Barnes Precision Match:  5.56x45mm 85 Grain OTM BT







While most well known as a manufacturer of monolithic copper bullets, Barnes is now producing match-grade lead-core, copper-jacketed bullets and loading their own ammunition with these bullets to boot.  The focus of this article is one of the loads from the Barnes Precision Match line-up that utilizes one of their lead-core copper-jacketed bullets.  As the name for this line of ammunition implies, Barnes stated that the “main focus for this product is accuracy.”

As the title of this article states, the ammunition reviewed for this article is a 5.56mm load (not a 223 Remington load) and there is a warning on the box label stating this ammunition is “NOT FOR USE” in 223 Remington chambers.

This load uses the same 85 grain OTM bullet that Barnes sells as the 85 grain “Match Burner” reloading component, with one exception; the projectile in the loaded ammunition has a cannelure.  Barnes stated that they manufacture the bullet for the loaded ammunition with a cannelure “because it will most likely be fired from an AR style platform.”  Naturally, I’ll be evaluating the accuracy/precision of this loaded ammunition using an AR-15.  The 85 grain Match Burner has an advertised ballistic coefficient of .410.

















The 85 grain Match Burner bullet is one of the longest projectiles that is currently being commercially loaded to magazine length in 5.56mm ammunition.  The bullet has a nominal length of 1.069” and Barnes recommends that this bullet be used with a barrel that has a 1:8” twist rate, or faster.  This Barnes Precision Match ammunition has a loaded cartridge nominal OAL of 2.245”.









The Barnes Precision Match ammunition is charged with a temperature stable ball powder.  The round is assembled in a brass case with a headstamp that reads “BBR 5.56 13”.  The “BBR” on the headstamp stands for “Barnes Ballistics Research.”  Barnes stated that they “source the brass from a European manufacturer.”  The primer pocket is sealed and has three “stab” crimps.  There is a slight taper crimp at the case-mouth, but no case-mouth sealant.









The individual squares in the red grid shown below are 1/10th of an inch.








I chronographed the Barnes Precision Match 5.56mm 85 grain OTM ammunition from a semi-automatic AR-15 with a chrome-lined, NATO chambered 20” Colt M16A2 barrel with a 1:7” twist.









Chronographing was conducted using an Oehler 35-P chronograph with “proof screen” technology. The Oehler 35P chronograph is actually two chronographs in one package that takes two separate chronograph readings for each shot and then has its onboard computer analyze the data to determine if there is any statistically significant difference between the two readings. If there is a statistically significant difference in the readings, the chronograph “flags” the shot to let you know that the data is invalid. There was no invalid data flagged during this testing.

The velocity stated below is the muzzle velocity as calculated from the instrumental velocity using Oehler’s Ballistic Explorer software program. The string of fire consisted of 10 rounds over the chronograph.







Each round was single-loaded and cycled into the chamber from a magazine fitted with a single-load follower. The bolt locked-back after each shot allowing the chamber to cool in between each shot. This technique was used to mitigate the possible influence of “chamber-soak” on velocity data. Each new shot was fired in a consistent manner after hitting the bolt release. Atmospheric conditions were monitored and recorded using a Kestrel 4000 Pocket Weather Tracker.









Atmospheric conditions

Temperature: 73 degrees F
Humidity: 44%
Barometric pressure: 29.64 inches of Hg
Elevation: 950 feet above sea level


The muzzle velocity for the 10-shot string of the Barnes Precision Match 5.56mm 85 grain OTM ammunition fired from the 20” Colt barrel was 2583 FPS with a standard deviation of 10 FPS and a coefficient of variation of 0.39%.

For those of you who might not be familiar with the coefficient of variation (CV), it is the standard deviation, divided by the mean (average) muzzle velocity and then multiplied by 100 and expressed as a percentage. It allows for the comparison of the uniformity of velocity between loads in different velocity spectrums; e.g. 77 grain loads running around 2,650 fps compared to 55 grain loads running around 3,250 fps.

For comparison, the mil-spec for M193 allows for a coefficient of variation of approximately 1.2%, while one of my best 77 grain OTM hand-loads, with a muzzle velocity of 2639 PFS and a standard deviation of 4 FPS, has a coefficient of variation of 0.15%.





…..




I conducted an accuracy (technically, precision) evaluation of the Barnes Precision Match 5.56mm 85 grain OTM ammunition following my usual protocol. This accuracy evaluation used statistically significant shot-group sizes and every single shot in a fired group was included in the measurements. There was absolutely no use of any group-reduction techniques (e.g. fliers, target movement, Butterfly Shots).

The shooting set-up will be described in detail below. As many of the significant variables as was practicable were controlled for. Also, a control group was fired from the test-rifle used in the evaluation using match-grade, hand-loaded ammunition; in order to demonstrate the capability of the barrel. Pictures of shot-groups are posted for documentation.

All shooting was conducted from a concrete bench-rest from a distance of 100 yards (confirmed with a laser rangefinder.) The barrel used in the evaluation was free-floated. The free-float handguards of the rifle rested in a Sinclair Windage Benchrest, while the stock of the rifle rested in a Protektor bunny-ear rear bag. Sighting was accomplished via a Leupold VARI-X III set at 25X magnification and adjusted to be parallax-free at 100 yards. A mirage shield was attached to the objective-bell of the scope. Wind conditions on the shooting range were continuously monitored using a Wind Probe. The set-up was very similar to that pictured below.




Attached File





The Wind Probe.






The test vehicle for this evaluation was one of my semi-automatic precision AR-15s with a 20” stainless-steel Lothar Walther barrel. The barrel has a 223 Wylde chamber with a 1:8” twist. Prior to firing the  Barnes 5.56mm 85 grain OTM ammunition, I fired a 10-shot control group using match-grade hand-loads topped with the Sierra 77 grain Tipped MatchKing. That group had an extreme spread of 0.68”.















Next, three 10-shot groups of the Barnes Precision Match 5.56mm 85 grain OTM were fired in a row with the resulting extreme spreads:

0.81”
0.76”
0.87”

for a 10-shot group average extreme spread of 0.81”. The three 10-shot groups were over-layed on each other using RSI Shooting Lab to form a 30-shot composite group. The mean radius for the 30-shot composite group was 0.22”.




The smallest 10-shot group . . .









The 30-shot composite group . . .








….

Wow, very nice and thank you once again.  I didn't even know this round existed.

Excellent work.

I didn't know that bullet could be loaded to mag length. That's good info.

Does anyone know if this bullet is in any current reloading manuals? I also didn't expect to see these loaded to mag length, surprised actually.








gel testing incorporated with Molon's examination of specific ammo would give a pretty complete picture that could be easily compared from one test to the next since it's the same equipment, location etc. and he's so consistent in procedure....Just saying maybe we should send him some gel and beg a little.

+1

Tag. This has been on my radar for some time, very surprised myself that an AR15 can fire it. I need to find some.

Molon, I don't doubt that ammo is expensive, but could we talk you into loading up a full 30rd Okay inc. or Magpul magazine and finding out if it has any problems cycling? I might just have to look into ordering some componets/bullets to roll my own. I'll be honest I'm not going to single load. I enjoy target shooting but I don't enjoy trying to take it to the science like level some bench shooters do.

Tagged, great review!

I've fired a few hundred rounds of the ammunition so far without any malfunctions.  As Eric stated above, it's loaded to magazine length (actually less, at a nominal OAL of 2.245").

That's impressive that they can get these mag length.

Yet again, very nice. Glad to see you posting back here with your data.

1.072"

..

Thanks.  I want to grab a few of these to put through my GM 1:6 test barrel.

 
Thank you!

Wonder how this round does at ranges ~600-750 yards

I'm sitting on a mountain of LC 5.56 brass, and an 8 pound jug of IMR 3031. I ordered a thousand projectiles minutes ago. Will this powder be good to use loading these? And where is a good source of load data for this?

My apologies. Please delete then.

We shall see.

Thanks for the review.

Out of curiosity, do you know it is a "temp stable ball powder"  from anything other than what Barnes advertises? In my experience, ball-powder and temp-stable don't go together too often.  

Again, just curious.  No criticism intended.

Only what Barnes told me.  I haven't conducted any temperature studies, but it is known by many that ammunition manufacturers have access to non-canister grade powders that we reloaders do not and that there is indeed documentation of temperature stable "ball powder."


...

Care to elaborate Molon?

Excellent review.

The case looks like it maybe be Geco or RUAG from Switzerland. Black Hills has also used Geco brass as it is supposed to be excellent.

Yes

They do use-up a lot of case volume.







....

Dang and I just loaded 200 rounds of Sierra MatchKing tipped.  Well I'm going to see if Bruno can get the Barns bullets.

So now you can do a comparison of the two!


...

Both, it's the arfcom way

Great work. VERY accurate load, but I question the real value of this heavy a bullet in the 5.56. If I want to shoot a .243 load, a .243 rifle would be a much better platform to shoot it from.

So I should buy a .243 die set, buy a .243 rifle, and all the components for this or...I can use the stockpile of 5.56 brass I have, use the same dies for it, and not have to buy a new rifle just to shoot this. Hm, logistics says to stay with what I've got already.

And how many mainstream AR-15 manufacturers are even producing an AR-15 chambered for .243 today?

..

Besides 107's and 115's are the proper 243 bullet

I couldn't say any do for sure, off the top of my head. But if I wanted to shoot a 200 grain bullet I'd use a 30-06 or bigger. If that's your thing, have at it. I just don't understand using 5.56 for slow moving heavy bullets. Get a .300 upper and load 165, 180, hell 220's. "SUBSONIC, WHOOO!!!"  

I shoot nothing but heavy bullets for match purposes. And FYI, a 77 SMK in the Mk 262 is considered a heavy bullet and it's pretty devastating to the enemy for such a "slow" round.

Because they produce superior terminal ballistics on non-barrier shots and again, we don't want to get a ".300 upper."  We already own several 5.56mm AR-15s.


..

....

..









....

This will be my next "Molon Effect" ammo purchase.....as soon as my funds recover from last month's purchases.

So you're the fuckin' dick that bought up all the bonded Niosler

I left you some........you were just to slow  

.

Molon, what trigger do you use for your testing?

I need to order some of this to run through my 1:6 GM barrel.

This is all very cool (nice work, for sure,) but it begs the question:





If you're getting 2583 fps from an 85 gr. projectile in an AR-15, why not just step up to a Grendel, which fires bigger bullets at the same velocity - bullets that maintain that velocity further downrange?





It just seems to me that 5.56 shooters are trying hard to turn the platform into something it's not.  Or is the point that Camp Perry-type matches are so popular that it's only natural to try to push the limits of the cartridge?





And if that's the point, then why are so many shooters who never participate in matches getting excited about this?

 

This one . . .





















Geissle Hi-Speed National Match

..

I thought so.  What weights do you have it set for?

 

Mine should arrive tomorrow.  I decided I had to have that 4ms lock time.