Federal 62 Grain Fusion vs Federal 62 Grain Fusion MSR vs Speer LE 62 Grain Gold Dot
The muzzle velocities shown in the tables below were obtained back-to-back during the same chronograph session using recent lots of all three of the Fusion/Gold Dot loads chrongographed.
Atmospheric Conditions
Temperature: 73 degrees F (plus or minus one degree)
Barometric Pressure: 29.68 inches of Hg
Humidity: 62%
Altitude: 950 feet above sea level
Muzzle velocities from a 20” Colt M16A2 barrel with a NATO chamber, chrome lining and a 1:7” twist.
Muzzle velocities from a 14.5 Noveske N4 light barrel with a NATO chamber, chrome lining and a 1:7’ twist.
10-shot groups fired from one of my precision AR-15s with a Lothar-Walther barrel with a 223 Wylde chamber and a 1:8” twist. The groups were fired from the bench at a distance of 100 yards with the same sight settings on the scope for each of the three groups.
Excellent and useful, Molon. I’d wondered for a while about the real world differences in velocities on these three rounds. Would be nice to see some properly conducted gelatin tests on all three also.
Don’t take those velocitiy differences as carved in stone either. Right from the start, the issue with the LE 64 grain Gold Dot was that velocities varied appreciably from lot to lot. I even had one slow lot of the 5.56mm 64 grain Gold Dot that was only a few FPS faster than a faster lot of the 223 Remington 64 grain Gold Dot. You’ll even see varying velocities of the standard 62 grain Fusion in my older posts.
Doc has said that there is no difference in the terminal performance of the variations of the Fusion/Gold Dot projectiles, so for typical self-defense distances, I wouldn’t expect the differences in velocity to be a major concern.
As what seems to be part of Wal Mart’s program to return to Fudd-dom, they have had Fusion MSR on clearance…$17/.223 & $19/6.8 at the stores I have been in lately.
I was at the store yesterday and the non MSR Fusion had a sealant on the primers and I think I saw a circular crimped primers as well. From the product listing of the MSR version it says the brass is harder with mil spec annealing (honestly not sure what that is) and harder primers. I hope someone else can also chime in. I would doubt the case mouths are sealed.
I also see from Molon’s data that, as the MSR product description also states, the powder charge/type produces a little more velocity for use in the shorter barrels of Modern sporting rifles vs traditional .223 bolt guns.
What Im curious about is if the 62gr Gold Dot uses the exact same bullet as the Fusion line now. And what was so special about the 64gr bullet?
If it does it would make sense to streamline production instead of running 2 different production lines with 2 different bullets with the same performance envelope.
The discoloration on the shoulder and neck of the case is due to the annealing process. All quality brass goes through the annealing process, but on most commercial brass the annealing iris is polished away.
