Noveske 16" Stainless Barrel Ammo Testing

[@SwampSyndicate]

I've had good results with ADI 69GR SMK and priced reasonably

[@willa1975]

My experience was similar. I also settled on S&B 77-grain as my “bulk” ammo for range days when I just want to relax and shoot prone or from the bench. The last time I bought a large quantity of ammo was a few months ago when the price of 55-grain 5.56 shot up for some reason, so I didn’t need to pay that much of a premium for a case of the S&B. I bought some 69- and 77-grain FGMM .223 last month just to get an idea of what my barrel was capable. Interestingly, it didn’t care that much for the 69-grain, but I was able to get 3/4-inch groups with the 77-grain and my marksmanship skills are average at best. The S&B is very good, but FGMM is just better. I’ve still got some IMI 77-grain sitting around and need to try that out again. I also messed around with some AAC 77-grain last summer hoping that it would be “just as good” and it just wasn’t.

[@SapperGentleman]

Good data. 🤙🏽 There are two flavors AAC 77gr, do you recall which one you ordered? 🤔

[@willa1975]

@@SapperGentleman I ordered all 3, the standard with their in-house projectile, several boxes of the SMK, and a couple of boxes of the TMK. Several rounds of the standard stuff failed the roll test. I did a comparison between the AAC 77-grain, S&B 77-grain and IMI 77-grain, all out of an 11.5” barrel with a 1:7 twist. The SMK definitely performed better than their in-house projectile. I didn’t notice a difference between the SMK and the TMK. The S&B outperformed both easily, and the IMI was the best of them all. I would love to find a bargain out there, but so far I have only noticed an inverse relationship between the size of the group and the cost per round.

[@SapperGentleman]

@willa1975 I didn't even catch their in-house round... probably out of stock. Glad I didn't waste any money on that one. 😆

[@SapperGentleman]

Also, I can live with slightly less performance out the S&B for the cost savings and other reasons.

[@willa1975]

@@SapperGentleman it’s definitely good enough for me

[@KrKr_FL]

Important info. Thanks. Have you tried AAC 77gr?

[@willa1975]

I have. My rifle didn’t like it. Groups were just marginally better than what I get with 55-grain ball.

[@SapperGentleman]

I just ordered 3 boxes of their 77 SMK, and 3 boxes of their 75gn with the Hornady BTHP. We shall see.

[@BreakChannelZero]

I need to do this to figure out what my rifle likes the best. Probably should buy some proper zeroing targets to start with. >_>

[@SapperGentleman]

Zeroing targets are helpful, especially if you don't have a detailed reticle.

[@Ibcanator]

I remember hearing the founders were french even though the production is Czech. Due to the founders naming it it would be Sel-yay and Bell-o. At least that's how I say it hahaha

[@SapperGentleman]

That's what I was assuming 🤙🏽

[@parsecboy4954]

I’d pronounce it “S&B” 😂

[@SapperGentleman]

Right? 😆

[@rustyshackleford4299]

Ess & Bee, esé.