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Posted: 3/28/2023 8:48:43 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Yojimbo]
I just noticed PSA is selling 77gr, OTM 5.56 ammo. It's less expensive than their 77gr, 5.56 with the SMK bullet.
I am curious how well it shoots compared to the SMK version. Here is the ammo in question. https://palmettostatearmory.com/aac-5-56-nato-77-grain-otm-20rd-box-ammunition.html |
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I had the same question. At first I thought it was the same 77gr as before just cheaper.
Here is an archived thread I found on it: https://www.ar15.com/forums/General/PSA-AAC-77-gr-OTM/5-2587938/ |
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AAC 5.56x45mm, 77gr OTM, MK262 Mod 1 Clone! |
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Those videos appear to be reviews of the 77gr Sierra Matchking (even though the one video title is OTM).
I bought a few boxes of the 77gr SMK for around $14.99 (I think) and the 77gr OTM were listed at $11.99 (I think). I wish I would have bought some when I saw the email yesterday because it looks like they are sold out already! |
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Originally Posted By Neomonk21: Those videos appear to be reviews of the 77gr Sierra Matchking (even though the one video title is OTM). I bought a few boxes of the 77gr SMK for around $14.99 (I think) and the 77gr OTM were listed at $11.99 (I think). I wish I would have bought some when I saw the email yesterday because it looks like they are sold out already! View Quote The Sierra MatchKing bullet is an Open Tip Match design. Take note that the offerings by AAC are ~150 fpm less that the IMI 77gr SMK OTM LR MOD 1 |
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If they're generally the same 77-grain bullet I wonder if the cheaper ones are loaded with Sierra blems.
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Originally Posted By Sinister: If they're generally the same 77-grain bullet I wonder if the cheaper ones are loaded with Sierra blems. View Quote That’s what I was wondering, or if they did an in-house bullet. I’ve got some of the non smk marketed 77gr OTM’s on the way to compare to the AAC 77gr SMK’s. |
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I clicked on the ad in the mass email from PSA yesterday morning before 0600 CDT and they were sold out then. It appears to me it is most likely a different bullet than the SMK--as those rounds are listed separately and at a different price. I am very curious as to what bullet this new offering is loaded with as well.
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Originally Posted By HomeAtLast: The Sierra MatchKing bullet is an Open Tip Match design. Take note that the offerings by AAC are ~150 fpm less that the IMI 77gr SMK OTM LR MOD 1 View Quote Ah, I see. Thanks for the clarification! It's confusing because the boxes are labeled "77 Grain Matchking" and "77 Grain OTM" but the videos titles don't line up with the label on the ammo boxes that they show. I just don't want people to think they are watching a review for one thing but it's actually about another. |
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I asked about it in the industry forum and haven't heard back yet
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Sellier and Bellot makes 5.56x45mm, with a 77gr OTM bullet that they say is NOT a Sierra SMK and is made in the Czech Republic. So an SMK Clone??
Just speculating that perhaps this is the cheaper 77 grain bullet being utilized by PSA/AAC for their lower priced offering. |
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Not sure if it will turn out to be a wise decision or not but I’m probably going to do an order of 500rds.
At the price they are selling them, that’s close to what local shops sell their cheap stuff for. I’m hoping this is 90% as good as a SMK and can eventually standardize on a 77gr round around 50cpr |
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^^
Just placed an order for 500rds as well. Figured the same thing in terms of price per round however they change tax and shipping so the price per round is around $.608. Again will give it a shot and see how well it performs. |
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I bought all this equipment. What do you mean that the dead AREN'T coming back to life?
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I was able to buy 5 boxes of the OTM this morning. I already have a few boxes of the Matchking. Once I get the OTM and find time to go to the range, I'll compare the two.
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I ordered a couple hundred rounds of 77gr OTM "Precision' ammo this morning too.
The price is really good too! |
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Got an answer from PSA. It is an AAC bullet
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Their in-stock status fluctuates a lot day to day.
Yesterday I got lucky and put my order in even before I got an in-stock notification. I’ll be interested in seeing how each of their three offerings performs and compares between the 77gr SMK (77cpr), 75gr BTHP (62cpr), and 77gr OTM (55cpr). Like someone else mentioned, after ship & tax their newest 77gr OTM is about 61cpr shipped. It’s kind of exciting to be part of the initial buy group on this new load. If it’s anything close to the performance of an average 77gr SMK I will be so thrilled to have access to an affordable precision round. |
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I have 160 rounds of the OTM headed my way. Will push it out to 600yds on steel and electronic targets next Thursday.
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In the "general" forum there are replies from PSA. This product uses a PSA bullet rather than SMK. Product availability fluctuates frequently because they are now in production and release more product every day. They claim that they will soon be selling the bullets for re-loaders once their production of complete rounds catches up with demand.
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G1 BC is listed as .362, which is where the 77gr SMK falls at the same velocity.
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I shot some of this without any issue. It was decently accurate. On the flip side, I had a buddy who was blowing primers left and right with this stuff this past weekend. Multiple guns, multiple BCG's. Use with caution...
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Originally Posted By msnyder0609: I shot some of this without any issue. It was decently accurate. On the flip side, I had a buddy who was blowing primers left and right with this stuff this past weekend. Multiple guns, multiple BCG's. Use with caution... View Quote Any details of the builds/barrel brands? Also, are you sure it was this ammo? I don’t think it was released until earlier this week, so it wasn’t available last weekend. Was it the AAC 77gr w/ SMK’s that you were using? |
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Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: Any details of the builds/barrel brands? Also, are you sure it was this ammo? I don’t think it was released until earlier this week, so it wasn’t available last weekend. Was it the AAC 77gr w/ SMK’s that you were using? View Quote The first email I received about this ammo was on 3/27 so I don't think it was available before that, unless they somehow got some before it was released for testing. |
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Mine says it should arrive tomorrow. We'll see. Sadly the weather sucks.
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I bought all this equipment. What do you mean that the dead AREN'T coming back to life?
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Wow that dent is really bad.
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I bought all this equipment. What do you mean that the dead AREN'T coming back to life?
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Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: Any details of the builds/barrel brands? Also, are you sure it was this ammo? I don’t think it was released until earlier this week, so it wasn’t available last weekend. Was it the AAC 77gr w/ SMK’s that you were using? View Quote Correct, SMKs. I didn't know they released a version with their own projectile. I know one barrel was a 14.5 Criterion. The other i think was an 11.5 Ballistic advantage. |
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Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: That said, 1 case has a very bad dent. I won’t be firing that case, but will break it down to evaluate the charge weight. https://i.imgur.com/1eU5keY.jpg View Quote So they still haven't got that problem worked out. |
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All that is necessary for Trolls to flourish, is for good men to do nothing.
In God We Trust. Everyone else must post data. |
Oooof... that dent is harsh.
So this version has a obvious cannalure ? |
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*Hold on to your AR-15s. Their magic must be very powerful, or they wouldn’t want them.*
JAFOM.... Just another fat old man. ________________________________ TOGC,IADC |
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Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: First groups of the day Checking zero https://i.imgur.com/iLlRJSp.jpg https://i.imgur.com/7beIanJ.jpg View Quote From a semi-automatic AR-15? ... |
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All that is necessary for Trolls to flourish, is for good men to do nothing.
In God We Trust. Everyone else must post data. |
Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: First groups of the day Checking zero https://i.imgur.com/iLlRJSp.jpg https://i.imgur.com/7beIanJ.jpg View Quote This looks promising so far. I should be able to inspect my order this upcoming weds or thurs |
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Very respectable for its price !!
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*Hold on to your AR-15s. Their magic must be very powerful, or they wouldn’t want them.*
JAFOM.... Just another fat old man. ________________________________ TOGC,IADC |
This will quickly become Americas go to round.
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Originally Posted By ct78: It would be nice to eventually have 1K baselined at all times. For the price that’s very manageable Would love to see AAC make a sub $1/round .308 175gr equivalent next year! View Quote We are working on that and 6.5 creedmor right now |
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Originally Posted By Molon: It might be a good idea to get your brass problems and terrible velocity extreme spreads and standard deviations figured out, before making claims like that. SuperJlarge's picture https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/57852/464B916B-1460-46E9-BBFC-1B65E00118DC-2766631.jpg metalsaber's chronograph data: AAC 77gr OTM - Std Dev: 38ft/s, Ext Spr: 117ft/s 2771 2674 2731 2654 2670 2705 2697 2669 2744 2748 ..... View Quote We have already figured out the brass issue and are making a rolling change when the new packaging machine comes in. With the accuracy and price point of .55 cents per round this will be America’s go to round across the board. |
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I ordered a couple hundred rounds last week - it didn't arrive in time for this weekend's matches, but I also failed to order replacement rods and diffusers for my chronograph, so it might be just as well. If it groups as well in my rifles as it did for SuperJlarge, then it's definitely going to be my choice for the various gas gun matches and I won't even bother trying to reload this season.
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Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer.
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Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: I received my order earlier today. I’ve only opened 7 boxes so far. Since case dents was a topic of discussion with their previous 77gr loading, I’ll address what I’ve seen thus far. Some of the cases have very faint dings/marks near the shoulder, but nothing major. That said, 1 case has a very bad dent. I won’t be firing that case, but will break it down to evaluate the charge weight. https://i.imgur.com/dhXa6c7.jpg https://i.imgur.com/1eU5keY.jpg 77smk left, AAC 77 OTM right https://i.imgur.com/D3o84Uz.jpg View Quote Goddamn. That’s the worst dent I’ve seen. That’s not from packaging. |
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Originally Posted By FightingHellfish: Goddamn. That’s the worst dent I’ve seen. That’s not from packaging. View Quote It is, it’s an industrial machine that uses steel gears to catch and align the rounds. It sometimes grabs the brass wrong and pinches/binds it. We are working on changes but it is causing the problem. The machine is the size of a small school bus and the rounds go in a hopper. |
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All that is necessary for Trolls to flourish, is for good men to do nothing.
In God We Trust. Everyone else must post data. |
Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: Baseline testing with my bolt gun. It appears that part was erased from my post when I added the pic. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: Originally Posted By Molon: From a semi-automatic AR-15? ... Baseline testing with my bolt gun. It appears that part was erased from my post when I added the pic. Guessing you didn’t get chrono data on it? Curious how velocity compares to the SMK version. I’d assume similar. |
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Seating depth looks to vary some as well.
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Originally Posted By JAG05: Are you guys planning to keep the SMK version stocked as well or are you discontinuing the SMK version for the AAC projectiles? Any performance/fragmentation info on the AAC projectile? View Quote We are keeping the SMK version as well as launching the TMK and 70gr TSX this month. We will be releasing performance results on the 77gr OTM and several other rounds we are releasing over then next several months. |
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