So I finally broke down and purchased 9 boxes of .223 ammo to test for accuracy out of 2 different rifle platforms. This was strictly for accuracy at 100 yards. I didn’t have gelatin molds, so ballistically the evaluation could be different. The ammo tested:
*Hornady Superformance 73 grain
*Hornady Superformance 53 grain
*Hornady Varmint Express 55 grain
*Federal Bonded 62 grain
*Federal Premium 69 grain
*Federal Premium 77 grain
*Winchester Ballistic Tip (silver) 55 grain
*Winchester Ranger 64 grain
*Black Hills 69 grain
I shot the above ammunition out of 2 different rifles. The first was a Rock River Fred Eichler rifle with a 1/8” twist 16” barrel. The second was a Tikka Tactical rifle with a 1/8” twist 20” barrel.
The weather was 50 degrees, winds 10 mph (I had a berm protecting me from the majority of the wind), pressure was 30.32. There was a little mirage, so some groups could've been a little tighter. It was clear that some of the ammunition wasn't going to group out of these rifles regardless of the conditions.
The test was shooting 4 round groups. One target was for the Rock River rifle, and the second target was for the Tikka rifle. My goal was to focus on the overall grouping of the ammunition. Some of the ammunition was a disappointment, while others were clear standouts.
Below were the top 3 standouts that I observed for these two rifles. I hope this helps in possibly determining the best ammunition for your applications.
Rock River Fred Eichler:
1st- Hornady Varmint Express 55 grain
2nd- Federal Premium 69 grain
3rd-Federal Premium 77 grain
Tikka Tactical Rifle:
1st-Hornady Varmint Express 55 grain
2nd-Federal Premium 77 grain
3rd-Hornady Superformance 53 grain
*Hornady Superformance 73 grain
*Hornady Superformance 53 grain
*Hornady Varmint Express 55 grain
*Federal Bonded 62 grain
*Federal Premium 69 grain
*Federal Premium 77 grain
*Winchester Ballistic Tip (silver) 55 grain
*Winchester Ranger 64 grain
*Black Hills 69 grain
I shot the above ammunition out of 2 different rifles. The first was a Rock River Fred Eichler rifle with a 1/8” twist 16” barrel. The second was a Tikka Tactical rifle with a 1/8” twist 20” barrel.
The weather was 50 degrees, winds 10 mph (I had a berm protecting me from the majority of the wind), pressure was 30.32. There was a little mirage, so some groups could've been a little tighter. It was clear that some of the ammunition wasn't going to group out of these rifles regardless of the conditions.
The test was shooting 4 round groups. One target was for the Rock River rifle, and the second target was for the Tikka rifle. My goal was to focus on the overall grouping of the ammunition. Some of the ammunition was a disappointment, while others were clear standouts.
Below were the top 3 standouts that I observed for these two rifles. I hope this helps in possibly determining the best ammunition for your applications.
Rock River Fred Eichler:
1st- Hornady Varmint Express 55 grain
2nd- Federal Premium 69 grain
3rd-Federal Premium 77 grain
Tikka Tactical Rifle:
1st-Hornady Varmint Express 55 grain
2nd-Federal Premium 77 grain
3rd-Hornady Superformance 53 grain
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