Black Hills MK262 Mod 1-C 77gr OTM

Black Hills MK262 Mod 1-C is the commercial version of the 5.56mm precision round Black Hills developed from the Navy's late-1990s request for a better long-range AR-15 load. It is built around a 77-grain open-tip match projectile and is intended for SPR, DMR, competition, and precision AR-15 use where bulk 55gr or 62gr ball ammunition is not precise enough.

Black Hills lists the current MK262 Mod 1-C at 2,750 fps and 1,293 ft-lbs from a 20-inch test barrel. The commercial mil-pack ships as 460 rounds in 20-round cartons, and Black Hills says each lot receives the same 10-by-10-shot, 300-yard lot-acceptance accuracy test used on military lots. No lot ships unless it averages under 2-inch groups at 300 yards, a 0.64 MOA maximum for those 10-shot groups.

The role is straightforward: this is expensive match-grade 5.56 for rifles that can take advantage of it. Use it to validate a precision AR, confirm long-range dope, or stock a duty/DMR load after function testing. For high-volume practice, cheaper 75-77gr OTM loads make more economic sense; for the benchmark Black Hills mil-pack, expect premium pricing and intermittent availability.