Topic: The Best 5.56 Ammo of 2023 (Read 81 times)
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Freedom Munitions brought a ray of sunshine to our 2023 gun test when they sent us a couple cases of their very affordable match 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition. It was so accurate and consistent that I had to try some here too. Similarly, this 69-grain Match BTHP load was a stellar performer. It ranked third out of the 23 tested loads in accuracy, and was only short of the top spot by .044 inches in average group size. That’s arguably within a cumulative margin of error of my own measuring of all those groups.
This load shot well in just about every rifle and exceptional in some. It averaged .658 inch groups in the 1:9-twist TX4, and even held a 1.044-inch average in the DIY mil-spec AR carbine. Although the performance was stellar, it’s even more impressive when considering how affordable the ammo is. It outshot ammo like Federal’s Gold Medal Match—and rings up at half the cost.
The Nosler 77-grain custom co*petition averaged out as the most accurate 5.56 ammo in the test. It averaged a screaming .687 inches in the Christensen MPR, and even held under an inch in the 16-inch LSA TX15 carbine. At 300 yards out of the Christensen rifle, it held at .84 MOA for non-stop strings of 10 shots—an impressive feat.
As dominant and popular as the Sierra Matchking bullets are among shooters and ammunition manufacturers, Nosler’s match ammo brings the goods. In this case, it out-shines all others. It’s a load that requires a 1:8 or tighter twist barrel, but like the MK 262, it would be excellent defensive carbine ammo and would be a solid option for varmints.
M855 ball, also referred to as “5.56 green tip ammo,” is the quintessential 5.56 ammo. It’s a 62-grain FMJ bullet with a steel core and characteristic green painted tip. M855 is standard issue. Its accuracy is mediocre, but a good benchmark. It averaged group sizes of about an inch at best and printed several groups over 3 inches. In my mil-spec 16-inch barrel, it averaged 2.862 inches for 5 shots at 100 yards.
There are frankly better options for both practice, hunting, defensive, and duty ammo in this test, but because it’s standard-issue, M855 5.56 green tip ammo is a benchmark that needs to be included. The steel-core bullet will damage your expensive AR500 targets and cause potentially dangerous ricochet, so stick to regular FMJ or frangible. If you’re one of many passionate shooters who want everything to be true-to-issue, you need some green tip AR 15 ammo in your foot locker.
This was the most accurate 5.56 ammo for predators and varmints, and also the most affordable. Like the Freedom Munitions 69-grain match load, this ammo is accurate in a variety of guns. Between the 16-inch TX4, the TX15 carbine, and the TX15 DML, I recorded 14 groups. Only one of those groups measured more than an inch. It averaged just over an inch in the Ruger and Christensen.
The accuracy was great, but again, the price of the Freedom Munitions ammo is what really grabbed my attention. It’s half the price of many other co*parable varmint loads, and the 55-grain Hornady V-Max is a proven varmint buster that I’ve killed many coyotes with. It would serve as a great home defense round too, since the rapidly-expanding bullet won’t over-penetrate.
An excellent all-around hunting bullet, and great option for game like deer is the 55-grain Accutip from Remington. It’s a polymer-tipped bullet that has a tapered jacket that’s mechanically fastened to the core. This allows rapid initial expansion, but good weight retention and penetration. It’s going to require more careful shot placement than monolithic bullets like the Nosler E-Tip and Barnes TSX, but it’s certainly potent enough to get the job done on deer.
Lead-free bullet technology has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, and there are several great options on the market for hunters now. Nosler’s Expansion Tip is a polymer-tipped all-copper bullet that’s designed for immediate expansion, but to maximize weight retention too. It’s an excellent bullet for predators like coyotes, but also larger game like deer. Overall accuracy was good, but it seemed that this ammo shot either very well or very mediocre in rifles, with groups ranging from the upper 1-inch range, to consistently sub-inch, depending on the rifle. Although the BHA Barnes TSX load averaged a hair better in accuracy, its availability is limited right now, so the E-Tip gets the nod.
Ball ammo is the bread and butter for scores of 5.56 and .223 shooters. It’s the most affordable option for 5.56 bulk ammo if you’re into high-volume practice and plinking. Ball ammo is simple and straightforward, and most of it is pretty consistent. Most of the ball ammo I tested averaged 1.5- to 2-inch groups at 100 yards, and this Winchester 55-grain FMJ was right at the top of the pack. It was edged out in accuracy by one other load, but because of its widespread availability, low cost, and co*patibility with steel and self-healing targets, it’s one of the best options.
Standard steel rifle targets can be shot with most regular FMJ ammo, but it can sometimes shower the shooter and bystanders with spall fragments—tiny pieces of bullet and jacket material. Frangible ammunition is the most ideal option for shooting steel targets, especially at close range, and although this zinc-core FMJ ammo isn’t frangible, it is lead free and fragments nicely. When shooting high volume indoors or at closer range, it will reduce the amount of lead you’re exposed to.
This ammo isn’t just great for steel though, it’s one of the best 5.56 ammo ball loads I tested. It was the most accurate ball