Better cheaper 5.56

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10 years 9 months ago #35266 by OleCowboy
Better cheaper 5.56 was created by OleCowboy
Some of you guys may already know this. I had heard it, in fact years ago, but I blew it off. Just got it confirmed.

Best mil spec 5.56 is US Navy MK 262 MOD 1. Far better than US Army grade stuff.

WHY? Navy vs Army DIFFERENT MIL SPECS? The Army does not have a "accuracy" spec!

So why does the Army not change their spec to match the Navy....like so many things in this world. EGO's. Nothing more.

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10 years 9 months ago #35299 by LebbenB
Replied by LebbenB on topic Better cheaper 5.56
While Mk 262 Mod 0 was initially developed by Crane (With help from Speer, Sierra and Black Hills) for NSW, it's in use across all the services. It's all me and my boys used during my last tour, 04-06.

While a very good round, it does have it's limitations. Because of it's OTM projectile, it does very well against unarmored flesh. However this same projectile gives poor barrier blind performance and also performs poorly against body armor, again because of the OTM-type bullet.

The newer Mk 319 Mod 0 offers superior barrier blind penetration to Mk 262 as well as good performance against unarmored targets out to 500m. Federal offers this round for public sale as T556TNB1

Without going too deeply into bullet construction, the SS109/M855 bullet's "inaccuracy" problem stems from the tungsten penetrator in it's lead core. The penetrator is almost always off center leading to more pronounced spin drift.

M855A1, which has a bi-metal projectile seems to cure many of the short comings of the original round while flying a bit flatter. Most of the Joes I've talked to seem to like it's performance.
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10 years 9 months ago - 10 years 9 months ago #35301 by OleCowboy
Replied by OleCowboy on topic Better cheaper 5.56
Thanks Leb for expanding on that, more stuff I did not know (heck I did not what I posted until yesterday)...that said, what is the current manufacture for the services and is it available in 'surplus' for us civvy's? I have been thinking of getting some bulk mil spec stuff, want to make sure I get the newest and best...
Last edit: 10 years 9 months ago by OleCowboy.

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10 years 9 months ago #35306 by LebbenB
Replied by LebbenB on topic Better cheaper 5.56
Mk 262 Mod 0/Mod 1 (The difference between Mod 0 and Mod 1 is that the Mod 1 projectile is a 77 gr Sierra Match King with cannelure) is available from Black Hills. Just look for ".223 77gr HPBT Match" when searching ammo from them. Ammo that gives similar performance is also available from all the major suppliers, again in the 75-77 gr weight range.

Federal sells Mk 318 Mod 0 as "T556TNB1," though I haven't seen any around here. The bullet is loosely based on the Barnes Trophy Bonded Bear Claw and TSX bullet, so .223 Ammo with that projectile will yield similar levels of performance.

To my knowledge M855A1 has not made out into the civilian marketplace yet.
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10 years 9 months ago - 10 years 9 months ago #35307 by jtallen83
Replied by jtallen83 on topic Better cheaper 5.56
Here is the Black hills commercial packed version of the MK262 Mod1;

www.triadtactical.com/Black-Hills-New-5....77gr-Sierra-OTM.html

I tried a box through my PM400 and it did very well at 100 yards as far as accuracy goes.
I have never seen it available in LC brass, nothing comes up on ammo seek,

ammoseek.com/ammo/5.56x45mm-nato/-rifle-77grains-

The Black Hills is pricy but they have coupons at times so be sure to look for one if you decide to order some.
There is some IMI stuff available in bulk here, I've been mulling over possibly ordering some of this;
www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=...01636&dir=18|830|845
It should be good stuff. :usa:
Last edit: 10 years 9 months ago by jtallen83.
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10 years 9 months ago #35309 by LebbenB
Replied by LebbenB on topic Better cheaper 5.56
Black Hills also offers a line of remanufactured ammo that uses once fired brass versus virgin. It can be had for a few bucks cheaper than their new inventory.

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10 years 9 months ago #35312 by OleCowboy
Replied by OleCowboy on topic Better cheaper 5.56
Love it when I learn stuff, thanks to Leb and JT :twothumbs:

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10 years 9 months ago #35314 by Siscowet
Replied by Siscowet on topic Better cheaper 5.56
I did a google search and came up with a couple of places that have done work duplicating this round in reloads. I don't like to mention one forum on another, but if you google Mk262 mod 1 reloads, you will find a fair amount of info on some decent forums. I am working up a similar load for my Colt AR15 National Match. One thing: If you have a 1 in 9 twist, instead of a 1 in 7, you may be disappointed. This is a 77 grain bullet. That is pretty heavy for a 5.56, so a 1 in 9 twist might not be enough to stabilize it, especially at 300 + ranges.

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10 years 9 months ago - 10 years 9 months ago #35316 by LebbenB
Replied by LebbenB on topic Better cheaper 5.56

Siscowet wrote: I did a google search and came up with a couple of places that have done work duplicating this round in reloads. I don't like to mention one forum on another, but if you google Mk262 mod 1 reloads, you will find a fair amount of info on some decent forums. I am working up a similar load for my Colt AR15 National Match. One thing: If you have a 1 in 9 twist, instead of a 1 in 7, you may be disappointed. This is a 77 grain bullet. That is pretty heavy for a 5.56, so a 1 in 9 twist might not be enough to stabilize it, especially at 300 + ranges.

To help, my MK 262 Clone is 23.2 gr of H335 over top of a 75 gr Nosler Custom Competition OTM (Got a KILLER deal on them from Midway.I ordered a couple thousand of them.) Overall length is 2.26"

As far as 1/9 and 75-77gr pills, it's a crapshoot. I've seen 1/9's keyhole 75-77gr bullets, but then I've seen them shoot it perfectly well. It just depends on the barrel. A good substitute for 1/9 barrels is to use a 69gr OTM, which is at the upper limit of what a 1/9 is supposed to be able to stabilize.
Last edit: 10 years 9 months ago by LebbenB.
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10 years 9 months ago - 10 years 9 months ago #35326 by Siscowet
Replied by Siscowet on topic Better cheaper 5.56
Thanks Leb. Nice to get info like that from a trusted source. I am working up an RL15 load with Lake City brass. Using a 75 grain Hornady BTHP Match bullet. Got a good deal on those, so I bought 600. CCI primers. Can't get to the range for a while, four feet of snow with six feet plus drifts at the range, and 12 F right now, so any report will be a while. Starting out low with 21-22grains and work up once I can get to the range.
Last edit: 10 years 9 months ago by Siscowet.

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