Match Grade Ammo - Accuracy Gains

[GDownRange]

What kind of accuracy gains do you normally see when switching from run of the mill ammo to factory match grade?

I recently built an AR-15, and up until this point I've mostly been shooting mixed ammo (.223/5.56 of different weights) at 25 yards to test reliability. For the first time I settled on 1 type of ammo and focused on accuracy.

I spent an afternoon shooting 3 round groups at 100 yds. I struggle with consistency and sometimes my groups are all over the place, but I can usually call a bad group before I check the target. The group on the lower left in the picture below is roughly the average when I was locked in and shooting well. I had a couple groups that were slightly better and few that were noticeably worse, but this is about what I'm capable of when doing my part.

If my measurements are accurate this is a 1 3/8 inch group with budget friendly M855. This is more than acceptable for my purposes of shooting paper with some buddies. But... I can't help thinking about trying for the coveted 1MOA groups that seem to be the bench mark of good shooting.

All else held constant, what kind of improvement could I expect from match grade ammo? I don't reload, so it would have to be factory. If I find something that my riffle likes could I realistically shave 3/8 of inch off of my groups?

 

[ontarget]

You didn't specify what level of parts you used in your rifle. Assuming you used a middle of the road barrel then 1 3/8 is a respectable group size. Match grade ammo should be more consistent from round to round which in theory would cause your groups to be smaller but no guarantee. Your barrel and optic will play a big part in that equation too. Match ammo will not turn a sewer pipe into a precision rifle.

 

[someguy2800]

Agreed with the above. There is no guarantee in anything but generally FMJ bullets don't shoot the best due to there base design. A match bullet could be a lot better, or not at all. Some barrels just like certain bullets.

For an economical solution try hornady steel match. It's is American loaded steel case ammo with 55 or 75 gr match bullets. My AR shoots both of them under an inch and it's very economical.

 

[Varminterror]

It's a VERY rare day when match ammo won't shoot better than M855 junk, especially match ammo. You might make the mistake of running a bullet too heavy for your barrel, but even then, usually 100yrd groups will be tighter with better ammo than M855 - for AR's, even running a 70+ bullet in a 1:9 or 1:12 won't usually produce keyholes at 100...

 

[GDownRange]

Any suggestions on how I select different match grade ammo to try? I have a 16" 1:8 twist barrel, chambered in .223 Wylde, with a mid-length gas system. I'm using a Primary Arms 1-6x variable scope. I may upgrade to higher end glass one day, but I'm happy with the budget PA optics right now.

My rifle is doing well with M855. Is that an indication that my barrel pairs well with 62grain bullets, or does weight to barrel not hold true across different rounds?

Does trying 62grain match ammo first make sense, or should I jump right to testing a range from 55 up to 70's grain weights to see whats best?

Also if .556 is working well, should I stick with it, or shift to .223, or try a blend of both?

 

[FL-NC]

SO many variables, between the rifle, scope, position, and what the rifle likes. I have found that even with top of the line equipment, the biggest factor is the shooter's ability.

 

[entropy]

The solution: Reload.

 

[Varminterror]

A 1:8” barrel should shoot any bullet up to 69/70 grains. The 73, 75, 77 grain bullets may be iffy, depending upon individual barrel tolerances.

It’s not magic, and it’s really not subjective - we all develop a habit of saying a barrel likes or doesn’t like certain bullets, but barrels don’t really “like” anything, they’re barrels, not high school girls. It’s physics - if the bullet finds it’s way into the bore true, the twist is such the bullet spins fast enough to stabilize, the powder charge is consistent and in a node, and the shooter does their part to let the rifle shoot, it’ll shoot... don’t get too caught up in mystique and legend... try the bullets, give them the jumps their design prefers and enough powder to get them to the node, and more likely than not, they’ll shoot.

 

[Laphroaig]

You'll never know until you buy a box and try it out. I was just on the Hornady web site and they list 17 different loadings of .223/5.56 match ammo! Black Hills is another reputable manufacturer. I'd imagine 68/69 gr. HPBT's would be a good place to start.

 

[CapnMac]

Depend on the arm.
I've seen some that just love match grade. I've seen others shoot match worse.

Every arm I've ever owned has had a "favorite" ammo. Which is complicated if you have, say, four different .22lr (a chart is handy).

 

[lysanderxiii]

The gains achieved really depends on your shooting ability.

If you can shoot a group tighter that 3 or 4 MOA general grade Ball, Match ammo isn't going to do you any good...

 

[hdwhit]

GDownRange wrote:
What kind of accuracy gains do you normally see when switching from run of the mill ammo to factory match grade?

In an AR under 200 yards, I saw now difference at all, the one time I used factory match ammunition rather than my own reloads. But then, I shoot my own reloads almost exclusively.

At one point I tried assembling rounds with match grade components, but I saw no improvement in accuracy out of AR/Mini-14 type rifles shooting at distances up to 200 yards. At the end of the day, too many other variables - including my innate (in)ability - combined to overwhelm any advantage conferred by the higher quality components.

 

[FN in MT]

Black Hills Shooters Supply does a 75 and a 77 gr .223 Match ammo. Both weights seemed to shoot very well from a variety of quick twist AR's and at least 2 bolt guns. I'd bet that 55 gr soft point remanufactured would shoot better than most GI ammo.

 

[WestKentucky]

I bought a few boxes of hornady steel match a few years ago. It shot well. Not sure if it's still in production, but if it is I would give it a try. Pretty cheap for better than average ammo.

 

[warnerwh]

It's entirely possible that run of the mill ammo could shoot more accurately in a particular gun than expensive ammo. Reloading is the only way to get the very best accuracy more often than not. If I had to get off the shelf ammo I'd by a large variety with various weight bullets and types.

 

[Robert]

My AR shoots 55gr well enough, 69gr pretty well, and absolutely loves 77gr Match Kings. I went from 2 moa at 100y to a group the size of my thumbnail. I thought I'd totally missed the target. Nope, just one ragged hole. I use 4064 in a middle of the road load and have had great results.

 

[wally]

IMHO, until you are putting about ~18 shots out of 20 into a 2" circle at 100 yards (or 1" at 50 yards if you need to minimize the effects of wind) with mil-spec 2 moa ammo there is no real reason to buy "match" ammo.

I'm hitting 60-70% on an 8" steel plate at 400 yards with milsurp (DAG, FNM, MAL that I stocked up circa 2004 for my anticipated retirement when you could get 200 round "battle packs" for ~$35) in my .308 AR, so I'm getting there, but I suspect improving my wind reading is what will be needed to take the next step. With expensive "match" in my RPR I hit about 33% on a 5" plate at 400 yards, so I'm not shooting much "match" ammo until I get much better at "reading" the wind. I have larger plates to help me learn to read the wind.

IMHO 3 shot groups are of little use unless you are a hunter trying to evaluate/verify clean, cold barrel first shot vs. fast follow up POA/POI shift, or trying to conserve ammo when adjusting zero (POA/POI).

In any event, hitting an 8" plate at 400 yards with cheap ammo is a lot of fun, and in general I'd rather have more shots on larger targets with cheap ammo than agonize over group size with $1.50+/shot "match" ammo.

 

[rskent]

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...mington-52-grain-match-hollow-point-box-of-50


At a hundred, If this doesn’t get you there, you should probably take a hard look at your rifle.

 

[mshootnit]

Question: Are you currently using a scope to shoot those groups?

 

[LiveLife]

I'm using a Primary Arms 1-6x variable scope.

 

[RecoilRob]

The Bushmaster Varminter doesn't like M855 very much at all....somewhere in the 1.5-2" for ten shots last time I had it out. Ran 10 rounds loaded with Nosler 55 gr Spitzer BT Orange tip over 26 grains of H335.....for .4" which is a ragged hole. Just about ANY good varmint or target ammo is going to run rings around M855.

 

[GDownRange]

Question: Are you currently using a scope to shoot those groups?

Yes a lower end 1-6x turned all the way up to 6x.

Does that change the type of ammo I should try out?

 

[warnerwh]

No the scope doesn't change the ammo you should try. Above someone mentioned some Black Hills ammo with 52 grain bullets. I don't know if they are Sierra Match Kings but if they are they are capable of being very accurate. My AR will consistently group at 3/4" at 100 yards with a warm barrel using those SMK bullets.
90% of the time I just use 55 grain FMJ because they are cheap and I can still keep them under 1.5" which is fine for practice. If you are having consistency problems read a book on proper form. I'd avoid asking on a forum not because you won't get good advice but I am guessing it could get confusing. Doing everything exactly the same way every shot is necessary for consistency.

 

[GDownRange]

Can you recommend a good book? I hope to take some sort of precision carbine class this year, but I need to get off my but and find something relatively close to my house.

I attended an Apple Seed shoot about 2 years ago, and absolutely loved it. I’d recommend the experience to everyone. I’ve had decent luck transitioning most of the fundamentals, but going from a tightly wrapped sling for support, to no sling seems to be causing me issues. Sometimes I’m locked in and the sight moves straight up and down with each breath, but sometimes I get varying degrees of side to side play. When I’m really off the cross hairs swirl around like a tornado.

Is there a solid book that describes getting locked into position consistently without using a sling?

 

[rskent]

Is there a solid book that describes getting locked into position consistently without using a sling?

And we don’t like slings because? Not judging, just asking.