How much time are you going to spend on this? I asked a question about a specific bullet. Pretty sure I was clear on that, but lets just see how we can spin this 20 different ways
I’m getting these AAC 75gr. Match rounds delivered today, will see how they shoot. Cheap enough to not have to reload if they keep me MOA at 500
That's not too bad of a price at all.
AA2520 will get a 77 SMK up to 2750, at the upper end of loading but it is hard on brass, only 1-2 reloadings before the primer pocket is loose.
550 yards is NOT a high power certified range, 550 yds IS approximately the 500 meters of a Silhouette range which has no weight restriction. Many a Hi Power match has been won with SMK bullets, it depends on if your barrel likes them.
The AR match held at the Silhouette range, that goes out to about 550 yds at OKCGC has been won many times with a 55 grain V-Max and or Nozzler, Sierra Ballistic tip and there is no rule against them.
550 yards is NOT a high power certified range, 550 yds IS approximately the 500 meters of a Silhouette range which has no weight restriction. Many a Hi Power match has been won with SMK bullets, it depends on if your barrel likes them.
The AR match held at the Silhouette range, that goes out to about 550 yds at OKCGC has been won many times with a 55 grain V-Max and or Nozzler, Sierra Ballistic tip and there is no rule against them.
I will have to catalog this.
Don’t reload anymore but when I did I used the Sierra TMK
https://www.sierrabullets.com/product/22-caliber-77-gr-tmk/
Now I shoot Black Hills ammo loaded with it. Just an absolute tack driver out of my 16” and 18” guns. I buy the Black Hills seconds mostly and I give a buddy the brass. Really nice shooting ammo and the best bullet IMO for 1:7 ARs.
https://www.sierrabullets.com/product/22-caliber-77-gr-tmk/
Now I shoot Black Hills ammo loaded with it. Just an absolute tack driver out of my 16” and 18” guns. I buy the Black Hills seconds mostly and I give a buddy the brass. Really nice shooting ammo and the best bullet IMO for 1:7 ARs.
So to answer your question: No, nobody here has any experience with the 73s at distance...but we'll recommend every other bullet under the sun instead
.Now, I'm a bit torn on this; I've had really good accuracy experience before with the 69gr SMK. Back when I shot service rifle competition, I'm pretty sure the USAMU guys were using the 69gr SMK at least at the 2, 3, and 500 yard lines.
The downsides are that (1) Hornady bullets are going to be less expensive and typically will shoot just as well as long as you're willing to play with seating depth. And (2), my last batch of 69gr SMKs had absolute horrible variance in bullet OAL...like .017 in just the 20 or so I measured. Less critical in a bolt gun, but potentially extremely critical in a magazine fed gas gun.
However, once you get into that 68-69gr range, you can expect whichever match bullet you use to be decent out to 550. Some are better than others still.
For N135, I know you can load up to the 77ish realm, but that powder has definitely served me better across the board underneath 62 - 69 gr pills.
I'm probably going to save this N135 for my 62 grain loads, as it did really well with a 62 grain FMJBT out to 550 with good velocities.So to answer your question: No, nobody here has any experience with the 73s at distance...but we'll recommend every other bullet under the sun instead
Now, I'm a bit torn on this; I've had really good accuracy experience before with the 69gr SMK. Back when I shot service rifle competition, I'm pretty sure the USAMU guys were using the 69gr SMK at least at the 2, 3, and 500 yard lines.
The downsides are that (1) Hornady bullets are going to be less expensive and typically will shoot just as well as long as you're willing to play with seating depth. And (2), my last batch of 69gr SMKs had absolute horrible variance in bullet OAL...like .017 in just the 20 or so I measured. Less critical in a bolt gun, but potentially extremely critical in a magazine fed gas gun.
However, once you get into that 68-69gr range, you can expect whichever match bullet you use to be decent out to 550. Some are better than others still.
For N135, I know you can load up to the 77ish realm, but that powder has definitely served me better across the board underneath 62 - 69 gr pills.
I didn't have good luck with this bullet. Seating depth was pretty picky and I was barely able to get a crimp down. I had decent velocities, but nothing stable enough for me to work on a group with.
Tracking shows my 77 grain SMK's from Powder Valley should be here today. Tac should get me good velocity. I've shot my 77 Berger OTM's out to 550 and was very impressed.
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I've got a WOA barrel that I was about to give up on until I tried N135 with the Midway (Midsouth?) exclusive 62gr Hornady BTHP.
Took a 1.5 - 2 MOA barrel down to one that hovers around a half minute for five shots.
My Ruger 556 factory 1-7 16" has never been what I would call a tac driver, but it held decent groups with a reddot at 50 and 100. When I loaded up those 62's (Hornady), it was a big enough change, that I slapped a 3-12 on it and was really impressed. I had consistent hits on the steel at 546 yards.
This 8#er should last awhile. I've loaded about 1100 rounds off it between testing and the 1000 rounds I loaded of the 62's.
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