Best .223 Defense Ammo Ever? Federal 5.56mm 62gr FBIT3 Gel Test - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Best .223 Defense Ammo Ever? Federal 5.56mm 62gr FBIT3 Gel Test

Posted: 2/5/2018 1:59:07 PM EDT

Best .223 Defense Ammo Ever? Federal 5.56mm 62gr FBIT3 Gel Test

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3OjZpjTvLQ

5.56mm Federal 62gr XM556SBCT3 Tactical Bonded soft point, aka FBIT3, aka Trophy Bonded Bear Claw (TBBC) fired from 10.5" barreled SBR AR-15 into calibrated 10% ordnance gelatin to assess short barrel performance at home defense distance as well as downrange performance for longer barrels.

Penetration: 17.6"
Retained weight: 61.0gr
Max expansion: 0.468"
Min expansion: 0.399"
Neck: 0"
TSC: 5" x 7.5"

Velocities in fps:
2,586
2,576
2,585
2,562
2,574

Average: 2,576.60
StdDev: 9.74
Min: 2,562
Max: 2,586
Spread: 24

New videos from @bluefalcon and @10mm_ every Monday and Thursday. Check back for new threads or subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

Posted: 2/5/2018 2:39:49 PM EDT

[#1]

Fuckn awesome thnx for posting

Posted: 2/5/2018 3:28:05 PM EDT

[#2]

Great performance. Thanks for sharing.
I just wish it was more accurate for me...

Posted: 2/5/2018 3:52:02 PM EDT

[#3]

Thank you @bluefalcon

Posted: 2/5/2018 5:30:13 PM EDT

[#4]

My pleasure.

Posted: 2/6/2018 9:46:16 AM EDT

[#5]

I wonder how this compares to the 75gr TAP SBR for effective range?

Posted: 2/6/2018 10:07:05 AM EDT

[#6]

Thanks for posting. Now off to find some on sale.

Posted: 2/7/2018 3:29:00 PM EDT

[#7]

Pretty nice velocity out of a 10.5. Maybe I should relegate my 75 grain gold dots to my 16 inch AR and start getting this for my 10.5

Posted: 2/7/2018 8:48:55 PM EDT

[#8]

Great test!

Is this ammo similar to the Nosler Defense Ammunition 223 Remington 64 Grain Bonded Solid Base Soft Point? Wow that's wordy.

Seems like they are built alike

Posted: 2/7/2018 9:07:13 PM EDT

[#9]

I didn't know about this round , thanks.

Posted: 2/7/2018 10:27:35 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
I wonder how this compares to the 75gr TAP SBR for effective range?

View Quote

That's reportedly good out to 1500-1600 fps, so 200 yards from a 10.5" compared to the 150 yards for the FBIT3 from same.

Posted: 2/9/2018 2:43:20 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
Great test!

Is this ammo similar to the Nosler Defense Ammunition 223 Remington 64 Grain Bonded Solid Base Soft Point? Wow that's wordy.

https://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/2200x1650/Primary/788/788183.jpg

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3LAAlq2inuk/maxresdefault.jpg

Seems like they are built alike

View Quote

Just an FYI... I have yet to see this ammo ( Nosler BSB 64gr or the .308 version) shoot very accurately.

So IMHO,I consider it a 100yd ammo, just because of its lack of accuracy. About 5-6MOA

I have tried it in 7 different barrels, various lengths.

So prior to stocking up, check accuracy from your firearm.

Posted: 2/9/2018 8:06:15 PM EDT

[#12]

Wow! Thanks for the heads up!

Posted: 2/9/2018 8:17:22 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
Great test!

Is this ammo similar to the Nosler Defense Ammunition 223 Remington 64 Grain Bonded Solid Base Soft Point? Wow that's wordy.

https://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/2200x1650/Primary/788/788183.jpg

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3LAAlq2inuk/maxresdefault.jpg

Seems like they are built alike

View Quote

Its the same basic type (Bonded Soft points) except one is 62 grains and one is 64 and the nosler factory load has considerably less velocity then the XM556FBIT load does.

The Winchester Ranger 64 grain BSB (RA556B) uses the same nosler bullet from your post.... but is loaded at 5.56 pressure and is a closer comparison to the XM556FBIT.

Here is a link to the one im referring to
http://www.sgammo.com/product/223-556mm-ammo/20-rds-556mm-bonded-winchester-ranger-64gr-jsp-ammo-ra556b

Posted: 2/9/2018 8:35:57 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:

Its the same basic type (Bonded Soft points) except one is 62 grains and one is 64 and the nosler factory load has considerably less velocity then the XM556FBIT load does.

The Winchester Ranger 64 grain BSB (RA556B) uses the same nosler bullet from your post.... but is loaded at 5.56 pressure and is a closer comparison to the XM556FBIT.

Here is a link to the one im referring to
http://www.sgammo.com/product/223-556mm-ammo/20-rds-556mm-bonded-winchester-ranger-64gr-jsp-ammo-ra556b

View Quote

Excellent point about the velocity. ( goes to show just how much I had "written off" the Nosler .223 load )

And the Winc. RA556B actually shot better groups then the Nosler .223.

Posted: 2/10/2018 1:20:00 AM EDT

[#15]

The Nosler is capable of exceptional accuracy. I hand load it with W748 at about 2800 fps from a 16 inch with WW brass and Rem 7 1/2 primer and it is most accurate ammo in that rifle.

For pure velocity CFE 223 exceeds Ranger 556 velocity but groups open up to about 1 1/2 inch.

Like you, I do not trust any Nosler brand ammo. If its accurate its too often slow and it is seldom fast. They messed up the SSA ammo when they purchased Silver State. their 308 175 grain used to make 2700 fps.

But the 64 grain bonded solid base is a dandy. Similar penetration and expansion as the Federal Trophy Bonded.

Posted: 2/10/2018 8:48:58 PM EDT

[#16]

Thinking of reloading is why I asked about the Nosler bullet. The TBBC is a great bullet but I don't think they sell it for reloading. And pulled bullets are always a crap shoot.

Posted: 2/10/2018 11:14:11 PM EDT

[#17]

Thanks for the test. I bought 400 rounds back in '12 for HD purposes. It's a little more accurate out of my 20" 1/7 than my 1/9 carbine but 2.5 - 3 moa is the best I can get with it. Which is good enough for HD.

I can also tell you that it will happily pass through 4 layers of drywall, 4 inches of insulation and a brick exterior wall and continue on its merry way.

Posted: 2/11/2018 12:59:16 AM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thanks for the test. I bought 400 rounds back in '12 for HD purposes. It's a little more accurate out of my 20" 1/7 than my 1/9 carbine but 2.5 - 3 moa is the best I can get with it. Which is good enough for HD.

I can also tell you that it will happily pass through 4 layers of drywall, 4 inches of insulation and a brick exterior wall and continue on its merry way.

View Quote

Is that after expanding or a miss? If it's a miss, well, better have great aim

Posted: 2/16/2018 9:55:38 AM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thanks for the test. I bought 400 rounds back in '12 for HD purposes. It's a little more accurate out of my 20" 1/7 than my 1/9 carbine but 2.5 - 3 moa is the best I can get with it. Which is good enough for HD.

I can also tell you that it will happily pass through 4 layers of drywall, 4 inches of insulation and a brick exterior wall and continue on its merry way.

View Quote

And how did you find that out?

Posted: 2/16/2018 10:16:34 AM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thinking of reloading is why I asked about the Nosler bullet. The TBBC is a great bullet but I don't think they sell it for reloading. And pulled bullets are always a crap shoot.

View Quote

I haven't looked for a long time... But Nosler's Factory outlet used to sell the BSB for dirt cheap.

http://www.shootersproshop.com/

Posted: 2/16/2018 10:18:31 AM EDT

[#21]

And thanks to all for this thread... I went ahead and ordered more of this ( over the 75gr TAP SBR and 75gr GD )

The ammo seems to better suited to various barrel lengths.

Get while you can.

Posted: 2/17/2018 5:04:44 PM EDT

[#22]

As a side note.. this has been mentioned to have bad accuracy, but if anyone remembers, it was available in .223 a while back, and was mentioned it was rejects, or seconds. (due to accuracy?)
I saw several posts on the web confusing the two flavors when posting comments saying it wasn't accurate, or velocity was not as stated. I would have to say if it was rejected bullets, and they loaded them in .223, then the velocity would be less.
I never had any of the .223 so I can't compare the two for accuracy.
Anyone looking at videos on Youtube for this stuff, pay attention if it is .223 or 5.56.

Posted: 2/25/2018 9:07:43 AM EDT

[#23]

If anyone went out and bought some... there is a Fed. promotion for a shirt , bag or both. Dependent on $ spent.

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/images/rebate/rebate_78478.pdf?t=XC43NL

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Best .223 Defense Ammo Ever? Federal 5.56mm 62gr FBIT3 Gel Test

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