Help with 77gr SMK load please

[9sigman45]

OK guys, I just started reloading for .223 about six months ago. So far I've had good success with 69gr SMK atop 22.5gr of H335 with an OAL of 2.256. Next I plan to try the 77 gr SMK bullet. Using H335 (I got alot of it onhand), give me an idea of where to start (i.e. the powder charge and OAL).

Thanks to all, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!

 

[armoredman]

In what? I reload for a Mini-14, with H-4895.

 

[9sigman45]

Good question, sorry about that.
Right now I'm working up loads for my scoped AR. It has a WOP stainless Kreiger with what I think is a pretty tight chamber. With a Hornady OAL tool, the 77gr SMK touches the lands at 2.350
Thanks

 

[NuJudge]

The beauty of the 77gr bullet is one can load it to fit in the magazine, and the bullet should be well short of the lands doing this. I've always set the OAL according to the magazine's requirements. Sierra bullets do not vary in terms of the bullet base, diameter, and ogive dimensions, but they vary significantly in terms of bullet length because of the very tip. Some shooters are going to a lot of trouble to trim the very tips uniformly (Meplat trimmers). Once you have something that works, be consistent.

There are a lot of Service Rifle shooters using that bullet. I don't believe there are a lot of them using that powder (H335). The results I got were ok, but everybody reports different results with the AR. There are some that use a similar bulk powder, WCC 846. Different shooters report on what works for them in these sites/threads (registration may be necessary), as well as some data links:

Look under "Reloading Stuph" in upper left:
http://radomski.us/njhp/

http://www.nationalmatch.us/forums/index.php?showtopic=539&hl=H335

http://www.nationalmatch.us/forums/index.php?showtopic=448&hl=H335

http://www.sierrabullets.com/index.cfm?section=techservice&page=xring&volume=6&issue=3

http://accurateshooter.net/Downloads/sierra223ar.pdf

http://www.gswagner.com/bigreloading/components/powderburnrate.html

 

[ocabj]

If you're going to seat your bullets long for that gun, you may as well go with a VLD design and/or an 80gr+ bullet.

I'm betting your WOP Krieger barrels at least 1:7.7 or faster. I think you'll get better wind drift performance with a Berger 80gr VLD. The Hornady A-Max 75 and 80gr bullets are the least expensive of the "long line" bullets. Sierra MK 80gr are the base line standard. Berger should have their new 82gr BT out.

I've got a summary of a report on the Berger 82gr BT (along with the 80gr BT; both non-VLDs, but the 80gr was not put into production):
http://www.inlandshooters.net/index.php?contentid=69