lighter bullets but has performed will.

 

[shoots_5]

I got amazing velocity with it in my 22-250 but couldn't dial in the accuracy I was getting with other powders. Would certainly be worth a look though in the 223.


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[Dwh7271]

For the lighter bullets, at least with me, it has an uphill road both velocity and accuracy wise to beat Benchmark and 8208XBR. :grin:

 

[longrangehunter]

Scotty try VarGet, works great for me and a Berger 73 gr. in the Lapua brass. Nice shooting BTW!

 

[andrewctillman]

This is the result I got at Horse Ridge using the 77 grain SMK. (Not the Tipped). CBC 77 grain ammo which is somewhat faster than I can reload it.

Actual 1,000 yard DOPE for 77 grain CBC from 20 inch barrel at 50 degrees F. 2834 fps average.

100 yds 0.0
200 1.25
300 3.25
400 6.0 – 7.0
500 9.75
600 12.5 – 13.0
700 No hits but 18.0 according to JBM using .190 G7 (Litz)
800 23.0
900 30.25
1,000 37.0 (35.0 at 85 degrees and 2870 fps).

Does anyone in Bend carry the Tipped Match King?

 

[SJB358]

CFE223 will get tried! Great info fellas. Thank you!

 

[.300winmag]

Looks good Scotty! I had good luck with Berger 82's seated to mag length with H4895. Out of 20" barrels it was chronoing just under 2,700

 

[Polaris]

These bullets were brought out for XTC match shooting to 600 yards and are designed to be loaded to mag length in an AR. Maximizing velocity in these weights is rather pointless as with this style of bullet at the intended ranges you are counting on the high BC to do the dirty work. 100 fps of muzzle velocity is not worth shooting a less efficient load.

Several match shooters I know including high masters and EIC distinguished gave these a try over the winter/spring and found no improvement in accuracy or wind calls vs. the 77 SMK or 77 Nos CC. I think this bullet is more of a marketing gimmick than any sort of improvement on those proven designs. They do shoot though as you've demonstrated.

The "standard" service rifle/match rifle load in this weight is 24 gr +-.5 of Varget, R15 or N140. Your 4895 is also on the list but none I know locally use it. Also worth considering is AR comp. I know of a few top shooters at Perry that used that one this year.

I have been shooting the 75 grain Hornady over 24 grains of Varget and the 80 grain Nosler over 24 gr R15 out of my 1-8 AR( 80 nosler cannot safely be loaded to mag length in .223/5.56, single load only). As for the 80 grain, if you are looking for an extreme long range load in this caliber, you could do no better. It will easily clean the 600 yard target if I do my part and the wind doesn't get too squirrely on me.