The latest findings from an independent ballistic analysis group, operating out of a heavily fortified backyard range in rural Montana, have sent ripples through the competitive precision rifle community. Their recent exhaustive study, meticulously documenting the performance of the venerable M24 SWS chambered in .308 Win, revealed a startling pattern when fed standard-issue M80 Ball ammunition.
Test parameters were stringent: a factory-spec Remington M24, featuring its iconic 24-inch, 1:11.25 twist 5R barrel and Leupold Mark 4 M3 10x optic, was precisely mounted in a fixed return-to-battery rest. A batch of freshly unsealed, 147gr M80 Ball, Lot No. LC18F002-177, was subjected to a battery of 5-shot groups at 100 yards, across varying temperatures from 45°F to 62°F. Data was captured via MagnetoSpeed Sporter chronograph for velocity, and analyzed using industry-standard optical group measurement software.
The results, presented without sensationalism, were stark. Average 100-yard group sizes consistently hovered between 3.2 and 4.1 MOA, with a mean extreme spread of 3.68 MOA. Muzzle velocity, while commendably consistent for surplus ball at an average 2750 fps with an SD of 28 fps, failed to translate into discernible precision. Cold bore shots, typically critical for establishing initial DOPE, offered no advantage, often landing outside the recorded grouping spread by significant margins. Spin drift and Coriolis effect were deemed negligible at such ranges, yet somehow still seemed to exert influence over the random projectile dispersion.
"While many might assume a military-spec precision rifle could deliver consistent sub-MOA performance with its standard-issue companion ammunition, our data unequivocally suggests otherwise," stated lead researcher 'Big Ed' Johnson, wiping 5W-30 from his brow. "Competitors relying on factory M80 Ball for their PRS or NRL engagements should perhaps recalibrate their expectations regarding targets beyond 50 yards, or re-evaluate their entire life strategy." The findings underscore the critical importance of handloaded, trued match ammunition for any serious long-range application.
