Anyone with much experience using the IMI 77gr factory ammo?

[roverjohn]

A friend has about 2.5k he wants to sell me and I thought it might be a simple way to get started shooting 600yd AR Tactical matches. Currently building a 1-8 20" heavy barreled upper and I'm just looking to get my feet wet.
Thanks,
John

 

[RegionRat]

I shot a lot of it whenever I had to shoot in places that required "factory ammo".

I would normally have shot Black Hills 77 OTM or TMK, but when away from home or when you couldn't get BH, the IMI Razor Core stuff was a decent alternative. It was not the equal of the BH, but it was often a choice of shoot IMI or stay home...

It held X Ring at 200/300 no problem, but I never attempted 600 with it. The brass was workable.

 

[Fuj]

A friend has about 2.5k he wants to sell me and I thought it might be a simple way to get started shooting 600yd AR Tactical matches. Currently building a 1-8 20" heavy barreled upper and I'm just looking to get my feet wet.
Thanks,
John

The IMI 77 gr is my go to match ammo in my Rock River 8 twist,
20" bull barrel. I buy case lot from SGAmmo, and make sure it's
the brown box. All head stamps have the same numbers in the
lot. The green and white box's like what Midway sells, has mixed
numbers. I tested several lots of IMI against Black Hills and targets
were the same out to 500 yards. The IMI was a good 40 fps more.
The empty cases are some of the best for reloading where on the
Black Hills, my lots were WW head stamped.

 

[Carl Edwards]

A friend has about 2.5k he wants to sell me and I thought it might be a simple way to get started shooting 600yd AR Tactical matches. Currently building a 1-8 20" heavy barreled upper and I'm just looking to get my feet wet.
Thanks,
John

I have a Windham Weaponry version of what you're building. I use the IMI 77 grain ammunition exclusively when shooting factory cartridges. The IMI cases shoot well too, though the primer pockets must be reworked to ease the placement of primers. With both the factory ammo and with my reloads I consistently shoot .5 MOA groups at 500 meters (547 yards.)

So.... buy that ammo your friend wants to sell. Buy it now!

 

[akajun]

good stuff, lots of highpower shooters were using it when it was cheaper for 2-300yds. You can use it at 600, but watch the wind, most shooters used 80-82gr bullets at long line but have to be single loaded.
IIRC it was loaded a little hot, wylde chambers were no problem but CLE chambers some people noticed smears and flat primers on hot days in LA/TX

 

[ToddKS]

I shot a match with a guy who was shooting IMI 77gr ammo. He averaged over 1 misfire per stage and on the last stage had multiple jacket failures. Might have just been this batch but the ammo pretty well ruined his day.

 

[roverjohn]

So three thumbs up. one sort of neutral, and one anecdotal problem. I'm buying it. My new barrel has a Wylde chamber. I have about 500 rounds on the bench as I split the first case with him and just have not shot any yet as my fastest barrel is 1-9. I'm really just trying to shoot a few matches to see what I like while building a .308 and now I'll have plenty of 5.56 without having to think too much. If I do like it I'll have a lifetime supply and if I don't I can have fun and then harvest the brass.
Thanks guys.
John

 

[Carl Edwards]

I shot a match with a guy who was shooting IMI 77gr ammo. He averaged over 1 misfire per stage and on the last stage had multiple jacket failures. Might have just been this batch but the ammo pretty well ruined his day.

 

[Carl Edwards]

I shot several thousand rounds of IMI 77 grain before I started reloading. Never a hiccup. Great stuff!

 

[roverjohn]

Thanks Carl. Already on the way. Made some trades so I don't need to pay money for it. Good to have friends that buy in bulk.

 

[Park ranger]

I’ve blown primers with it. It just depends on the lot. 300 it’s fine. I didn’t shot great scores at 600 with it. Again, I think lot numbers will matter.