ATTENTION:  Effective Sept 1, 2020, the BBTI Project is in "Archive Status."  No further tests will be conducted, but we will maintain this site and data for the use of the firearms community.  Thank you.

.223 Rifle Results in fps

Click here for a Muzzle Energy graph for the tests in this caliber.

barrel length Remington
UMC
45 gr.
JHP
Remington
UMC
50 gr.
JHP
Remington
UMC
55 gr.
MC
18" 3354 3179 2983
16" 3257 3076 2943
14" 3099 2901 2878
12" 2943 2964 2724
10" 2776 2682 2616
8" 2536 2478 2380
6" 2189 2153 2041
5" 1939 1921 1861
4" 1709 1674 1564
3" 1277 1276 1147

 

real
world
weapons
Remington
UMC
45 gr.
JHP
Remington
UMC
50 gr.
JHP
Remington
UMC
55 gr.
MC
Hornady
55 gr.
SP
RRA LAR-15
16" barrel
3185 3093 2961 2886
Prof'l
Ordnance
Carbon 15
7" barrel
2407 2321 2190 2199
Bond Arms
3" barrel
1197 1162 1114 1047

Other Resources

BBTI is not the end-all of ballistics testing, just one more component available for the common good.  In addition to extensive discussion about ballistics to be found at many gun forums, here are some other great resources pertaining to ballistics testing you should check out.  (And if you would like to recommend a site to list here, please send an email.)
  • BrassFetcher:  excellent resource, with an emphasis on bullet performance in ballistic gelatin
  • The Box O' Truth:  testing ammo penetration through various barriers
  • Terminal Ballistics Research:  Specializes in the research of cartridge & projectile performance, using hard data gathered from 20 years of hunting game.

Acknowledgements

We'd like to personally and specifically thank Pat Childs at Fin & Feather in Iowa City, as he not only helped get most of our ammunition and other supplies, he was the brilliant gunsmith who worked with us to make this insane project much more practical.  Without his help all of this would have been much more difficult and perhaps impossible.  Anyone who uses our data owes him a debt of gratitude.

And thanks to our spouses, who were not just tolerant but enthusiastically supportive of this rather nutty project.

Disclaimer

This project, and all of its results, is only our fault.  We (well, Jim K, mostly) paid for everything ourselves, and we did not receive any kind of sponsorship or remuneration from anyone.  We did all the work.  We used products we were either familiar with, or because they were what was available, and mentioning them by name does not constitute an endorsement of any kind.  Furthermore, the data is provided purely for entertainment purposes - to better facilitate arguments over what ammo or caliber or gun is "best."  How you use the data is entirely up to you.  And if you think you could do better, feel free to spend the money and do the work and publish your own results.  Or not.  Your choice.