Test Rifle #1: 16” AAC upper with a Nikon P-300 2-7x, BDC ballistic crosshair
Test Rifle #2: 10.5” MAS upper with a NCStar 3-9x, thick crosshair
Load-1 << Winner!
Accurate AA5744 powder, 10.9gr
Sierra SMK 220gr
COL: 2.100”
Subsonic
@ 100 yards w/ 16” AAC upper = 1.28”
@ 50 yards w/ 16” AAC upper= 0.68”
@ 100 yards w/ 10.5” MAS upper= 1.27”
@ 50 yards w/ 10.5” MAS upper= 0.49”
Load-2
Accurate AA5744 powder, 10.7gr
Sierra SMK 220gr
COL: 2.100”
Subsonic
@ 100 yards w/ 16” AAC upper = 1.50”
@ 50 yards w/ 16” AAC upper= 0.72”
@ 100 yards w/ 10.5” MAS upper= 2.00”
@ 50 yards w/ 10.5” MAS upper= not tested
Load-3
IMR 4227 powder, 10.5gr
Sierra SMK 220gr
COL: 2.100”
Subsonic
@ 100 yards w/ 16” AAC upper = 1.42”
@ 50 yards w/ 16” AAC upper= 0.69”
@ 100 yards w/ 10.5” MAS upper= 1.50”
@ 50 yards w/ 10.5” MAS upper= not tested
Load-4
Accurate AA5744 powder, 17.8gr
Hornady 150gr FMJ-BT
COL: 2.140”
Supersonic
Load-5
Accurate AA5744 powder, 18.9gr
Nosler 125gr Ballistic Tip
COL: 2.165”
Supersonic
Load 4 and 5 were inconclusive. They are Hornady 150gr FMJ-BT, and Nosler 125gr Ballistic points. Both were supersonic loads. The scopes did not fare well for target shooting, and the groups could not be controlled. Of the loads, the best group was 2.00” @ 100 yards shot with the 125gr Nosler ballistic tips, fired from the 16" AAC upper. I felt that I could have done better if we had a better scopes with finer crosshairs. Neither one of these scopes were made for target shooting.
Ironically, the 10.5” MAS Defense barrels and upper I built actually performed better than the 16” Advanced Armament upper! The groups were tighter and the velocities were more consistent. With Load-1, the subsonic loads actually went supersonic on your 16” AAC. The velocities averaged 1,141fps. On the MAS 10.5”, it averaged 1,064fps. I’m confident this is because our load data was based on .223rem brass, and the majority of the brass we had were Lake City 5.56 (smaller internal volume = increased pressure and velocity).
This has been an interesting process. We decided to stick with Load-1 and production has begun. We will be mounting a better scope on the rifles and testing the supersonic loads again. I am REALLY hoping that the 125gr Ballistic tips do well. I like that bullet.
