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Posted: 9/11/2007 3:45:48 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Zhukov]
Please add your personal experience with Black Hills ammo. When you do, please give information about:
1) Bullet type/weight/loading/red box/blue box 2) Firearm used in 3) Approximate number of rounds fired. I am trying to solicit only information about your PERSONAL experience with this ammunition. If you haven't used it, then please don't clutter up the thread. Information about proper functioning (or lack thereof) is obviously the most important, but factors such as the accuracy or other peculiarities you've noticed are informative also. If you have had problems with this ammo which were severe enough to cause you to stop using this ammo, then please describe them. And one more minor request: keep your reviews objective. If you are voting that you had problems with this ammo, PLEASE give your feedback below and tell everyone what those problems were. If you don't, you're not being very helpful to those who are basing their purchasing decision on this thread. |
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Posted: 9/11/2007 3:52:58 PM EDT
[#1]
Black Hills 55 grain FMJ red box, no problems and the most accurate 55gr I've shot, whether 1:7, 1:9, or 1:12 twist. Black Hills 75gr HPBT Blue box, very accurate out of my 20" Colt 1:9 No failures of any kind in 200 rounds of each through 1 16" carbine and 3 20" rifles. |
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Posted: 9/11/2007 3:55:48 PM EDT
[#2]
BH 55 gr fmj red box
I have good results with this ammo. good groups, no failures. 1/7 and 1/9 twist. |
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USA
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Posted: 9/11/2007 5:31:43 PM EDT
[#3]
BH Blue Box 55gr and 75gr
Both have shot great out of my LMT 16" Carbine. Excellent ammo. No FTF or FTE's. Brass was all in great shape. Mainly recent LC. |
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IL, USA
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Posted: 9/11/2007 8:11:30 PM EDT
[#4]
Shot hundreds of rounds of BH blue box and red box 55 gr. FMJ and 69gr SMK blue box from a RRA NM with no problems at all.
Very accurate. Since discovering Black Hills my milsurp sits in the ammo can nor do I buy milsurp any more. |
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WI, USA
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Posted: 9/11/2007 8:38:09 PM EDT
[#5]
Black Hills Blue or Red, its all I shoot if I can get it. The other stuff is just cannon fodder compared to BH. I can't wait till this war winds down so we can get their stuff all the time. Iraq is eating up a lot of the supply. jb
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Posted: 9/11/2007 8:47:46 PM EDT
[Last Edit: blackeye]
[#6]
Black Hills Red and Blue Box have been good for me. I have shot at least 3000+ of both in 75gr. Never a problem with this fine ammo. Above average accuracy and reliability.
ETA: Equipment used: (3) 14.5" 1/7 barrels. Two Bushy, One LMT |
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Posted: 9/11/2007 9:23:00 PM EDT
[Last Edit: ChuckT]
[#7]
I've shot both 55 grain and 75 grain BB in my LMT M4-gery and Sabre Defence 16" with no issues in either rifle. I've probably only shot <200 rounds of each in each rifle.
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WA, USA
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Posted: 9/15/2007 1:10:43 AM EDT
[Last Edit: HawkCreek]
[#8]
Black Hills 55 grain FMJ Red box
Black Hills 68gr HMHP Blue box Black Hills 68gr HMHP Red box All fired out of my 16" LMT (1 in 7 twist). All very accurate top shelf ammo. EDIT: 500 rounds of the 55gr and 50 rounds each of both types of 68gr. |
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USA
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Posted: 9/15/2007 8:50:48 AM EDT
[Last Edit: FMJ]
[#9]
Blue box 75gr
Blue box 77gr white box 5.56 77gr Weapons are 2 LMT M4 14.5`s It seems that my LMT`s were made to use Black Hills in 75/77gr  Both 75 and 77gr OTMs will leave a ragged little hole in your target the 77gr seems a just a bit more accurate than the 75gr loading Never ever had any DUDs I also use the 75gr blue box for Protection along with MK262 |
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AZ, USA
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Posted: 9/15/2007 10:03:20 AM EDT
[#10]
55gr FMJ Blue box, 500 rounds
68gr HMHP Blue box, 500 rounds 2 Eagle Arms EA-15 16" No problems at all. The most accurate of all the ammunition I have tried in my two rifles. Have not tried in either one of the Varminters that I have. I will keep the other 2K I have of each put away and keep shooting the other stuff. |
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MO, USA
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Posted: 9/15/2007 12:21:56 PM EDT
[Last Edit: oneav8or]
[#11]
55gr Red Box
20 Shaw Barrel (Model 1) 1in9, CMT M4 upper and RRA lower, LMT Bolt and Carrier on Bipod Approx 500 rds. Great shooting ammo http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1258/1387472580_10d3d4d656.jpg?v=0 Originally Posted By Zhukov: Please add your personal experience with Black Hills ammo. When you do, please give information about: 1) Bullet type/weight/loading/red box/blue box 2) Firearm used in 3) Approximate number of rounds fired. |
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MN, USA
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Posted: 9/30/2007 11:30:42 AM EDT
[#12]
55gr FMJ Blue box, 200 rounds No problems, worked perfectly in my bushy xm15. The price was not bad either! I will continue to use this ammo for the range. Final verdict for me - money well spent! |
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CA, USA
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Posted: 9/30/2007 11:44:05 AM EDT
[#13]
black hills blue box:
55grn FMJ 55 grn SP 60 grn SP i bought the SP becase some ranges did not allow FMJ in my area all ammo (1k rounds approx) shot reliably through my 20" CMMG M16A4gery rifle and my 16" stag M4gery carbine. never had a single failure and experienced big ass smile on my face with side effect of accuracy. ammo fires with resilient boom, i worked at an indoor range and lit off some different rounds, black hills has the most satisfying boom when fired. |
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GA, USA
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Posted: 9/30/2007 1:39:57 PM EDT
[#14]
I have shot 68gr heavy match and 55gr FMJ blue box loads.
Both have been fired from a 20" 1:8 twist NM rifle barrel, and a 16" 1:9 twist barrel. The 68 gr match load is very accurate out of both platforms. -The 1:8 NM was able to produce 5 shot groups just over 1/2" at 100yds. -The 1:9 carbine produced 5 shot groups aroud 3/4" at 100yds. The 55gr FMJ load was only slightly better than American Eagle 55 Gr FMJ from both platforms. The 20" NM would shoot just under 1" at 100yds. The 16" 1:9 was hovering around 1 1/4 inches. The 20inch rifle was scoped with a 6-18x scope. The 16" carbine was using a 1.5 - 4.5x scope. No failures of any kind were experienced with any of the loads in either platform. 50 rounds of 68gr and 100 rds of 55gr were used. Weather was sunny, 85 degrees F, and there was a light 5 mph breeze with some gusts up to 10mph from right to left. |
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IL, USA
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Posted: 11/9/2007 7:23:25 PM EDT
[#15]
Shot from a RRA NM 20" 1 in 8 twist.
900 rounds BH Red box 55gr. FMJ, no problems at all, most accurate 55gr. FMJ I've ver shot. 750 rounds BH Blue box 55gr. FMJ, no problems at all, the most or 2nd most accurate 55gr. FMJ I've ever shot second only to BH RB. 250 rounds BH Blue box 69gr SMK, no problems at all and as accurate as you would expect from SMK. |
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Posted: 11/9/2007 7:57:14 PM EDT
[Last Edit: leid]
[#16]
I have fired about a case of Black Hills 5.56mm MK 262 MOD 1 seconds 77gr. OTM/ SMK white box ammo and found the accuracy/performance to be outstanding.
Carey 24" Bushy 1x9 fitted with Leupold 4.5x14x50 AO: 5 rds. @ 104yds.  10" Colt 1x7 LWT. fitted with AAC M4-2000 & Eotech 552: 4 rds. @ 104yds. 0.95"  |
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USA
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Posted: 11/10/2007 11:02:02 AM EDT
[#17]
I hate GROUPS like the one on bottom? |
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NY, USA
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Posted: 11/10/2007 12:43:01 PM EDT
[#18]
I have fired every Black Hills .223 load from 55gr to 77gr in both the red and blue boxes trying to determine what would work best out of my 1\8 Dougless SS barreled sevice rifle upper. All testing was a minimum of 100 rounds. I have had zero issues with any Black Hills loading, and use the 75gr round because I like the bullet.
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Posted: 11/11/2007 1:15:07 AM EDT
[Last Edit: cckw]
[#19]
One person said minor problems and one said major problems. yet neither of these folks posted thier info. Obviously a couple of those tards that post here but don't even own an AR! I have had excellent experience in 20" BM, middy Sabre, and carbine LMT. BH red, blue, and white, in 55,75, and 60 V-max. Edit: Oh yeah, and My DPMS LR308 24" SS |
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Posted: 11/11/2007 1:21:34 AM EDT
[#20]
Black Hills 55 grain FMJ Both Blue and Red Box from RRA 16" Chrome Lined Middy. Fired over 200 rounds of BH Ammo. Never a problem with the Black Hills amunition.
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TX, USA
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Posted: 11/11/2007 11:25:47 AM EDT
[#21]
All ammo I have shot run great in both of my AR's and the heavier stuff is very accurate. I wish I could find some of the white box. If anybody knows where some is in the DFW area please let me know.
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NH, USA
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Posted: 11/12/2007 12:24:20 PM EDT
[#22]
55gr FMJ,75gr JHP and 77gr JHP from blue,red and white box.
Colt 20" 1/7.7 match barrel. Armalite, BM, Colt 16" 1/9 & 1/7 1000 rds. plus Great ammo, Mark |
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Posted: 11/14/2007 4:48:28 PM EDT
[#23]
77 smk and 69 smk... both run great, but with a 1/9 twist bbl and 77 grn i was doing fine when sighting in in september/october when it was 80 degrees, but once it got into the 40's and 30's it was tumbling in flight, so i had to step down to 69 grn, and it kills hogs just as dead! both are great, i only have the red box, no experience with blue box
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TX, USA
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Posted: 11/17/2007 10:53:08 AM EDT
[#24]
I didn't select an option since I've never used any BH ammo. I clicked the "vote" button to see the results. Would this have cast a vote without my knowing it? |
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TX, USA
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Posted: 11/17/2007 11:00:17 AM EDT
[#25]
Ammo: Black Hills Blue Box 75 Grain BTHP Match.
Rifle: DPMS A-15 DCM 1/8 Results: Good. Accurate and reliable. |
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FL, USA
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Posted: 11/17/2007 2:01:26 PM EDT
[#26]
+1 |
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WI, USA
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Posted: 12/15/2007 10:49:30 PM EDT
[#27]
Cabelas in Richfield, WI is selling 500 rnds of BH red box for $204.99 because they're out of blue box. I took advantage and purchased 1K.........the offer comes with 2 ammo boxes for every 500 rnds ..........not bad considering it's red box |
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Posted: 12/16/2007 4:54:56 PM EDT
[#28]
Had a chance to open a box or two of the red box BH this morning and was pleasantly surprised. The headstamp is LC 07 with the NATO stamp. I have to admit, I didn't know that BH uses LC brass.......did anyone else?? 
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Posted: 2/18/2008 3:18:05 PM EDT
[#29]
Bump to prevent archiving.
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Posted: 2/18/2008 3:27:34 PM EDT
[Last Edit: sgthoskins]
[#30]
I went Distinguished using 77gr across the course. I've shot thousands upon thousands of rounds of BH and have not once had an issue.
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FL, USA
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Posted: 3/9/2008 8:24:43 PM EDT
[#31]
Nope, but I just bought a case of Red Box off of a guy and it has LC 06 with nato cross stamped on it. |
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FL, USA
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Posted: 3/10/2008 5:03:02 PM EDT
[Last Edit: GlockBush19]
[#32]
Went through a box of Black Hills .223 55GR today (Red Box). I'm impressed. I paid $350 (tax, tag, and title) for 1000 rounds. It's pretty damn accurate.
 3 shot group at 50 yards (w/Aimpoint C3 [1x]).  6 shot group at 100 yards (w/Aimpoint C3 [1x]). |
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WA, USA
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Posted: 3/18/2008 7:55:57 AM EDT
[#33]
RRA Coyote 20" 1 in 9 twist
blue/red box 55 gr fmj pretty good 68 gr hmhp 1" 10 shot groups 100 yrd 400+ rounds 75 gr not as good |
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ME, USA
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Posted: 3/18/2008 11:18:11 AM EDT
[#34]
have shot thousands of rounds of Black Hills .223 and 5.56mm
mostly 77 grain OTM 75 grain OTM 73 grain OTM 69 grain OTM 68 grain OTM 60 grain VMAX 55 grain SP 52 grain OTM includes Red Box, Blue Box, military white box and brown box Mk262 Mod 0 and Mod 1 includes civilian and military competition out to 600 yards includes out of a 1-9, 1-8 and 1-7 inch twist no problems, very reliable and extremely accurate. My Les Baer Match rifle will put 5 rounds of Black Hills 77 grain Match into 1 inch at 200 yards firing prone with a sling and iron sights. |
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USA
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Posted: 3/18/2008 12:36:06 PM EDT
[#35]
I have used the 75gr. Blue Box (1k rnds. so far) and not had one problem. Great ammo.
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Posted: 3/25/2008 1:32:34 PM EDT
[#36]
BH is phenominal ammo.
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OK, USA
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Posted: 3/25/2008 5:13:20 PM EDT
[#37]
My department has been issuing Black Hills 55 grain soft point ammunition for our patrol carbines for about 8-9 years now. Most has been fired through our Colt AR15A3 16" bbl carbines. Within the last few years, our tactical team has switched from the 9mm MP-5 to the Colt M16 Commando 11.5" carbine.
We have used both the blue box (reman) ammo for practice only, and the red box ammo for duty and practice. We have recently decided to stick with all red box ammo for training and practice. In the time since we were issued the AR's department-wide (about 6-7 years), I have seen two ammunition related problems - both with blue box ammo. Both were in seperate guns in seperate training events but within the same month. Both were case failures that did not damage the gun in any way, nor harm the shooter. In both cases, the case broke in half about in the middle of the case, leaving the front half of the case in the chamber (both of which were easily removed with a cleaning rod). No other incidents have occurred since. We have not had any reported failures with the red box ammunition to my knowledge, nor have I experienced any during my involvement in training as a firearms instructor at my department. |
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WA, USA
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Posted: 4/25/2008 3:23:03 PM EDT
[#38]
Blue Box 68 gr HM from RRA Coyote 20". I had a case sep about 1 i/2 centimeter behind the shoulder but the round was still 1/4 moa at 100yrd and rest of box was great. Called BH to let them know. They sent me two boxes for my trouble even though I told them that was unnecessary. I'm a BH fan for life. Great company
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MI, USA
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Posted: 4/25/2008 4:29:40 PM EDT
[#39]
55 gr FMJ Red Box
S&W M&P15T, 200 rounds fired. I bought 200 rounds of this stuff since I heard it is so good, and I wanted to preserve the small quantity of XM193 that I had. I was hoping it would be as reliable as the XM193, and just as hot, as I have had short stroking issues with ammo that wasn't real hot. The BH was accurate, but did exibit some short stroking. I believe it short stroked about 8-10 times through the 200 rounds. I did like that it was built on LC cases though. I would buy it again, and hopefully once my AR breaks in a little more it will quit short stroking. |
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NJ, USA
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Posted: 5/12/2008 12:51:02 AM EDT
[#40]
Started using BH 69gr red box about 2 years ago....
Couldnt believe the improvement in my groups! Off bench rest, new BH 69g printed consistent sub MOA (.6xx -.8xx with the occasional .5xx Blue box of same (69g) faired slightly larger groups, by say, 10% BTW, absolutely NO mechanical problems - no FTF, FTE etc. Once the price hit ~80 cents per, I started to reload - But I, exclusively, use BH 69g bullet! (with Varget 25.3g, Win brass and rem 7 1/2) Groups average .5xx at 100 yds - and thats an aggregate - 10 groups of 5 shots each....means for every .6xx I get a .4xx etc! In fact, today, a 60 degree, overcast 10-15 wind, I shot four .4xx 5 shot groups with two .3xx 5 shot groups...  The ONLY negative item I can bring up is my surprise at the inconsistency in cartridge overall length (COAL), case length and bullet seating. I've measured a number of red box rounds from different lots and found quite large differences in all the above. I can only imagine the accuracy and precision if that quality control issue was fixed! docgary |
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Posted: 6/15/2008 11:49:20 AM EDT
[#41]
SMK 77gr, .223, Blue Box
LMT Defender 2000, 16" Barrel 200 rounds fired, 0 malfunctions, sub-moa groups with TA33-8. For the cost to accuracy and terminal effects, combined with availability, this is the best ammo out there IMHO. |
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Posted: 6/15/2008 3:02:36 PM EDT
[#42]
I have used blue box 55 gr FMJ in my M4gery with zero problems.
I have used blue box 68gr Heavy Match, 75gr Heavy Match and 77gr Match King in my 18" SPR with zero problems and excellent results. I have used red box 68gr Heavy Match and 77gr Match King in my SPR with zero problems and excellent resilts. All good stuff and zero problems in any weapon I have ever used.
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Posted: 7/26/2008 10:37:21 PM EDT
[#43]
1. 77gr, Red Box 2. AR15, 16" WOA recon barrel, free floated, leupold mk4 mr/t 2.5-8x36 3. 200 rds, slow & rapid fire I am pleasantly surprised that i was taking out bowling pins at 600yds...enough said, haha. |
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USA
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Posted: 8/2/2008 8:28:10 PM EDT
[#44]
I've only shot a couple hundred rounds of Black Hills 55 gr FMJ (red box), but I love it and it has become my general purpose ammunition. Never a single problem. Tight groups. Relatively clean too.
I've shot it out of: Colt AR .223 20" 1/9 Rock River CAR A4, .223 16" 1/9 More recently, I've shot the Black Hills 36 gr Varmint Grenade out of my 20" Colt AR. Most people I spoke to said the bullet would likely fly apart - but it flew fast, flat and true. |
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Posted: 8/2/2008 9:51:53 PM EDT
[#45]
The only problem I've seen with Black Hills was some red box, 168 grain ammo in .308.
It had a primer back out after the round was fired, I dont think it caused any damage to my rifle, but it is the only ammo error I have ever experienced with them. |
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AL, USA
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Posted: 10/18/2008 7:58:40 PM EDT
[#46]
I tried the 68 grn blue box out of my 18 inch noveske round 27 case split in half. no weapon malfunction. up until that point I was sold on black hills, .50 inch at 100 yards, now I scared to shoot it.
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Posted: 10/19/2008 5:22:58 AM EDT
[#47]
We have shot many thousands of trouble free rounds of BH 5.56 mm red box, white box, and tan box in 1/7 twist weapons with barrels ranging from 10.5" to 20". Black Hills is currently the premier manufacturer of high performance 5.56 mm ammunition for U.S. military SOF units. Black Hills ammunition has demonstrated a superb record in OCONUS combat since the onset of the GWOT in late 2001 and has been some of the best performing 5.56 mm ammunition in our laboratory testing. Likewise, we've shot significant amounts of BH in other calibers including 6.8 mm, 7.62x51mm, .300 Win Mag, and .338 Lap Mag. Their ammo has never given us any problems.
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AL, USA
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Posted: 10/19/2008 10:10:47 AM EDT
[#48]
so do you think it was just a fluke? I'm not bashing blackhills just asking a question. 18 years in the Army and years of shooting my personal ARs I have never seen a case split in half during ejecting. Like I said the rifle is brand new and had 27 rounds thru it.
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Posted: 10/19/2008 2:08:07 PM EDT
[#49]
Blue box is reloaded ammo for training--by definition, it is not going to exhibit the same quality as factory loaded new premium ammo...
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AL, USA
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Posted: 10/20/2008 7:33:26 AM EDT
[#50]
well I will give the factory new stuff a try, like I said I wasn't bashing blackhills, after all the research I thought they were supposed to be the best as well. thanks
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