Hornady Black 5.56x45mm NATO 62gr FMJ Ammo Ballistics
Brass Case • FMJ
Hornady Black 5.56x45mm NATO 62gr FMJ Ammo Ballistics
Brass Case • FMJ
Solved from this product's advertised 3060 fps, 62gr bullet and G1 BC 0.274, with the sight 1.5" over the bore at standard conditions. Compare every zero for 5.56x45mm NATO, or read Maximum Point Blank Range for 5.56 on an AR-15.
How to read it: filled circles are the near and far zero, where the bullet's path crosses the line of sight;the triangle is the peak (max ordinate). The shaded band is the 8" vital zone, ±4" either side of the line of sight. The dashed line marks the edge of the hold-dead-on window. The chart is zoomed to where the zero matters; the tables below run to 500 yards.
5.56x45mm NATO 62gr with a 36-yard zero
Zeroed at 36 yards with a 1.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 36 and 186 yards, peaks +1.4" at 113 yards, and is -8.7" at 300 and -24.7" at 400 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3,060 | 1,289 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.4" | -1.54 | -0.45 | 2,971 | 1,215 | 0.1 |
| 50 | +0.4" | +0.83 | +0.24 | 2,884 | 1,145 | 0.3 |
| 75 | +1.0" | +1.29 | +0.37 | 2,798 | 1,078 | 0.6 |
| 100 | +1.3" | +1.25 | +0.36 | 2,715 | 1,015 | 1.1 |
| 125 | +1.3" | +1.01 | +0.29 | 2,632 | 954 | 1.7 |
| 150 | +1.0" | +0.65 | +0.19 | 2,552 | 897 | 2.5 |
| 175 | +0.4" | +0.20 | +0.06 | 2,473 | 842 | 3.5 |
| 200 | -0.6" | -0.30 | -0.09 | 2,395 | 790 | 4.6 |
| 225 | -2.0" | -0.85 | -0.25 | 2,318 | 740 | 5.9 |
| 250 | -3.8" | -1.44 | -0.42 | 2,243 | 693 | 7.3 |
| 275 | -6.0" | -2.08 | -0.60 | 2,169 | 648 | 9.0 |
| 300 | -8.7" | -2.75 | -0.80 | 2,097 | 605 | 10.9 |
| 325 | -11.8" | -3.47 | -1.01 | 2,026 | 565 | 13.0 |
| 350 | -15.5" | -4.23 | -1.23 | 1,956 | 527 | 15.3 |
| 375 | -19.8" | -5.04 | -1.46 | 1,888 | 491 | 17.8 |
| 400 | -24.7" | -5.88 | -1.71 | 1,822 | 457 | 20.6 |
| 425 | -30.2" | -6.78 | -1.97 | 1,757 | 425 | 23.7 |
| 450 | -36.4" | -7.73 | -2.25 | 1,694 | 395 | 27.1 |
| 475 | -43.4" | -8.72 | -2.54 | 1,633 | 367 | 30.7 |
| 500 | -51.2" | -9.78 | -2.84 | 1,574 | 341 | 34.6 |
62gr G1 .274 at 3,060 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. Source: Manufacturer's advertised velocity and BC.
5.56x45mm NATO 62gr with a 50-yard zero
Zeroed at 50 yards with a 1.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 50 and 138 yards, peaks +0.4" at 95 yards, and is -11.3" at 300 and -28.2" at 400 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3,060 | 1,289 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.6" | -2.37 | -0.69 | 2,971 | 1,215 | 0.1 |
| 50 | 0.0" | -0.01 | 0.00 | 2,884 | 1,145 | 0.3 |
| 75 | +0.4" | +0.45 | +0.13 | 2,798 | 1,078 | 0.6 |
| 100 | +0.4" | +0.42 | +0.12 | 2,715 | 1,015 | 1.1 |
| 125 | +0.2" | +0.18 | +0.05 | 2,632 | 954 | 1.7 |
| 150 | -0.3" | -0.19 | -0.05 | 2,552 | 897 | 2.5 |
| 175 | -1.2" | -0.63 | -0.18 | 2,473 | 842 | 3.5 |
| 200 | -2.4" | -1.13 | -0.33 | 2,395 | 790 | 4.6 |
| 225 | -4.0" | -1.68 | -0.49 | 2,318 | 740 | 5.9 |
| 250 | -6.0" | -2.27 | -0.66 | 2,243 | 693 | 7.3 |
| 275 | -8.4" | -2.91 | -0.85 | 2,169 | 648 | 9.0 |
| 300 | -11.3" | -3.59 | -1.04 | 2,097 | 605 | 10.9 |
| 325 | -14.7" | -4.31 | -1.25 | 2,026 | 565 | 13.0 |
| 350 | -18.6" | -5.07 | -1.47 | 1,956 | 527 | 15.3 |
| 375 | -23.1" | -5.87 | -1.71 | 1,888 | 491 | 17.8 |
| 400 | -28.2" | -6.72 | -1.95 | 1,822 | 457 | 20.6 |
| 425 | -33.9" | -7.61 | -2.21 | 1,757 | 425 | 23.7 |
| 450 | -40.3" | -8.56 | -2.49 | 1,694 | 395 | 27.1 |
| 475 | -47.6" | -9.56 | -2.78 | 1,633 | 367 | 30.7 |
| 500 | -55.6" | -10.61 | -3.09 | 1,574 | 341 | 34.6 |
62gr G1 .274 at 3,060 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. Source: Manufacturer's advertised velocity and BC.
5.56x45mm NATO 62gr with a 100-yard zero
Zeroed at 100 yards with a 1.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 71 and 100 yards, peaks +0.1" at 85 yards, and is -12.6" at 300 and -29.9" at 400 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3,060 | 1,289 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.7" | -2.80 | -0.81 | 2,971 | 1,215 | 0.1 |
| 50 | -0.2" | -0.43 | -0.12 | 2,884 | 1,145 | 0.3 |
| 75 | +0.0" | +0.03 | +0.01 | 2,798 | 1,078 | 0.6 |
| 100 | 0.0" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,715 | 1,015 | 1.1 |
| 125 | -0.3" | -0.25 | -0.07 | 2,632 | 954 | 1.7 |
| 150 | -1.0" | -0.61 | -0.18 | 2,552 | 897 | 2.5 |
| 175 | -1.9" | -1.05 | -0.31 | 2,473 | 842 | 3.5 |
| 200 | -3.3" | -1.55 | -0.45 | 2,395 | 790 | 4.6 |
| 225 | -5.0" | -2.10 | -0.61 | 2,318 | 740 | 5.9 |
| 250 | -7.1" | -2.70 | -0.78 | 2,243 | 693 | 7.3 |
| 275 | -9.6" | -3.33 | -0.97 | 2,169 | 648 | 9.0 |
| 300 | -12.6" | -4.01 | -1.17 | 2,097 | 605 | 10.9 |
| 325 | -16.1" | -4.73 | -1.38 | 2,026 | 565 | 13.0 |
| 350 | -20.1" | -5.49 | -1.60 | 1,956 | 527 | 15.3 |
| 375 | -24.7" | -6.29 | -1.83 | 1,888 | 491 | 17.8 |
| 400 | -29.9" | -7.14 | -2.08 | 1,822 | 457 | 20.6 |
| 425 | -35.8" | -8.04 | -2.34 | 1,757 | 425 | 23.7 |
| 450 | -42.3" | -8.98 | -2.61 | 1,694 | 395 | 27.1 |
| 475 | -49.7" | -9.98 | -2.90 | 1,633 | 367 | 30.7 |
| 500 | -57.8" | -11.03 | -3.21 | 1,574 | 341 | 34.6 |
62gr G1 .274 at 3,060 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. Source: Manufacturer's advertised velocity and BC.
Product Overview
Hornady Black's 62-grain FMJ is a full metal jacket load for 5.56 NATO rifles, and Hornady says the Black line is "designed to fit, feed and function in a variety of platforms." A full metal jacket bullet is the plain ball design, with the jacket closed over the nose. This one is rated at a G1 BC of .274 and leaves the muzzle at 3,060 fps. Fire it only in rifles chambered for 5.56 NATO.
Compared with PMC's X-Tac 55-grain M193 FMJBT, the Hornady trades speed at the muzzle for a heavier bullet. The PMC leaves the muzzle 210 fps faster, but the Hornady is moving slightly faster by 500 yards and drifts less. At 500 yards, a steady 10 mph wind blowing across the range pushes the Hornady about 35 inches sideways and the PMC about 37. The PMC's head start still shows in drop: zeroed at 100 yards, the Hornady drops about 58 inches at 500 and the PMC about 54. The PMC also kicks about 15 percent less in the same rifle. Winchester's 62-grain M855 FMJLC matches the Hornady at the muzzle and kicks the same in the same rifle.
Buy the Hornady Black 62-grain FMJ if you shoot ball ammunition out to 500 yards and want a little less wind drift than the X-Tac 55-grain M193 FMJBT gives. Pick the X-Tac 55-grain if lighter recoil and less drop matter more to you. Pick Winchester's 62-grain M855 FMJLC if you want the same muzzle speed and recoil as the Hornady from another maker. If wind is your main concern, PMC's X-Tac 62-grain LAP drifts less than either Hornady or the X-Tac 55-grain: at 500 yards the same 10 mph wind pushes it about 32 inches.
- Leaves the muzzle 40 fps faster than Armscor's 62-grain M855
- Still moving at 1,574 fps at 500 yards, against 1,558 for PMC's X-Tac 55-grain M193 FMJBT
- A steady 10 mph crosswind pushes it about 21 inches sideways at 400 yards and PMC's X-Tac 55-grain M193 FMJBT about 22
- Kicks about 17 percent more than PMC's X-Tac 55-grain M193 FMJBT in the same rifle
- Zeroed at 100 yards, it drops about 30 inches at 400; PMC's X-Tac 55-grain M193 FMJBT drops about 27
- Gains nothing at the muzzle over Winchester's 62-grain M855 FMJLC: both leave at 3,060 fps with the same recoil in the same rifle
All Hornady Black 5.56x45mm NATO 62gr FMJ Ammo Prices
| DEALER | QTY | PRICE | SHIPPING | TOTAL | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Basin Outdoors | 200 | $175.99 | $0.00 | $175.99 | $0.88 |
| BulkAmmo.com | 200 | $179.00 | $17.12 | $196.12 | $0.98 |
| Lucky Gunner | 200 | $185.00 | $17.69 | $202.69 | $1.01 |
| Fast Ammo | 20 | $14.86 | $12.99 | $27.85 | $1.39 |
| Black Basin Outdoors | 20 | $21.02 | $10.99 | $32.01 | $1.60 |
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