Before loading thousands of rounds of plinker grade ammo, I might as well run a little test to see what load my rifles preferred.
My results were barely suggestive of the load, and groups were bigger than I expected.
VREX said "low quality parts + low quality rifle + low quality loads"
This got me thinking that VREX might be on to something. Maybe my bulk bullets were so poor they were acting as a randomizer.
So I ran another test. 4 rifles. 55 gr Bulk FMJ and 55 gr Hornady FMJ loaded with 22 gr H332 and 24.5 H335 (that is, 2 tests of the 2 different bullets)
2 different powder charges of RL15 under the 68 Hornady Match
2 different powder charges of RL15 under the 77 Nosler Match
All rounds loaded with the same brass and same primers, shot off sand bags at 100 yards.
Conclusion: The 55 Hornady is slightly better than the 55 bulk bullets. About 3/4" better at 100.
Of the 3 ordinary ARs I shot, my Norinco shot the biggest groups. This was a bit of a surprise, since the Norc is the one I have been using in competition.
If I am loading for 100 yards, I will use the Hornady 55 FMJ. For short range plinking or CQB, the cheapest bulk bullet works just fine.
For beyond 100, the 68 Hornady works better. If I can get a load to work for the 77 Nosler, that would even be better.
My results were barely suggestive of the load, and groups were bigger than I expected.
VREX said "low quality parts + low quality rifle + low quality loads"
This got me thinking that VREX might be on to something. Maybe my bulk bullets were so poor they were acting as a randomizer.
So I ran another test. 4 rifles. 55 gr Bulk FMJ and 55 gr Hornady FMJ loaded with 22 gr H332 and 24.5 H335 (that is, 2 tests of the 2 different bullets)
2 different powder charges of RL15 under the 68 Hornady Match
2 different powder charges of RL15 under the 77 Nosler Match
All rounds loaded with the same brass and same primers, shot off sand bags at 100 yards.
Conclusion: The 55 Hornady is slightly better than the 55 bulk bullets. About 3/4" better at 100.
Of the 3 ordinary ARs I shot, my Norinco shot the biggest groups. This was a bit of a surprise, since the Norc is the one I have been using in competition.
If I am loading for 100 yards, I will use the Hornady 55 FMJ. For short range plinking or CQB, the cheapest bulk bullet works just fine.
For beyond 100, the 68 Hornady works better. If I can get a load to work for the 77 Nosler, that would even be better.
