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Ok, so I went out to Elm Fork today to do a little test run.
Up to this point all I had run though my SIG556 was 55gr ammo.
Not happy with the grouping of the 55gr stuff, with the faster twist rate of my rifle, I thought I would try some of the heavier stuff and see what happened.
The goal of today's trip to the range was not to sight in the new scope but to find which load would group best.
Once I make a determination I will buy some more of that ammo, sight in the new scope and that will be the load I use from here on out.
Each target was at 50 yrds and has 20 rounds though it.


Rifle:
SIG556 SWAT Patrol
16" Barrell
1:7 Twist Rate

Optics:
Vortex Diamondback BDC 4-12X40




Target 1

American Eagle XM855
5.56mm
62gr Green Tip FMJ BT


Target 2

Prvi
.223
69gr HP BT Match


Target 3

Hornady TAP-FPD
#80268
.223
75gr HP BT


Target 4

Fiocchi
#223MKC
.223
69gr Sierra Match King HP BT


Target 5

Fiocchi
#223MKD
.223
77gr Sierra Match King HP BT


Target 6

BVAC
5.56 mm
75gr Lake City Tactical HP BT
AMM-239 at Cheaper Than Dirt


Target 7

BVAC
5.56mm
62gr Pointed Soft Point
AMM-277 at Cheaper Than Dirt


Target 8

.223
62gr FMJ
AMM-280 at Cheaper Than Dirt


Target 9

BVAC
.223
64gr Pointed Soft Point Bonded
AMM-279 at Cheaper Than Dirt


Target 10

BVAC
.223
64gr Pointed Soft Point


Target 11

BVAC
.223
69gr Sierra Match King HP BT
AMM-271 at Cheaper Than Dirt

I like the way the Prvi 69gr, Hornady TAP-FPD and BVAC 69gr(Target 11) performed the best.
I think for the money though I'll probably end up going with the BVAC.

Thank you for the report! My next rifle is most likely going to be a SIG556.

I would make sure the scope is REAL tight. Check everything. Yes the BVAC looks pretty good, however I would think you should be getting groups like that at 100 yards or farther. Is this off hand, bipod, bags ? I bet if you find the right combo it will do way better than that..

Also, go for 5-10 shot groups, and slow down. You may be getting some "stringing" due to heat.

I did forget to mention that...I was shooting from a rest.

I also thought about that.
I was running though 20 at a time just to try to get an idea.
Once I narrow down the selection some I'll shoot in smaller groups like you suggested.

The scope is plenty tight.

In reference to the first posting, how did it do with the 55gr ammo? Thanks for posting, BTW.

Heartland Patriot wrote:In reference to the first posting, how did it do with the 55gr ammo? Thanks for posting, BTW.

Crap
4"-5"

MedicMan218 wrote:

Heartland Patriot wrote:In reference to the first posting, how did it do with the 55gr ammo? Thanks for posting, BTW.

Crap
4"-5"

Really? It shot that bad at 50yds with 55gr? That is horrible for that type of rifle...My AK will group about that good at out past 100yds w/ iron sights and steel cased ammo(Golden Tiger). I would really expect better than that with any ammo?

Just on quick inspection.... your rifle doesn't like the 75-77 grain bullets anymore than it does the 55-65 grain bullets. The sweet spot appears to be in the 68-69 grain range. The PRVI ammo is surprising to me only because it groups better in your rifle than in mine, even though mine likes bullets in that same weight range also.

I would heartily recommend trying out the Black Hills 69 grain match, as it is a very consistent and accurate performer in 4 different ARs we have shot it through. They are the primary supplier, IIRC, of 5.56/.223 match to the SEAL teams, and it is fairly commonly available. Buy the red box, which is newly manufactured, as opposed to their blue box, which is remanufactured. The blue box is less expensive and does perform well, but it is definitely not as consistently excellent as the red box stuff.

Another load I would recommend trying, based on my experience with it in my M1A and in my R700, is the Federal Fusion. It is very consistent for a commercial hunting load, and it tends to group well also. In my R700, I've seen groups as small as .5" at 100 yards, and .75" to 1" is fairly common. Unless your AR is a varmint rifle, I would expect slightly larger groups than that, but they would still be plenty acceptable for hunting and SD purposes. Fusion ammo is deliberately constructed for "thin-skinned game" like white tail deer.......................and maybe who-mans.

I'm meeting my son at Elm Fork this morning to shoot carbines on the 50 yard range.

MedicMan218 wrote:

Heartland Patriot wrote:In reference to the first posting, how did it do with the 55gr ammo? Thanks for posting, BTW.

Crap
4"-5"

Thanks, that is what I wanted to know. Guess that 1-in-7 twist just doesn't like those lighter bullets.

The Black Hills stuff is on the list for next time.
The last time I was at Cabela's one of the guys recommended it and seemed to have great things to say about it.
I just didn't pick any up because I wasn't wanting to spend 40.00 on 50 rounds when all I needed was just a few for my test run.

My Sig556 LOVES the American Eagle XM193. Glad to see your results with various others!

RSJ wrote:My Sig556 LOVES the American Eagle XM193. Glad to see your results with various others!

I haven't shot the NATO 55gr stuff....just Monarch and the Federal bulk from Wal-Mart.
Someone suggested that I might actually have better luck with a 55gr load in 5.56. We'll see next time I head to the range.

MedicMan218 wrote:

RSJ wrote:My Sig556 LOVES the American Eagle XM193. Glad to see your results with various others!

I haven't shot the NATO 55gr stuff....just Monarch and the Federal bulk from Wal-Mart.
Someone suggested that I might actually have better luck with a 55gr load in 5.56. We'll see next time I head to the range.

By the way, how does your Sig eject? Mine seems to forcefully "throw" spent cases 10 feet or so. They also appear a little bit more worn than a normal AR-15 spent casing. Nonetheless, it functions like great!

Yeah, they get tossed pretty far at a pretty good clip. You definitely don't want to be anywhere to the right of me when I'm shooting.
The brass seem ok but the neck of each piece is always bent.