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8/17/2026 11:11:57 PM EDT
A few years ago, my boss gave me two cardboard boxes of three 10rd stripper clip 5.56 cartridges, marked "BLACK HILLS AMMUNITION - 30 CARTRIDGES - CAL 5.56 - 87 GR BARNES PROJECTILE - LOT #BLH09B168-001" with an '07 Lake City headstamp as a Christmas gift. I gave one to a friend and kept the other. They are open tip projectiles and will fit a magazine, but I don't want to pull any down or shoot them to find out what they are / how they perform, since I've found nothing informative about them in a few quick searches / in the archives.

Does anybody know what these are / were?
8/17/2026 11:24:04 PM EDT
[#1]
I remember seeing some experiments with those

Found an old thread.  Stands to reason Black Hills played with it too.
8/17/2026 11:58:28 PM EDT
[#2]
That one says Powell River Labs though, and is in a different box. This one says Barnes projectile on it. I saw that thread but it didn't seem to really answer the question, unless PRL produced them for Barnes or vice versa.
8/18/2026 9:57:55 AM EDT
[#3]
What is your question at this point?
I mean are you curious about what they made for - what test, idea behind them?  or?
How that bullet performs terminally?  

Here's a pulled bullet:
https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/87-gr-barnes-5-56-2-23-bullets.4064640/
8/18/2026 7:53:18 PM EDT
[#4]
Yes, I'm curious about the material used (tungsten powder like PRL?), terminal ballistics, and the point of use / reason behind development
8/18/2026 10:33:15 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote History
Originally Posted By Hakim_Thumb:
Yes, I'm curious about the material used (tungsten powder like PRL?), terminal ballistics, and the point of use / reason behind development
View Quote


That’s kinda what I’m saying, if they were both developing /submitting ammo for the same contracts it’s probably built for the same reason the PRL load was so you can kinda deduce from there.


You should email Black Hills
8/19/2026 1:38:51 PM EDT
[Last Edit: lysanderxiii][Edited] [#6]
When you are testing projectiles, you need to eliminate all variables in cartridge construction and load variation.  So, it makes sense for a single facility load all the ammunition, and if the military is doing the testing that facility will probably be LCAAP, even if the cartridge itself will be commercially procured.  The ammunition would be loaded with cases, primers, and propellant from the same lot, and of course would have to be marked in a manner so the testers could easily use (stripper clips) and identify the ammunition.

What you had (or have) is a sample of the ammunition that was to be used in that test.  And, I believe the eventual winner was the 77 grain SMK.  Probably, cost had a lot to do with it.
8/19/2026 4:20:04 PM EDT
[#7]
Barnes did load a 5.56 spec round with the 87 grain and sold it under its own label.
I was not impressed flat primers and swipes and poor accuracy it was definitely loaded hot.

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