Best Factory .223 Match Grade Ammo?

I'll suggest some ADI SMK 69gr loads...or the ADI 55gr BlitzKings.

https://globalordnance.com/search.p...n=product&_bc_fsnf=1&category=6262&brand=3350

My Howa 1500 .223 is 1/8 and it likes 69 gr and heavier.

ADI 69 and 55 gr

Winchester Match 69gr Sierra Matchking HPBT. (Black Box Competitive Target) This ammunition shoots really well in both my AR and bolt guns.

I don't buy factory ammo but my friends that do like Black Hills Match.

For the big name companies I've had good luck with Dederal Gold Medal Match 69 grain and Black Hills 77 grain.

You're also going to have many smaller boutique ammo manufacturers like Prime who make great ammo.

The best I've shot is Fiocchi Exacta 77gr SMKs

It really depends on your gun.
With 1:9 twist I would say probably not 77gr and heavier bullets.
Also probably no 55gr bullets and lighter.
But you never know.

You might have enough velocity to stabilize the heavier bullets depending on barrel length. My rifles are 1/7 twist and like the light and heavy bullets. The one time I tried some 68 grain bullets they didn’t work very well. Hornady Black 75 grain HPBT was the best of what I tried. I didn’t try any light bullet match ammo. Frontier 223 w/a 55 grain FMJ shoots really well in one of my rifles. The 52 grain Frontier Match might do well. I never tried it in my rifle.

The smallest groups I have ever fired with a factory rifle and factory ammo have been in the 1’s, using a Savage 12 BVSS and Remington UMC 50 grn JHP’s. About as cheap as it gets without going steel, I used to pick them up for a marked 34¢/round, but actual price of 17¢/rnd because Gander Mountain was getting replacement SKU’s from Remington - 40 round boxes at the price of 20rnd boxes - because Rem wasn’t delivering. I bought tens of thousands of them through Gander over a handful of years, literally a pallet load once, more than their GM was ordering for their own shelves. Always bang, and almost always small shooting. They’d hold around 1/2” in my post-ish-ban (ban upper on a preban buttstock) Hbar M4gery 1:9” Bushmaster, and shot ridiculously small in my wife’s Savage 12 1:9”. Just have to figure out what your barrels like - custom barrels are easy, factory barrels tend to be more finicky about what they like. One load might shoot better than another, even one lot might shoot better than another, seemingly without rhyme or reason - that’s part of why folks are willing to pay for custom barrels.

I’ve also done very well in a 1:9” with the 73 ELDm load out to 800.

N555 said:

With 1:9 twist I would say probably [snip] no 55gr bullets and lighter.

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Stop. This is BS for any 1:9” 223, clear out to 29”.

Varminterror said:

Stop. This is BS for any 1:9” 223, clear out to 29”.

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If that's all you can afford then I guess that's what you get the best groups with.

N555 said:

If that's all you can afford then I guess that's what you get the best groups with.

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Bullet stability has nothing to do with price. Stop basing your advice on some BS ven diagram from Arfcom and actually shoot something. “Overstabilization” is a myth.

My 1:9 twist likes 55gr, but there are better options. My best load is a 64gr Sierra tipped game king with H322, both of those are hard to find.
But if 55gr frontier ball ammo is all you can get, it beats no ammo.

Turkeytider said:

I`m working under an assumption that the 70+ grain loads would probably be too heavy for my 1:9. 69 might be top end.

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My 1:9 20" Savage Model 10 PC will stabilize 77 SMK's (at least to 500 yds.) fine. But not 80's.

I'm not aware of all .223 match offerings, but the 69 and 77 gr. SMK's are largely intended for high power rifle competitions at the 200 and 300 yd. lines. My experience is that they are slightly less accurate than a quality flat base bullet at 100 yds. but the better BC pays off on the somewhat generous NRA targets. I guess what I am trying to say is if you're wanting to ring steel at long range that's what you want. If you want to shoot bug holes at 100 there might be better options. You won't know until you try.

Varminterror said:

Bullet stability has nothing to do with price. Stop basing your advice on some BS ven diagram from Arfcom and actually shoot something. “Overstabilization” is a myth.

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Absolutely I've shot some tiny groups with the old American Eagle 50gr grey tip varmint from both 1 in 9 and 1 in 7 twist. Plenty of 50 and 55gr ammo that not fmj.

Look for ammo loaded with the Sierra 69 gr match bullet. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1023653038

Have shot the Sierra 69 gr in reloads. It does OK. As does the Nosler 55 gr. #39526, https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1021973430 Savage Axis Rifle.

Good bullets can make all the difference.

*Have not shot factory ammo.*

bfoosh006 suggestion of the ADI 55 gr V-Max is currently a steal of a deal:
https://globalordnance.com/adi-worl...rra-blitzking-20-round-box-upc-9332153003166/
I have found that good bullets are the primary component of accurate rounds and Hornady V-Max 55 gr factory loaded for $13 for 20 should work well, even in a faster twist barrel. I stocked up on Fiocchi 40 gr V-Max factory ammo back when you could order it for less than $20 per box of 50. It has shot well in twists from 1 in 12” thru 1 in 8”.

My 1~7 twist shoots 52 grain ELD M or BTHP bullets better than anything else I’ve shot in it

I have had great accuracy with IMI Razor Core. I have not had issues with any of my 1:9 barrels stabilizing their 77 grain offering. I will 2nd the Black Hills stuff as well if you can find it.

Have not shot a lot of it, but the Nosler Match grade 70 grain have been excellent as well. Plus they are one sale right now.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019861868?pid=100960

With your 1:9 twist, I’d stick with the premium brands that use the 69gr SMK’s. Federal Gold Medal Match, Black Hills, etc. there are probably 6 or more I can find easy online with the same bullet. I’d give that a try.