5.56x45 match ammo recommendations?

[SandLine]

I'm going to use my 16" bbl 1:7 twist in an upcoming shooting match and could use some match ammo recommendations. I may be shooting as far as 700 yards. I learned the hard way last time that my cheap Walmart 55 grain ammo isn't going to cut it...

I'm leaning towards getting Black Hills .223 75 grain simply based on the raving reviews. But my thought is, if I'm going to be paying nearly $1/round, I'd at least like to get the hotter 5.56x45... but maybe I'm missing something here.

In any case, what do you guys recommend I use? I've also never bought ammo online, do you have any preferred retailers?

Thanks for the help.

[Bug Splat]

What kind of match are you shooting in? If you are really going to be shooting out to 700 yards you will want to go with as heavy a bullet your barrel likes. I can't recommend Black Hills enough. Top quality ammo (even their blue box) and they are made here in the USA.

Have you considered reloading? You can make you own top quality match ammo for 1/4 the price. The money you invested in equipment will be paid off after just a few range trips.

[Jonathan Doe]

For a long distance shooting, you need bullets 75 -77 grains and up. Some shooters shoot 80 - 90 grain bullets. I just wonder how good your barrel is. Also, with a short barrel and short sight radius would not help much although it can be done.

[3GunFunShooter]

If you can find it, the Black Hill 77 gr is the best factory ammo avaliable.
My JP 18" 1 in 8 will group .770" to 1.25" at 300 yards. Still trying to get a load to match it.

[SandLine]

Sounds like the consensus is Black Hills. I was thinking about the 75 grain version. My barrel is a Noveske 1:7, so I know it could handle the 77 grain, but I've heard (perhaps erroneously) that the 77 grain cartridges are too large to fit in a magazine without modifications? If this isn't true, I'd go with the 77 grain. Can anyone weigh in on this?

What is the difference between Black Hills blue and red box? Is it just reloaded vs. non?

Does Black Hills make any cartridges loaded to 5.56x45? Again, at ~$1/round, I'd like to get away from .223 Remington...

Thanks all for the input.

[ocabj]

The 77 will fit to magazine length. The Sierra Matchking 77gr BTHP and other clones (i.e. Nosler Custom Competition 77gr BTHP, Berger 77 BTHP, Lapua Scenar 77 BTHP) were all designed such that the bullet can be seated to 2.260" give or take.

As far as cartridges loaded to 5.56x45, what do you mean? Are you talking about NATO pressure? If so, I don't think you should care. SAAMI spec 77gr BH red box will shoot very accurately. You don't have to hotrod the 77gr to make it shoot well. Just to play around, I stuffed 25.3gr Varget in a Lake City case for a 77gr Sierra Match King (which chronoed the same as USGI MK 262 mod 1) and the accuracy was the same if not slightly worse than a 'standard' load I normally use in matches.

If you ever got your hands on real MK 262 Mod 1 or the USMC Match Ammo (can't remember the designator, but it's basically moly coated MK 262 Mod 1) and ran them side by side with Black Hills red box 77gr 223, it's going to shoot the same on paper.

Other than BH, you can try this company: http://www.atlantaarmsandammo.com

Supposedly they make ammo for the USAMU based on AMU spec.

As far as 77gr variants, I'm a fan of the Lapua Scenar. No one sells ammo with this bullet, yet, but the quality control on the bullets are the best of any of the companies (Sierra, Nosler, Berger, etc). I've got 3K of the Lapua 77gr Scenars and am running them in my current barrel for matches.

I think you should also give Hornady's match 75gr ammo: http://www.hornady.com/store/223-Rem-75-gr-BTHP-Match/

The Hornady 75gr BTHP bullet is pretty good and is very underrated. I believe the CA Junior High Power Rifle team uses this bullet mainly (not actual Hornady production ammo, just the Hornady 75gr BTHP bullet in ammo custom handloaded for the team).

[evolixsurf]

check your pm's. I cant reveal your new practice ammo to everyone! Possibly even your match ammo!