Tested my handloads again some factory ammo

11B CIB

11B CIB

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The main purpose of this was seeing if this or any other factory ammo was comparable to my handloads in performance and price (or a close enough overlap) because components are getting more expensive and are still hard to come by. If I could get some factory ammo for matches since I generally lose my brass (semi auto ejection and don’t want to hold the day up looking for 5.56 brass) it’s an added cost. I’d gotten some AAC 77gr SMK ammo off a prize table last December and with the price point online, it spurred this idea.

I hadn’t shot since before my accident on 1/1, and my wrist isn’t totally healed so I had a modified grip position going on but got the job done.


Rifle is comprised of a Rainier Arms forged upper and lower
20” Proof Research stainless barrel, 1:7 rifle gas w/superlative bleed off
Trijicon TenMile 4.5-30x56
CMC match 2.5lb two stage trigger
Pictured is a Nomad LT but didn’t use a can for the chrono testing:
1FBFhE0.jpg


Here’s what the factory ammo is up against. I fired three rounds slowly just to get my wrist and arm in a comfortable spot. Fired ten rounds to make sure I could do longer strings, adjusted my scope and sent five more. We’re looking good for the test. I can send it all day.
100yds. The black square is 1/2” wide
94kIvi8.jpg



The numbers:

Federal Gold Medal Match 77gr Sierra MatchKing. $1.50/rd
Avg Velocity: 2637fps
SD: 9.6
ES: 26

Sig Sauer Elite Match 77gr OTM. $1.55/rd
Avg Velocity: 2467fps. (This surprised me immensely. It was very soft shooting and when I checked the #s I knew why)
SD: 11.4
ES: 32

Hornady white box 73gr ELD $1.35/rd
Avg Velocity: 2672fps (thought this would be in the upper 2700s)
SD: 4.1
ES: 10

AAC 77gr Sierra MatchKing $ .77/rd
Avg Velocity: 2732fps
SD: 14.8
ES: 38

AAC 75gr BTHP $ .62
Avg Velocity: 2818fps
SD: 11.1
ES: 29

77gr SMK handloads $ .78/rd
24.3gr Varget, CCI BR4, 1x fired LC Nato brass
I’m loading these for cheaper than this due to price paid BUT this is current market
Avg Velocity: 2755fps
SD: 10.4
ES: 31

I’ll get the pictures of the groups up this evening

Already got a couple other rounds I want to test, my same handload with RE15 and Rem 7.5s, Nosler 77gr OTM, CBC 77gr OTM ammo (Thank you @JustKeepSwimming ) , and maybe some Hornady 75gr Black
 
What I'm seeing is that ammo at twice the price doesn't perform significantly better than it's less expensive counterpart, maybe not as good.
 
Between these shot strings, I took the time to let the barrel cool…roughly 5 minutes each. I gathered brass, took notes, pictures etc. I didn’t blaze through each and end with a sizzling barrel. The rifle was bagged and extremely stable.

FGMM 77gr: 1”-1.25”. Solid performer but a tad slower than I thought, advertised almost 100fps faster
E17uv1Y.jpg



Sig 77gr (this one is odd but still a hair under 1”. The chrono group was the same size overall but didn’t have the circular dispersion). The speed of this ammo makes it a nonstarter for me. Adds 2.5mils at 800yds, and this is a “fast” barrel. This is like the speed of Mk262 from a 10.5”
9Rjko3p.jpg



Hornady 73gr: The first ten round group was solidly 3/4”, I think may have messed this one up pushing the last two out to just under 1.5”. If this had about 150fps more I’d put another box downrange. It felt solid and the numbers are fantastic
Ja3huAM.jpg


AAC 77gr: 1.5” main group, 2” with flyers. Consistent among both groups
yNv6Y2K.jpg



AAC 75gr: Wouldve been solidly sub MOA, but the flyers pushed it out to a 1.5” group.
xMigUX5.jpg



And another group of my handloads with a suppressor…I was testing POI shift with three different cans (Mini-4, Recce 5, Nomad LT. All were 1” low)
NdNTLLm.jpg



The AAC 75gr did a lot better than I thought it would. I had some bias from the poorly performing Hornady Frontier 75gr creeping in. However, they’re a little on the warm side. All the primers are flat, unlike the AAC 77gr (75gr left, 77gr right):
naQsPZg.jpg


Both the AAC rounds are advertised as 2700fps on the box, and both exceeded it (the 75gr by 118fps Avg). Wonder what their test barrel lengths are?


So for about $1.50 a round, with a solid shooter you’re looking at roughly MOA ammo, I’m sure depending on the conditions, the shooter etc you could see sub MOA and greater than MOA groups. Could I have shot a little better? Probably. As the day progressed I was less “fresh” but I did have the rifle firmly rested in bags and used a brake for minimal recoil. For less than a dollar with the AAC ammo you’re getting in the 1.5 MOA or greater range. If you’re shooting in the 300-500yd ballpark recreationally or in a competition that has some decent sized steel and you don’t want to lose expensive brass…it seems like a solid alternative. However, I’d be careful with the 75gr ammo in the sun on hot days

I’ll definitely do another test with the AAC 77gr. I have more to spare and I’ll shoot it fresh just to see
 
DixieDingoDog said:
What I'm seeing is that ammo at twice the price doesn't perform significantly better than it's less expensive counterpart, maybe not as good.
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The big question I suppose is what is the ammo going to be used for and what the shooters needs are. The velocity data is important to know and the price is generally the first or second thing people look at and go from there based on the answers
 
Thanks for posting your data. Your rifle is a much more high end than mine, very nice. I'm toying around with a budget rifle to see how it goes.

I'm just getting started shooting 77 gr and trying out various brands right now. I'm going to try some 75 gr AAC! I've got some 77 gr AAC, but haven't shot it yet. It has been so windy on my days off lately. I'd rather try it out on a low wind day to get a baseline, then it doesn't matter after that.
 
I had good accuracy out of my budget/precision rifle (20" 223 Wylde PSA upper) using factory Razorcore 77 ammo, less than 1 MOA (usually 0.75) when I did my part. At the time, they cost $0.66 each.

11B CIB said:
The big question I suppose is what is the ammo going to be used for and what the shooters needs are. The velocity data is important to know and the price is generally the first or second thing people look at and go from there based on the answers
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Yes. I could get better groups, more consistently, with more expensive Berger projectiles (and others), but I got decent enough accuracy with the Hornady 75 bthp bullets and they were much cheaper than the Bergers. For plinking steel out to 500 yards, they are perfectly adequate for my needs.
 
Looks like AAC ammo has some 77gr TIPPED matchkings on the way. Will definitely throw those in the test pile whenever they’re released. Like everyone else, they’re waiting on the projectiles.

And here I sold a ton of those things a while back 🤦‍♂️


Midway has IMI 77gr for under a dollar a round right now. That ammo is a great point where price and repeatability meet
 
11B CIB said:
Now PSA has the AAC brand of ammo with their in-house 77gr OTM. 55 cents per ROUND, LOADED.

Wow. Definitely gonna snag a box for the next test.

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“She gone!”
OOS already.

I’ve read great things about the accuracy of the new PSA stuff. I have some 55gr AAC, that they sent me for free for the trouble with my JAKL, that I’m curious to chrono and test.
 
Jerzsubbie said:
“She gone!”
OOS already.

I’ve read great things about the accuracy of the new PSA stuff. I have some 55gr AAC, that they sent me for free for the trouble with my JAKL, that I’m curious to chrono and test.
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I saw some stuff where the 55gr jackets were separating and caused a guy some problems inside TWO cans, different rifles. The muzzle brake interiors were also banged up so it definitely happened in the barrel or the instant the bullet left the tube

I dunno. 77 cents per round for a true Sierra bullet or 62cpr for a Hornady 75gr is a small price to pay for the piece of mind
 
11B CIB said:
I saw some stuff where the 55gr jackets were separating and caused a guy some problems inside TWO cans, different rifles. The muzzle brake interiors were also banged up so it definitely happened in the barrel or the instant the bullet left the tube

I dunno. 77 cents per round for a true Sierra bullet or 62cpr for a Hornady 75gr is a small price to pay for the piece of mind
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I’ve done zero reading up on the 55gr stuff, but thanks for that heads up. I’ll be sure to shoot them unsuppressed.

The OOS post made me remember, last time I was in the Denver, NC PSA, they had a bunch of AAC ammo, 9mm and 5.56. I’ll probably grab some of the 77gr there rather than ordering it.
 
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Jerzsubbie said:
“She gone!”
OOS already.

I’ve read great things about the accuracy of the new PSA stuff. I have some 55gr AAC, that they sent me for free for the trouble with my JAKL, that I’m curious to chrono and test.
Click to expand...

Not a direct comparison to the ammo here but I had similar accuracy with some AAC 220 gr 300BLK MatchKing when compared to Gorilla 220 gr MatchKing
 
I just had a question about your Proof Research stainless barrel. What made you go stainless instead of carbon fiber ? Just wanted any input you had on these barrels.
 
matthew0617 said:
I just had a question about your Proof Research stainless barrel. What made you go stainless instead of carbon fiber ? Just wanted any input you had on these barrels.
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Mainly price. At the time, I was able to get it to the door for under $400. The CF version is about twice that even at a discount. Secondly, it’s a competition rifle versus a “carry around all day” type thing.

My next one I think is going to be in 6ARC (I want to stay small frame/AR15) and for that I’d consider carbon fiber since I’d go hunting with it etc
 
matthew0617 said:
So no performance difference between the two just weight and price?
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Between which two? AAC 75gr and 77gr?

The 77gr is an actual Sierra bullet and the 75gr is a Hornady bullet with a really steep ogive angle that some barrels really hate. Most of my barrels don’t shoot them or the 68s worth a crap. Hornady has 3 or 4 different 75gr BTHP bullets and I have to be really careful which one I buy. And the speed of the 75gr gives me pause; someone with a tight chamber might have some pressure issues in the summer.


Ordered three new AAC ammos to try:

55gr VMax: 3175fps, $.50/ea

62gr Sabre black tip: 3025fps $.52/ea

75gr Sabre black tip: 2700fps $.55/ea


The two Sabre bullets are advertised as such:

“The 5.56 62GR/75GR Sabre Blade Black Tip Ammunition from AAC delivers superior performance when you need it most. Sabre Blade Black Tip is designed to be one of the most highly effective self-defense rounds offered to the American people at an affordable price. Our Sabre Blade Black Tip bullets are designed for maximum expansion and weight retention upon impact.”

Since I plan on using them in either a 10.5” or 13.9” rifle, the 62gr line is more appealing as it’s got more muzzle energy (1260ft-lb versus 1214ft-lb based on provided info). I’ll test their velocity and accuracy from my 20” rifle at 100yds but also at 50yds with my short barrels
 
ES44AC said:
Those Sabre 75gr sound interesting.


Thanks for sharing 👍.
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I’ll definitely update this when I get some velocity numbers in. I can shoot 50yds at home but to go any further I have to head to an actual range


ETA: apparently there’s a 55gr version I didn’t see since it’s OOS. $.50/ea, 3175fps, 1230ft-lbs. Given the energy, the 62s should be a good comprise between the 55gr and the 75gr. I figure since it’s a personal defense ammo, I won’t be shooting these extremely far where a typical “heavy” .223 would shine over a lighter one. Still, I’ll grab them when I can just to see how they shoot.
 
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