200 yd off hand / ammo

[IDPA Mike]

Is there any advantage of using a 69 , or 75 gr. for slow fire at 200 yds?
I reload my slow fire to the greatest oal my chamber will allow.
I have been using 69 gr sierra. I have some 75g Hornadyd for 600. I was wondering if the 75's would be good at 200?
Mike

 

[PatMcD]

200 is so close and the target is so large, I don't think any bullet has an advantage. Basically anything out of the barrel can clean the target.
I think most shooters, for simplicity reasons, just run two loads accross the course; mag-length round for 200 and 300 (usually a Sierra 77), and a 80gr load for 600. Some just use the mag-length 77 all the way back, and they shoot great scores with it.
This year, I'm using Sierra 69's at 200 because I got a deal on 1000 of them. Last year I used Privi Partisan 75's (also because they were cheap). Both will clean the rapids.

I'd load anything you use at 200 slow-fire to mag length. The extra potential 1/16 MOA accuracy improvement in seating them out is not worth the hassle. My hold isn't good enough to notice.
The Hornady bullets will work fine.

 

[jdesro]

I agree with everything PatMcD said. I've always just used the same loads for 200 and 300 slow and rapids - Sierra 69's - and never thought I was handicapping myself in any way.

My dad usually used a 55 or 53gr for the offhand stage, just because they were a little cheaper but still were plenty accurate, but I'm lazy and don't like to mess around too much with loads, so I just stick to the 69's throughout.

 

[IDPA Mike]

Jeff mentioned Nosler bullets today as being great to shoot.
I was looking at prices for the 69gr and the 80 gr. The savings are good .
What do you think of these? I have to place an order in a month or so. I was just wondering if I should try these and save some money , as opposed to the Sierra's ?
Thanks, Mike

P.S. Great shooting today.

 

[jdesro]

Noslers are just as good - some say better - than Sierra, and cost a bit less, too. Haven't tried them myself in the .223, but I've got 1000 waiting to be loaded.

 

[G Smith]

Mike,

A shooter from Conn is looking to put together a club buy on Noslers.
He called me while I was down in NC for the Creedmoor Cup and I had him send me the info.

I'll dig it up tomorrow after work and send it to all those that were asking about it at the match today.

 

[Jasper]

shot some SUPER tight knots @ 200 today with Noslers. 300yd groups weren't quite there (still had some shots off-call). I have 35 or so left (loaded)....might shoot a few strings with the noslers, and shoot an equal number of shots with the sierras (see which group better). I have a feeling they'll be the same, but I'm gonna test em nonetheless.

 

[IDPA Mike]

shot some SUPER tight knots @ 200 today with Noslers. 300yd groups weren't quite there (still had some shots off-call). I have 35 or so left (loaded)....might shoot a few strings with the noslers, and shoot an equal number of shots with the sierras (see which group better). I have a feeling they'll be the same, but I'm gonna test em nonetheless.

Plese post results.
Thanks, Mike