No Comments What is match grade ammo and is it worth the extra coast? We’re answering these questions by taking a look at what exactly match grade ammo is, then heading to the range to test some match grade ammo and target ammo.
Keep reading to see our results!
What is Match Grade Ammo?
The obvious answer is that match grade ammo is ammo specifically loaded for shooting competitions. That’s pretty vague though.
The truth is that there’s no universal standard for match grade ammo. However, there are some shared qualities of these loads. Manufacturers typically load match grade ammo to tighter tolerances with strict quality control. This results in more consistent charges and pressures between rounds – something that a competition shooter relies on. Because these rounds are more consistent, it allows shooters to obtain higher accuracy, but with that comes a higher cost of ammo.
Match Grade Ammo Testing
We decided to perform a small test on a few different calibers to compare match ammo to target ammo. For .22LR, 9mm, and 6.5 Creedmoor, we tested velocity and precision to get an idea if match grade ammo is really better.
.22LR Match Ammo Test
| Round | Grouping | Average Velocity (fps) | Extreme Spread (fps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eley Match 40gr. LFN | 1.819" | 1081.18 | 25.5 |
| Eley Benchrest 40gr. | 1.221" | 1087.88 | 36.9 |
| Eley Club 40gr. LRN | .931" | 1111.06 | 55.7 |
| CCI Mini-Mag 40gr. LRN | .753" | 1181.92 | 56.7 |
| Federal Automatch 40gr. LRN | .665" | 1151.34 | 71.9 |
We shot five rounds of each of the five .22LR cartridges out of a Custom Volquartsen Superlite rifle with an 18.25″ barrel from 25 yards.
All three of the Eley rounds tested are match grade, while the Federal Automatch is a bulk target round. The CCI Mini-Mag rounds aren’t technically considered match grade, but many shooters find them to be consistent and higher quality than other target .22LR rounds.
The cartridge with the smallest extreme velocity spread – meaning smallest difference between highest recorded velocity and lowest recorded velocity in a shot group – was the Eley Match. The highest spread was from the Federal Automatch, a target round.
As far as the group sizes for testing precision, The Federal Automatch target ammo surprisingly had the tightest group, while the Eley Match had the largest.
9mm Match Ammo Test
| Round | Grouping | Average Velocity (fps) | Extreme Spread (fps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Syntech 150gr. TSJ | 2.716" | 943.4 | 27.7 |
| Winchester 124gr. FMJ | 2.470" | 1235.42 | 56.4 |
| SuperVel 124gr. FMJ | 1.746" | 1065.32 | 75.9 |
| Federal Syntech Training 147gr. TSJ | 1.511" | 1046.82 | 10.8 |
| Federal Gold Medal Match 147gr. | 3.037" | 931.5 | 40.8 |
We tested five 9mm cartridges using a Tanfoglio Stock Master Xtreme with a 4.75″ barrel from 13 yards.
The Federal Syntech Action Pistol and Federal Gold Medal Match are the match grade rounds, while the others are target rounds.
The round with the smallest velocity spread was the Federal Syntech Training Match. Federal designed this to have the same velocity, trajectory, and point of impact as the Federal HST defense ammo, but for range training. The largest velocity spread came from the SuperVel 124gr. FMJ range ammo.
The tightest grouping was from the Federal Gold Medal Match. The largest grouping was from the Federal Syntech 150gr. TSJ match ammo.
6.5 Creedmoor Match Ammo Test
| Cartridge | Grouping | Average Velocity (fps) | Extreme Spread (fps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Gold Medal Match 140gr. OTM | .39" | 2667.2 | 30.8 |
| Federal Fusion Tipped 140gr. Polymer Tipped Bonded | .665" | 2702.7 | 56.4 |
| Remington Core-Lokt 140gr. PSPCL | 1.169" | 2616.8 | 21.6 |
For the 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, we only fired three shots for testing, but from a 75-yard distance. We used a Ruger Precision rifle with a 24″ barrel length.
The match grade round used is the Federal Gold Medal Match. The Federal Fusion and Remington Core-Lokt rounds are hunting loads.
The Federal Fusion Tipped hunting ammo had the largest velocity spread, while the Remington Core-Lokt surprisingly had the smallest spread. The actual match grade 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, the Federal Gold Medal Match had only a slightly larger velocity spread than the Remington Core-Lokt.
Eley .22LR Match Ammo
.22LR ammo has a reputation of being unreliable. This could be due to a number of reasons, including dirty bulk ammo or picky guns. However, there are a few ammo manufacturers that produce quality, match grade .22LR ammo, though it often comes with a higher price tag.
One of the top .22LR match ammo manufacturers is Eley, with lines like Eley Tenex, Eley Match, and Eley Club. In order for shooters to obtain extreme accuracy, Eley offers a batch testing service to find .22LR ammo that performs optimally in your gun.
You send your barrel into one of their four test ranges (one in the US, one in Canada, and two in Europe). From there, the company uses their test methodology to test your barrel with up to 20 batches of ammo. They are able to narrow down to the most accurate ammo and shooters are able to purchase from that particular batch.
Handloading vs. Match Grade Ammo
Competition shooters at the highest levels often load their own ammo for matches. This allows for the shooter to load ammo that is optimized for their competition gun. This is especially important for long range rifle competitions. Handloaders can select all the cartridge components that they prefer: casings, primers, powder, and bullets.
While handloading can be a great choice for competition and cost savings in the long run, it also has a large start-up cost. To handload, you’ll need potentially thousands of dollars in loading equipment.
Should You be Shooting Match Grade Ammo?
If you’re just getting into competition shooting, there’s a good chance you aren’t ready for match grade ammo just yet. For example, if you’re starting out in USPSA matches, you don’t automatically need to be shooting the highest quality ammo. As long as your ammo meets power factor for your division and runs reliably in your gun, you can gain some experience in the sport and upgrade your ammo later.
If you’re competing in matches that require extreme precision, such as long range rifle matches, you’ll probably want to start off with match grade ammo.
Whether you’re loading up with target or match ammo, know you can trust Target Barn with all of your ammo needs at great prices!
