55gr Hornady GMX TAP 5.56 (H81255)

[WS6]

I have been testing this round for a while, now. Which is to say, gathering data here and there from my range trips. Thus far, it has proven extremely accurate, and the terminals I have obtained from milk-jugs mirror Hornady's claims. Namely, that it penetrates like a BEAST! It actually penetrated further/better than 62gr TSX 5.56. In milk jugs, the TSX load penetrated 3 jugs, and was found in the 4th. The GMX load penetrated 3 jugs and was found in the 4th, but I think it would have exited, had a 5th jug not been behind it, as it punctured the 5th jug and caused it to leak at the impact site!

Like I said, accuracy is outstanding, and POI is very near to M193, as my photograph shows.
http://i67.tinypic.com/2j44irt.jpg
All testing was conducted with my 16.1" Daniel Defense .gov profile CHF barrel with a Surefire 556-212 suppressor. The accuracy testing involved a T2 Aimpoint and G33 magnifier.

I will apologize, my typical 10-shot group is not present, but a 5-shot group of this consistency leads me to think that the round is very accurate, regardless of hair-splitting over statistical analysis thereof.

The expanded slug, fired into milk-jugs from 25 yards, measures 0.501" at the widest, and 0.39" at the narrowest. The narrowest reading is as taken between two opposing petals, and is an "extreme" measurement. If the slug were placed sideways in the calipers, instead of inserting the edges of their tips into these crevices, the narrowest measure would be 0.44". The height of the expanded projectile is 0.38" across the longitudinal center-line. Average expanded diameter, using the narrowest measurement, is 0.4455". Using a more common-sense and less "technical" narrowest measure, it is 0.4705". Considering the distance penetrated, quite frankly, this is VERY impressive!
http://i66.tinypic.com/vemywx.jpg
http://i64.tinypic.com/2hzok69.jpg
http://i65.tinypic.com/11lhfgg.jpg


*I tried to test Black Hill's 50gr TSX counterpart, but it shed its petals.

[HD1911]

Really split on deciding between this load and the 70rg GMX TAP load....

[WS6]

Really split on deciding between this load and the 70rg GMX TAP load....

I want to like the 70gr GMX, but it just doesn't work for beans for me. Everything I have shot with it, the petals shear off. Pork, water jugs, etc. It yaws, flips around, etc. maybe it works better in flesh than in gel and back-yard ballistics testing, though.

[HD1911]

Well that certainly doesn't inspire confidence.

I would've preferred the 70gr, mainly due to the higher BC than this 55gr load... provided their expansion threshold velocities are similar.

What to buy? Only other ones on my radar are: BH 50gr TSX, RA556B, Mk318 Mod0, LE223T3 and Speer Gold Dot 75gr

Really don't know if I'm that keen on having exposed lead tips, though. Also, lackluster velocity doesn't help either, regarding those .223 offerings.

I guess I want to have the cake, and eat it, too.

[WS6]

Well that certainly doesn't inspire confidence.

I would've preferred the 70gr, mainly due to the higher BC than this 55gr load... provided their expansion threshold velocities are similar.

What to buy? Only other ones on my radar are: BH 50gr TSX, RA556B, Mk318 Mod0, LE223T3 and Speer Gold Dot 75gr

Really don't know if I'm that keen on having exposed lead tips, though. Also, lackluster velocity doesn't help either, regarding those .223 offerings.

I guess I want to have the cake, and eat it, too.

This punched about 3" of pork (no bones), and 4 jugs of water after it, tumbling all the way it seems. Fired from a 16.1" DDM4 at 40 yards. 70gr Black Hills 5.56 GMX.
http://i66.tinypic.com/2mouy3t.jpg

These two were shot into just water jugs. 25 yards or so. See how they tumbled?

http://i66.tinypic.com/2d0cso3.jpg

[HD1911]

This punched about 3" of pork (no bones), and 4 jugs of water after it, tumbling all the way it seems. Fired from a 16.1" DDM4 at 40 yards. 70gr Black Hills 5.56 GMX.
http://i66.tinypic.com/2mouy3t.jpg

These two were shot into just water jugs. 25 yards or so. See how they tumbled?

http://i66.tinypic.com/2d0cso3.jpg

Crazy. One wouldn't think the 55gr GMX would outperform it's bigger brother.

What's your opinion on the new 75gr Gold Dot over these GMX TAP offerings?

[WS6]

Crazy. One wouldn't think the 55gr GMX would outperform it's bigger brother.

What's your opinion on the new 75gr Gold Dot over these GMX TAP offerings?

Vs the 70gr, it does more damage. Vs the 55gr, I have no idea. This is what a friend of mine says who shoots deer with the ammo.

[WS6]

I can confirm that the 55gr stuff is NOT sealed at the case neck, regardless of what Hornady claims. Multiple lot numbers, none of it sealed.

[MacFord125]

I obtained similar results with my limited testing of the TAP 55gr GMX. At 25 yards penetration was 3 complete milk jugs, with the bullet stopping in the 4th jug. The expanded bullet measured .475 at the narrowest and .541 at the widest. Weight of the fired bullet 54.6 grains. A KAC SR-15 E3 Mod 2 was the rifle used.
37023
37024

[WS6]

I obtained similar results with my limited testing of the TAP 55gr GMX. At 25 yards penetration was 3 complete milk jugs, with the bullet stopping in the 4th jug. The expanded bullet measured .475 at the narrowest and .541 at the widest. Weight of the fired bullet 54.6 grains. A KAC SR-15 E3 Mod 2 was the rifle used.
37023
37024

Is yours issue ammo, or bought? Was it sealed at the case neck?

[vicious_cb]

Vs the 70gr, it does more damage. Vs the 55gr, I have no idea. This is what a friend of mine says who shoots deer with the ammo.

So you would choose the 75gr gold dot over the 70gr gmx? Interesting you would think you would get more TC damage with the higher velocity 5.56 pressured gmx.

[MacFord125]

Is yours issue ammo, or bought? Was it sealed at the case neck?

It was bought, not sealed. The lot number is 3132839.

[WS6]

So you would choose the 75gr gold dot over the 70gr gmx? Interesting you would think you would get more TC damage with the higher velocity 5.56 pressured gmx.

One would think so, but the Gold Dot tends to open faster, based on what people who have shot things with it are telling me.

[WS6]

It was bought, not sealed. The lot number is3132839.

Yeah, mine have not been sealed either. Don't know if they seal them or not, but they CLAIM they do, and hte 70gr is...odd.

[mr h]

would it be safe to assume that soft points like fusion or gold dot would perform about equally with GMX in terms of terminal performance? considering they are both expanding bullets.

does GMX offer better barrier penetration through walls and cars than a soft point?