Match ammo needed?

[Toney198]

I will be attending a long range class in a couple months. I currently shoot American Gunner and can easily hold 3/4 MOA at 100. Out the 500 (that’s as far as I’ve tested). The class calls for match ammo. Will I notice any real difference with the Hornady American Gunner then the ELD? Don’t want to spend the money if it’s not that beneficial. The class has targets out to 1200.

Thanks

 

[cattleman99]

Buy a box and try it out. If it shoots better then it wouldn’t hurt to run it. You’ll want better ammo especially out to 1200 yards. Enjoy the class

 

[lash]

Are you saying that you can hold 3/4 moa at 500 yards? Not sure since your sentence may have been auto-corrected. If so, then use that in the class and you should be fine. I will assume that you do not know what speeds and or ES/SD that you are getting with the American Gunner. Correct me if I'm wrong. But, like cattleman99 just said above, it can';t hurt to try out a box of the Hornady match. If it shoots better, you will be well served to use that for the class. At 1200 yards, minor variations in velocity can make the difference between hits and misses.

It also wouldn't hurt to contact whomever is giving the class and see what they have to say.

 

[Lowlight]

I recommend Match Ammo, and saying you can hold 3/4 at 500 is not necessarily a fact. Often times we see people cherry pick their best group and overlay that to the entire process.

Match ammo eliminates a variable and one we can measure and count on. Granted there are times certain rifles dislike one brand or load over another and that may mean plinking ammo works, I see it with the American Eagle Valkyrie ammo, the cheap 75gr ammo shoots great from my rifle.

But there are minimums, saving the little bit of money on ammo should not be a consideration unless it truly shoots better than the match grade stuff on the shelf.

 

[Toney198]

Thank you all. By out to 500 we have a 5inx5in swinger that I can hit at will at 500, So I have no true data to confirm 3/4 at 500 but I feel confident “tikka tac a1” atlas bipod in prone. I can buy a box of match, but I’m fine with groups at 500, but I don’t know if match makes a different at distance as I have no experience. I want the most from the school, so I’m willing to pony up the match if it’s woth it.

Semper Fi

 

[lash]

I will backtrack. When looking at this from the perspective of an instructor, taking one thing out of the variables equation helps keep focus on the student and not the ammo. That is why most LR courses often require known consistent ammo vs. the unknown of a student's reloads or unproven non-match grade ammo.

 

[stello1001]

Again, just buy one box and try it.

 

[308pirate]

I’m fine with groups at 500, but I don’t know if match makes a different at distance as I have no experience.

It's a quantum leap in difficulty going from 500 to 1200 yards. Do you want to save $100 to later regret it?

I would not.

 

[Snuby642]

I would "note" current settings, and bring that ammo as a known back up.
Go ahead and get the recomended rounds and dial in, note the new setting from last zero
Before resetting zero stop.

The instructors may have good reason unknown to you, at this time.
If it does not work out change back, don't tell them anything!

Don't mess up a good course just because you are right , instructors hate that.

 

[Apnea]

I don't remember if American Gunner tells you what bullet is loaded, so if you're guessing could hinder ballistic calculations once you start reaching past 500 and make things harder in a class.

 

[Nik H]

Compare the difference in the cost of the ammo against the cost of the class, travel, lodging....no brainer

 

[ShtrRdy]

OP -- how far from your aiming point do your hits usually end up?

 

[TomH Tx]

I have certainly wondered whether or to what extent any seeming "wandering" of hits on a 12" splatter target at 625 - 725 yards was due to variations in store-bought ammo. Cause if not it would mean that its me - haha.

 

[Snuby642]

So I looked up 6.5 creed and the difference between loads is an extra .117 g1
At the longer ranges you will likely see a difference.
A 20 percent increase in bc.

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/#!/

 

[strikeeagle1]

You will benefit from knowing the muzzle velocity of your ammunition and perhaps more importantly the variation in muzzle velocity shot-to-shot.

 

[Toney198]

Well I am going to that range this next Wednesday. I will dope it out and see if the American Gunner can hack it. If not that will give me plenty of time to order a few cases of match.
Thank you for all the good info!