Most Accurate Ammo for a PSA AR15

[fanchisimo]

Hello all, I'm gonna be out of the Army soon and will have more time to shoot my weapons and experiment. My question is: I have a PSA AR15 and am wondering what you all have found to be the most accurate out of your PSA rifles. I will be experimenting with different types to find what it likes, but just want a starting point. It's a 1:7 twist, chrome-lined barrel. Thanks for any input.

 

[C-grunt]

Usually the various match rounds tend to all be accurate. Every rifle is different so you just kind have to find out what your barrel likes the best. I prefer the 75 and 77 grain rounds myself for more accuracy downrange. But there are several very accurate 50-55 grain match rounds as well.

By the way you wouldnt happen to be getting out of the 3rd ID would you?

 

[helotaxi]

If the rifle won't shoot Federal Gold Medal Match (69gn Sierra MatchKing) the general consensus is that it won't shoot.

I have a PSA HBAR and use a 69gn SMK over 24gn of Varget for practice. I also have loads with 52gn match bullets (either Sierra or Barnes) over Benchmark but I don't remember the charge weight.

Realize that every rifle is a rule unto itself. FGMM might not be the "best" load in your rifle, but it should shoot it acceptably well. Same with the lighter match loads. If you plan to shoot a lot and care about shooting good ammo, I highly recommend investing in a reloading setup. Good ammo runs about a $1 per trigger pull, even in .223. The same (or better since you can tailor the powder charge to your particular rifle) ammo can be loaded for about $0.35 if you amortize the brass cost over 5 reloads or so.

 

[OilyPablo]

Buy some standard 55gr and 62gr ammo of the same brand - everything as equal as possible except bullet weight. See if the gun differentiates the two. Simple, not expensive, non-scientific, fun "test" - just pic a group size, say 10 rounds and just alternate ammo for shooting session. 50 yards will do with iron sights. IMHO you should be able to tell which groups better. Then go from there on what works best in YOUR rifle - my guess is the 62gr will group better. Then compare the 62 gr to next heavier, and next more expensive ammo.

 

[helotaxi]

The 62gn mil FMJ is a typically more consistent bullet than the 55gn. Other than the Hornady 55gn FMJ all of the ones that I have (several different brands) are extremely inconsistent, brand to brand and even lot to lot. I wouldn't base anything on how a rifle shoots with 55gn FMJ. My bolt gun shot them into a 5" group when it shoots everything else I've fed it comfortably sub-MOA (often significantly so).

 

[madcratebuilder]

Off the shelf ammo I would get Federal Gold Medal Match 223 Remington/5.56 NATO 69 GR Sierra MatchKing. For longer range the same Federal Gold in 77 GR Sierra MatchKing.

I use the FGMM in 5.56 and 7.62 as a base line for my reloads.

You can save well over 50% if you reload using these same components.

Personally I would just get a case of LC M193, it's a 55gr fmj. The Lake City stuff is really good ammo. Get some good trigger time before you start using the $1+ per round ammo.

 

[Ramone]

Federal XM855:



Black Hills "Blue Box" Remanufactured 69 Gr Sierra Match King:



Handloads:



All at 100 yards with an M4gery with 4x scope, prone with sling.

 

[HorseSoldier]

Ammo related accuracy issues are mostly about quality control, less of which keeps costs down but also makes for minor inconsistencies in manufacture. For best accuracy avoid plinking ammo -- or pick plinking ammo that closely matches the weight and velocity of the premium ammo you're using for accuracy for those times you want to shoot a lot.

(And for best accuracy, do your own QC, and start hand loading your own.)

 

[helotaxi]

Handloads:



All at 100 yards with an M4gery with 4x scope, prone with sling.

Don't let the "1:7 ARs can't shoot light bullets" crowd see that. They'll argue that group is impossible!

 

[fanchisimo]

Thanks guys. Reloading is in my future, just not my immediate, but for now all of the data you have given me has been great.

C-grunt, yes I am leaving the 3rd ID. Just hated the Dog-Faced Soldier song so much that I decided to ETS. Lol.

 

[C-grunt]

Thanks guys. Reloading is in my future, just not my immediate, but for now all of the data you have given me has been great.

C-grunt, yes I am leaving the 3rd ID. Just hated the Dog-Faced Soldier song so much that I decided to ETS. Lol.

That was quite annoying.

 

[Ramone]

Don't let the "1:7 ARs can't shoot light bullets" crowd see that. They'll argue that group is impossible!

Oops- the "50 gr VG" is a 50 grain Barnes Varmint Grenade- being all copper, while it's light, it's quite long, and calls for a tight twist:

http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/components/rifle/varmint-grenade/

Also, it's ridiculously frangible- 'grenade' is not marketing hype.

 

[gotigers]

Each barrel likes different ammo. Try hornady steel match 55gr and 75gr. All of my ARs like it and it is not very expensive. For a little cheaper the AE223 shoots good. Black Hills is more expensive, but well worth it.

 

[helotaxi]

Oops- the "50 gr VG" is a 50 grain Barnes Varmint Grenade- being all copper, while it's light, it's quite long, and calls for a tight twist:

http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/components/rifle/varmint-grenade/

Also, it's ridiculously frangible- 'grenade' is not marketing hype.

Yeah. I'm aware of what it is. I shoot a lot of them. Barnes still only recommends a 1:10 twist (or faster) for it though.

The issue that I've had with those is the sintered copper/tin core is easy to fracture with any rough handling. Shooting the ones with the fractured cores IME results in shots that pattern like a shotgun rather than group like a precision rifle. I've taken to "rattle checking" them prior to loading and culling those that fail.

 

[tuj]

I haven't shot any of the ASYM Precision .223, but if its anything like their .45 loads, it will be incredible. Very consistent, very accurate is the name of the game with those guys.