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Great Match Load

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britrifles View Drop Down
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    Posted: December 13 2020 at 6:48am
Here’s my go to 7.62 Match Load.  10 shot groups fired prone typically 1.5 to 2 MOA extreme spread with PH5C aperture sight.  A bit better when shot off the bench. Better still with a scope. 

Barrel is a Long Branch (Canadian Arsenals Ltd) 4 groove 1:12 RH twist, same outer contour and length as the No. 4 .303 barrel.  

Case: Lapua
Primer: WLR
Powder: 40.0 gr Varget 
Bullet: 168 gr Sierra MatchKing 
OAL: 2.80 inches

Muzzle Velocity approx 2450 fps from the service length (25 inch) barrel.  

The 168 SMKs are accurate to 600 yds.  The 175 gr SMK would be a better choice for long range shooting (800 yards and beyond).  

Varget has been unobtainable for several years.  Numerous other medium burn powders will work well such as N140, Norma 202, IMR 4064 and 4895, Re 15.  Loading to the low range of .308 Winchester load data works well.  

Here’s one of the first 600 yard groups I shot with this rifle, prone in sling.  



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MJ11 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 20 2021 at 7:37am
Nice 600 yard work. I have only worked my 7.62 and 1943 #4 at 600 twice several years ago mostly because it is a 370 mile drive. Locally they closed our 500yard up hill range because some one found a .45 230g slug on the ground in the car/motor cycle pits over the hill  lose to 1000 yards away. No amount data on balitcs could say the country board it didn't magically grow wings and the income from F1 and Moto GP safety stumped any argument we had.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MJ11 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 20 2021 at 7:40am
Excuse any typos please.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 20 2021 at 8:47am
Thanks MJ.  

I can tell you, shooting a clean score (100 points) on the NRA MR target prone at 600 yards with any WWII Service Rifle with irons is a real challenge.  I’ve not been able to repeat it with this rifle and have tried at least 20 more times.  Got a 98 and 99, but not 100.  So, I think there was some luck involved that day.  A 98 and higher is a CMP High Master score.  

If anyone wants to try this and you don’t have access to a 600 yard range you can get the MR target reduced to 100 yards: the MR 31 Target.  The 10 ring is only 1.7 inches in diameter.  The X ring is 0.7 inches, the size of a US dime.   Of course, with any wind, it’s more difficult at 600 yards than it would be at 100 yards with the reduced target.  Compare that to the SR-1 Target we are using at 100 yards for our Lee Enfield Forum Virtual Match which has a 3.35 inch 10 ring and a 1.35 inch X ring.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 20 2021 at 11:35am
That is impressive. I would love to try out a 600metre range; but still needto get better on the 200m first. We use an 8cm 10 ring at 200m for our service rifle competitions.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 20 2021 at 11:44am
Zed, there is a printable MR 31 Target available online.  The MR 31 10 ring diameter is pretty close (in proportion to the range) as what you shoot at 200 meters.  Is there a X or V ring on your 200m target?  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 21 2021 at 2:08am
There's no X or V ring in the 10. But I think the 10 is similar your X ring on your service rifle target at 200 yards; is that correct?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 21 2021 at 4:24am
Zed, yes, the SR Target for 200 Yards has a 3 inch X ring, the target you use at 200m is 3.15 inches.  

Do you know if anyone has shot a score of 100 in your vintage service rifle matches?  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 21 2021 at 6:08am
On the National circuit the top guy's are getting 195 regularly and I've seen 198 as a winning score at the National Final. That's out of 200 posssible.
My friend got a couple of podiums on the last National circuit season. He is retired and practices a lot!
Also he lives 15 minutes from the 200M range. It's an hour each way for me. 
Very difficult getting the time; which is why I'll be concentrating on the .22 for the moment. It's only 15 minutes to the local club.
I've been messing with my large calibre loads and new powder, so need to settle on a reliable load and get some practice!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 21 2021 at 7:56am
 I looked thru the last 10 years of CMP National Match records for M1, 1903 Springfield and Vintage Military Rifle matches and not seen any scores of 100-10x.  Not to say someone has not done this on a regional or local match, I suspect someone has.  

As an example, at the 2019 National Matches there were 1,160 competitors in the three “Games” events.  26 competitors shot a score of 100 points in prone slow fire (1.6% of shooters), the highest score was 100-7x.  That score would equate to 194 on your targets (assuming the SR target X ring is the same as your 200m 10 ring, it is very close).  A 198 on your target would be equivalent to two strings of fire scoring 100-9x each (200-18x).  That would be very tough to do! 
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