factory 55 grain 5.56 ammo accuracy

[1986s4]

What 55 gr. factory ammo is generally considered accurate? I realize it also includes the the rifle shooting it but I would like a place to start. I am looking for commonly available 55 gr. ball ammo.
Thanks

[markm]

I'd say the only thing that I remember having anything close to accuracy would have been Hornady 55 gr. Their 55 gr FMJBT was on the better side.

They used to make steel cased practice ammo too.

[Lefty223]

Boy, search on username ‘Molon’ and be reading for days! I miss his testing!

[SBRSarge]

It kind of depends on what you consider accurate enough.

Generic 55gr ball seems to range from 1.5” (if you get a good batch!) to 3” in my rifles. I don’t shoot much volume so I get better stuff now.

If you can consider non-ball ammo, maybe try the Hornady V-Max or Nosler Varmageddon loads. The 50gr V-Max is boringly precise out of my guns.

[markm]

It kind of depends on what you consider accurate enough.

Generic 55gr ball seems to range from 1.5” (if you get a good batch!) to 3” in my rifles. I don’t shoot much volume so I get better stuff now.

If you can consider non-ball ammo, maybe try the Hornady V-Max or Nosler Varmageddon loads. The 50gr V-Max is boringly precise out of my guns.

Agreed. The hornady bullets approached that 1.5 MOA realm. VMAX/AMAX are silly accurate, but a bit more expensive.

[AndyLate]

A few years ago Cabelas was selling Norma 55 gr FMJ for less than IMI or Federal and it shot very well in my 20" AR. I would say easily 1.5 MOA at 100 yards/meters in the only scoped AR I had at the time.

Federal American Eagle 50 gr tipped was great for budget ammo, but I have not seen it around much lately.

Andy

[HKGuns]

Agreed. The hornady bullets approached that 1.5 MOA realm. VMAX/AMAX are silly accurate, but a bit more expensive.

Also agreed and is about the best you can expect in a factory 55 gr load.

None of it is accurate enough for my tastes, which is just one of the reasons I roll my own.

[Rayrevolver]

I bought a case of Black Hills 55gr FMJ red box, but .223 and not 5.56mm. This was 16 years ago maybe. I recall it being the most accurate ammo I had shot up until that time... at 100 yards.

https://www.brownells.com/ammunition/rifle-ammo/223-remington-55gr-full-metal-jacket-ammo-prod103251.aspx

[ST911]

I'd say the only thing that I remember having anything close to accuracy would have been Hornady 55 gr. Their 55 gr FMJBT was on the better side.


I bought a case of Black Hills 55gr FMJ red box, but .223 and not 5.56mm. This was 16 years ago maybe. I recall it being the most accurate ammo I had shot up until that time... at 100 yards.

Current BHA 55 FMJ uses that Hornady, I use a lot of it, and it does well.

[markm]

That should be the OPs answer then.

[flenna]

Here you go, Molon just posted his 55 grn test results.

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?237227-Return-Of-The-M193-Clones

[wbm]

I bought 300 rounds of Norma 55gr FMJ Tactical. Accuracy was terrible!!! Like over 2" terrible. Did what I call "ammo rehab" and pulled the 55gr FMJ. Replaced them with Sierra 55gr HPBT. Accuracy was literally cut in half. Great Norma brass though.

[markm]

I bought 300 rounds of Norma 55gr FMJ Tactical. Accuracy was terrible!!! Like over 2" terrible. Did what I call "ammo rehab" and pulled the 55gr FMJ. Replaced them with Sierra 55gr HPBT. Accuracy was literally cut in half. Great Norma brass though.

"Mexican Match" as they call it. I do that with almost all ball ammo I get.