.223 Remington ammo.

[NF1E]

Was watching a recent video on UR and decided to try some of this Berger ammo for one of my 1/4" 10 dot challenge projects. Supposed to be the most accurate available. Anyone else vouch for that? Whatta Hobby!

 

[Txhillbilly]

I used to shoot a lot of Berger bullets, but they have priced themselves out of the market for me. I'll stick with Hornady ELD-M and Sierra Matchking bullets for my precision bullets.
I do still shoot Berger bullets in my 25 CM, but since Hornady started making a High BC .257, I'll probably switch to them if they perform good.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I found rocky mountain reloading's 69 grain match bullets to shoot well in my 110 varmint. Middle bottom orange dot. H335 powder 100 yard 5 shot group.

 

[Barrelnut]

I believe the Berger ammo uses Lapua brass. That should help offset the cost some as you would have great brass to reload.

 

[CFJunkie]

I don't have any data on factory ammos in my new Shilen Barrel 0.223, but in its predecessor factory barrel, factory ammos tended to be less accurate by 24.3% compared to my handloads tuned for Optimum Bullet Time.
All these averages are based upon 5-round groups at 100 yards.
I recognize that every barrel will be slightly different in its preferences for bullets, but hopefully this will provide at least some data for comparison.

The 77g Berger OTM bullets are the 8th most accurate bullet (0.2133 average for 24 groups) in my new Shilen barrel .223.
The best 77 gr bullets, the Sierra TMKs, average about 0.0046 better on average.

The top 5 bullet types are:
90 gr Berger VLDs (0.2046) for 12 groups
73 gr Berger BTTs (0.2047) for 40 groups
69 SMKs (0.2070) for 19 groups
77 TMKs (0.2087) for 11 groups
80 SMKs (0.2088) for 24 groups.

All of those averages include all of my 'shooter induced variations' which result in the average group size for all bullet types to 0.2164.
Most of those larger groups were shot early when the barrel may have been breaking in, or the shooter was figuring out seating depths and such.
If I remove the most egregiously 'messed up groups', those over 0.226, the overall average group size drops to 0.1974 for all bullet types.
Considering only the most consistent groups, the 77 OTMs drop to the 11th best with an average of 0.2026.
The top 9 bullets all average under 0.195 and the 10th best averages 0.2001.

The top 5 bullets when the larger 'shooter induced variation' groups are not considered, also change slightly:
80 gr Hornady ELD-Ms (0.1706) for 30 groups
80 gr Berger VLDs (0.1894) for 15 groups
73 gr Berger BTTs (0.1901) for 29 groups
77 gr Sierra TMKs (0.1917) for 7 groups
80 gr Sierra SMKs (0.1923 for 17 groups

I hope this helps to put bullet performance in perspective, even if I didn't really answer the question on factory ammo.

 

[Fjold]

Every barrel is different, what may be the most accurate ammunition made may just shoot terribly in your rifle.

I had two identical 6.5 mm Krieger barrels made at the same time, chambered, threaded, crowned and installed by the same gunsmith and the first barrel loved the 142 grain HPBT SMK. After I shot that out, I installed the second barrel and that barrel would barely hold an inch with the same bullet. That second barrel would shoot the 140 grain HPBT SMK in the .3's regularly though.

 

[NF1E]

Won't know without trying it in a few of my .223 rifles. They all have done well no matter what I feed them. Whatta Hobby!

 

[Alan]

Won't know without trying it in a few of my .223 rifles. They all have done well no matter what I feed them. Whatta Hobby!

Have you tried it yet? How was it?

 

[NF1E]

Have you tried it yet? How was it?

Not yet, but the FGMM that used the Berger 73s is outstanding. Hopefully , in the next few weeks it will be warm enough to resume my shooting .Whatta Hobby!

 

[Alan]

Aye! Aye! Don't forget to let us know when you do.

 

[NF1E]

No worries. I usually blab too much about my escapades for some. Whatta Hobby!

 

[Paddyd]

Loaded Berger ammo? You got lots more money to blow on shooting than I do. I find it hurtful to spend $60 for a box of 100 bullets. Loaded ammo, regardless of brand will not shoot better than good handloads so the only factory stuff I buy are .22LR

 

[NF1E]

Check out Lapua X-ACT for 22lr if you want to spend a few bucks. Whatta Hobby!

 

[CFJunkie]

X-ACT, in my experience, is the most accurate 22LR ammo I have ever used.
It out shot every other ammo at 100 yards.
It was $26 a box in 2008 and it was too expensive then to do more than one test.
I can't imagine what it costs now.

 

[NF1E]

Right up there with centerfire ammo. I only use it when I want to impress myself. Mostly shoot Eley tenex for rf. Of course there are plenty of others, but those are the main for me with CZ-457 and an 82G. Whatta Hobby!