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Posted: 6/16/2010 3:29:11 AM EST
[Last Edit: 6/16/2010 4:23:15 PM EST by Cody47]
Well I finally received the rest of the ammo I ordered from last year (it'd been on backorder for months). I was also able to find some new ammo along the way.
Now that the weather has calmed down I have finally completed testing them.

Below is a test of another 16 different types of .223/5.56 ammo.


If you missed my original test of 60 different types of .223 / 5.56 ammo go HERE

The targets I used are the Hoppes S-12 50-Yard Small Bore Rifle targets that come 5 to a page.
Each target measures 4 inches across. I placed 1" orange dot stickers in the middle of the targets for easier target centering while aiming.


All shots were fired from 100 yards. Five shot groups were fired from each bullet type and repeated 4 times for consistency checking. The groups are displayed from smallest to largest and not in order of firing.
Wind was less than 10mph each day of shooting.

The rifle used is as follows:

Rock River Arms Upper
24 inch stainless Bull barrel in .223 Wylde chamber with 1:8 twist
Spike’s Tactical Lower
Rock River Arms 2-stage trigger.
Vortex 6-24X50mm scope



I apologize as I don't have a chronograph so the velocities listed are stated and not actual.

































-Cody
Link Posted: 6/16/2010 5:06:58 AM EST
Thanks for all your hard work and money spent.
Link Posted: 6/16/2010 6:10:52 AM EST
Nice thank u bro
Link Posted: 6/16/2010 7:37:06 AM EST
Great report!  Once again, Black Hills shows to be consistently accurate ammo.  I need to buy more.  Three questions:

1.  Are the results in order, top to bottom, as your testing went on that day?
2.  Did you adjust your optics as the day went on?  Seems like your groups slowly moved toward center as the tests continued.
3.  How do you like the Vortex scope?  Not to get off topic, but, I'm considering a Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 FFP for my RRA LAR-8 Varmint.

Link Posted: 6/16/2010 9:53:39 AM EST
Very well-done!  I'm going to have to break down & spend the $ on some Black Hills, I think.
Link Posted: 6/16/2010 10:08:46 AM EST
Excellent write up. Thank you for sharing this.
Link Posted: 6/16/2010 4:42:09 PM EST
As others have said, THANKS!

I'd bet there are a lot of us who have spent the $ on a high dollar rig, or just a high dollar barrel (myself included) that would like to do the same type of testing, but just can't swing the large amount of cash for that much ammo (myself included, again).

Of course, each barrel is its own animal, but it gives us a damn good starting point for our own testing.  Thanks again.
Link Posted: 6/20/2010 10:05:21 PM EST
Thanks for this thread as well as your first one.  Great info and I appreciate your diligence here.

Have you considered shooting ten shot groups instead of five, even if it meant only shooting two ten-shot groups per brand?  The reason I ask is that Molon's separate thread regarding five shot groups has convinced me that I should make the switch myself next time I get to the range.

Thanks again.
Link Posted: 6/21/2010 12:07:20 AM EST
Very nice. Since you are using the same rifle for control testing I would like to ask if you would include Georga Arms stuff. In particular the 69 gr matchking.
Link Posted: 6/21/2010 12:08:48 AM EST
Thanks again!

Can you possibly add a link to your first thread in the OP?
Link Posted: 6/21/2010 12:54:28 AM EST
very nice post. thanks for your time and effort that was put into this..

Link Posted: 6/21/2010 11:25:48 AM EST
Thank you...



where is part 1?
Link Posted: 6/21/2010 1:20:29 PM EST
Originally Posted By LaRue556:
Thank you...

where is part 1?


Please look for the red colored HERE in the fourth line of text in the first post of this thread.
Link Posted: 6/21/2010 3:01:41 PM EST




Originally Posted By xotech:



Originally Posted By LaRue556:

Thank you...



where is part 1?




Please look for the red colored HERE in the fourth line of text in the first post of this thread.




The letters on this computer are jumbled with the pictures...can't see squat.



Guess I'll just have to search his name.
Link Posted: 6/21/2010 3:07:23 PM EST
Originally Posted By LaRue556:
Thank you...

where is part 1?


Here's another link...

Click Me

-Cody
Link Posted: 6/21/2010 8:34:17 PM EST
Very nice report.  Thanks a ton!
Link Posted: 6/22/2010 1:14:30 AM EST
Well done sir!  

looks like my rifle is not the only one that likes Black Hills
Link Posted: 6/23/2010 8:34:56 AM EST
Again...Nice work Cody!

Without going to the 1st report, IIRC it appears the Performance Center reloads are a consistently accurate load, especially for the money.

If I had any "critique" of your work, it would be to have added an overall average...to save me the math.

Just kidding! Good shooting and really nice job!
Link Posted: 6/26/2010 2:15:58 AM EST
[Last Edit: 6/26/2010 3:00:04 AM EST by Cody47]
Originally Posted By rcdice:
Great report!  Once again, Black Hills shows to be consistently accurate ammo.  I need to buy more.  Three questions:

1.  Are the results in order, top to bottom, as your testing went on that day?
2.  Did you adjust your optics as the day went on?  Seems like your groups slowly moved toward center as the tests continued.
3.  How do you like the Vortex scope?  Not to get off topic, but, I'm considering a Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 FFP for my RRA LAR-8 Varmint.



No doubt, Black Hills makes quality ammo.
A1). The posted results are not in order shot. In fact these different ammo brands were shot over several days.
A2). I didn't adjust my scope but I did have to change my point of impact I was aiming for with the  Winchester Ranger ammo.The last target shown was actually my first target shot. The shots were unexpectedly high in the first test and I had to aim lower to keep the remaining 3 groups on target.
A3). I love the Vortex scope. People at the range often ask to look through it and are amazed. The customer service at Vortex is unparalleled.

-Cody
Link Posted: 6/26/2010 7:21:10 AM EST
Much appreciated. Nice presentation also.
Link Posted: 7/2/2010 5:18:45 PM EST
Great work sir. I have an almost identical rifle (no way cool sniper stock) that I'm just starting to shoot. You have inspired me to work hard to find "the load" for my gun. My RRA seems to like the Federal Gold medal match ammo in 69 gr. Have you tried this ?
Link Posted: 7/2/2010 5:39:33 PM EST
Thanks, a lot.





Bill
Link Posted: 9/8/2010 5:16:43 AM EST
Thanks very much for your efforts.  Great help!!!
Link Posted: 9/8/2010 8:55:27 PM EST
Thanks for the work and the picks
Link Posted: 9/9/2010 6:17:18 PM EST
[Last Edit: 9/9/2010 6:18:37 PM EST by MasterBlaster556]
Awesome man! Really good info. Have you considered doing a comparable test with a different rifle? Maybe one with a 1/9 twist bbl.
Also, were there any loads that caused any problems? Particularly the stuff from Wal-Mart. I had a few problems with some ammo from Wally world in the past is why I ask. BTW, someone should be paying you for such good reporting.
Link Posted: 9/11/2010 12:41:36 PM EST
Thanks again guys. The only problems I had were with Wolf steel cased ammo. It wouldn't cycle and the cases got stuck so i never completed testing them.
i did start testing in a 1/7 twist chrome lined BCM 16" barrel but the results were so poor it wasn't worth posting. Maybe one of these days I'll get another stainless barrel but in 1/7 or 1/9 and test it.
I know every barrel shoots different but I'm just trying to show what the ammo is capable of in general.  

-Cody
Link Posted: 9/11/2010 2:04:23 PM EST



Originally Posted By Cody47:


Thanks again guys. The only problems I had were with Wolf steel cased ammo. It wouldn't cycle and the cases got stuck so i never completed testing them.

i did start testing in a 1/7 twist chrome lined BCM 16" barrel but the results were so poor it wasn't worth posting. Maybe one of these days I'll get another stainless barrel but in 1/7 or 1/9 and test it.

I know every barrel shoots different but I'm just trying to show what the ammo is capable of in general.  



-Cody


Was the wolf Polymer or Lacquer coated?



 
Link Posted: 9/13/2010 12:57:31 AM EST
[Last Edit: 9/13/2010 1:02:43 AM EST by Cody47]

Was the wolf Polymer or Lacquer coated?
 




-Cody
Link Posted: 9/13/2010 1:16:16 AM EST
Awesome.  The Black Hills did well

But...I think all of the ammo proved to be sufficiently accurate for most applications.  I work in a small urban town, and don't ever see myself taking a 100 yard shot while on duty because that would be an almost two block long shot.

I don't think I need to spend the money on the BH because we have to supply our own.  I am using the AE Tactical 5.56.  Thanks for the research.
Link Posted: 9/13/2010 1:19:04 AM EST
awesome thread.thanks for posting this up
Link Posted: 1/24/2012 1:32:50 AM EST
Link to my latest test of .223/5.56 ammo.

27 Different .223 / 5.56 Ammo Test

-Cody
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