Loading the Sierra 69 gr Match King for AR15

[DeadEye9]

Would be interested to see what others are doing with this bullet in the AR15. I have recently made a few at 2.250" OAL, with 23 grains of H335. I am told Sierra wants/suggests 2.260, but wasnt sure if this would function through the AR's magazine.

A few threads back I saw someone post some nice ones using Tac powder, still looking for those loads. Anyone else?

Much appreciated, thanks in advance for any help here.

Russellc

I have recently switched to the Barnes 69gr Match Burner, as they are cheaper to me locally but give equal results. I'm running them through
16-18" barrels with 1:9 twists around 2850-2900fps and get sub MOA with both Varget and CFE223. The CFE is a 1/2 MOA worthy powder with my 16" carbines and light 50-53gr match BTHPs and works almost as well with the heavier bullets. Varget in mid level charges has proven quite accurate with the 69gr, more so than H335 and surplus WC844 in my rifles. The H335 makes my best 55gr ball target ammo though, putting MOA accuracy up with bulk 55gr FMJ and standard NATO brass and achieving good velocity/energy while doing it. Back to the 69gr though, TAC would also be a good powder as would RL15 or H4895, but for me when I was developing loads for the 69 SMK and now transferring to the 69 Match Burner Varget has posted the best results. I load my 69gr to 2.245" for my SPR build (18") and 2.235" for my M&P15 (16")
2.250" is what I load my 55 FMJ to universally. (Hornady and Winchester)
As far as powder loads, work up a ladder for your own rifle as usual but for me it always does best well above a starting load but slightly below a max book load. Off the top of my head I want to say roughly 24.4gr was the sweet spot for me but I would have to check my notes to be sure. Bottom line though, I would suggest a jug of Varget to try and think you will be pleasdd

 

[Walkalong]

I used 26.2 gr TAC at 2.250" OAL for the 52gr,

I am using 25.2 Grs TAC under the Hornady 52 Gr Match bullet. It gets just under 3100 FPS from an 18" barrel. I bought 500 of the Sierra 53 Gr bullets on sale and will try that with them as well. I have plenty of TAC that was left over from trying it in 6 PPC. I also have H-322 and N-133 left over as well. The good news is they all work in .223 and .222 Mag.

 

[Blue68f100]

What is your twist rate on your AR?

My 24" Bull Barrel, Ultra-Match AR is a 1:10. This has been a tack driver since day one. This gun also shoots the cheap Hornady 55gr FMJ-BT very well too. It will shoot 30 rounds into a 1.25 group using mixed LC brass and CFE-223 powder. I also have a 18" Wydle Chamber AR in 1:8 and it will not shoot anything accurately less than 65gr. My 69gr loads shoots excellent in it too. The long jump to the lands just does not like the light pills.

 

[RussellC]

Wreck-n-crew, 1/7 and 1/8. Building another upper, thinking of 18-20 inch match job of some sort for barrel.

Russellc

 

[Dill]

Dill, I thought 24 grains of TAC felt really hot when I tested it in my rifle and the brass had stretch marks at the web. I can't even imagine how your load would feel over here, and what it would do to my beloved Lapua brass. I see it is within Ramshot's data, of course, and I'm glad it's working out well for you.

Walkalong, my Viht-133 charge of 21.1 grains results in 2,675 on a 70 degree day from my 20" JP barrel. That's about a 40 fps increase over the 2,000 round life of the barrel, so far. I load to 2.260 +/- 0.003 and the ammo is good enough to shoot 3/4 MOA at the 600 yard competitions as long is the wind isn't too bad. I found that Viht-133 isn't nearly as temperature sensitive as internet lore lead me to believe. I wish TAC had worked out for me because it seems to burn cleaner and the price is easy on the wallet. I hope 133 works well for you next time you try it. I found it also produced the best results of the four powders that I tested when developing the 1,000 yard .223 load with Berger 80-gr bullets.

I use hand sorted Lake City cases, so probably a volume difference with your Lapua brass. You know the saying, start low, and work up! Everyones guns are different. Are you shooting an AR or bolt gun? I have only fired this load this winter, so it's possible I'll start seeing pressure signs come spring/summer.

 

[RugerOldArmy]

I'm a fan of Varget or RL-15 for that bullet, in the .223 cartridge.

 

[RussellC]

Accuracy load in the Sierra manual for ARs is 25.3g of varget for the 69g SMK.

It works great in my bolt action generally producing 1/2" 5 shot groups or better at 100 yards

I'd give that a try if you have some

I now have Varget and 69 grain MK, I will be making a few this evening.

Russellc

 

[Nature Boy]

Please let us know how it works!

 

[carbine85]

I'm using IMR4895 with the 69 SMK. If I do my part I can get 1/2" groups.
I seat to the maximum length.

 

[RussellC]

Please let us know how it works!

Will do. I will also do some in 53 grain MK, as well as some their "non matchking" 53 grain hollow points.

Russellc

 

[RussellC]

I have never used Varget before, my first "stick" powder. Volume is different than the H335, it fills the .223/5.56 brass closer to the top. (25 grains) Not all the way, but about where the shoulder is. Used the Match King 69 grain at 2.260.

Russellc

 

[rocirish]

In my experience, the stick powders are the most accurate in most rifle loads. They are a little more difficult to meter but well worth the effort. I just dump a little light and then trickle up.

 

[Kaldor]

Buy a pound of IMR 8208 XBR and compare it against the rest of the powders for 65-77gr bullets. It will win 19 out of 20 times.

Ive tried Varget, H4895, CFE 223, H335, and probably a couple more, 8208 always gives me the best accuracy. And it will reliably run thru a powder measure

 

[Walkalong]

Ball powder can shoot very well at close range. When we tried TAC in 6 PPC it shot very well, but we would get that occasional head scratcher that really hurt the group and overall Aggregate. It was also humidity sensitive. Stick powder dominate Benchrest.

At long range stick powder rules, period.

 

[RugerOldArmy]

Buy a pound of IMR 8208 XBR and compare it against the rest of the powders for 65-77gr bullets. It will win 19 out of 20 times.

I've tried that in .223 Rem, and still prefer H322, Benchmark, Varget, and Rl-15.

Yet I've tried IMR 8208 XBR in .22-250 with light bullets, and get spectacular results and velocities.

 

[RugerOldArmy]

First 300 yard group, Varget and 69 SMK, fired in a bone-stock Savage LRPV. Pleasant results.

 

[RussellC]

Got to the range yesterday, really nice day, 70 degrees, but a fairly stout cross wind. First up were the 53 grain Match kings, 24.5 of H322. Maybe the wind, but less than spectacular results at 100 yards.

I had target set to 75 yards, and the wind died down. Was able to get off 5 shots with 69 grain Match King and 25.1 varget. All 5 just not touching, but in the bull's eye, center to center .779 inch.

I know I was only at 75 yards, (trying for a little more work out of the 53 grain loads) and not exactly a group to write home about, but my best to date.

A little more range time and a new trigger surely will improve things.

Russellc

 

[Nature Boy]

25.3g varget, mixed range pick up brass, CCI BR primers, trimmed and seated to Sierra manual specs netted this 5 shot group at 100

10 shot group on the left with same load. Right was an attempt with Varget and 75g AMAX. I wish I could get the heavier pills to shoot but I'm afraid this rifle doesn't have the right twist (1:9)

 

[RussellC]

I will get there eventually, I will make another attempt once wind dies down. I dont (yet) have a bolt gun, sort of looking at the Mossberg mvp lc, but first I will wring what I can out of my self built AR15.

Nice grouping, btw

Russellc

 

[stoky]

I'm running 25.5 gr of Varget behind 69gr SMKs in a 1 in 7", 20" HBAR. Serendipity has it that if it's zeroed at 300yds it's (close enough to) one MIL down at 200 and one MIL up at 400.

 

[Varminterror]

25.3g varget, mixed range pick up brass, CCI BR primers, trimmed and seated to Sierra manual specs netted this 5 shot group at 100

10 shot group on the left with same load. Right was an attempt with Varget and 75g AMAX. I wish I could get the heavier pills to shoot but I'm afraid this rifle doesn't have the right twist (1:9)

My wife and I have two of the same rifle, the 12 BVSS, both will shoot subMOA with the 75 A-max over Varget or 8208.

 

[Nature Boy]

My wife and I have two of the same rifle, the 12 BVSS, both will shoot subMOA with the 75 A-max over Varget or 8208.

Could you share that load data?

 

[Varminterror]

Both are just under max for a 5.56 chamber in the Hornady 9th. 24.5grn Varg, 22.6grn 8208. Seated to kiss the lands at 2.3850". My wife's rifle, I could probably drop the pressure a bit and seat them longer, since her leade is cooked a bit, but her groups aren't growing yet, so we're leaving it alone.

 

[RussellC]

Say, what do your guys cases look like with this load? I see max loads at 27.5 for some bullets, but at 26.7 grains, it is half way up the neck. See pic. I measured out 27 grains just to see what it looks like, and it looks full! I dont need any this stiff, but isnt this getting compressed? Especially with another 1/2 grain?


Russellc

 

[RussellC]

Here's my targets BTW. First one is the lighter bullets (53 grain Match Kings) and H322. Very strong cross wind, 100 yards. After the fifth shot, I notice the scope was moving forward as I shot. Maybe this is why 3 of them are touching but keep creeping over? I moved target back to 75 yards to try some more, (after fixing scope mount) and that is when I had little pause with the wind. Going back to the 69 grain Match King and 25.1 grains of varget I got the 5 shot group shown.

Russellc