off brand .22 cal bullets 62 grain fmjbt - questions

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ar-newbie

ar-newbie

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I have been having fairly decent performance (sub moa @ 100 yards) using these generic bullets from my local independent reloading supplier. They come packaged in clear plastic bags in lots of 500 for $55.00 so they are 11 cents each. Fairly ecnomical, and convenient for local pickup whenever I need them.

I have attached a photo of them to this post, just wondering if anyone has used something similar or have any idea who makes them? My supplier says he gets everything from a wholesaler and there is no brand name on them.

I have been loading these up with Lake City 5.56 brass, cci no. 400 small rifle primers, and 26.5 grains of CFE 223. They shoot fantastic out of my 16" stainless barrel on my Palmetto State Armory carbine.

Lately I have been wondering if there would be any advantage to me trying out some of the name brand bullets, considering how well these seem to be working out?
 

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After reading threads on other sites, I should be thankful they are doing so well for me. Many folks have had very poor accuracy with these.
 
There are any number of bullet makers - domestic and foreign - cranking out both 55 and 62 grain bullets for both civilian and military ammunition that it's impossible to say for certain who made the bullets in the OP's photograph.

Sellers like http://www.evergladesammo.com/bullets/rifle-bullets.html?caliber=297&grain_weight=206 offer two different types of 62 grain FMJ bullets - both made in the USA - so these aren't necessarily a repackaging of the bullets 243winxb linked to.
 
ArchAngelCd wrote:
Just a note, Armscor bullets are not cheap or generic bullets.
Click to expand...

Assuming that what the OP bought in a clear plastic bag were the same bullets that win243xb cited to, then when they are sold in bulk, in unmarked plastic bags, for 11 cents each, they are most certainly both generic and cheap.

Does Armscor make a quality bullet, yes, but we don't know that what the OP has are Armscor products. And Armscor guns and ammunition are made in the Philippines and I, for one, would prefer to buy an American made product if it is available with comparable quality at a comparable price.
 
Check out the hornady z max for the same price when on sale. They shoot one hole for me.
 
Any FMJ bullet, with exposed lead at the base , is indeed cheap. There is 1 less operation in the forming of the bullet.
The Nosler 55 gr BT was the most accurate for me.

Then come the match bullets in 69/68 grs. The Sierra without the plastic tip is a better fit for an AR15's COL.
IMO. full.jpg full.jpg
 
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In the last year I have picked up Nosler, Speer, Sierra, and Hornady HP or poly tipped bullets for under $90 per 1K. Deals are out there on better bullets. Even after shipping they were under $100 per 1K.

These are .011 and .012 right now.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/9...s-22-caliber-224-diameter-55-grain-soft-point

These are .011 to .013.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2...r-224-diameter-50-grain-jacketed-hollow-point

.095

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....iameter-55-grain-spitzer-soft-point-100-count



Watch websites and be patient.
 
Walkalong said:
In the last year I have picked up Nosler, Speer, Sierra, and Hornady HP or poly tipped bullets for under $90 per 1K. Deals are out there on better bullets. Even after shipping they were under $100 per 1K.

These are .011 and .012 right now.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/9...s-22-caliber-224-diameter-55-grain-soft-point

These are .011 to .013.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2...r-224-diameter-50-grain-jacketed-hollow-point

.095

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....iameter-55-grain-spitzer-soft-point-100-count



Watch websites and be patient.
Click to expand...
Wow those are great prices! (Decimal needs to move one place to the right. :D)
 
quest4perfection said:
Sorry. What caliber were you referring to when you said zmax?
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223rem. 50 gr shoots same POI as 50gr V max. I haven't tried the 55gr Z max cause they have a cannelure so I'm staying away from them at the moment. I don't want to buy 500 bullets that aren't accurate cause of the cannelure.
 
ohihunter2014 said:
223rem. 50 gr shoots same POI as 50gr V max. I haven't tried the 55gr Z max cause they have a cannelure so I'm staying away from them at the moment. I don't want to buy 500 bullets that aren't accurate cause of the cannelure.
Click to expand...

Interesting, the POI thing. And I have stayed away from cannelure as well. Z-max is considerably cheaper than V-Max. Good call. Got a 500 ct. box on a trade three years ago, but haven't shot them (.20).
 
quest4perfection said:
Interesting, the POI thing. And I have stayed away from cannelure as well. Z-max is considerably cheaper than V-Max. Good call. Got a 500 ct. box on a trade three years ago, but haven't shot them (.20).
Click to expand...
I called Hornady and they said its the same bullet just different color tip and packaging. I'm guessing your paying for the V max name with the red tip.
 
ohihunter2014 said:
I called Hornady and they said its the same bullet just different color tip and packaging. I'm guessing your paying for the V max name with the red tip.
Click to expand...

Odd that they would own up to that, but really good to know that I have 500 V-Max bullets with a glitzy box designed to impress the zombie hunter. Made out good on that trade. Thanks for the info from Hornady.
 
quest4perfection said:
Odd that they would own up to that, but really good to know that I have 500 V-Max bullets with a glitzy box designed to impress the zombie hunter. Made out good on that trade. Thanks for the info from Hornady.
Click to expand...
I don't see them listed on Hornady's site but over the summer I found the Z max SD and BC data and it was the exact same as the 50gr V max. I think I also got an email saved from Hornady stating they were the same. It took them like 2 months to respond that's why I called and then got the email awhile later. I tossed 10 of them with my good charge of benchmark in a case and POI was dead on. I will test their explosiveness on varmints this summer and see if they perform like a v max. IMO the Z max tip seems to be harder plastic like almost soft but the V max seems harder and more brittle. I got them mostly for paper punching on the cheap.
 
ohihunter2014 said:
I don't see them listed on Hornady's site but over the summer I found the Z max SD and BC data and it was the exact same as the 50gr V max. I think I also got an email saved from Hornady stating they were the same. It took them like 2 months to respond that's why I called and then got the email awhile later. I tossed 10 of them with my good charge of benchmark in a case and POI was dead on. I will test their explosiveness on varmints this summer and see if they perform like a v max. IMO the Z max tip seems to be harder plastic like almost soft but the V max seems harder and more brittle. I got them mostly for paper punching on the cheap.
Click to expand...

Might take a look at this:

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2470119

If the jacket on the Z-Max is indeed thicker on the bottom than the V-Max, my thoughts are that they would have different B.C.s, similar POIs. Hmm. This issue has been floating around since the Zs first came out. So I checked in with varmint hunters.

If anyone here does this to determine once and for all regarding V-Max vs. Z-Max we can put it to rest. If it proves out, I would guess one would be wise to stock up on Z-Max before Hornady gets the word that people are now aware of the difference(s). I can see why Hornady would have a reason for coming out with the Z-Max when they did, because of the Zombie craze at the time.

I recently saw some actual chronograph results showing velocity differences. But it was one person and chronographs have inherent variances.
 
quest4perfection said:
Might take a look at this:

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2470119

If the jacket on the Z-Max is indeed thicker on the bottom than the V-Max, my thoughts are that they would have different B.C.s, similar POIs. Hmm. This issue has been floating around since the Zs first came out. So I checked in with varmint hunters.

If anyone here does this to determine once and for all regarding V-Max vs. Z-Max we can put it to rest. If it proves out, I would guess one would be wise to stock up on Z-Max before Hornady gets the word that people are now aware of the difference(s). I can see why Hornady would have a reason for coming out with the Z-Max when they did, because of the Zombie craze at the time.

I recently saw some actual chronograph results showing velocity differences. But it was one person and chronographs have inherent variances.
Click to expand...
I seen that thread too when it came out. Ill try and dig up the email from Hornady and post it here if its still saved.
 
Here is Hornady's response to V max vs Z max.

P.S. don't tell everyone on the internet because then i wont be able to find anymore. :)
 

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