Australian Outback 69 grain Sierra MatchKing Ammunition








In their 1984 catalog, Sierra Bullets introduced the .22 caliber (0.224”) 69 grain MatchKing HPBT (hollow point boat tail) bullet (#1380).  The 69 grain MatchKing was “developed as a target bullet for testing by military teams in the new M16A2 rifle”¹ and the bullet became a popular choice for shooters using the AR-15 in High Power Rifle Competition.









While the US military had experimented with “heavy” FMJ (full metal jacket) bullets for the 5.56mm cartridge as far back as the mid-1960s,  (the Colt/Federal 5.56mm 68 grain FMJ) the .22 caliber 69 grain MatchKing was the first heavy OTM (open-tip match) bullet that was available to the general public as a reloading component for 223 Remington/5.56mm cartridges.  (Hornady’s 68 grain OTM bullet (#2278) wasn’t introduced until approximately two years later.)









Today, several manufacturers are producing factory loaded 223 Remington ammunition seated with the Sierra 69 grain MatchKing.  Among those, is Australian Outback, a commercial division of Australian Munitions.  

This Australian Outback ammunition is loaded in brass cases.  The primer pockets are neither crimped nor sealed.  There is no sealant at the case-mouth nor any visible case-mouth crimp.  The rounds are charged with a short-cut, extruded powder.  The head-stamp reads:

“223 REM   ADI”














Through some simple testing, I determined that the 69 grain MatchKing has a specific gravity of approximately 10.2.  According to Ballistic Performance of Rifle Bullets by Bryan Litz, the 69 grain MatchKing has an average G1 ballistic coefficient of 0.330 and an average G7 ballistic coefficient of 0.169.  The same source states that the “recommended twist for optimal performance” of the 69 grain MatchKing “is 1:9.5” or faster.”





Accuracy




I conducted an accuracy (technically, precision) evaluation of the Australian Outback 69 grain Sierra MatchKing 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.  The SMOS billet lower receiver used houses a Geissele Hi-Speed National Match trigger.

Sighting was accomplished via a Leupold Competition Series 45x45mm scope 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.









The Wind Probe.






The test vehicle for this accuracy evaluation was one of my semi-automatic precision AR-15s with a 24” Krieger barrel. The barrel has a 5.56mm Match chamber with a 1:7.7” twist. Prior to firing the  Australian Outback 69 grain Sierra MatchKing ammunition, I fired a 10-shot control group using match-grade hand-loads topped with the Sierra 55 grain BlitzKing. That group had an extreme spread of 0.67”.


















Four 10-shot groups of the Australian Outback 69 grain Sierra MatchKing ammunition were fired in a row with the resulting extreme spreads:

0.95”
0.82”
0.69”
0.97

for a 10-shot group average extreme spread of 0.86”. The four 10-shot groups were over-layed on each other using RSI Shooting Lab to form a 40-shot composite group. The mean radius for the 40-shot composite group was 0.28”.



The smallest 10-shot group . . .







The 40-shot composite group . . .









Just for kicks and giggles, I also fired five, 5-shot groups in a row off the bench from a distance of 100 yards.  Those 5-shot groups had an average extreme spread of 0.73”.  The cherry-picked group of the bunch had an extreme spread of 0.384”.







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Velocity



Chronograph data to follow as the weather cooperates.



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I found it to be slightly less accurate than FGMM 69gr.  Groups tended to be .4" or so larger.  POI was about an inch lower than FGMM at 106yds.

Apparently one arfcommer had absolutely amazing, almost handload size groups with it.  Maybe I need to practice more...

NOOOO! Now everyone is going to buy it leaving less for meeeee!

Since it's loaded with the 69 grain SMK, as long as the velocity is similar to the Federal GMM load, the terminal ballistics should be similar.



Terminal Ballistics







Terminal ballistic testing of the 69 grain MatchKing loaded in the form of Federal’s 223M ammunition has been conducted by Dr. G.K. Roberts with the results of that testing published in Wound Ballistics Review, Volume 3, Number 4.  Fired from a Colt AR-15A2 carbine with a 16” barrel, the average penetration of the 69 grain MatchKing in 10% bare ordnance gelatin was 14.7”.  The average recovered diameter was 0.40” and the average percentage of fragmentation was 60.2%.




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Just relabel the 50 yard line with a sign that says 100. Cut your groups in half!

Thanks for sharing your data Molon.

This is my favorite ammo right now.  

I'm going to get to try some through a 26" 1/9 Remington 700P this week.  Should be interesting.

I bought a bunch of this stuff when Cabellas had it on sale. It's usually 12$ a box, I believe I got it for less than 10. Pretty good for the money. I also have there 77 gr matchking and their 55 blitzkrieg.
I shoot it when I want decent ammo and am too busy(lazy) to reload.

Interesting data thanks again for sharing. I have a few different 69 grain loads that I hope to test when my telephone pole Krieger shows up.

What is really sad is the ammo looks pretty impressive on its own merit. 4 10 shot groups all with wiggle room for 1 moa. Too bad hopefully people follow the science not the superstition.

I have this stuff loaded in my HD mags.

It's always shot well for me.

Very nice Molon.

I have yet to shoot this specific load, but ADI makes some great ammo. Their 55gr BlitzKing load flies very well for me (I believe you posted a "teaser" group with it a while back that was sub-MOA).


I think I'll order a case of the 69gr SMK load next time I order more of the BlitzKing ammo.


Cheers,

since this lighter version of the SMK probably traveling faster, does it have better terminal effects compared to is big brother the 77gr?

When did they produce 77gr, because I've been shooting their ammo regularly for the last 2-3 years and they haven't listed 77gr on their website during that timeframe?

There are three problems with the MatchKings with respect to terminal ballistic properties when compared to better performing OTM (type) fragmenting projectiles.

1.  a longer ballistic neck

2.  a more variable ballistic neck

3.  a lower percentage of fragmentation


If you choose to use a fragmenting OTM (type) fragmenting projectile for a self-defense load, four superior choices would be (in no particular order):

1.  Barnes 85 grain OTM

2.  Sierra 77 grain Tipped MatchKing

3.  Nosler 77 grain Custom Competition

4.  Hornady 75 grain T2



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Note how long the ballistic neck is . . .










Now notice how short the ballistic neck is on the Barnes 85 grain OTM . . .




Ordnance gel test by Barnes; published in GUNS & AMMO AR-15


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roger that. velocity not the key. right?

IIRC the lighter 68/69 OTM doesn't do as well as the 75/77 due to simply not having as much mass available to fragment.

Also the longer a bullet the more likely it is to begin it's yaw earlier in the tissue.


There will always be something "better"..I personally don't mind having SMK in my magazines.

If memory serves the heavier OTM actually have a lower fragmentation threshold than the 69gr, I'm guessing due to the bullets length causing early yawing despite lower velocity.

this appears to be the case in question!

Another impressive write up from Molon

Aside from the ballistics aspects of his reviews, I'm always VERY impressed with how well trained his dog is.
In all the wind probe photos on his write-ups he's managed to have his dog stop in exactly the same spot & in the same pose every time!!

Accuracy is nothing without consistency.

the 77gr OTM can have a very short neck too.  it all depends on the AoA of the bullet when it hits.









Mk262 is still yaw dependent like M193/M855, just not not as much.  iirc, the ideal neck is under 4"



 

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true.  The TMKs seem to have corrected this







 

too bad those TMK's are so hard to get. maybe some day they'll be as easy and ubiquitous as the SMK.  

interesting that some people still hold fast to SMK's being the end all for a SD rounds when so many others are better.

Yeah - it's like they forget that the M in SMK is there for a reason!

NOT allowed to do much about HD here, but I'd be all over Barnes TSX & TTSX type monolithic bullets if HD was an issue....or Sierra SP....
The TMK do look like a nice option that covers several bases....Sierra just need to make more of them, LOTS more...and faster.

Interesting review, thanks Molon.



For a budget priced ammo, about $13 per box, this ammo appears pretty consistent, and more precise any other ammo I can think of at this price point (when shot out of this particular test rifle).



FGMM 69gr is currently at about $20 per box. Many high end precision ARs will shoot it at about 0.5MOA (and of course some rifles may not like it).



It's an ammo worth shooting a few boxes for groups to see how your rifle likes it. I would prefer it be made in USA, but that's a different issue.

Velocity is certainly one component in the equation, but there are more important ones.  For example, testing has shown that the erratic terminal ballistic properties of the 168 grain Sierra MatchKing can be eliminated by simply enlarging the open-tip from a diameter of 0.020" to a diameter of 0.060".







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Great review I appreciate your work.
Probably way better than most were thinking it would be....Yep now it's getting all bought up.

Indeed.

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The components are more readily available lately, but they are definitely not cheap.


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I picked some of these up on sale from Cabelas for $13. Going to chrono them tomorrow.

Molon's chrono is a lot nicer than mine, so YMMV :D

2695 FPS from your 20" barrel.  That put's it close to the velocity of Federal 69 grain GMM.  

Thanks for sharing your data!


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And this is why I "settled" for TMK as my primary SD ammo.