Reasonable priced match ammo for 1:7 twist barrel

[PNorris]

I am looking for some reasonable priced matched ammo for my 1:7 twist ar. What do you guys recommend? I know federal gold-medal match is good stuff, as well as Black Hills and hornady. I want to shoot a lot, however, without breaking the bank.

[markm]

You'll have to check out the ammo forum. I think there's a few Matchish ammo threads going. There's no such thing as reasonably priced match ammo in this market.

[Onyx Z]

Check out this forum: https://www.m4carbine.net/forumdisplay.php?72-Reloading-amp-Ammunition

To answer your question, Prvi Match ammo is decently priced (~$.60/rd). I have zero experience with it though.

[Malig8r]

The only way to get "reasonably priced" match ammo is to reload. That's the real answer; otherwise you are at the whim of the current market.

[markm]

The only way to get "reasonably priced" match ammo is to reload.


Yeah. There's very little GOOD ammo out there. And what there is, isn't cheap. I saw an article on Gorilla Ammo. Dumb name, but supposed to out perform Black Hills... not that it's very hard to do that...

[Maddmax]

The only way to get "reasonably priced" match ammo is to reload.

True. Then there's the scavenger hunt keeping up with all the needed items. But well worth it.

[MikeDawg46L]

True. Then there's the scavenger hunt keeping up with all the needed items. But well worth it.

When you find it, buy a boatload of it...

[LewP]

You might try some of the IMI MK262 clone ammo (77gr OTM "Razor core") that Widener's sells. It's around 75 cents a round plus shipping.

[Koshinn]

When you find it, buy a boatload of it...

Yeah... I'm low on powder (only 3 lbs of AR-15 suitable powder left), but I have 1100 77gr SMKs, 200 75gr TAP, about 1300 CCI small rifle primers, and a bucket load of brass. It's nice having local shops that have powder and primers in stock, and midway's backorder on bullets works well. 77gr SMKs seem to come in fairly often.


Yeah. There's very little GOOD ammo out there. And what there is, isn't cheap. I saw an article on Gorilla Ammo. Dumb name, but supposed to out perform Black Hills... not that it's very hard to do that...

Have you tried Southwest Ammo's 77gr loading? I've fired 4 (50 rd) boxes and I'm getting about .5-.6 MOA 5 shot groups at 100m out of my Noveske Recon. I generally shoot at 500m steel though, rarely for groups.
http://www.southwestammunition.com/product_p/55677smk-reman.htm

[markm]

Have you tried Southwest Ammo's 77gr loading? I've fired 4 (50 rd) boxes and I'm getting about .5-.6 MOA 5 shot groups at 100m out of my Noveske Recon. I generally shoot at 500m steel though, rarely for groups.
http://www.southwestammunition.com/product_p/55677smk-reman.htm

I haven't. Sounds like they're making good stuff though.

[archad]

SWA is using IMR 8208 in there 77 grain ammo. Just like markm:)

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[Maddmax]

When you find it, buy a boatload of it...

That's how I started out and never looked back. Buying in bulk has always been the way to go. Sure paid off (again) these last few years. :)

[Koshinn]

SWA is using IMR 8208 in there 77 grain ammo. Just like markm:)

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They're also in Arizona. The plot thickens...

[markm]

I'd like to steal their business model.

[MikeDawg46L]

SWA is using IMR 8208 in there 77 grain ammo. Just like markm:)

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I just grabbed 2-8lbs jugs of 8208XBR at a gun show here in NC a few weeks ago for $165/ea. Would have bought 10 if he had anymore at that price.

Just starting out with loading rifle cartridges (been at it for 9mm and .40 for several years) and hoping to get good results with this powder and 55gr training loads and 75gr "fo' realz" loads.

[markm]

XBR shoots both of those bullets well. I was stacking holes with 55 gr Ballistic Tip Noslers a few weeks back.

I could go ALL XBR for life it the hot loads didn't cut brass life so short. All my home defense and armor carrier mags are loaded with a stout ration of XBR.

[MikeDawg46L]

XBR shoots both of those bullets well. I was stacking holes with 55 gr Ballistic Tip Noslers a few weeks back.

I could go ALL XBR for life it the hot loads didn't cut brass life so short. All my home defense and armor carrier mags are loaded with a stout ration of XBR.

I was hoping to get a response from you on this. May have to hit you up on some load data recommendations, but for now still setting up the dies. I decapped and resized 1655 pieces of 223/5.56 brass which all came out to near perfect specs. When I was setting the seating die, I ran a few partially loaded (no primer or powder) rounds through my Noveske and it cycled fine by hand, but a few casings got stuck in the PSA that I just finished building for my dad a few months ago. Once I get that worked out I'll be ready to load up some test rounds to run through the chrono and check how it runs in both our rifles.

[markm]

A case gauge is priceless for setting up auto loader ammo. Tune the die so the brass averages no more than half way to the high parameter and you'll be fine. Factory ammo usually is flush on the low shelf.

I'll grab the link to the 55 Gr load data. I got it from another shooter here...


All 5-round groups @ 100 yards, Noveske Afghan.

Hornady 55 gr. FMJBT WC
1.750” LC 09
IMR 8208 XBR 25.1 gr.
Tula SR .223 Primer
2.200” COL

1) 0.677” (0.646) 0.159” (0.152)

2) 0.963” (0.920) 0.379” (0.362)

3) 0.850” (0.812) 0.257” (0.245)

4) 1.270” (1.213) 0.454” (0.443)

The XBR groups were boringly accurate. Every so often a crazy flier would really open a group. I chalk this up to the nature of bulk FMJ bullets. For the most part, they always hovered about 1", if not a tick under.

[MikeDawg46L]

That is definitely my next investment. And a case trimmer as I'll need to start trimming after a few loads.

I appreciate you sending that data. I plan to start around 21-22gr and work up to a good functioning load but if I get a better starting point it could certainly save some time and materials.

I'll hop back on getting this figured out this weekend. Got a new recurve last Sunday and been shooting the crap out of it. Most fun I've had with my pants on in a while.