Testing the new 135 MK
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Bob Mc Alice
- Expert Master Poster
- Posts: 1772
- Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:54 am
- Location: Colorado
Testing the new 135 MK
Went to CRC yesterday for some HP practice for the upcoming AZ match in two weeks, and to test the new .30 cal. Sierra 135 MK. The weather was perfect for a change, NO wind and in the mid 60's.(As I write this it is snowing lightly and 26 degrees) I saw the announcement of the new Sierra bullet last week in the Rifleman. There were none to be had in this area, so I called Tommy T. at Sierra and negotiated (begged) for some samples to run thru my .308 700 Classic. He was kind enough to mail me a box of freshly minted bullets. Got them in two days!
My thinking was that this would be a real good choice to load mildly for the C-P-T. The Classic shoots the 168 MK and RL-15 .750 at chickens and tennis ball size groups at rams all the time. Never had much luck with the 150 or 155 MK in this gun, so I use the 168 ram load on all the targets. I wanted to keep the speeds to 2550-2650 FPS and loaded twelve 3 shot test rounds with 3 to 4 grains under published minimum charges. The test powders were Varget, I4895, I4064, RL-15.
Due to the short length of the 135, COAL was set to 2.800. This left only .140 bullet shank into the case and created about a .150 jump to the leade. Bullet runout was kept to .002 or less TIR measured at the tip. I had 36 test rounds and 20 with 40.0 Varget to use as foulers and to test the knockdown on the animals. Overall results were disappointing. With 37,38,39 grains of all powders except RL-15, the pressure curve was off and left the twice fired WW cases covered with smoke residue. Groups hovered around three inches. RL-15 seemed to be the better choice, but this bullet begged to be driven faster to perform. I may re-test the remainder at higher speeds, but I was after a milder round.
I tested the remaining fouler loads off the bench at the targets. This load proved to be inaccurate and connecting with a target at all was a challenge. When hit, all went down as expected. I had eight rounds left to check performance on the rams. This load was erractic at 500M. Eight shots holding center off the bench resulted in only 4 hits. As expected, he shrugged off the hits.
Shot a box of 7-08 from the guns I will shoot in AZ. Also shot the remainder of some .30-06 loaded with the 190MK. Bob S. showed up a little later for some SB practice. I offered him the M70 '06 for a few shots, but after watching me shoot it offhand, he politely said "no thanks". Hey Daisy...you would have been proud. That 190 MK knocks down those rams like they got hit with a delivery truck!
Me and Bob finished up the six hour range visit by putting 200 rds. of fullhouse .357 out of my Smith 6" M586 at the 50 & 100 yd gongs. Shortly afterwards the wind started up in typical highplains fashion. Overall it was an excellent day to be at the range. Time to go, I got some guns to clean. http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z94/ ... C03640.jpg
My thinking was that this would be a real good choice to load mildly for the C-P-T. The Classic shoots the 168 MK and RL-15 .750 at chickens and tennis ball size groups at rams all the time. Never had much luck with the 150 or 155 MK in this gun, so I use the 168 ram load on all the targets. I wanted to keep the speeds to 2550-2650 FPS and loaded twelve 3 shot test rounds with 3 to 4 grains under published minimum charges. The test powders were Varget, I4895, I4064, RL-15.
Due to the short length of the 135, COAL was set to 2.800. This left only .140 bullet shank into the case and created about a .150 jump to the leade. Bullet runout was kept to .002 or less TIR measured at the tip. I had 36 test rounds and 20 with 40.0 Varget to use as foulers and to test the knockdown on the animals. Overall results were disappointing. With 37,38,39 grains of all powders except RL-15, the pressure curve was off and left the twice fired WW cases covered with smoke residue. Groups hovered around three inches. RL-15 seemed to be the better choice, but this bullet begged to be driven faster to perform. I may re-test the remainder at higher speeds, but I was after a milder round.
I tested the remaining fouler loads off the bench at the targets. This load proved to be inaccurate and connecting with a target at all was a challenge. When hit, all went down as expected. I had eight rounds left to check performance on the rams. This load was erractic at 500M. Eight shots holding center off the bench resulted in only 4 hits. As expected, he shrugged off the hits.
Shot a box of 7-08 from the guns I will shoot in AZ. Also shot the remainder of some .30-06 loaded with the 190MK. Bob S. showed up a little later for some SB practice. I offered him the M70 '06 for a few shots, but after watching me shoot it offhand, he politely said "no thanks". Hey Daisy...you would have been proud. That 190 MK knocks down those rams like they got hit with a delivery truck!
Me and Bob finished up the six hour range visit by putting 200 rds. of fullhouse .357 out of my Smith 6" M586 at the 50 & 100 yd gongs. Shortly afterwards the wind started up in typical highplains fashion. Overall it was an excellent day to be at the range. Time to go, I got some guns to clean. http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z94/ ... C03640.jpg
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Gringo Grizzly
- B Poster
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:48 pm
135 in the .308W
I haven't tested the new 135 Grain SMK but have used the 135 grain Berger in a number of .308's with good success.
Using a few loads up or down from 43 grains of VV N140 shoots in three rifles I own. You might try this in your classic.
However, I can't recommend it for turkeys. 385 is LONG way for a bullet built a little better than a fireplug.
This bullet was really designed for hunter bench rest.
On a day without lots of wind, it might work but it seems we get few of these in this part of the country.
Sometimes I get the chance to shoot a 300 meter course with reduced targets - a perfect spot for this bullet.
If you want load specifics, send me an email at [email protected].
Gringo
Using a few loads up or down from 43 grains of VV N140 shoots in three rifles I own. You might try this in your classic.
However, I can't recommend it for turkeys. 385 is LONG way for a bullet built a little better than a fireplug.
This bullet was really designed for hunter bench rest.
On a day without lots of wind, it might work but it seems we get few of these in this part of the country.
Sometimes I get the chance to shoot a 300 meter course with reduced targets - a perfect spot for this bullet.
If you want load specifics, send me an email at [email protected].
Gringo