Boy, PMC 5.56mm had gone down hill...

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Float Pilot

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Years ago PMC 5.56mm, 7.26x51 and their 30 carbine ammo was pretty could for the cost.

I just bought a few hundred rounds the other day and took it out to the range. YUCK....!

The 55 grain PMC was only avergaing 2,740 fps out of my 16 inch carbine.
WITH A 137 FPS EXTREME SPREAD!!! With a 3.5 inch group at 100 yards.

I shot some green tip M-855 and it was averaging 2,905 fps with a 30 fps extreme spread, from the same rifle. It had a 1.5 inch group.

A freind of mine tried some PMC in his heavy barreled target AR. His 20 inch barrel was only getting 2,885 fps from the PMC and a 2 inch group from sand-bags.

Talk about crappy quality controll.
 
I got a few boxes of PMC 55g .223R a while back because that was about all I could ...It shot maybe 4-5in lower in my A4 which I had sighted in with 55g Sellier and Belliot...I chrono'ed the PMC at around 27-2800 and the S&B at 3000-3100...The PMC is good clean ammo and shoots well enough for non precision work, but gimmie the S&B anytime...
 
Actually most chronographs measure the time difference between two light sensors. The bullet flicking past the sensors cast a slight shadow and the intrument measures the time between the two. It then converts that to feet per second or meters per second.

The angle of the sun or reflective snow can really mess with your chronograph readings. I also found the floresent lights in some indoor ranges make them go nuts.

I have two, one is an old Oehler 33 with 3 feet between the sensors. The other is a little Chrony which is about 12 inches long. http://www.shootingchrony.com/
I mounted the smaller chrony in between the other chrongraphs sensors so I get two reading on every shot.

A good chronograph really makes a difference in developing loads and weeding out BS from gospel. I used to think more muzzle blast and flame meant a load was faster than another quiter load. NOT SO...
 
maybe you got a bad batch?

Not saying that PMC is as precise as the name makes one think of it, but I usually group well with it. I guess another thing is that you were putting .223 through a 5.56 chamber. Think that may have something to so with it?

*ammo n00b*
 
PMC I hear is the bottom of the barrel for brass ammo.

So which would you choose instead: Prvi Partizan, XM193, Sellier & Bellot or UltraMax?
 
S&B works real nice in both my SW AR 16 and DPMS Sweet 16 Bull...The DPMS will shoot most groups about 1moa...PMC 1 1/2 -3 moa..Not shot enough of the XM-193 to say much about it, but it seems to be quite good in a couple tac matches Ive shot with it...

S&B at one time was the VERY BEST ammo for the money in my opinion, but has gotten a little pricy of late....S&B 168 match in my DPMS .308 shoots about 3/4"....Not as good as my reloads, but still works well enough for most anything I want to shoot.

Ive found that with standard factory loads, the S&B will outshoot most other brands in my guns...excepting the Fed Match Kings at twice the price.

Ive several boxes of Fiocchi 69gr on my desk that I intend to evaluate...It states that it uses Fed Match Kings for the bullet...Dont know much about it, other than the price is right.
 
Don't know about 223, but in 308 the UltraMax shoots better in my gun than federal GMM.
 
1KPerDay
Quote:
Prvi Partizan, for the price, is great.
Can't reload it though if that's an issue for you.

Well, I plan on reloading my Privi brass. It is in fact BRASS and is boxer primed. I, too, would like to know what makes it "non-reloadable".


Nail
 
PMC used to be good stuff in the pistol calibers about 5 yrs ago, at least in my experience. The store I used stopped carrying it after that so I haven't shot any recent ammo.
 
actually most companies are downloading ammo. heck even remington doesnt make the corelokt bullet the same as it did 20 years ago.
Tried an old box of 30-06 from them, and then with a new box, new box hit a foot lower at the same distance. Thats scary.
 
I just bought 600 rds of Prvi 62gr FMJBT and 600 rds of Prvi 62gr M822 armor piercing mil-spec ammo. I was able to get it for a good deal. I hear the M822 Prvi ammo is very good, better than the M193 ammo you see around. However, some people told me you cannot use it at some shooting range. I think it will make a fine member of my SHTF collection.
 
Well, I plan on reloading my Privi brass. It is in fact BRASS and is boxer primed. I, too, would like to know what makes it "non-reloadable".
Hmmm... I just bought some and the seller said it was non-reloadable berdan primed. I'll double check. Hmmm...
 
Well of course you're right... everything I can find says it's reloadable. however, one guy says this:

If you plan on reloading the Primer is Ringed Crimped and will have to be removed!

Any truth to that?
 
PMC gone down hill?? I never thought they went up the hill.

Bought a case of PMC ammo in the 80s thought it was garbage then. A buddy bought some PMC ammo in the 90s most of the cases split when fired.
 
I havent had any bad experiences with PMC other than not-as-good-as-match groupings. no splits, no duds, etc.
 
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