Adams Arms 7.5 PDW gel test with GD and TBBC (gel data added)

[xpd54]

ATK came out to our range yesterday to do a ballistics demo. I got there at the very end and shot 64 gr Gold Dot .223 and 62 gr Federal TB LE223T3 .223 through my PDW, just to see what it would do.

GD .223


Fed TB LE223T3


penny for comparison

[xpd54]

Our guys were really impressed with the Federal rd. gonna switch our duty ammo to it.

[DRT]

Both look like they performed very well, especially out of the short barrel. Your department made an outstanding choice. Do you have any muzzle velocity data for these rounds out of the short barrel?

[xpd54]

Not yet. They gave me a box of each to do more testing on. Will post it when I have it.

[DocGKR]

TBBC is about the best 5.56 mm projectile currently available--perhaps that is why the FBI selected it and it is so highly recommended here: https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=19881.

[rsilvers]

What is better overall, the 64 gr Gold Dot 223 or the 62 gr Federal TB LE223T3 223?

Or..

What would make someone want one over the other?

[DocGKR]

While the 64 gr Gold Dot is an adequate projectile that is much better than older designs like the Win 64 gr Power Point (RA223R2) or Fed 64 gr TRU (T223L), the 62 gr TBBC is far superior to the Gold Dot in terminal performance--particularly through barriers.

Despite less robust performance, Gold Dots are frequently selected by Municipal and State LE agencies over TBBC loads because Gold Dots are often approximately half the price of the TBBC loads under their purchasing contracts.

The only reason to choose the Gold Dot over TBBC is due to price and perhaps availability...

[rsilvers]

Is the available loading the same velocity as the FBI contract ammo?

How does this bullet compare to whatever the best TSX is?

[xpd54]

Despite less robust performance, Gold Dots are frequently selected by Municipal and State LE agencies over TBBC loads because Gold Dots are often approximately half the price of the TBBC loads under their purchasing contracts.

This. I checked the price. State bid can get us a case of 500 GD for $250ish. A case of 200 TBBC cost basically the SAME price.

[DocGKR]

"Is the available loading the same velocity as the FBI contract ammo?"

The 62 gr TBBC LE223T3 load is a .223 pressure load; the FBI contract 5.56 mm pressure TBBC (XM556FBIT3) is not yet available for municipal and state LE purchase.

"How does this bullet compare to whatever the best TSX is?"

The "best" LE TSX is the 5.56 mm BH 50 gr TSX loading--the TBBC might be a touch better, although I would be perfectly happy with either one.