What's the difference between Black Hills 5.56x45mm NATO Ammo 77 Grain Open Tip Match and Black Hills MK262 MOD 1-C?

W

Whitlock

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Minuteman
Jun 7, 2025
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Georgia
#1
I'm curious if anyone knows the difference between the commercially available Black Hills 5.56x45mm NATO Ammo 77 Grain Open Tip Match and Black Hills MK262 MOD 1-C?
I read that Black Hills changed the bullet on the 77gr OTM's from the Sierra Matchking to a new Hornady bullet. Has anyone tested these two for accuracy, velocity, ES and SD?
 
#2
Whitlock said:
I'm curious if anyone knows the difference between the commercially available Black Hills 5.56x45mm NATO Ammo 77 Grain Open Tip Match and Black Hills MK262 MOD 1-C?
I read that Black Hills changed the bullet on the 77gr OTM's from the Sierra Matchking to a new Hornady bullet. Has anyone tested these two for accuracy, velocity, ES and SD?
Click to expand...

My Black Hills 77grn SMK Ammo is faster than my MK 262 ammo.

And shoots single digits SD's out of my Geissele 18" SPR Cut Barrels.

I'll look out for any New looking projectiles when I order my next BLack Hills 77gr Nato order.
 
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#3
I have a couple thousand rounds of BH 77 OTM that I purchased recently.
Haven’t shot any yet, so I can’t comment on velocity or accuracy, but it is loaded with the Hornady bullets.
This is indicated on the label.

The MOD 1-C is still loaded with the Sierra bullet.
 
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#4
I have shot a shitload of the 77 OTM SMK at various distances with consistent results. I have only shot a few of the new Hornady projectiles at shorter distances. No real issues so far. But it was allegedly done to improve the BC, so I would look for some who consistently takes it out to longer distances. YMMV.
 
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#5
So I called black hills today and asked what the difference was between the MK262 and the red box 77gr OTM's and they said that other than the bullet they are identical. I then asked what the BC was on the new Hornady bullets in the 77gr and they said they should have the same BC as the SMK. They then sent me a chart to my email and said that the chart applied to both loadings. I've attached the chart to this post.
 

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  • 5.56MM 77GR MK262 MOD 1-C.pdf
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#6
I believe the Hornady bullets are the newer "Aeromatch" line. This is for the cannelure version.

Screenshot 2025-06-11 at 11-49-50 22 Cal .224 77 gr HPBT AEROMATCH™ ‑ Hornady Manufacturing Inc.png
 
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#7
bfoosh006 said:
I believe the Hornady bullets are the newer "Aeromatch" line. This is for the cannelure version.

View attachment 8706912
Click to expand...
Interesting. If that's the case then it would seem the BC is different from what Black Hills told me at .361

Now it's possible that Hornady is making a 77gr SMK clone specifically for Black Hills and that it's slightly different from the Aeromatch line. Maybe we need to give Hornady a call and see what they say about it...
 
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#10
DeathBeforeDismount said:
Wow black hills cheaping out with the hornagay bullets. Lame.

Just throw 77gr TMKs in there and send it.
Click to expand...
Nah, I want the Hornady bullets. I'd love to see some 73 ELDMs. Those shoot pretty well from what I hear and I'd like to try them. I can just buy M193 for blasting ammo. No sense spending TMK money for that.
 
#12
Whitlock said:
Interesting. If that's the case then it would seem the BC is different from what Black Hills told me at .361

Now it's possible that Hornady is making a 77gr SMK clone specifically for Black Hills and that it's slightly different from the Aeromatch line. Maybe we need to give Hornady a call and see what they say about it...
Click to expand...

For the .224 Aeromatch bullets we make cannelured and non-cannelured versions of 69 and 77gr. That is all. Published G1 BC's are always to be taken with a grain of salt. .355 vs .361 is within external factor variation (i.e. what barrel they're shot out of or what powder is used even).
 
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#13
Ledzep said:
For the .224 Aeromatch bullets we make cannelured and non-cannelured versions of 69 and 77gr. That is all. Published G1 BC's are always to be taken with a grain of salt. .355 vs .361 is within external factor variation (i.e. what barrel they're shot out of or what powder is used even).
Click to expand...
What is the yaw characteristic and terminal velocity required for fragmentation of the .224 77gr Aero?
 
#15
JWG said:
Nah, I want the Hornady bullets. I'd love to see some 73 ELDMs. Those shoot pretty well from what I hear and I'd like to try them. I can just buy M193 for blasting ammo. No sense spending TMK money for that.
Click to expand...


77 TMK are NASTY. We did some backyard expansion testing and your SMK's and Hornady 75 BTHP didnt expand at all. They literally stayed intack and slightly bent like a banana. I have some pictures around here Ill try and dig up. We shot them from a 16" AR into wet phone books covered with wet denim in front.

The TMK's on the other hand expanded like crazy and almost looked like an HST pistol round. Devastating from our testing... Not a scientific test at all but major difference in results in our backyard test.


I havent tested any Aeromatch
 
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#16
padom said:
77 TMK are NASTY. We did some backyard expansion testing and your SMK's and Hornady 75 BTHP didnt expand at all. They literally stayed intack and slightly bent like a banana. I have some pictures around here Ill try and dig up. We shot them from a 16" AR into wet phone books covered with wet denim in front.

The TMK's on the other hand expanded like crazy and almost looked like an HST pistol round. Devastating from our testing... Not a scientific test at all but major difference in results in our backyard test.


I havent tested any Aeromatch
Click to expand...
I’m skeptical that wet phone books are provide a realistic representation of what a bullet will do in critters.
There are plenty of videos online showing how the MK 262 performs in ballistic gel.
It is surprisingly effective.
Here is one of many:



Whatever criticisms you may have regarding this particular video, there are many others.
 
#17
"Back Yard" testing with 24hr soaked, dripping wet newspaper, while not perfect... can be enlightening.

Having a burn pile helps getting rid of the soggy newspaper, Lol

I used to do a crap load of it , prior to Ballistic Gel / the internet being available.

What I am saying... is it was better then nothing.

One surprising "test", was comparing .357 Rem. 125gr SJHP to a 9MM Winc. 127gr +P+... both fired from a 2 1/2" Ruger SP101.

They both had very similar muzzle velocities, and bullet weights.... but the Rem. Scalloped Jacketed made a FAR more impressive wound cavity.

What that showed , was bullet design mattered.

While I wouldn't want to be shot with either load... the .357 bullet Scalloped but was going to mess some one up far more than the Winc. 127gr +P+.

Both penetrated the same... but since you could "peel" away the inches of newsprint, the difference was dramatic.

Soggy Newspaper was good enough to see which rounds could lose their jackets, or if the HP would clog up repeatedly.

We did a crap load of rifle rounds as well... all the way from .458 Lott - .223.

At the time, it was all we had.

It may not be as repeatable as modern ballistic gel.... but it sure showed us young men a lot.
 
#18
IMG_0346-3309660.jpg


I don't know if this helps anyone.. but it might.


FWIW...Ogive OAL measured with a Hornady Bullet Comparator.

Blue Bullet , PSA / AAC 77gr OTM ( current production lot ) Pulled Bullet only Ogive OAL... .606".... actual OAL of bullet... .9825"
Green Bullet , Black Arc 77gr Horn. ( just received ) ......... Pulled Bullet only Ogive OAL.... .6045"...actual OAL of bullet... .988"
Red Bullet, BHA D556N9 ( current production lot ) ........... Pulled Bullet only Ogive OAL.... .607".....actual OAL of bullet... .987"
Pink Bullet, IMI 262... 77gr SMK ( Brown Box ) ............... Pulled Bullet only Ogive OAL.... .608".....actual OAL of bullet... .995"
Orange Bullet, BHA Mk262 Mod 1-C, 77gr SMK................ Pulled Bullet only Ogive OAL.... .6035"...actual OAL of bullet... .982"

BTW, Current Production IMI 77gr Razorcore... did not have a cannalure..... Pulled Bullet only Ogive OAL.... .595"....actual OAL of bullet.... .9785"

FWIW... I have no idea how much "margin" for error there is on cannalure or Bullet ogive placement, or the actual bullet OAL... but the alledged Hornady 77gr OTM, certainly has a narrower cannalure width, compared to the 77gr SMK
 
#19
DeathBeforeDismount said:
Wow black hills cheaping out with the hornagay bullets. Lame.

Just throw 77gr TMKs in there and send it.
Click to expand...
Meh, if my recent testing and dealings with Sierra are any indication, hornady might be better. Don't waste your time with 95smk .22 or 7mm 183smk. Junk ass bullets that vary .030" oal or thin jacketed they come apart. Hard pass
 
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