Going to cross post from this thread: Anyone shooting the 147 ELD-M
I recently put a shorter barrel on my rifle and here are the findings of my search for the best factory ammo for this setup.
AI AT 6.5CM with Accurate Ordnance 18" barrel w/ suppressor, and factory loaded ammunition: Range conditions were 75*F, and roughly 6500 feet ASL.
For me, the 147gr is the slowest of the bunch, but the high BC really makes up for it at long range. At 1000 yards the 147gr has 0.1 less drop and 0.1 less drift (wind 10mph @ 90 deg) than the 140gr ELD. At 500 yards the drop and drift between 140gr & 147gr are identical. Prime 130gr OTM has almost 1.4 mils less drop at 1000 yards than the 147gr ELD-M, but the 147gr ELD-M still beats it with 0.1 mil less wind drift.
Using the Strelok Pro app I ran some numbers to get an indication of which one will stay above the transonic range the longest. Once again the 147gr ELD-M, while slowest, is still the winner. With the 1350fps threshold as my limiter:
Prime 130gr OTM: 1290 yards
Hornady 140gr ELD-M: 1270 yards
Hornady 147gr ELD-M: 1350 yards
The Prime ammo at nearly 2800fps sounds like the winner in terms of danger space, and increased room for ranging error, but in actuallity it gains me very little. Shooting at a 0.4 mil target at 1000 yards (14.4" target), I should theoretically be able to "miss" high or low by 0.2 mils - the 140gr ELD-M has a +-0.2 mil danger space of 25 yards, both the 130gr OTM & 147gr ELD-M have an identical +-0.2 mil danger space of 30 yards.
Ideally, I would be pushing the 147gr ELD-M at like 2900fps, but for a tactical/hunting style rifle I can't afford to have 28" barrel, and 9" suppressor hanging off that, so the 18" barrel is a decent compromise of length/weight/velocity.
I recently put a shorter barrel on my rifle and here are the findings of my search for the best factory ammo for this setup.
AI AT 6.5CM with Accurate Ordnance 18" barrel w/ suppressor, and factory loaded ammunition: Range conditions were 75*F, and roughly 6500 feet ASL.
- Hornady 120gr AMAX: Average velocity at muzzle = 2748fps
- Hornady 140gr ELD-M: Average velocity at muzzle = 2530fps
- Hornady 147gr ELD-M: Average velocity at muzzle = 2510fps
- Hornady American Gunner 140gr BTHP: Average velocity at muzzle = 2568fps
- Prime 130gr OTM: Average velocity at muzzle = 2798fps
For me, the 147gr is the slowest of the bunch, but the high BC really makes up for it at long range. At 1000 yards the 147gr has 0.1 less drop and 0.1 less drift (wind 10mph @ 90 deg) than the 140gr ELD. At 500 yards the drop and drift between 140gr & 147gr are identical. Prime 130gr OTM has almost 1.4 mils less drop at 1000 yards than the 147gr ELD-M, but the 147gr ELD-M still beats it with 0.1 mil less wind drift.
Using the Strelok Pro app I ran some numbers to get an indication of which one will stay above the transonic range the longest. Once again the 147gr ELD-M, while slowest, is still the winner. With the 1350fps threshold as my limiter:
Prime 130gr OTM: 1290 yards
Hornady 140gr ELD-M: 1270 yards
Hornady 147gr ELD-M: 1350 yards
The Prime ammo at nearly 2800fps sounds like the winner in terms of danger space, and increased room for ranging error, but in actuallity it gains me very little. Shooting at a 0.4 mil target at 1000 yards (14.4" target), I should theoretically be able to "miss" high or low by 0.2 mils - the 140gr ELD-M has a +-0.2 mil danger space of 25 yards, both the 130gr OTM & 147gr ELD-M have an identical +-0.2 mil danger space of 30 yards.
Ideally, I would be pushing the 147gr ELD-M at like 2900fps, but for a tactical/hunting style rifle I can't afford to have 28" barrel, and 9" suppressor hanging off that, so the 18" barrel is a decent compromise of length/weight/velocity.
