Range Report: Wolf Gold 55 Grain FMJ

[dushan]

Molon - Thanks for the range report. This is just what I was looking for

[ScottsBad]

Another great thread! Thank you Molon.

Without using your excellent methodology, subjectively this is about the precision I received with Wolf Gold. It is fine for practice if you are not shooting for tight groups. For the $300 per 1000 it's a good value.

[Molon]

Great post, thank you.

Da nada.

[edgy12]

Thank you for the detailed post.

[derfarhar333]

Nice post. Have you ever tested any of the other "budget" loads? Like PMC, Prvi Partizan or the steel case stuff?

[Molon]

Nice post. Have you ever tested any of the other "budget" loads? Like PMC, Prvi Partizan or the steel case stuff?

PMC 5.56mm 62 Grain X-TAC Ammunition







PMC’s 62 grain X-TAC ammunition is loaded in brass cases that have the annealing iris still visible. The 62 grain projectile has a copper jacket construction with a lead core and a steel insert in the ogive. The tip of the bullet is painted green. The case mouth is taper crimped into the cannelure of the bullet and the case-mouth is sealed with asphalt sealant.















The boxer primers are sealed and crimped and the load is charged with “ball” powder.









(The individual squares in the red grid below are 1/10th of an inch.)






After reading the above description of this PMC ammunition, some of you might be thinking, “I wonder how this ammunition compares to M855?” So, let’s compare!


The US mil-spec for M855 (MIL-C-63989C [Amendment 4]) states that the average velocity of the cartridges “shall be 3,020 feet per second (fps) plus or minus 40 fps at 78 feet from the muzzle of the weapon. The standard deviation of the velocity shall not exceed 40 fps.” This specification is for a 20” barrel and depending upon variables equates to a muzzle velocity of approximately 3105 FPS (plus or minus 40 FPS.)

As an aside, after reading the above specification, some of you may be wondering, “Why 78 feet from the muzzle?” The answer to that question is that this specification is simply an historical hold-over from the days when “circuit” chronographs (e.g. Le Boulenge Chronograph and the Aberdeen Chronograph) were used at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Frankford Arsenal and Springfield Armory. These types of chronographs required a significant distance between their first and second screens to produce accurate results.

As an example, when using the Boulenge Chronograph, the first screen of the chronograph was placed 3 feet in front of the muzzle and the second screen was placed 150 feet beyond the first screen. For those of you who might not be aware of the following fact; chronographs determine the velocity of the bullet at a point that is midway between the first and the second screen (i.e. not at the location of the first screen). Therefore, with the above spacing, the velocity of the bullet is determined for a point that is 75 feet from the first screen. So, add the three feet (from the muzzle to the first screen) to the 75 feet (the midway point of the screens) to obtain the “78 feet from the muzzle” distance.














I chronographed the PMC 62 grain X-TAC ammunition from a semi-automatic AR-15 with a chrome-lined, NATO chambered 20” Colt M16A2 barrel.









Chronographing was conducted using an Oehler 35-P chronograph with “proof screen” technology. The Oehler 35P chronograph is actually two chronographs in one package that takes two separate chronograph readings for each shot and then has its onboard computer analyze the data to determine if there is any statistically significant difference between the two readings. If there is a difference, the chronograph “flags” the shot to let you know that the data is invalid. There was no invalid data flagged during this testing.

The velocity stated below is the muzzle velocity as calculated from the instrumental velocity using Oehler’s Ballistic Explorer software program. The string of fire consisted of 10 rounds over the chronograph.














Each round was single-loaded and cycled into the chamber from a magazine fitted with a single-load follower. The bolt locked-back after each shot allowing the chamber to cool in between each shot. This technique was used to mitigate the possible influence of “chamber-soak” on velocity data. Each new shot was fired in a consistent manner after hitting the bolt release. Atmospheric conditions were monitored and recorded using a Kestrel 4000 Pocket Weather Tracker.









Atmospheric conditions

Temperature: 78 degrees F
Humidity: 54%
Barometric pressure: 29.99 inches of Hg
Elevation: 950 feet above sea level


The muzzle velocity for the 10-shot string of the PMC 62 grain X-TAC ammunition fired from the 20” Colt barrel was 3073 FPS with a standard deviation of 14 FPS and a coefficient of variation of 0.46%. For comparison, IMI M855 chronographed from the same 20” Colt barrel had a muzzle velocity of 3110 FPS with a standard deviation of 21 FPS and a coefficient of variation of 0.68%.

For those of you who might not be familiar with the coefficient of variation (CV), it is the standard deviation, divided by the mean (average) muzzle velocity and then multiplied by 100 and expressed as a percentage. It allows for the comparison of the uniformity of velocity between loads in different velocity spectrums; e.g. 77 grain loads running around 2,650 fps compared to 55 grain loads running around 3,250 fps.

For comparison, the US mil-spec for M855 allows for a coefficient of variation of up to approximately 1.3%, while one of my best 77 grain OTM hand-loads, with a muzzle velocity of 2639 PFS and a standard deviation of 4 FPS, has a coefficient of variation of 0.15%.









….





The accuracy specification from the US mil-spec for M855 (MIL-C-63989C) states that the average vertical standard deviation and the average horizontal standard deviation shall be “no greater than 1.8 inches at 200 yards using an indoor range.” * The accuracy testing is conducted using machine rested, bolt-action, heavy test barrels. All other things being equal (which of course they seldom are) this accuracy specification equates to an average vertical standard deviation and an average horizontal standard deviation of 0.9 inches at 100 yards (the distance at which I evaluated the accuracy of the PMC 62 grain X-TAC ammunition.)


I conducted an accuracy (technically, precision) evaluation of the PMC 62 grain X-TAC ammunition following my usual protocol. This accuracy evaluation used statistically significant shot-group sizes and every single shot in a fired group was included in the measurements. There was absolutely no use of any Group Reduction Techniques (e.g. fliers, target movement, Butterfly Shots).

The shooting set-up will be described in detail below. As many of the significant variables as was practicable were controlled for. Also, a control group was fired from the test-rifle used in the evaluation using match-grade, hand-loaded ammunition; in order to demonstrate the capability of the barrel. Pictures of shot-groups are posted for documentation.

All shooting was conducted from a concrete bench-rest from a distance of 100 yards (confirmed with a laser rangefinder.) The barrel used in the evaluation was free-floated. The free-float handguards of the rifle rested in a Sinclair Windage Benchrest, while the stock of the rifle rested in a Protektor bunny-ear rear bag. Sighting was accomplished via a Leupold VARI-X III set at 25X magnification and adjusted to be parallax-free at 100 yards. A mirage shade was attached to the objective-bell of the scope. Wind conditions on the shooting range were continuously monitored using a Wind Probe. The set-up was very similar to that pictured below.









The Wind Probe.






The test vehicle for this evaluation was one of my semi-automatic precision AR-15s with a 20” stainless-steel Lothar Walther barrel. The barrel has a 223 Wylde chamber with a 1:8” twist. Prior to firing the 62 grain X-TAC ammunition, I fired a 10-shot control group using hand-loads topped with a 62 grain OTM bullet. That group had an extreme spread of 0.83”.














Next, three 10-shot groups of the 62 grain X-TAC load were fired in a row with the resulting extreme spreads:

2.76”
2.24”
3.07”

for a 10-shot group average extreme spread of 2.69”. The average horizontal standard deviation was 0.66” and the average vertical standard deviation was 0.76”. The three 10-shot groups were over-layed on each other using RSI Shooting Lab to form a 30-shot composite group. The mean radius for the 30-shot composite group was 0.88”.


The smallest 10-shot group . . .







The 30-shot composite group . . .






….

* There is also a 600 yard accuracy specification for M855, that is greater than the mathematical equivalent of the 200 yard specification.


....

[Molon]

PMC Bronze 55 Grain FMJ


I evaluated the accuracy (technically, the precision) of the PMC Bronze 55 grain FMJ ammunition using my 20” stainless-steel Lothar-Walther barreled AR-15. This barrel has a 223 Wylde chamber with a 1:8” twist.

Three 10-shot groups fired in a row from the bench at a distance of 100 yards had the following extreme spreads:

2.22”
1.82”
2.15”

for a 10-shot average extreme spread of 2.06”. The 30-shot composite group had a mean radius of 0.72”. Unfortunately, my cocker spaniel chewed-up my chronograph data for this load.

The smallest 10-shot group . . .






.....

[Molon]

The Wolf of Truth


In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the actual level of accuracy (technically precision) that is consistently achievable with the ubiquitous Wolf Performance Ammunition when fired from a chrome-lined, NATO chambered, semi-automatic AR-15. The “Performance Ammunition” evaluated for this article is loaded in polymer-coated steel cases and uses full metal jacket bullets with “bimetal” jackets; a three-layered affair consisting of a very thin outer layer of copper, a thick middle layer of steel and another thin layer of copper forming the inside of the jacket.





This accuracy evaluation used statistically significant shot-group sizes and every single shot in a fired group was included in the measurements. There was absolutely no use of any Group Reduction Techniques (e.g. fliers, target movement, Butterfly Shots). The shooting set-up will be described in detail below. As many of the significant variables as was practicable were controlled for and pictures of the shot groups will be posted for documentation. Control groups were fired from the barrels used in the evaluation using match-grade hand-loads; in order to demonstrate the capability of each barrel.

All shooting was conducted from a concrete bench-rest from a distance of 100 yards (confirmed with a laser rangefinder.)
The barrels used in the evaluation were free-floated. The free-float handguards of the rifles rested in a Sinclair Windage Benchrest, while the stock of the rifles rested in a Protektor bunny-ear rear bag. Sighting was accomplished via a Leupold VARI-X III set at 25X magnification and adjusted to be parallax-free at 100 yards. A mirage shade was attached to the objective-bell of the scope. Wind conditions on the shooting range were continuously monitored using a Wind Probe. The set-up was very similar to that pictured below.










The first Wolf Performance load evaluated was the 55 grain FMJ version. The test vehicle was a 20” Colt HBAR with a 1:7” twist, chrome-lining and a NATO chamber. A 10-shot control load was fired from this barrel at 100 yards using hand-loaded Sierra MatchKings. The extreme spread of that group was 1.03”.










Four 10-shot groups of the 55 grain FMJ Wolf ammunition were fired in a row from 100 yards with the resulting extreme spreads:

4.22”
3.73”
3.34”
4.31”

for a 10-shot group average extreme spread of 3.9”. All four of the 10-shot groups were over-layed on each other using RSI Shooting Lab to form a 40-shot composite group. The mean radius for the composite group was 1.16”.


The “smallest” 10-shot group.







The 40-shot composite group.





Knowing that the Internet Commando would feel that the above evaluation was unfair, due to his false belief that a 1:7” twist barrel “over-stabilizes” 55 grain bullets, I repeated the entire evaluation using a 1:9” twist barrel. The results were nearly identical.

The new test vehicle was a 16” Colt HBAR with chrome lining, a NATO chamber and of course the 1:9” twist. This is the barrel found on the Colt 6721 carbine. This barrel was also free-floated. The exact same lot of Wolf 55 grain FMJ ammunition was used for this repeated evaluation. All other aspects of the evaluation were exactly as described above for the previous evaluation.





A 10-shot control group fired from the 16” Colt HBAR from 100 yards using the same match-grade hand-load of Sierra 55 grain BlitzKings had an extreme spread of 0.82”.





Just as before, four 10-shot groups of the 55 grain FMJ Wolf ammunition were fired in a row from 100 yards. The extreme spread of those groups measured:

4.30”
3.62”
4.04”
3.99”

for a 10-shot group average extreme spread of 4.0”. As before, all four of the 10-shot groups were over-layed on each other using RSI Shooting Lab to form a 40-shot composite group. This composite group had a mean radius of 1.21”.



The “smallest” group from the 1:9” twist barrel.






The 40-shot composite group from the 1:9” twist barrel.




Here are both of the 40-shot composite groups side by side for comparison. So much for the “overstabilization” nonsense.






Wolf also markets a 62 grain FMJ version of the steel case, bimetal jacket Performance Ammunition. An accuracy evaluation of this load was conducted exactly as described above using the same 1:9” twist, 16” Colt HBAR. Four 10-shot groups of the 62 grain FMJ load were fired from the bench-rest set-up at 100 yards. The extreme spreads of those groups measured:

4.23”
4.29”
3.68”
4.41”

for a 10-shot group average extreme spread of 4.15”. These four 10-shot groups were over-layed on each other using RSI Shooting Lab to form a 40-shot composite group which had a mean radius of 1.22”.


The “smallest” 10-shot group of the 62 grain load.






The 40-shot composite group of the 62 grain load.





To summarize the above accuracy evaluations of the Wolf, steel case, bimetal jacket ammunition; a combined total of twelve, 10-shot groups fired from two different barrels using two different lots/weights of the Wolf ammunition had a grand average extreme spread of 4.02” at 100 yards.








Last, but not least, here’s a picture of the only group that the Internet Commando would have posted after firing the Wolf, steel case, bimetal jacket ammunition. It’s a sub-MOA group fired from 100 yards using the Wolf 62 grain FMJ load; a cherry-picked, 3-shot group, that is.

[Molon]

Attack of the (M193) Clones



clone: one that appears to be a copy of an original form.

Genuine M193 must be tested for and pass all of the specifications laid out in the mil-spec, MIL-C-9963. The required areas of testing included in MIL-C-9963 range from velocity, accuracy, chamber pressure and port pressure to waterproofing, temperature stability, bullet extraction, case hardness, fouling and more.

Genuine US Military M193 can no longer be sold to civilians, thanks to the Clinton Administration. The ammunition that is sold on the commercial market with some form of “M193” in its nomenclature is often referred to as an “M193 clone” because it “appears to be a copy” of genuine M193, but we generally have no idea what specifications of MIL-C-9963 that this ammunition has passed, or has even been tested for.

M193 is loaded with a 55 grain FMJ bullet with a cannelure. The bullet itself, must meet required specifications to be used in genuine M193. For example, the specification for the thickness of the gilding metal jacket of the bullet is 0.021" with a tolerance of - 0.002". For comparison, the jacket of Hornady’s 55 grain FMJ bullet has a thickness of approximately 0.028”. Jacket thickness can have a significant effect on terminal ballistic properties, particularly that of fragmentation. Even the composition of the copper alloy used for the jacket and the lead used for the slug must meet mil-spec requirements for genuine M193.

Genuine US Military M193 can only be charged with powder that has been specifically approved by the US Military for use in this cartridge. If the ammunition in question is not loaded with one of the approved powders, it is not genuine M193 and naturally we have no way of determining what powder was used in a load simply by visual inspection.

Genuine M193 will have the annealing iris visible on the shoulder and neck portion of the case. It will also will have crimped and sealed primers. Genuine M193 has a crimped case mouth along with sealant at the case mouth.


The velocity specification for M193 as cited in MIL-C-9963F states:

The average velocity of the sample cartridges, conditioned at 72 degrees, plus or minus 2 degrees Fahrenheit (F), shall be 3165 feet per second (ft/sec), plus or minus 40 ft/sec, at 78 feet from the muzzle of the weapon. The standard deviation of the velocities shall not exceed 40 ft/sec.

The specification is for a 20” barrel. Depending on multiple variables, this velocity specification equates to a muzzle velocity of approximately 3270 ft/sec, plus or minus 40 ft/sec.

I chronographed four different M193 clones back-to-back for comparison. All four of these loads are currently available on the commercial market (at the time of this writing). These loads were fired from a semi-automatic AR-15 with a chrome-lined, NATO chambered 20” Colt M16A2 barrel. The four loads are listed below:

IMI M193
American Eagle Tactical M193
Privi Partizan (PPU) M193
Winchester Q3131A1.











M16A2 barrel.



Chronographing of the M193 clones was conducted using an Oehler 35-P chronograph with “proof screen” technology. All velocities listed below are muzzle velocities as calculated from the instrumental velocities using Oehler’s Ballistic Explorer software program. All strings of fire consisted of 10 rounds each.









Each round was single-loaded and cycled into the chamber from a magazine fitted with a single-load follower. The bolt locked-back after each shot allowing the chamber to cool in between each shot. This technique was used to mitigate the possible influence of “chamber-soak” on velocity data. Each new shot was fired in a consistent manner after hitting the bolt release. Atmospheric conditions were monitored and recorded using a Kestrel 4000 Pocket Weather Tracker.





Atmospheric conditions.

Temperature: 79 degrees F
Humidity: 42%
Barometric pressure: 30.19 inches of Hg
Elevation: 950 feet above sea level





Continued in the next post . . .

[Molon]

The accuracy specification for M193 cited in MIL-C-9963F is as follows:

The average of the mean radii of all targets of the sample cartridges, fired at 200 yards, shall not exceed 2.0 inches.

These averages are from 10-shot groups fired from machine rested, bolt-actioned test barrels, such as the ones pictured below. All things being equal (which of course they seldom are) this specification equates to a mean radius of 1 inch at 100 yards.

(For those of you not familiar with the mean radius, see post #4 below.)








I conducted an accuracy (technically, precision) evaluation of the same four M193 clones that were chronographed above, following my usual protocols. This accuracy evaluation used statistically significant shot-group sizes and every single shot in a fired group was included in the measurements. There was absolutely no use of any Group Reduction Techniques (e.g. fliers, target movement, Butterfly Shots). The shooting set-up will be described in detail below. As many of the significant variables as was practicable were controlled for. Pictures of the fired shot-groups will be posted for documentation.


All shooting was conducted from a concrete bench-rest from a distance of 100 yards (confirmed with a laser rangefinder.) The barrel used in the evaluation was free-floated. The free-float handguards of the rifle rested in a Sinclair Windage Benchrest, while the stock of the rifle rested in a Protektor bunny-ear rear bag. Sighting was accomplished via a Leupold VARI-X III set at 25X magnification and adjusted to be parallax-free at 100 yards. A mirage shade was attached to the objective-bell of the scope. Wind conditions on the shooting range were continuously monitored using a Wind Probe. The set-up was very similar to that pictured below.






The Wind Probe.





The test vehicle for this evaluation was a 16” Colt HBAR with chrome lining, a NATO chamber and a 1:9” twist. This is the barrel found on the Colt 6721 carbine. This barrel was free-floated with a 10” LaRue free-float handguard. I specifically choose to evaluate the accuracy of this ammunition using an AR-15 with a chrome-lined, NATO chambered barrel, as this is the type of barrel that is most commonly used to fire this type of ammunition.

It is possible to obtain better accuracy with mil-spec/NATO pressure loads when fired from an AR-15 that has a stainless steel match-grade barrel with a hybrid chamber such as the Noveske NMmod0 chamber or the Wylde chamber for examples. You're not going to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear doing this, but I’ve previously experienced up to a 20% improvement in accuracy by doing so.












The 16” Colt HBAR is one of the most accurate “off the shelf” chrome-lined, NATO chambered AR-15 barrels that I’ve evaluated. Three 10-shot groups fired from this barrel from a distance of 100 yards using match-grade hand-loads topped with Sierra 52 grain MatchKings had extreme spreads of:


0.85”
1.14”
0.88”

for a 10-shot group average extreme spread of 0.96”. Over-laying the three 10-shot groups on each other using RSI Shooting Lab software produced a 30-shot composite target with a mean radius of 0.32”.




IMI M193





Three 10-shot groups of the IMI M193 were fired in a row from a distance of 100 yards from the Colt 16” HBAR. Those three groups had extreme spreads of:

2.83”
2.77”
2.80”

for a 10-shot group average extreme spread of 2.80”. The three 10-shot groups were over-layed on each other using RSI Shooting Lab to form a 30-shot composite group. The composite group had a mean radius of 0.97”.


The smallest 10-shot group.






The 30-shot composite group.







American Eagle Tactical XM193




Three 10-shot groups of the American Eagle Tactical XM193 fired in a row had extreme spreads of:

3.01”
3.25”
3.57”

For a 10-shot group average of 3.27”. The 30-shot composite group had a mean radius of 0.98”.


The smallest 10-shot group.





The 30-shot composite group.







Prvi Partizan M193



Three 10-shot groups of the Priv Partizan M193 were fired in a row from a distance of 100 yards. The groups had extreme spreads of:

2.72”
3.89”
3.74”

for a 10-shot group average extreme spread of 3.45”. All three of these groups were over-layed on each other using RSI Shooting Lab to form a 30-shot composite group. The mean radius for the composite group was 1.01”.


The smallest 10-shot group of PPU M193





The 30-shot composite group.






Winchester Q3131A1





Three 10-shot groups of the Winchester Q3131A1 load were fired in a row. The extreme spreads of those groups measured:

2.95”
3.73”
3.35”

for a 10-shot average extreme spread of 3.34”. The three 10-shot groups were over-layed on each other using RSI Shooting Lab to form a 30-shot composite group. The mean radius for the composite group was 1.05”.


The smallest 10-shot group.





The 30-shot composite group.







Here is a summary of the results of the accuracy evaluation of the four M193 clones.










1:7" twist versus 1:9" twist with 55 grain FMJ Ammunition

Using the Prvi M193 ammunition, I did an accuracy comparison firing the 55 grain FMJ load from both a 1:9” twist Colt HBAR and a 1:7” twist Colt HBAR. Four 10-shot groups were fired from each barrel from a bench-rest at a distance of 100 yards. The groups from each barrel were over-layed to form 40-shot composite groups. The mean radii of the composite groups were nearly identical.