Onagoth Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Well, I have a boatload of TAC and 69 SMKs, but I just can't seem to get any MOA or sub-MOA groups from my rifle. What am I doing wrong or should I just give up on this combination? Both powders and bullets are hard to find right now and trying to get something going with these components seems to be my only option. Best groups are 1.5" at 110y. I've loaded 23-5 to 24.5 charges seated to 2.2" and shot them through my 18" 1:8 stag upper. Any advice is helpful, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dauntedfuture Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 how well did your firle shoot with other 69 loads? If they shot better with another powder go back to that powder. What powder you use can make a difference in how your gun shoots. You can also try a hotter primer to spark things off better; somethimes that is whats required for ball powder but it should not make a difference. You also dont list velocity, ES or SD. If you ES and SD numbers are high then that indicates that your powder primer combo is not optimal. Since you did not indicate how well the gun shoots with other loads you should pull a bullet and look for shaving. In general crimping will not help accuracy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbauer67 Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Try loading them at 2.245" OAL, you are seating them really short, some guns just don't like the 69's, my gun likes the 77's a lot better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onagoth Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 Thanks guys, The velocities I did see when chronographed was 2800 avg, with a spread of around 40 fps. That was with 24.3 grains which seemed to be the best. Initially I was loading to 2.25 OAL but didn't get any positive results from there either, thats when a friend suggested loading to 2.2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskapopo Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Don't feel bad TAC never worked for me no matter what bullet I tried. I gave up on the powder. Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onagoth Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 I don't feel as bad as I do desperate. FNH is only 6 weeks away and I dont have a LR rifle load yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
co-exprs Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 2800fps is a good velocity for the 69gr SMK. First, take your rifle to a range with distance as far out as you will shoot in the FNH match. See how they hit at distance. There is a difference between bench rest accuracy and practical accuracy. 1.5moa is probably good enough to get the job done. If you can't hit a 10" plate reliably at say 300yds, then start to worry. An alternate powder, which you may be able to find if you look around would be IMR-8208. It's sort of a mini varget. Same temp stability, excellent velocity and has smaller grains than Varget, so it meters better. I get excellent accuracy from 8208 and very consistent velocity with no perceptible temp shift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskapopo Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 I don't feel as bad as I do desperate. FNH is only 6 weeks away and I dont have a LR rifle load yet For my long range loads with 77 grain bullets I run Vitavory N135. Never found anything better for accuracy. My buddy uses it with great luck with 69's as well. pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dauntedfuture Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 I have been running 24.2 TAC with 77's for HP and 3 gun LR stuff for a while and its been solid in several rifles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkCO Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Never got 69 SMKs to work well with TAC. Went to 69 Noslers and got .5 moa. Varget and 69 SMKs works well, but hard to find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FroGlockNut Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 If you can find RL15 try that with the 69s....24.5gr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Sierpina Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 How is your rifle doing with 52 - 55 grain bullets? I used 55 Nosler Ballistic Tips at Rocky Mountain with good results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiggerJJ Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 My JP 18inch open rifle loves 69SMKs with Tac, better groups than Varget...dunno why, just does. jj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moose76 Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 If you can find RL15 try that with the 69s....24.5gr Ditto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onagoth Posted August 7, 2013 Author Share Posted August 7, 2013 tried that load of RL15 already...nothing to write home about. Gonna see if I can find some 77s today and try them out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyreb Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 tried that load of RL15 already...nothing to write home about. Gonna see if I can find some 77s today and try them out. Midway USA had 77 SMKs W/C in 500 ct boxes early this week. I have been running 69 SMK with 24.1 gr TAC. Consistently getting MOA but nothing better. However in my SPR with 18" White Oak 1:7 bbl, I am good on 4 MOA plates out to 500 yards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onagoth Posted August 7, 2013 Author Share Posted August 7, 2013 Unfortunately I'm in Canada so supplies aren't so easy to get. Also, ARs can only be shot at gun clubs, so the furthest I can shoot mine is 330y Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onagoth Posted August 7, 2013 Author Share Posted August 7, 2013 Got some IMR 8208 XBR and 75 gr hornady amax's today....we'll see how they do. No stock for 77 gr SMKs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Sierpina Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 Horndady 75 Amax bullets are not meant to be fed from the magazine. They are for single loading for slow fire portions of Highpower matches. You want 75 BTHP bullets, those are for feeding from magazines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FroGlockNut Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 24.5 of RL15 or 24 of H4895 with Hornady 75gr match will hold the X ring at 600 in NRA highpower out of my 20in if I do my part right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onagoth Posted August 7, 2013 Author Share Posted August 7, 2013 Horndady 75 Amax bullets are not meant to be fed from the magazine. They are for single loading for slow fire portions of Highpower matches. You want 75 BTHP bullets, those are for feeding from magazines. lol...I just learned this tonight. Onto the shelf they go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Sierpina Posted August 8, 2013 Share Posted August 8, 2013 Horndady 75 Amax bullets are not meant to be fed from the magazine. They are for single loading for slow fire portions of Highpower matches. You want 75 BTHP bullets, those are for feeding from magazines. lol...I just learned this tonight. Onto the shelf they go As I posted earlier, try 52 - 55 grain bullets of quality in your gun. I believe FNH has 350 yards as the maximum distance. (that can change) Nosler 55 grain Ballistic Tips shot just fine at Rocky Mountain 3 Gun last week. I don't think I can improve on 12 shots for 12 targets from 65 to 560 yards, faster yes, less shots, no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onagoth Posted August 8, 2013 Author Share Posted August 8, 2013 I've tried sourcing 53 gr sierras and 52 gr Berger's with no luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskapopo Posted August 8, 2013 Share Posted August 8, 2013 Horndady 75 Amax bullets are not meant to be fed from the magazine. They are for single loading for slow fire portions of Highpower matches. You want 75 BTHP bullets, those are for feeding from magazines. lol...I just learned this tonight. Onto the shelf they go As I posted earlier, try 52 - 55 grain bullets of quality in your gun. I believe FNH has 350 yards as the maximum distance. (that can change) Nosler 55 grain Ballistic Tips shot just fine at Rocky Mountain 3 Gun last week. I don't think I can improve on 12 shots for 12 targets from 65 to 560 yards, faster yes, less shots, no. What was the wind conditions like when you shot that. I have found that my 52's get blown around a lot more and in matches where they use flashers or Larue's at long range the 77's have more thump to put the targets down and are faster to see activate on flashers. Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Sierpina Posted August 8, 2013 Share Posted August 8, 2013 Pat, Wind wasn't too bad, it probably was less than the gasping for air that I was doing. I know Kurt Miller is a proponent of 55's at all distances, and he does use Ballistic Tips too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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