Another Unscientific AAC Ammo Comparison

[vegashelipilot]

Our club precision matches are on a "summer break" here in Las Vegas, so I thought it would be a good time to test some of this Palmetto State AAC ammo against IMI 77 grain Razorcore. I've been using IMI exclusively for the past few years in gas-gun precision matches. Its been consistent and reliable, I've won matches with it, but its expensive - usually hovering around $1.00/round (right now its on sale for $0.83). Also, I'm not loving all of the case head swipe when shooting it suppressed, despite my attempts to tune it out. So here we go...

Ammos tested:
IMI 77 gr Razorcore HPBT Match ($0.83 / round)
AAC 75 gr BTHP Match w/ Cannelure ($0.60 / round)
AAC 77 gr OTM ($0.62 / round)

Rifle Specs:
16" Rainier Match barrel, 1/8 twist
Omega 300 suppressor

100 Yard 5-shot Groups, ranked in order:
1. AAC 75 grain BTHP Match - 0.547" (0.522 MOA)
2. AAC 77 grain OTM - 0.618" (0.590 MOA)
3. IMI 77 grain Razorcore - 0.730" (0.698 MOA)

Chrono performance:

1. AAC 77 grain OTM
Avg: 2593 fps
SD: 14.7
ES: 54.8

2. IMI 77 grain Razorcore
Avg: 2711 fps
SD: 16.7
ES: 58.1

3. AAC 75 grain BTHP Match
Avg: 2690
SD: 19.8
ES: 68.5

My Thoughts:

Along with the groups, I shot a couple boxes of each ammo at 1, 2 and 3 MOA plates at 551 yards to see how it performed at distance. Winds were generally calm. Despite the cheapest ammo (AAC 75 gr) grouping the best for me today, at distance it was not great, and I really struggled to make consistent impacts on even the 3 MOA plate. I will not be purchasing any more of the AAC 75 gr. But the AAC 77 gr OTM was a different story: I was ringing steel just as consistently as with the IMI Razorcore. It is quite a bit slower than the IMI, but no case head swipe on any of the brass.

The true test will be shooting a few matches with it, but long-story-short, I'm placing a larger order of the AAC 77 grain OTM today. At $0.62/round I really hope it continues to perform like it did for me today.

*Oh side note: the reason the chrono data on the IMI was only 13 rounds, my Garmin Xero didn't save my first session for some reason, and I only had 13 rounds left. But this was comparable to many previous sessions I had saved for the ammo.

 

[Tictacticaltimmy]

Interesting... With the 77OTM I had great results at 100M but big vertical dispersion at around 500M. I don't have a chrono but took this to mean it had a big velocity spread. Some other chrono testing I've seen shows a big velocity spread for this load. The 77SMK from AAC had much less vertical dispersion.

I wonder if they have managed to tighten up the velocity spread the newest batches? Or perhaps it just shifts from lot to lot....

By the way, what pistol grip is that?

 

[PBWalsh]

Interesting results, my IMI 77 SMK was slower than AAC 77 OTM and produced a higher ES/SD. Accuracy is around the same. Barrel is a Black River Tactical 16” CHF Optimum. My older results with the AAC 75 BTHP was not awesome, the 77SMK appears to be a more consistently performing bullet.

IMI 77 SMK has historically been a slower loading for me A 12.5” barrel I once had only did about 2450 with the IMI. I’ll be shooting the rest of my IMI 77 SMK at the shorter ranges for the next DMR match in July. AAC 77 OTM is the current match loading for me.

 

[NHR]

Interesting results, my IMI 77 SMK was slower than AAC 77 OTM and produced a higher ES/SD. Accuracy is around the same. Barrel is a Black River Tactical 16” CHF Optimum. My older results with the AAC 75 BTHP was not awesome, the 77SMK appears to be a more consistently performing bullet.

IMI 77 SMK has historically been a slower loading for me A 12.5” barrel I once had only did about 2450 with the IMI. I’ll be shooting the rest of my IMI 77 SMK at the shorter ranges for the next DMR match in July. AAC 77 OTM is the current match loading for me. View attachment 8438940

That seems really slow for the IMI. I only have older lots from 2019-2021 but my last chrono was 2764 AVG from a 16" AR and 2560 AVG from a 12.5" AR. Measured with magneto speed.

ETA: the 16" barrel is Sionics, 12.5" is BRT

 

[PBWalsh]

That seems really slow for the IMI. I only have older lots from 2019-2021 but my last chrono was 2764 AVG from a 16" AR and 2560 AVG from a 12.5" AR. Measured with magneto speed.

ETA: the 16" barrel is Sionics, 12.5" is BRT

Could've been a slow barrel. 12.5" midlength from Triarc. But IMI is still showing slower velocities in the current barrel.

 

[vegashelipilot]

Interesting... With the 77OTM I had great results at 100M but big vertical dispersion at around 500M. I don't have a chrono but took this to mean it had a big velocity spread. Some other chrono testing I've seen shows a big velocity spread for this load. The 77SMK from AAC had much less vertical dispersion.

I wonder if they have managed to tighten up the velocity spread the newest batches? Or perhaps it just shifts from lot to lot....

By the way, what pistol grip is that?

Grip is from Anarchy Outdoors.

 

[tucaz]

good data from all. thanks. i’ll throw mine down here too, from a garmin xero. 3000feet and 90 degrees

AAC 77gr OTM
16” LWRC IC 2558fps
16” FN with M4-2000 can, 2705fps

IMI 77gr
16” LWRC IC 2680fps

AAC 75gr saber black
11.5” caracal 816 2498fps

 

[Maggot]

Lets add some more mpm scoemtofoc data. 100 yds, shot thes today out of a Remington 700 with a PVA 26" Osprey. It was pretty gusty and I didnt really take as much time as I should have but he 4 groups are tpp to bottom, ACC 77gr OTM, Norma 77 grain BTHP. Black Hills 77gr BTHP, and Remington SMK 77 grain Match.

ACC was clearly the best today and the Remington not bad, everything under MOA but I need to do this again on a quiet day. Did manage to ring a 4" gong at 400 yds, so MOA at 400.