Barnes Precision Match Ammunition for LE?

Barnes is one of the most respected bullet designers and manufacturers in the world. For years they have produced not only outstanding bullets, but the complete cartridge packages as well. While Barnes has provided some of their precision rounds to elite military forces over the last few years, it is their hunting lines that have made Barnes famous. In fact, they are relative newcomers to the law enforcement side of ammunition production.

This year at the 2015 SHOT Show Barnes announced the addition of several new options with their Precision Match line of ammunition designed for military and law enforcement applications. The Precision Match bullets are engineered to maintain precise trajectories even out to extremely long distances, with a motto of “SEND IT WITH CONFIDENCE” every time.

By using the most exacting manufacturing techniques, and the highest quality standards, Barnes has ensured the Precision Match bullets have very low standard and extreme deviations. In the end, officers can count on consistent accuracy shot after shot.

Barnes Precision Match Features

• High ballistic coefficients means bullets that are less effected by wind and atmosphere
• Gilded metal jackets
• Match grade bullets meet the highest quality control standards
• Open Tip Match (OTM) boat-tail bullets provide incredible accuracy even at extreme distances
• Temperature Stable Propellant provides consistent propulsion in a wide variety of climates
• First quality, factory-fresh brass casings specifically matched to the bullets
• QR code scan provides Doppler radar drop tables for each specific load.

The recent Barnes Precision Match cartridges come in popular law enforcement calibers, including several sniper options.  Each uses the Barnes OTM Boat Tail (BT) bullet. The OTM boat tail has been extended even further than traditional boat tail designs to produce an even higher ballistic coefficient. In addition, Barnes has been gradually adjusting their overall bullet geometry, making minor adjustments to the ogive curve to maximize the aerodynamic characteristics and accuracy of the bullet in flight.

Barnes Precision Match Options

• 5.56mm 69-grain
• 5.56mm 85-grain
• .308 Win 175-grain
• .300 Win Mag 220-grain
• .338 Lapua 300-grain
• Available – February, 2015
• MSRP – TBA

Interestingly, the Barnes test data on the Precision Match ammunition used highly uncommon rifle barrel lengths for rifles commonly used in today’s law enforcement. For the 5.56mm ammunition a 20″ barrel was used. The vast majority of law enforcement AR-15 rifles are using 16″, 14.5″, or entry rifles using 10.5″ barrels. The 20″ barrel is likely uses due to Barnes’ very close relationship with the hunting community, and though some police snipers may use a long-barreled AR-15 for certain missions, the test data is skewed for the majority of police rifles.

5.56mm (85-grain) Precision Match Specifications (with a 20″ barrel):

• Velocity (fps) – Muzzle -2600; 200y – 2187; 400y – 1814; 600y – 1490
• Muzzle Energy (ft/lbs) – Muzzle – 1276; 200y – 903; 400y – 621; 600y – 419
• Bullet Drop (inches) – 100y – (-1.5); 200 – (0); 400y – (-27.9); 600y – (98.7)
• Ballistic coefficient – 0.410

Once again, Barnes used a longer barrel length in their ammunition testing, than most police sniper rifles. I have been a police sniper for nearly 7 years, and have only seen one police sniper rifle with a 24″ barrel or longer. That was a Savage Model 110 BA with 26″ barrel. Most of the police sniper rifles that I have come across have between 18″-22″ barrels, with many having been 20″ heavy barrels. This takes into account accuracy, but also the mobility required of a police sniper on mission.

.308 caliber (175-grain) Precision Match Specifications (with 24″ barrel):

• Velocity (fps) – Muzzle – 2650; 200y – 2318; 400y – 2011; 600y- 1730
• Muzzle Energy (ft/lbs) – Muzzle – 2730; 200y – 2089; 400y – 1571; 600y – 1163
• Bullet Drop (inches) – 100y – (-1.5); 200y – (0); 400y – (-24.6); 600y – (-83.8)
• Ballistic Coefficient – 0.521

Practical Considerations and Duty-Use Concerns

Terminal Ballistics

I was really excited to see Barnes enter into the law enforcement ammunition competition. However, when I saw that the bullets are “Open Tip Match” I had to let out a sigh of disappointment. I have not seen any hard data on the Barnes Precision Match bullets terminal ballistics, but similar “match” bullets have shown serious drawbacks for law enforcement use. Sadly, Barnes is marketing these Precision Match rounds for “precision sniper” uses; a mission that I feel could not be further from their appropriate use.

The design flaws of the OTM bullets has been well documented, and it has nothing to do with accuracy! In fact, the Sierra Match King 168-grain bullet (a OTM design) is considered by some to be the most accurate bullet in the world, and has the international marksmanship awards to support that claim. However, Barnes, like other bullet manufacturers, seem to pay less attention to the bullet for energy or shape if it should pass through its target.

The incredibly accurate Match King bullets have a tiny “hollow point”, but the bullets are designed for just what they are named – matches! As magnificently precise as the bullets are, they are glorified paper punchers. The “hollow point” is a specific design characteristic for aerodynamics, but has absolutely no function in bullet expansion upon impact. In laymen’s terms, the OTM bullets are nothing more than enhanced full metal jacket bullets.

Though a 5.56mm or .308 caliber bullet striking a critical area of a suspect will likely cause major damage and incapacitate the suspect, the bullet will almost assuredly exit the suspect and continue on with a significant amount of energy and form. That fact could turn an otherwise lawful shoot, into a terrible tragedy. Even with “know your target and beyond”, a shooter cannot fully anticipate the highly unpredictable path a pass-through bullet will take.

These OTM bullets will also act like FMJ bullets so their pass-through characteristics may not produce an incapacitating wound at all, even if they do hit critical areas like heart, lungs, and head.

Check out this Police Magazine article discussing the American Sniper Association’s warnings about using Match bullets for law enforcement applications:

Police Magazine article on American Sniper Association findings.

AR-15 Barrel Twist Rates

As you’ll notice Barnes is using heavier weighted bullets more in line with military selections, than what law enforcement has more commonly chosen. Most American law enforcement agencies are using 55 or 62-grain 5.56mm ammunition, and 150 or 168-grain .308 caliber ammunition. These higher bullet weights require a faster twist rate to stabilize the round in flight.

These Barnes Precision Match bullets will ideally require a 1:7 or 1:8 twist rate for the 5.56mm rifles. The 1:9 twist rate is very popular for being an “average” twist rate and is widely common in commercial AR-15 rifles. Though the 1:9 twist rate is completely adequate for the currently used law enforcement 55 or 62-grain bullets, it has not produced consistent accuracy able to handle the heavier weighted bullets.

The .308 caliber is less effected by the Barnes Precision Match bullets, as the vast majority of rifles in that caliber have a 1:10 twist rate capable of handling the heavier 175-grain bullet.

Final Thoughts

In my opinion, Barnes needs to strongly re-consider marketing the Premier Match ammunition as law enforcement duty or “precision sniper” use, or at least provide a warning that the bullet will not expand inside the target and will likely pass-through. Sierra has made this claim (though very subtly) about their highly popular 168-grain Match King bullets for many years.

These observations are in no way intended to speak poorly of Barnes bullets. I have used Barnes standard and tipped TSX Triple Shock bullets for hunting deer on several occasions with impressive results. To be honest I think the “Precision Match” name is just an advertising selling point. From my experiences with several Barnes products I believe that most if not all of their lines could classify as “Precision Match”, they’re just that accurate.

However, the terminal ballistics needed by a target shooter or hunter are drastically different from the needs of a police officer. Law enforcement officers do not have the luxury of shooting in the “hunting woods” where an errant shot or a pass-through will have a far less significant impact. No, a law enforcement officer must account for every round fired, and each is considered a separate use of deadly force.

Why Not Ballistic-Tipped Bullets?

It is because of the Barnes Precision Match bullet design that I offer legitimate concerns for on-duty or police sniper use in real-world missions. Firing what in effect is a FMJ bullet just doesn’t get the job done in all the areas mentioned above. Barnes has already produced some fantastic ballistic-tipped bullets that have a far superior terminal ballistic profile. I would hope that they could combine the incredible accuracy and characteristics of the Precision Match brand, with their already highly successful ballistic-tipped bullets.

That would definitely meet the realistic needs of law enforcement ammunition. Then the raised eyebrows of the reviewers would be for the rounds outstanding overall performance, rather than questioning the viability in the intended law enforcement role.