Freedom Munitions Match 308

I bought a few boxes of the Freedom Munitions Match 308 175 grain SMK to break in and sight in my new APR Ranger. Match ammo is kinda scarce or crazy expensive right now as you know so I was excited to find this "match" ammo at 1.10 dollars each. First the caveats:

1. This is a new rifle with only 75 rounds through it
2. Maybe my rifle doesnt like this ammo
3. Im not a pro shooter. Though I can regularly shoot 1/2 MOA groups or better with my AI.

I used a MagneetoSpeed chrono and did most of my group shooting off a sturdy bench. I used a heavy front sand bag to push against my bipod and rear bags.

I chrono'd two sets of 5 rounds. I didnt write down the individual shot velocities but here is the info.

Average velocity: 2630 FPS
ES: 51
SD: 18

Average velocity: 2640 FPS
ES: 48
SD: 19

Just for reference I ran 5 rounds of Winchester M80 ball over the chrono.

Average velocity: 2811 FPS
ES: 60
SD: 23

5 shot groups measured with calipers, listed smallest to largest

0.61"
0.85"
1.12"
1.17"
1.25"
1.30"
1.45"

M80 ball measured 3.1 inches with 4 rounds in a 2 inch cluster and 1 flyer. With the Freedom Munitions I had several groups that had a cluster going and then one or two flyers away from the group. A couple groups were just a pattern. All shots felt good at the time. I had one group with a called pulled shot that wasnt measured but it was around 2 inches.

On a previous range session I shot some old handloads I made for a Remington 700 build I had about 10 years ago. Only thing I remember about the load was that it used FGMM brass and 178 AMAX bullets. I didnt measure those groups but they were around 0.75 inch groups. Because of the previous groupings and the high SD and ES of this ammo, Im thinking (hoping, haha) that todays poor performance is ammo related and not an indication of the rifle's overall performance.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...04cd361e_o.jpg20211129_121624 by chase, on Flickr

Best group of the day. Notice the cluster and the single flyer.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b05ac45a_o.jpg20211129_121246 by chase, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...16e5d635_o.jpg20211129_115330 by chase, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...031a90e6_o.jpg20211129_113222 by chase, on Flickr

At least I got some good pictures of the rifle today.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6f5ef9b3_o.jpg20211129_131530 by chase, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...fc85af7f_o.jpg20211129_131445 by chase, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...26c6ec20_o.jpg20211028_150553 by chase, on Flickr

I'm going to agree about it being the ammo. When I got my APR Maverick I was able to keep half inch groups all day. The best group was a bit under .3" Love your rifle btw.

You put M80 ball through a nice gun??? :stop:

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Originally Posted by markm

You put M80 ball through a nice gun??? :stop:

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Just as a reference.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by C-grunt

Just as a reference.

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You're as bad as Pappabear. :D

I have found the Freedom ammo is good, not great. But the price is great and in this environment that is good. Next week , we will try more groups and see how it does. Also, I have found your gun likes 168's or 175's more? My guess is that you have a 1/2 inch gun with ammo it likes. Did the mfg suggest their guns like this or that?

How did FGGM do?

PB

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pappabear

I have found the Freedom ammo is good, not great. But the price is great and in this environment that is good. Next week , we will try more groups and see how it does. Also, I have found your gun likes 168's or 175's more? My guess is that you have a 1/2 inch gun with ammo it likes. Did the mfg suggest their guns like this or that?

How did FGGM do?

PB

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I havent shot the 175 FGMM yet. With the 168 FGMM it shot a couple groups in the .3 to .4 realm and a couple in the .6 to .7 realm. The bigger groups are me using a subpar point of aim.

Im hoping to get it out to the range and sight in the 175 FGMM here soon.

Well that makes more sense.

PB

We shot some more FM ammo. 155TMK's and M118LR 175 ammo.

We concluded that we would get one or two flier's on average on a 5 round group. I think you could get lucky and shoot a 1/2 inch 3 round group but it would open up on 2 rounds to around MOA to 1.5 maybe 2 MOA. I would consider it 1.5 MOA ammo on average. Not great, not shitty but ok for the price.

PB

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pappabear

We shot some more FM ammo. 155TMK's and M118LR 175 ammo.

We concluded that we would get one or two flier's on average on a 5 round group. I think you could get lucky and shoot a 1/2 inch 3 round group but it would open up on 2 rounds to around MOA to 1.5 maybe 2 MOA. I would consider it 1.5 MOA ammo on average. Not great, not shitty but ok for the price.

PB

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That was my conclusion. Better than ball ammo, but not quite match grade.