Any info ?... 5.56 NATO 64GR Federal Tactical Bonded Soft Point (XF556T64X)

[Unobtanium]

In my experience, soft point rifle ammo isn’t really conducive to tiny groups anyway.

I've managed <1.5moa 10 shot groups with this round from chrome lined LW barrel, so it's not terrible either, really.

[steve]

I've managed <1.5moa 10 shot groups with this round from chrome lined LW barrel, so it's not terrible either, really.

Post # 35, thank you.

[Suvorov]

I ordered a case of the white box. I'll report my accuracy/reliability finding.

At $0.60/round delivered I figure that as long as it is reliable and reasonably accurate it will be at least as good as the non-bonded Ranger soft points it will be replacing.

[cb22]

I'm waiting on two cases from TSUSA.
Looking forward to hearing others experience and opinions about this ammunition. Thanks to everyone that has posted so far.

[fatdog]

2" circle target at 50 yards, Caracal CAR816A2 piston16" and a Comp M4 scope, magazine rested on the bench, this is about as well as I do with other 64 or 62gr soft points. Flyers are totally on me. I am sure somebody with a magnified scope and better eyes, rest, etc. could tighten these up.

Fired 60 rounds today with no problems. Loading the magazines I think I spotted one thing that may have contributed to this lot being rejected. Many of the soft points appeared to have "leaked" at the point of the bullet for lack of a better term with overflow on the outside of the bullet case. They were not perfectly uniform in appearance in that aspect.

Nothing that concerns me for duty out here on the farm where the longest shot is 200 yards. Left the 50 yard range and went to our 200 yard range and rang the plates, 100% on the 6" plate, we did not have the 4" or 2" hanging today.

Anyway, a data point, I look forward to hearing the results of others.

[Unobtanium]

Further testing is showing that this stuff likes impacts north of 2000fps (Ideally well north of it) or it acts like an FMJ round. This makes it a <150 yard and in round from an 11.5 in my book.

[titsonritz]

Pic shows "TRAINING ONLY" printed on the bottom/front of the box.


-Rainman

Federal 5.56mm (5.56×45) ammo with the 64gr Tactical Bonded SP soft point bullet (FBI spec). due to cancelled foreign contract it is marked Training Only on box.

https://www.jgsales.com/product/5-56mm-federal-xf556t64x-64gr-tactical-bonded-ammo-20rd-box/

[Suvorov]

Fired 60 rounds today with no problems. Loading the magazines I think I spotted one thing that may have contributed to this lot being rejected. Many of the soft points appeared to have "leaked" at the point of the bullet for lack of a better term with overflow on the outside of the bullet case. They were not perfectly uniform in appearance in that aspect.

I noticed the same.

Have yet to shoot.

[Suvorov]

Loading the magazines I think I spotted one thing that may have contributed to this lot being rejected. Many of the soft points appeared to have "leaked" at the point of the bullet for lack of a better term with overflow on the outside of the bullet case. They were not perfectly uniform in appearance in that aspect.

Federal 5.56mm (5.56×45) ammo with the 64gr Tactical Bonded SP soft point bullet (FBI spec). due to cancelled foreign contract it is marked Training Only on box.

https://www.jgsales.com/product/5-56...ammo-20rd-box/

Which begs the question - why was the contract cancelled? Was it due to the leaked lead on the bullets?

I opened one box and found approximately 25% of the rounds with lead on the side of the bullet beneath the exposed tip. Upon examination I was able to scratch this lead off with my fingernail and found that the jacket was open where the lead leaked out.

This is from the "White Box" ammunition.





I also found 2 rounds that had deep grooves or cuts in the jacked below the tip but that did not exhibit any leakage.



While this does look odd to me, I don't know if that is really abnormal for these bullets? My Ranger Non-Bonded 64gr SPs do not exhibit this issue however.

My plan is separate the rounds that exhibit leakage and see if there is any difference in accuracy compared to the rounds that don't.

What would be people assumptions on how this abnormality would affect the terminal performance of the bullets?

[Paul D]

What would be people assumptions on how this abnormality would effect the terminal performance of the bullets?

I suspect that the bonding with the jacket and the lead core may have been compromised. I would think this makes it not meet promised specifications of the contract. It would make sense why they would mark it as training only.

This is why I just use the Speer 62 gr. GoldDot in 223. I know I am giving up 100 fps out of a 16 inch barrel compared to the 5.56 but at least I know it is using the same bullet as the Federal 5.56 and is a whole lot cheaper and available.