TimH
Member
I'm not sure but I think a friend of mine had some 62 grain winchester ammo that didn't fit in his mags.
5.56mm at 500 yards
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Steve Smith
Moderator Emeritus
Zak, that makes more sense. I couldn't really fathom getting a smart-butt reply from you, which was what I thought I was seeing.
TimH, the 75 and 77grain offerings have a much fatter ogive and are considerably longer than a 55. That said, when properly loaded they are still within mag length, as they were designed to be. The 75 A-max and 80 SMK (as well as other long range bullets by other makers) are designed to be loaded out much farther and as a result cannot fit in the mag.
TimH, the 75 and 77grain offerings have a much fatter ogive and are considerably longer than a 55. That said, when properly loaded they are still within mag length, as they were designed to be. The 75 A-max and 80 SMK (as well as other long range bullets by other makers) are designed to be loaded out much farther and as a result cannot fit in the mag.
an observation,,,from a few yrs back,,
a few yrs back,,had a friend who had a range set up in his corn field,,farthest distance-790yds, lasered,,,he had some old 223 rounds, ball, ammo all tarnished ect,,he grabbed them up stuck them in a mag, and blew them out of his then new A2 AR with the 1-7 twist,,,,,thing is what he was aiming at was the target board (a piece of 3/4 inch plywood)-4X8 sheet,,and just rattled off the mag,,a few days later we were out driving around his property, and drove by the target board,,,and both of us made the comment of sheet some twerp shot our board with a shotgun,,till he saw a line in one of the 2x4s,,we climbed out of the truck,,and did some real looking,,and
we could not believe what we found,,we counted 18 rounds on the board (all the other holes were 30 cal holes,,) all penetrated the 3/4 plywood, and several went on through the 2x4s (the 4inch length,,splintered the board bad),,we never ever thought 55g ball would do that at that distance,,and plus all landed on the plywood at that distance,,considering he just stood there blasting not really trying to aim accuratly ,,,and to have this happen,,,,it made us respect the poodle round alot more,,
now maybe the moon, and the stars, and sun were in the right place at the right time,,for that to have happend,,but who would have thought,,,,
a few yrs back,,had a friend who had a range set up in his corn field,,farthest distance-790yds, lasered,,,he had some old 223 rounds, ball, ammo all tarnished ect,,he grabbed them up stuck them in a mag, and blew them out of his then new A2 AR with the 1-7 twist,,,,,thing is what he was aiming at was the target board (a piece of 3/4 inch plywood)-4X8 sheet,,and just rattled off the mag,,a few days later we were out driving around his property, and drove by the target board,,,and both of us made the comment of sheet some twerp shot our board with a shotgun,,till he saw a line in one of the 2x4s,,we climbed out of the truck,,and did some real looking,,and
we could not believe what we found,,we counted 18 rounds on the board (all the other holes were 30 cal holes,,) all penetrated the 3/4 plywood, and several went on through the 2x4s (the 4inch length,,splintered the board bad),,we never ever thought 55g ball would do that at that distance,,and plus all landed on the plywood at that distance,,considering he just stood there blasting not really trying to aim accuratly ,,,and to have this happen,,,,it made us respect the poodle round alot more,,now maybe the moon, and the stars, and sun were in the right place at the right time,,for that to have happend,,but who would have thought,,,,
Blackhawk 6
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Based on my experience, the primary limitation on successfully engaging targets ranges beyond 400 meters is the sighting system. It is difficult to use iron sights at these ranges due to their width.
Based on my observations, the 5.56mm (specifically M855) from an M-4 or M-249 does a credible job of "taking the fight out of the bad guy" even at extended ranges. You will not get the instant incapacitation you may desire, however at 500+ meters, instant incapacitation is generally not required. There is an associated degradation in performance when you have a hole in your chest.
Based on my observations, the 5.56mm (specifically M855) from an M-4 or M-249 does a credible job of "taking the fight out of the bad guy" even at extended ranges. You will not get the instant incapacitation you may desire, however at 500+ meters, instant incapacitation is generally not required. There is an associated degradation in performance when you have a hole in your chest.
Swamprabbit
Member
I have to second what Steve S. said about the rounds coming through the targets at 600yds. In working the target pits, hearing the rounds come overhead and seeing them hit the dirt berm another 75 yds down range, I would not want to get hit by one. They may not disable 6 ton trucks at that range but I sure wouldn't feel naked if all I had was an AR at that distance.
I guess that depends on what you plan to "effect". 500 yards is very do-able, and with 55gr ammo no less... I promise you, if I were ever shot with a 5.56 round at 500 yards, I would fall down immediately and cry like a baby, as would most sane individuals.
2700fps is the minimum velocity that was determined through gelatin testing to be required for military 5.56 NATO ammo to fragment reliably and dramatically, not just tumble.
www.ammo-oracle.com
see specifically
So do both M193 and M855 fragment the same?
Does the 2,700 fps rule apply to all .223 and 5.56 ammo?
But aren't all M193 rounds the same? It's a standard specification, right?
I heard that M855 has had serious stopping problems in Afghanistan. Is this true?
And my personal favorite... (though not relavent)
I'm concerned about roving packs of zombies driving automobiles after the end of the
world as we know it. Since, as everyone knows, you have to make headshots to kill
zombies, what ammo should I be using to defeat auto glass and sheet metal? .
The round still "tumbles" and deforms even into the 2300 range or less, and it still fragments below 2700fps, just not as much, and maybe not every single time.
But even all that gets WAAAY more bandwidth than it oughta. If you're not using Lake City or similar M855 or M193 5.56 NATO spec ammo, with thin jacket and cannelure you don't know what you're going to get unless you (or somebody else) tests it. Not all 5.56 fragments even at 3000fps (like Wolff) and some fragment quite well below 2700 (GA Arms with Nosler Ballistic Tip)
BUT if we're just talking about setting up a target and hitting roughly the same spot over and over, then you can definitely do that at 500 yards and then some.
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