BillL223 Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 The 16 vrs 20 discussion closed before I could post. When I first started shooting 3-Gun I chroned AE 55, AE 50, PMC 55, and Blackhills 52 through my BM 16" V-Match. None made "minor". IMI 55 to NATO spec made it. At this years 3-Gun Natls, 3 people on my squad shooting 16" barrels did not make minor. Either shoot hot NATO ammo or heavier bullets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zak Smith Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 Some more data, from my 16" Rock River (5000' elevation, 70-90 degrees): Black Hills 55gr "blue box" - about 156PF - failed. South African M193 55gr surplus - 167PF - passed. Black Hills 68gr "blue box" - 180PF - passed. IMI M855 62gr - 183PF - passed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhino Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 If you plan to shoot cheap 55gr ammo, just make sure it is made to M193 specs and it will make minor even in a 14.5 inch barrel without much trouble. A lot of commercial factory 55gr ammo is pretty wimpy (e.g. PMC). You can't go wrong with IMI M193, Winchester Q3131 or Q3131A, or So. African surplus M1A3 (all loaded to M193 specs). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeeter Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 i'd like to add that 62 grain AE and 62 grain wolf make it with room to spare Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xsrdx Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 Anybody have actual velocity data for 55gr AE223 (Federal AE) from a 16" bbl? Advertised spec is 3240fps, essentially M193 velocity, it should still make 160pf from a 16" bbl? Black Hills 55gr remanufactured spec is 3150, the Federal AE 55gr should make it. PMC 223A 55gr FMJ-BT advertises 3200. Are the test barrels 24" rigs, or where is that 400fps going? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikW Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 No way on the PMC. Winchester (USA) Q3131 made 2900+ out of a braked 14.5" for me. If you can't get some of that hot military-style 55 gr it should be easier to make Minor with heavier bullets. A piece of cake if you want to load 69 gr MatchKings, but very pricey if you buy factoryu loads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xsrdx Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 If you can't get some of that hot military-style 55 gr I can get it, but AE223 is more accurate out of my rifle than Winchester, FWIW. The advertised velocities for both WIN USA 55gr FMJ and American Eagle AE223 are identical, both should make between 2900 (159pf) and 3000ish (165pf) from a 16" bbl, unless the chrono is underwater, or Federal is FOS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xsrdx Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 WIN USA 55gr FMJ Or, maybe not. I noticed the 55gr FMJ-BT on the Winchester website is not described as "5.56mm" so its probably not Q3131 - but unless genyoowine M193 spec ammo is exceeding 3300fps, the difference is hard to explain unless the AE223 isn't anywhere near 3240. Grrr. Looks like I need to pony up for our host's mega Pact IV chrono/timer package deal... Oh, and did I mention that rifle PF is a silly idea? As if the 62gr ammo going 2700fps is somehow more "powerful" than 55gr going 3000. It translates a little better when the velocities are slower (as intended with the original Hatcher "momentum" formula) but it gets questionable at rifle velocities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikW Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 AE223 isn't anywhere near 3240 That's my understanding from what others have said. Never chronographed it myself. It's also said to be more accurate than Win USA. Everything's a trade-off! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhino Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 Do a search for ballistics stuff that the "tactical" guys have posted various places on the web. There is velocity data for almost every commercially available (of decent quality) .223 ammo out there somewhere for 14.5, 16, and 20 inch barrels. The numbers I've seen show AE .223 to be M193 spec in terms of velocity, so the 3400+ fps number is "optimistic"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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