Non Prime .223 precision ammo?

[BLKWLFK9]

Since Prime is on lock down, what is everybody using for factory .223 training ammo? Black Hills, hornady, etc?

 

[FUNCTIONAL]

black hills, fgmm...ive used eagle eye in the past. All shoot great with no complaints.

Blackhills 75gr shoots as good as my handloads for my fathers rifle but just slower (2765 out of a 30" barrel).

 

[Xander3Zero]

I've always used FGMM 77gr or Norma Match 77gr for factory match grade 223 ammo. If you are looking to salvage and reload the brass, I would go with the Norma since they are generally known for quality brass, and the FGMM stuff has the "sealed" primer pockets that will need to be swaged/reamed to be reloaded.

 

[Stingerup]

This is out of a gas gun but groups great. IMI 77gr razor core. It's OTM round and stabilizes well.

 

[Alpine 338]

I've had very good results with Black Hills Red Box. The 223 is more accurate than the 556 load, but still accurate enough for field type matches. I mostly shoot the 77 OTM (SMK) load in my precision AR platforms. My bolt gun I was using the 69-gr SMK load because of a 9-twist barrel. I was able to print a 1/4" group at 200-yards with it.

 

[diverdon]

I have had good luck with the accuracy of Hornady Black 75 gr BTHP.

Astounding accuracy with my PVA barreled Nucleus's at 100 yards.

 

[ManSpackle]

HSM 77gr matchkings. They shoot well in every gun i've ran them through

 

[elwarpo]

on one rifle IMI 77 shoots better , but on my other gun Hornady shoots better.

 

[021411]

I haven’t had any accuracy issues with Magtech 77gr OTM. They are half minute in my 16” gas gun. Razor core shot like shit out of it though.

 

[MSTN]

Norma and Prime 77 grain loads, both made in Europe, while quite accurate, both have much lower velocities than what we are accustomed to in the U.S. The explanation I’ve been given by Prime is that the Europeans typically don’t shoot further than 300 yards in their competitions. As a result, they can build super accurate and consistent loads that go easy on barrels. A 200 fps velocity deficit isn’t going to make an insurmountable difference.

The best commercial long range load I’ve found is the ASYM 77 SMK. Decent velocity plus great accuracy with amazingly low SD’s.

 

[KTNicholson]

I’ve had very good results with Gorilla 77gr

 

[Nik H]

IMI Razor 77 grain is cheap and damn good out of my Larue and KAC

 

[BLKWLFK9]

This will be shot out of my 26" 7 twist bolt gun as a trainer.

 

[FCS]

Gas gun or bolt gun?

70 RDF@ 2900ish fps @ 200 from RPR

I’ll have to find pictures of gas gun groups w/77s.

7 twist bolt gun I’d be running an 80/80.5 Berger, 80 SMK / NCC / ELD-M or 85 RDF via 223 DBM.

 

[powdahound76]

Another vote for Hornady Black 75 gr in a precision bolt gun. Was so good, didnt try other commercial loads

 

[RackOpsTactical]

I second the Federal Gold Metal Match. Also I agree if you want to save brass Norma 77 is the way to go.


I've had decent results with PPU match not as good as FGMM but cheap.

 

[BLKWLFK9]

I bought a few boxes of the 77gr Fgmm and the 73gr fgmm Berger. See how they shoot. Plan on buying some hornady black 75gr too. This will strictly be training ammo and I dont plan on reloading it. I load for enough calibers, dont want to load any more than I have too. I've got a killer reloading room and set up but I cant say I really enjoy doing it.

 

[Primus]

Black hills blue box 75gr is the best value if it shoots in your gun. They use Hornady pills and the 69/77 are smks which are a bit more money. Reloading is where you really save money with .223. half the powder of 6.5cm

 

[Eustice]

Defender Ammunition has a 77 grain that uses a SMK projectile. Magtech 77 grain has been accurate for me. And Federal had their FC262 77 grain 5.56 that was awesome out of my SPR. But the FC262 isn’t being made anymore. Rumor says it’s coming back under a different name but I haven’t seen it yet.

Defender Ammunition is different from Freedom Munnitions. Freedom is garbage and kabooms guns. Defender is pretty good.

I’ve shot some Gorilla Ammunition and it was good as well.

 

[BLKWLFK9]

I have shot a lot of defender ammo in a 6.5 and .300. Defender was the 1st place I went to but they dont offer the 77 anymore. 69gr is the heaviest they have

 

[Eustice]

I got a box of 77 grain from a Defender rep at the Bushnell match about 3 weeks ago.

Edit to add: I just looked at their website. It’s not .223, it’s 5.56x45. You have to select 77gr. SMK and “New” instead of remanufactured. $32/50 or $600/1000.

 

[Hollywood 6mm]

I've been pretty impressed with the accuracy and consistency of 73gr Gold Medal Berger from my 18" gas gun, but it ran slow. That said, I think I had a slow lot of it.

 

[BLKWLFK9]

I have shot a lot of defender ammo in a 6.5 and .300. Defender was the 1st place I went to but they dont offer the 77 anymore. 69gr is the heavist

I got a box of 77 grain from a Defender rep at the Bushnell match about 3 weeks ago.

Edit to add: I just looked at their website. It’s not .223, it’s 5.56x45. You have to select 77gr. SMK and “New” instead of remanufactured. $32/50 or $600/1000.

Now I see it. Still is listed as unavailable. I'll buy some when it comes back in stock, assuming it does

 

[Eustice]

Now I see it. Still is listed as unavailable. I'll buy some when it comes back in stock, assuming it does

Make sure you select “new” and not the default of “remanufactured.” When I do that is shows available.

 

[BLKWLFK9]

ah.... i see. ty

 

[ratton]

Black Hills Blue Box (remanufactured) 77grn shoots just as goos as the red box and is way less expensive. You will not be disappointed.