62gr M855 or 55gr M193: Must choose ONE or THE OTHER for 16" bbl 1:7 twist

[DaBigBR]

193.

Ubiquitous.
Cheaper.
No concerns over shooting steel.

I hope this is more of a thought exercise.

[Uncas47]

A single round of anything is problematic. Multiple wound channels increase probability with any ammo, 9MM or 5.56. The extra rounds in the mag are not there for ballast.

[constructor]

I know. Beaten to death a thousand times.
But our circumstances are different now and worsening by the day,
so it's worth reconsidering.


I want to buy 1000rnds of either 62gr M855 or 55gr M193
I can buy only one or the other, not both.

Barrel: 16" 1:7

Purpose 1: Personal defense at around-the-house distances.
Purpose 2: Potential large-scale societal chaos at urban distances out to 100 yards.
Purpose 3: Potential confict in rural areas (as in Ukraine) out to 300 yards.

WHICH WOULD YOU BUY?

I've been testing a little over the last few weeks, at this point I think S&B M193 is what I would go with between those 2 options. The IMI M193 does not seem to be as accurate. The S&B and IMI 77gr is more accurate than either brand of M193 and the 855 is usually worse than M193 or the 77gr stuff. Forget about poking holes in armor or cars. I'll reload 62gr Gold Dots before paying close to $1 a shot for 77gr.
The other part of the testing was port sizes and velocity between and barrels/rifling.
The (3)13" 5R barrels I'm testing are apx 60fps faster than the BCM CHF 14.5" barrel with several different brands of M193 and 855 and the 16" 3R barrels are apx 150fps faster than the 14.5" BCM barrel.
ETA- The IMI M193 I shot today averaged 3153 out of the 16" 3R barrels, the 12.5" ave 3035.
PMC TACx seems to be about the cheapest thing going now but I haven't tested it.

[georgeib]

I've been testing a little over the last few weeks, at this point I think S&B M193 is what I would go with between those 2 options. The IMI M193 does not seem to be as accurate. The S&B and IMI 77gr is more accurate than either brand of M193 and the 855 is usually worse than M193 or the 77gr stuff. Forget about poking holes in armor or cars. I'll reload 62gr Gold Dots before paying close to $1 a shot for 77gr.
The other part of the testing was port sizes and velocity between and barrels/rifling.
The (3)13" 5R barrels I'm testing are apx 60fps faster than the BCM CHF 14.5" barrel with several different brands of M193 and 855 and the 16" 3R barrels are apx 150fps faster than the 14.5" BCM barrel.
ETA- The IMI M193 I shot today averaged 3153 out of the 16" 3R barrels, the 12.5" ave 3035.
PMC TACx seems to be about the cheapest thing going now but I haven't tested it.

What brand are those 5r and 3r barrels?

[constructor]

What brand are those 5r and 3r barrels?

AR Performance(ARP), Blackstone Arms in Texas is the dealer now.

[georgeib]

AR Performance(ARP), Blackstone Arms in Texas is the dealer now.

Thank you.

[ViniVidivici]

193.

Ubiquitous.
Cheaper.
No concerns over shooting steel.

I hope this is more of a thought exercise.

A knowledgeable man once said, don't think of it as a 30 round mag, think: 6 kills per mag.

[C-grunt]

193.

Ubiquitous.
Cheaper.
No concerns over shooting steel.

I hope this is more of a thought exercise.

M193 is what chewed my steel targets up the most.

[markm]

193.

Ubiquitous.
Cheaper.
No concerns over shooting steel.

I hope this is more of a thought exercise.

Agree with C-grunt. M193 type ammo is brutal on steel inside of 100 yards. I'd only run m193 if my maximum shooting distance was 400 yards or so. M193 is too powerful at short range, and too anemic at long range.

[w3453l]

Agree with C-grunt. M193 type ammo is brutal on steel inside of 100 yards. I'd only run m193 if my maximum shooting distance was 400 yards or so. M193 is too powerful at short range, and too anemic at long range.

What would you recommend for shooting steel 200 yds and under? With probably most target ranges at about 50 yds.

I have a few cases of Wold Gold I’ve been using for practice, but I’ve been looking at investing in some quality steel targets.