Are all 77 gr OTM created equal? Or close?

[sigstroker]

Obviously I'm talking AR, not some bench rifle. I have a small stash of Mk262, but I would have to be both wealthy and daft to shoot that stuff all the time. At best, I'm only one of those things.

One good alternative is the AAC ammo, when they have it in stock. But they have an even cheaper 77 gr OTM alternative than the SMK bullet the Mk262 uses. They don't say what brand it is, but my guess is Hornady. I'd like to use this cheaper stuff for practice. I don't care about gnat's @ss accuracy, I'm just looking for a similar point of impact.

Anyone know how this non-SMK stuff shoots in comparison to the SMK? The AAC SMK stuff is fantastic according to reports.

[NapalmCheese]

Hornady doesn't make a 77, they make 75s.

There's no guarantee they'll have the same POI. Different powder, charge weight, velocity, and bullets can affect POI.

That said, similar bullets at similar velocities should have relatively similar POI. Looking at my load dev targets the center of all of my groups using different charge weights, different 73-77 grain bullets, and different brass were probably all within an inch (or a little more) of each other.

[sigstroker]

Hornady doesn't make a 77, they make 75s.

There's no guarantee they'll have the same POI. Different powder, charge weight, velocity, and bullets can affect POI.

That said, similar bullets at similar velocities should have relatively similar POI. Looking at my load dev targets the center of all of my groups using different charge weights, different 73-77 grain bullets, and different brass were probably all within an inch (or a little more) of each other.

Oh, okay, I guessed Hornady because they are cheaper than Sierra. AAC sells a 77 gr load using the SMK, and then they also have a cheaper 77 gr OTM load. I would guess both loads have the same powder and powder weight.

I can always just buy a box of both, but that presumes my shooting is consistent enough to tell the difference. That's a bad presumption, so I was hoping someone would know the answer.

[NapalmCheese]

Oh, okay, I guessed Hornady because they are cheaper than Sierra. AAC sells a 77 gr load using the SMK, and then they also have a cheaper 77 gr OTM load. I would guess both loads have the same powder and powder weight.

I can always just buy a box of both, but that presumes my shooting is consistent enough to tell the difference. That's a bad presumption, so I was hoping someone would know the answer.

There's quite a few people making 77s. To be fair I certainly have not shot them all. I personally shoot Hornady 75 BTHP because they're cheap and good enough for me. That said, looking at my best groups I'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between the 77 SMK and the Hornady 75 BTHP loaded over 23.8-24.2 grains of Varget. My best groups however were with the 53 V-Max over BL(C)-2.

[sigstroker]

As I said, I'm not that interested in group size (lol, if you knew my shooting) but the point of impact difference. I want to use my premium stuff if I really have to. But I want to practice with the cheaper stuff. What really matters to me is the point of impact difference. It does me no good to practice with something that impacts at point A if the stuff I need to use when it counts will impact at point B, and A and B are several inches apart.

[NapalmCheese]

For me anyway, the POI difference was about an inch or so at 100 yards.

If it were me taking offhand shots at 100 or run and gun stuff I wouldn't hesitate to use whatever was cheap. Past about 200 yards I'd stick with my preferred load rather than switch.

[FNGGlock]

Federal Gold has SMK and centerstrike, AAC has a Precision option, not sure who makes the bullets.

POI shifts will be barrel dependent, but not in my case both 18” 1:7 and 16” 1:8 seems to shift less than 1.5” between 77gr and even 75gr Hornady ammo at 100yds.

There is a guy on Youtube that does a lot of ammo testing with some good info - Buffman Range or something like that.

[sigstroker]

Federal Gold has SMK and centerstrike, AAC has a Precision option, not sure who makes the bullets.

POI shifts will be barrel dependent, but not in my case both 18? 1:7 and 16? 1:8 seems to shift less than 1.5? between 77gr and even 75gr Hornady ammo at 100yds.

There is a guy on Youtube that does a lot of ammo testing with some good info - Buffman Range or something like that.

Thanks.

AAC has an SMK option too. Says so right on the box.

[sigstroker]

For me anyway, the POI difference was about an inch or so at 100 yards.

If it were me taking offhand shots at 100 or run and gun stuff I wouldn't hesitate to use whatever was cheap. Past about 200 yards I'd stick with my preferred load rather than switch.

Thanks also.

[FNGGlock]

Thanks.

AAC has an SMK option too. Says so right on the box.

Yep, 2 77gr options like Federal, and they also have the Hornady 75gr bullet option.

[xblax619]

Thanks.

AAC has an SMK option too. Says so right on the box.

ya i just picked up a couple hundred rounds of this from psa. haven?t gotten around to shooting it yet though.

[bfoosh006]

Hornady doesn't make a 77, they make 75s.

There's no guarantee they'll have the same POI. Different powder, charge weight, velocity, and bullets can affect POI.

That said, similar bullets at similar velocities should have relatively similar POI. Looking at my load dev targets the center of all of my groups using different charge weights, different 73-77 grain bullets, and different brass were probably all within an inch (or a little more) of each other.

FWIW... BHA ( Black Hills Ammo ) uses a, made for them Hornady 77gr OTM ( not 75gr ) In the D556N9 load.

The D556N9 load still has to meet the same accuracy requirements of the Mk262.

They have used the Horn. 77gr in that specific load since about Mar.2023

The Mk262 Mod1-c still uses the Sierra 77gr MK.

Phone Black Hills Ammo if you don't believe it. ( Just sayin' )

[FNGGlock]

So far I took the BH D556N9 only once and have been very impressed with it in terms of accuracy. I have not tested the velocity yet, but Im pretty sure it is right up there with the best.
Very pricey though.