Wednesday - March 05, 2014

New And Improved. Mostly

Busy day for me. I have to go do another bathroom repair, then I’ll be spending the rest of the day helping out an old friend who is temporarily house bound. Errr, not what I wanted to do today (must clean garage by Friday for the new door installation!), but what can you do? At least I’ll get some lunch and some free bowling out of it. Update: 10:40pm I just walked in the door. Nearly 9 hours for this errand, 225 miles driven, mostly at about 40mph. Oy yoy yoy. Never again!!

Here’s something I find interesting ... an old manufacturer brings out a new product which is a better made version of an existing product which itself is one of the improved versions of an old and nearly universal product with a number of known shortcomings. This latest version seems to be better and cheaper than other aftermarket versions, but is it really up to snuff with the official government issued, “you can’t get this at home” version? Time will tell.

Not what I’d call a name chosen to endear the product with the hoplophobic public, but what the heck.

Israel Military Industries Ltd. (IMI) recently announced a new 5.56 NATO load called the Razor Core.  The load is designed to improve stopping power, accuracy and range when compared to standard NATO ball ammo.
...
...  the bullet is a 77 grain Sierra HPBT MatchKing.  Some are suggesting the Razor Core is a less expensive duplication of the MK 262 load from Black Hills.

For those in the know, a 70+ grain bullet in a 5.56 NATO ( aka .223 Remington, plus some freebore in the throat ) requires one of the newer, super fast twist barrels (1:7 - 1:8) to properly stabilize it. Given that, the longer, heavier 77gr bullet has a much better BC (.372) and SD (.219) which gives you far better long range performance. Accuracy is vastly increased compared to standard issue BALL ammo, with a dispersion barely 1/5 as much at 300 meters. No surprise there: this is the Sierra Matchking bullet with a cannelure added.

For those really in the know, Black Hills makes the MK262 Mod 1 ammo, which is a bit below full military spec, being around 100fps slower. But at much lower pressures, so I hear.

The point is, this is as close to genuine military sniper ammo as us regular folks can buy. And you can actually buy this one, $390 for 500 rounds.

[advertising blurb, emphasis theirs:] This is the EXACT new MK262 clone ammunition made to the DEMANDING specs for the IDF (Israel Defense Force). This ammunition is NOT seconds or surplus, IT IS THE REAL DEAL and it came off the exact line that produces the IDF ammunition. IMI has just introduced this fully checked, COMBAT tested round under the IMI “RAZOR CORE” brand name.

It features the world famous IMI brass case. This case is made to exacting IMI milspec and is checked for all dimensions before proceeding to the loading area. This brass has a case wall concentricity second to none which helps insure accuracy. The web is thick and the case is designed to be reloaded many times over.
...
It features the SIERRA 77gr HPBT MatchKing bullet with cannelure. BUT, the bullet is special loaded in the case with waterproof sealant like NOTHING ELSE on the market ANYWHERE. In addition to the tar seal, the final application of a clear sealant made by Loctite is applied to the OUTSIDE of the case mouth to insure a COMPLETE waterproof seal. This ammo is the very best you can buy.

The Black Hills product gives a muzzle velocity of about 2650fps in shorter barrels. Actual military issue MK262 gives a muzzle velocity of about 2750fps, barrel length unknown (and it makes a big difference!). Either way, this new cartridge loading is what’s called “making a silk purse from a sow’s ear” and creates a round with significantly better long range terminal ballistics.

The downside, of course, is that such a long shanked bullet sits very deep in the case body in order to fit into the tiny 2.26” allowable length. Which means a lot less room for powder, which means lower velocity, which means a more arcing trajectory, which means shorter point blank range. Once again, the best solution would be to have a rifle that could handle 2.55” ammo, which would let the long bullet seat much further out. More powder space, more velocity, better everything. Oh heck, while we’re at it, let’s just dump the paltry 5.56 NATO and use an “Ackley” .22-250 parent case, which could easily push this “heavier” (original military 5.56 bullet weighed only 55gr) bullet another 1000fps faster, and turn it into a 700-800 meter monster. 

Posted by Drew458     on 03/05/2014 at 10:56 AM   
Filed Under: • Guns and Gun Control •  
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