Range Report Southwest Ammunition 5.56 77gr SMK report

[ker2222]

I promised pics and a report once I got to fire some of Southwest's 5.56 77gr SMK loadings...so here it is:

Short story: Awesome Ammo for me

<span style="text-decoration: underline">Disclaimer</span>
I am a recreational shooter, casual competitor and hunter.....and a crappy shooter! Most of my shooting is either at prairie dogs or paper. I have no military or LEO experience nor any training beyond what I can pick up from more experienced guys around me and especially here. I am especially crappy with gas guns......if you check my sig line....it speaks the truth---I am the weakest link in my shooting platform and, as such, this report is in NO WAY intended to indicate anything about the accuracy potential of the ammo or weapon system.

<span style="text-decoration: underline">Control Group/Disclaimer Continued</span>
Black Hills 60gr V-Max ammo has been the most accurate factory loading for me out of my AR's so I shot a 5 round group of that to sort of show where my proficiency is (or isn't). This is pretty typical of a GOOD grouping for me with the AR platform. I have a little bit of a last round issue. Not sure if I am chasing the group, forcing the shot or if there is an issue with how the last round feeds. But it is a pretty decent baseline for me.

<span style="text-decoration: underline">Weapon System</span>
Larue Stealth 18' upper---about 250 rounds through it
LMT Defender Lower with Giesselle SSA trigger
Sopmod stock
Leupold MK 4 1.5-5 SPR scope in a larue mount

Prone, bipod support up front, rear bag for rear support

<span style="text-decoration: underline">Conditions</span>
100 yard range
Temp right at 30 degrees, very slight intermittent wind from 9:00 at about 2 mph
humidity reads 80%
Altitude about 750 feet---closest station is St Paul Minnesota
Full bright sun. So bright in fact it hurt eyes at times off the snow through the scope

<span style="text-decoration: underline">Velocity</span>
to be updated when I get a working chrono!!! Pretty sure mine is kaput


<span style="text-decoration: underline">General Performance</span>
I fired 50 rounds. Some for groups and some at steel. There were no stoppages of any kind nor any noticeable variations in sound or recoil from round to round. The 77 gr SMK hits steel at 100 yards with some authority as well. I wanted to shoot more groups, but got caught up in hitting the steel and ran out of ammo

<span style="text-decoration: underline">Accuracy Report</span>
First see disclaimer above

Here are 2 5 round groups and 1 9 round group. As you can see, my last round issue was well on display. If only using 4 rounds each, the 2 groups would have measured between .5-.67 inches center to center. Of course, the last round opened up each group significantly. The 9 shot group was just below MOA. Overall, I was very impressed and happy with this level of accuracy. It is on par with the best factory loadings I have shot out of any AR at this point and I fully expect that I can shrink the groups with some more practice.

Southwest was absolutely a pleasure to deal with, shipped fast and is responsive on this board. I will absolutely be ordering some more of this ammo

All in all, this is some of the most accurate factory ammo I have put through an AR. Given the 5x scope and prone position off a bipod, I am thrilled with sub moa accuracy.

 

[gstaylorg]

Re: Southwest Ammunition 5.56 77gr SMK report

Very nice report! I've been looking forward to trying out some Southwest ammo...even more so after reading your report!

 

[DernHumpus]

Re: Southwest Ammunition 5.56 77gr SMK report

Nice shooting. I too have wondered how much I am handicapped if shooting groups at 100 at 4x. However, the last time I was out I was able to shoot better at 100 with a 1-4x than a fixed 10x on the same gun.