My Major Brand FMJ .308 Ammo Test for the M1A (rem umc vs win usa vs fed am. eagle)

[LoneStarWings]

I tested the accuracy of the .308 FMJ offerings of 3 major manufacturers today. The rifle used was a Springrield M1A scout with 25 round magazines from .44mag.com. I am a poor shot but i was shooting from a bench rest, with both the forward and rear stock supported. Each target has 5 25 round groups, each 25 round mag was emptied over about 4-5 minutes. Distance was 100 yards, indoor range, 7x scope. Order of the shots were: 5x top left, 5x bottom left, 5x top right, 5x bottom right, 5x center.

Reliability: No malfunctions with any of the three brands tested.

1st up, just as a reference
Federal Gold Medal Match 168gr:
Average: 1.7 MOA
Small: 1 MOA
Large: 2 MOA


Winchester USA 7.62x51mm 147gr FMJ:
Average: 3.7 MOA
Small: 3 MOA
Large: 5.375 MOA


Remington UMC .308 150gr FMJ:
Average: 2.6 MOA
Small: 1.375 MOA
Large: 3.75 MOA


Federal American Eagle .308 150gr FMJ
Average: 3 MOA
Small: 2 MOA
Large: 4.125 MOA


Conclusions:

Winner: Remington UMC
Loser: Wincheter USA

While this is not the most scientific test (I did fire everything fairly rapidly with a hot barrel and I shot them in the order listed), I feel like I got enough data to determine that there isn't a whole lot of difference between the 3 FMJ types of ammo in my rifle. Only 1.1 MOA seperated the best from the worst. I'm guessing that over a larger sample, say 100 rounds of each, that difference would only get smaller.

The data might be skewed a bit by that single 1.375" group I was able to get with the Remington UMC. I am guessing that you can probably subtract somewhere between .5 and 1 MOA from my data to get the true accuracy of the ammo and weapon, to correct for my poor aim and trigger control.

Hope this helps anyone trying to decide which ammo to buy (probably best off just going with the cheapest).

 

[Bwana John]

Hope this helps anyone trying to decide which ammo to buy (probably best off just going with the cheapest).

That was a test of how accurate the ammo in YOUR RIFLE.

It may or may not apply to anyone elses rifle.

Different guns like different ammo.

 

[LoneStarWings]

uhh, yeah, I agree. From my original post:

I feel like I got enough data to determine that there isn't a whole lot of difference between the 3 FMJ types of ammo in my rifle.

 

[J&J]

At this point I am buying any major brand I can get my hands on. In my scout I have had less than stellar results with the truly cheap stuff, like wolf and brown bear, poorer accuracy and for some reason, while I have NO issues with WWB or UMC feeding reliably, wolf likes to try to double feed in the first few rounds of the magazine

I did enjoy seeing the difference between the better ammo and the cheaper stuff in your review.

 

[LoneStarWings]

Here's a few more types that i tested earlier:

Hornady TAP 155gr:
Average: 1.5 MOA
Small: 1.125 MOA
Large: 2 MOA


Federal XM762D 147gr FMJ (this target had 5 shots of Gold Medal Match in the center):
Average: 2 MOA
Small: 1.75 MOA
Large: 2.25 MOA

 

[lionking]

I love these type of threads.

quoteThat was a test of how accurate the ammo in YOUR RIFLE.

It may or may not apply to anyone elses rifle.

Different guns like different ammo.

.............................................

As soon as I can get hold of those 3 brands I will do a test in my M1A to add to the thread also.Seems the American Eagle shot low also compared.Adding this thread to my favorites until I can get back to it thanks.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

My M1A will do about 1 to 1.2 MOA with Hornady 168 gr Match and about 2 to 2.5 MOA pretty consistently with S&B 147 gr FMJ. I have 200 rounds of WWB 147 gr FMJ but I haven't shot any of it yet as I a have an ARMS mount I want to get on it, hopefully with a 4.5-14x40 Nikon to hold it over until after hunting season when I can get something like a Leupold MR/T or a 1.5-8 IOR on it. I hope the Winchester does a little better in my rifle.

 

[LoneStarWings]

I did shoot a few dozen rounds of S&B a few months back and remember good things, but I didn't save the targets. I suppose the best FMJ I've sot to date though is the Federal XM762D, but it's hard to find right now. I wish I would've bought a few more cases of it when I could've.

Tests like these are how I occupy myself until I can find some primers