Ok, I'm at near 2k rounds on my 223 Wylde chamber AR, and wanted a sanity check, so I bought some commercial off the shelf "match" ammo to see if the results are different than the 1945 rounds ago during barrel break-in.
Factory ammo used:
Winchester 5.56 "Match" 77gr
Federal GMM 77gr SMK
Nosler Custom Competition 77gr
Hornady 75gr BTHP Match
Hornady 75gr Superformance 5.56 "Match"
Sorry, no group photos for you since every 223/5.56 likes different ammo. My Rifle: 223 Wylde White Oak Armament AR-15; 20" bull barrel. All loads Mag Fed at 2.260" (AR-Stoner Mags) Comments and Results below:
Win 77gr Match: Comment: This is the "dirtiest" factory ammo I've ever seen. To be fair, I ended up cleaning everything with some IPA before shooting. Strangely it has a hexagonal crimp on what appears to be a non cannelured bullet. Box velocity is 2750, which means my guess is that it is a Sierra MatchKing. 200y results (1MOA marginally).
Federal GMM 77gr Sierra: Shot well during barrel break-in and continued today, 2720 box velocity. 3/4MOA at 200y.
Nosler CC 77gr: I didn't notice before, but these are now crimped on cannelured bullets. I'm thinking they didn't used to be, but perhaps they're competing with Black Hills now? Interesting note, 2550fps Box velocity. Performance at 200y? Similar to the Win "Match" with marginal MOA capability. Side note, handloading Nosler CC 77grs, I've had poor results from my rifle where MOA was a hopeful load.
Hornady 75gr BTHP Match: Good results and simple packaging, performed 3/4 MOA today, so on par with my rifles standard pick of the Federal Premium.
Hornady 75gr Superformance Match: This is listed as 5.56 ammo, but I didn't shoot more than two for primer piercing issues. I'll use this up in my 5.56 rifle, so I don't have a comparison on this one. It was 91°F today, so if Superformance has a temp issue, I would think that 91 wouldn't set it off. My range's firing line is in the shade, so sun warmth wasn't the issue.
Handloads tested:
77gr Sierra Match King and 23.6 Varget: Nice 1" group at 200y. This is my default 600y competition load, and good to know it is shooting better than what I can buy for 3X the price.
75gr Hornady BTHP: 23.4gr Varget produced 1MOA. I'll keep working this one a little, but still not bad for 1/4 the price, and usually easier to find and lower cost than Sierra MKs. Might need a bullet sorting process, however.
Then, of course, I had to shoot some 77gr JLK conventional Ogive bullets. Pricey, mine were ~$0.33 each, but they printed a nice 3-hole by 3-hole touching 10 shot group (almost a square too). Seems 23.4gr Varget is just about right for that bullet. I bet if I order some more now, I might get them by 2020...
-Mac
Factory ammo used:
Winchester 5.56 "Match" 77gr
Federal GMM 77gr SMK
Nosler Custom Competition 77gr
Hornady 75gr BTHP Match
Hornady 75gr Superformance 5.56 "Match"
Sorry, no group photos for you since every 223/5.56 likes different ammo. My Rifle: 223 Wylde White Oak Armament AR-15; 20" bull barrel. All loads Mag Fed at 2.260" (AR-Stoner Mags) Comments and Results below:
Win 77gr Match: Comment: This is the "dirtiest" factory ammo I've ever seen. To be fair, I ended up cleaning everything with some IPA before shooting. Strangely it has a hexagonal crimp on what appears to be a non cannelured bullet. Box velocity is 2750, which means my guess is that it is a Sierra MatchKing. 200y results (1MOA marginally).
Federal GMM 77gr Sierra: Shot well during barrel break-in and continued today, 2720 box velocity. 3/4MOA at 200y.
Nosler CC 77gr: I didn't notice before, but these are now crimped on cannelured bullets. I'm thinking they didn't used to be, but perhaps they're competing with Black Hills now? Interesting note, 2550fps Box velocity. Performance at 200y? Similar to the Win "Match" with marginal MOA capability. Side note, handloading Nosler CC 77grs, I've had poor results from my rifle where MOA was a hopeful load.
Hornady 75gr BTHP Match: Good results and simple packaging, performed 3/4 MOA today, so on par with my rifles standard pick of the Federal Premium.
Hornady 75gr Superformance Match: This is listed as 5.56 ammo, but I didn't shoot more than two for primer piercing issues. I'll use this up in my 5.56 rifle, so I don't have a comparison on this one. It was 91°F today, so if Superformance has a temp issue, I would think that 91 wouldn't set it off. My range's firing line is in the shade, so sun warmth wasn't the issue.
Handloads tested:
77gr Sierra Match King and 23.6 Varget: Nice 1" group at 200y. This is my default 600y competition load, and good to know it is shooting better than what I can buy for 3X the price.
75gr Hornady BTHP: 23.4gr Varget produced 1MOA. I'll keep working this one a little, but still not bad for 1/4 the price, and usually easier to find and lower cost than Sierra MKs. Might need a bullet sorting process, however.
Then, of course, I had to shoot some 77gr JLK conventional Ogive bullets. Pricey, mine were ~$0.33 each, but they printed a nice 3-hole by 3-hole touching 10 shot group (almost a square too). Seems 23.4gr Varget is just about right for that bullet. I bet if I order some more now, I might get them by 2020...
-Mac
