Long-standing questions within the precision shooting community concern the practical accuracy of military sniper rifles when fed standard full metal jacket (FMJ) ball ammunition, particularly outside of their designed match-grade loads. This scenario, relevant in dire situations demanding unconventional resupply, prompts critical inquiry into real-world ballistic performance. A recent reported test explored this very question, utilizing a used M24 Sniper Rifle equipped with a fixed 10X scope.
To establish a baseline, the M24's known precision capabilities with suitable ammunition were first noted. Reported 5-shot groups at 100 yards using factory Federal Gold Medal 175 Grain SMK ammunition consistently yielded "well under 1 MOA." Further refining the load, hand loads reportedly tightened groups to an impressive "0.5 MOA," underscoring the rifle's inherent mechanical accuracy potential.
The primary focus of the evaluation then shifted to M80 Winchester 147 grain full metal jacket ammunition. This cartridge is identified as a "standard US Military ball cartridge," commonly encountered in belt-fed weapon systems such as the M240G, highlighting its ubiquitous military role and the relevance of its performance in a precision rifle platform.
The core findings from firing ten rounds of M80 ammunition were significant. The M24 reportedly delivered 2.572 MOA at 100 yards. Accompanying this, an average muzzle velocity of 2,803 feet per second was recorded, with a standard deviation of 17.8. Notably, this measured velocity closely aligned with military specifications, differing by merely 3 feet per second. This notable degradation in accuracy, from sub-MOA with match loads to over 2.5 MOA with M80 ball, was a key takeaway from the reported test.
Further analysis included a reported ballistic trajectory comparison. The M80 147 FMJ's projected performance (at 2803 ft/s) was contrasted against typical 175 Grain SMK (2600 ft/s) and 168 Grain SMK (2756 ft/s) match loads. While the lighter M80 round reportedly exhibited less favorable performance in wind, its higher velocity contributed to a "similar" drop profile out to 1,000 yards, reportedly compensating for its reduced mass.
For precision shooters, the practical implications are clear. While 2.5 MOA accuracy with ball ammunition is a significant compromise for long-range engagements, the test's findings suggest it provides a functional, albeit limited, capability in an emergency—acknowledging it's "better than nothing." This reported outcome reinforces the distinct performance envelopes of specialized match ammunition versus standard military ball, offering valuable context for system capabilities.
