New to AR15 need help...

Since you mentioned Varget and its use, I believe that you are an experienced reloader.

That being said, I use 23.0 grains of H335 behind a 55 grain FMJBT--also known as M193 ball. Excellent practice load--and you can buy the bullets in bulk from a number of sources, including Powder Valley, Widener's, Jeff Bartlett, Midway and Graf's.

SAFETY TIP!!!

If you have not loaded for the 5.56/.223 AR platform, I HIGHLY suggest that you buy, and USE, a Lee Factory crimp die to prevent bullet setback upon feeding.

Hornady 55gr FMJ ( very accurate for a FMJ ), H335, TAC or similiar BALL powder ( that neck is finicky/small for stick powders ) Lake City virgin brass, and primer of your choice. ( CCI 41, 450, Rem 7 1/2,..)

Buy all of them in bulk ( cheaper and save on hazmat fees )

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=253
http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8996&dir=278|282|909|948
http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=4119&dir=278|283|473
http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=1940&dir=278|281|293|324|696

Since you listed Matchkings

I have yet to see an AR that won’t shoot a tight group at a hundred yards with a 52 grain Matchking over 23.5 grains of 335.

I have pretty good luck using Varget with the heavier Matchkings. However in order to get good velocity, the loads I am
currently using are compressed. So I am starting to give Reloader 15 some serious attention. So far it’s looking pretty good.

Good luck,

A crimp is not necessary with the AR. Save your money on a Lee FCD. I reload For ARs in 223 Rem, 17 Rem, and 204 Ruger and do not crimp anything.

Ballistic tips work fine. Only time one gets damaged is when there is a miss feed or something and the new round slams into something that is not supposed to be there.

Any style bullet, boat tail or flat base, will work fine. You will need to experiment to find what bullet you rifle likes. I have had good luck with Honady V-max, Sierra Blitzking and Matchking, and Berger bullets.

For plinking, a 55 FMJ is the best value but groups may not be as good as other bullets with an open tip. I have shot a few Dogtown bullets with acceptable results.

Ditto Chuck's post. Proper neck tension is more important than crimp. I have used almost every style bullet available in ARs. An AR that feeds properly will eat any in-spec round.

If you plan on using lots of 55gr bullets, look at Montana Gold. A case of 3500 delivered right to your door via USPS flat rate box for a good price.

Good bullets. I've loaded and shot many cases of them with great results.

That 1/8 twist rate will or should stabilize anything from about 45 grains to 70 with no problems. 55 grains will shoot in any standard twist AR barrel, 1/7 1/8 or 1/9. Everyone suggests 55 grains because it is a good average round, the mentioned M193 ball round is 55 grains, and the availability of 55 grain bullets in bulk. It is also a more forgiving round from what I've experienced. Enjoy.

The Armscor 62 gr linked in post # 1 works very well in my 1 in 9 20".
I currently have several hundred Armscor 55 gr left (out of 1000) that work just as well.

My favorite load: 55gr Armscor, 26 gr of Varget & an OAL of 2.230 will group about 2" at 100 yards

I've also used RL-15 which works as well if not just a smidge better.
But the Varget was available in an 8# jug (on sale) when I last bought powder.

Of course, as always, YMMV

If you're set on using Varget, you're going to want to use heavy-ish bullets. I tried Varget and 55 grain bullets and got unburnt powder. I would say at least 60+ grain for Varget.

I have had really great luck with Benchmark and 55 Nosler Ballistic Tips; 3/4" groups at 100 yards for five shots in my 1:9 twist AR.

For reasonably priced bullets that will be reasonably accurate, I would look into Hornady 68 HPBT, 75HPBT, or Sierra 69MK, or 77MK. Ballistic Tips are great too, or as Hornady calls them; V-max, but I think 60 is the heaviest they get. For blasting through mags I would go with FMJs, though.

I have spent a LOT of time working up loads for AR rifles. Powders that will work well are H335, W748, BLC-2 and my favorite, Varget. I am also a huge fan of Sierra bullets. I particularly like bat tails because they are much easier to seat. I am also a fan of the Lee Factory Crimp die - which really is more of a taper die - just increases neck tension to keep bullets from moving under recoil. With your 1/8 twist you should be good to go with any bullet from about 50 grains to 70 grains - weight is not as critical as is bullet length. The Sierra match kings have performed fabulously for me. Additionally, I have had fantastic success with Hornady V-Max in various weights.

Good Luck! Have fun with this round!

Blessings,

Paul

I have 2 ar rifles and for the cheapest round go to high tech ammo and get full metal jacket bullets. Sometimes he is out and only has machine pulls but they work just fine. Some of them are armor piercing ie, steel core so you can't shoot them at an indoor range.

One of my rifles is setup for prairie dog hunting and it is a 1/8 twist. I shoot 60 gr. v-max as anything less wouldn't group worth a $&%. I have had others say the same thing about the lighter bullets but I agree I think it has to do with the length of the bullet and not so much the weight. I use BLC-2 and have been very happy with it. I group 1/2" at 200 yds all day long. What I have noticed is with the lighter grain bullets you can't load them to hot otherwise they spin to quickly.

I typically buy once fired lake city brass from whoever is the cheapest and haven't had to many problems. You will need to go through them and throw out the ones that are dented badly.

Chris

rskent said:

Since you listed Matchkings

I have yet to see an AR that won’t shoot a tight group at a hundred yards with a 52 grain Matchking over 23.5 grains of 335.

I have pretty good luck using Varget with the heavier Matchkings. However in order to get good velocity, the loads I am
currently using are compressed. So I am starting to give Reloader 15 some serious attention. So far it’s looking pretty good.

Good luck,

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I will agree that 53gr SMK can perform very well in an AR15 with H335, however, using the same powder and charge, I've had better results with Nosler BT Varmints.

petrey10 said:

man I figured you guys would suggest shooting something heavier than 55gr since I got an 8'' twist rate... but that's cool I would love to buy from Montana Gold if that's what you guys suggest

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Montana Gold's might be good. But for $110 for 1k versus $88 for 1k of 55gr Hornady's, I'll use the midway coupon to cover my shipping, and get them the next day.