Disparity in Listed Velocity of Factory Ammo

N

Notch Johnson

Member
I was looking at some 5.56 copper bullet reviews for my daughter to use on deer. In some of the reviews they tested some of the factory ammo at or near the listed velocity. Others were 250-300 fps below advertised. I'm fully aware that those are tested at the factory out of optimal barrel length, often 24". My question is have you all noticed certain companies that seem to pump up their numbers?

In the reviews I watched, the Barnes loads were at or near listed fps with a shorter barrel, while the Federal Fusions were nearly 300 fps below advertised. It had me looking at the some .204 factory loads. Specifically Hornady's Superformance 40gr listed at 3900 vs some HSM 40gr Bergers listed at 3581. I don't have a chronograph, but I'd be curious if the Hornadys are really going 300+ fps faster, if the two were shot together.
 
Many factors involved with that, some companies they simply use the highest velocity they get, or use a calculated projection. Different barrels will produce slower or faster speeds, altitude, humidity, barometric pressure and temperature plays a role. Sometimes its a combination of all those. The velocity listing on the box of ammo is a guide, when I used to check factory loads I've never found it to be accurate. Usually posted higher than reality.
Reload data is kind of close, but still listed higher than reality as a rule.
 
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Some .223/5.56 velocities are given from 16" barreled AR15 rifles. As an example, the .223 Federal Fusion 62 gr. is listed at 3000 fps. The Fusion MSR 62 gr. is listed at 2750 fps. The MSR (modern sporting rifle) load data is from the 16" barrel length popular and common in many AR15 rifles. Essentially, it's the same load, just with different barrel lengths, resulting in different listed velocities.
 
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GC said:
Some .223/5.56 velocities are given from 16" barrelled AR15 rifles. The Federal Fusion 62 gr. is listed at 3000 fps. The Fusion MSR 62 gr. is listed at 2750 fps. The MSR load data is from the very popluar 16" barrel length in many AR15 rifles. Essentially the same load, just different barrel lengths.
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That interesting for a company to advertise velocity based on that. This test shot both out of an 18.5" barrel. The Barnes was about at advertised, while the Fusion was way below. It just had me thinking that I've never really seen a "standard". You'd think they would all want to pad their numbers.

DoubleLungRage said:
From here to Texas the most recommended copper .223/5.56 load for deer is hands down the 55gr Barnes.
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Good to hear. I'm leaning toward that or the 62 grn Barnes.
 
I have killed deer and hogs with the 62 gr. TSX, 62 gr. Fusion, and 60 gr. Nosler Partition. All from the same 16" AR-15. They all work fine. I have settled on the 62 gr. Fusion MSR for my hunting and defensive needs. I have a good supply stocked up. This load is accurate and reliable in my rifles and does what I need it to do. My son uses the 75 gr. Hornady OTM with equally good results. He has a friend who has killed deer with the 55-gr. Remington softpoints. I have a friend with a young daughter, and she has killed some impressive bucks with the 60 gr. Partition. As usual, it seems that if you choose a decent bullet and, most importantly, place that bullet accurately where it needs to be, they all work well enough.
 
GC said:
I have killed deer and hogs with the 62 gr. TSX, 62 gr. Fusion, and 60 gr. Nosler Partition. All from the same 16" AR-15. They all work fine. I have settled on the 62 gr. Fusion MSR for my hunting and defensive needs. I have a good supply stocked up. This load is accurate and reliable in my rifles and does what I need it to do. My son uses the 75 gr. Hornady OTM with equally good results. He has a friend who has killed deer with the 55-gr. Remington softpoints. I have a friend with a young daughter, and she has killed some impressive bucks with the 60 gr. Partition. As usual, it seems that if you choose a decent bullet and, most importantly, place that bullet accurately where it needs to be, they all work well enough.
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Yup. I've killed a lot of deer and hogs with the Hornady American Whitetail loaded with the 60gr interlock. I shot a nice 10pt square in the chest and the bullet traveled 1/2 of its body, destroying everything.
 
Some ammo makers use a minimum spec chamber/barrel, while others use an off-the-shelf Remchester.

As has been stated, any variable impacts the resulting velocity.
 
For a while I tried to get my 30TC hand loads up to velocity on the same bullet in factory Hornady rd. I could get close to my chronograph readings for factory rds but no where near the BOX numbers. I do know Hornady uses a lot of blended powders. Do the elk know the difference or care, no. Are my hand loads more accurate than factory rds, yes. Last year I tried a new bullet/powder combo that was slightly slower than my attempted factory load copy, I'm sticking with it because it was putting 3 in the same hole at 100 and 3 at 300 yd slightly over 1". Have a cow/calf tag for this fall.
 
I inherited my Dad's much used, 1966, Model 70 in 30-06, and I need about 2grs. more powder than 'book' in order to achieve standard 30-06 velocities.

Using published loads, the speeds were like a 308Win.

My 1963 Sako L461, in 222RemMag, gives a bit better velocity than book, with book loads, so I back off a bit with that rifle.
 
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