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Votes for best XTC match 223 ammo

QQgunstuff

Fairly new (10matches) XTC shooter wanting to solicit recommendations on upgrading to the more expensive factory loaded 223 “match” ammo. (assuming my shooting ability can start taking advantage of higher quality ammo!).
Of course, part of my interest is related to money, from presently shooting $.35/rd practice ammo to what appears to require $.80 to $1.20/rd. for match ammo.

Trying to pick from these weights:
68g
69g
75g
77g

These mfgr’s:
Black Hills
IMI
Remington
Winchester
Hornady
Creedmoor
Federal

Comments on specific ammo welcomed.
 
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Aah, not familiar with Black Hills. Just glanced at internet and see they offer new and reconditioned product, with SMK, Hornady Match and others.

Any specific bullet and weight you’d prefer?
 
Midway puts IMI 77 gr on sale once in a while, Shoots Great in my 1-7.7 Kreiger barrel. tough brass, reloadable!
 
Aha, the returns are starting to come in.

3 votes - Black Hills
1 vote - IMI

(Added Black Hills and IMI to original post list)
 
Are you shooting full distance 200/300/600 XTC matches or are they reduced distance? I'm not a big fan of store bought ammo because it costs so much compared to hand loading, but if I were you, I would buy one box of each and hit the range to see what your gun likes best before making a big purchase.

Since you're so new, I doubt that the ammo is what is holding your scores lower, but it is nice to know that if you do your part that the rifle/ammo combo is capable of winning. Once you know that, you can concentrate on all the other marksmanship skills without worrying if it was you or the ammo.
 
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i've seen good reports about the IMI 77gr. I bought some at $.55 a round online sales. Federal GMM has been used to win championships though so it's tough not to recommend it. Navy contract Black Hills MK262 shoots pretty well, it is hot though and a rifle might need a carrier weight.
As someone already mentioned, find any of the match offerings that fit your budget and shoot as much as possible. No blaming the ammo for not cleaning 200/300 and very few do that regularly.
 
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I've had good experiences with IMI and Black Hills remanufactured (out of a service rifle). Sierra 69s seem to be the most consistently accurate. I have not found a factory ammo that performs as well at 600 as hand loads - Black Hills might be close. I've had some bad experiences with Hornady ammo blanking primers.
 
None of the various types of commercial ammunition you listed will be worth anything if it they don't shoot well out of your rifle. That's the advantage of handloads, you optimize performance of the load in your setup. If you're going to use commercial ammunition, simply try as many of the better quality loads available until you find one or two with the highest BC bullets available that clearly shoot the best out of your specific setup. That's really about the best you're going to do.
 
tflorman said:
Are you shooting full distance 200/300/600 XTC matches or are they reduced distance? I'm not a big fan of store bought ammo because it costs so much compared to hand loading, but if I were you, I would buy one box of each and hit the range to see what your gun likes best before making a big purchase.

Presently I’m 75% at a reduced 200yd range and rest of time at 600/300/200 XTC range. And yes I’ve got a ways to go before ammo is the big hold back.

I do like your idea of actually shooting a variety of the $1/rd “match” quality stuff and see what can learn from that.
Click to expand...
 
rminut said:
i've seen good reports about the IMI 77gr. I bought some at $.55 a round online sales. Federal GMM has been used to win championships though so it's tough not to recommend it. Navy contract Black Hills MK262 shoots pretty well, it is hot though and a rifle might need a carrier weight.
As someone already mentioned, find any of the match offerings that fit your budget and shoot as much as possible. No blaming the ammo for not cleaning 200/300 and very few do that regularly.
Click to expand...

Another couple of great ideas, compare IMI at 55cents to the more pension e Federal Gold.

What, what you say? I can’t blame the ammo? That means low scores are my fault! Heh heh
 
squint-n-squeeze said:
I've had good experiences with IMI and Black Hills remanufactured (out of a service rifle). Sierra 69s seem to be the most consistently accurate. I have not found a factory ammo that performs as well at 600 as hand loads - Black Hills might be close. I've had some bad experiences with Hornady ammo blanking primers.
Click to expand...

I’ve certainly heard over and over the SMK’s are a must.

Buying factory match loads in the present are a must. Reloading is not part of the man-cave-shop (assume you will know exactly what I’m referring to) at present.

Oh, never stated earlier, but I am shooting AR15 service rifle.
 
Ned Ludd said:
None of the various types of commercial ammunition you listed will be worth anything if it they don't shoot well out of your rifle. That's the advantage of handloads, you optimize performance of the load in your setup. If you're going to use commercial ammunition, simply try as many of the better quality loads available until you find one or two with the highest BC bullets available that clearly shoot the best out of your specific setup. That's really about the best you're going to do.
Click to expand...

Good!
Just will have to live with the commercial stuff for a bit longer till momma agrees “ammo is holding me back” and loans me $2k to get into the reloading biz!
 
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