.223 best 50-55 gr bullet AR

[Random 8]

Follow up to the powder question. Not looking for the cheapest or high end match bullets, just a good, steadfast 55 gr bullet for general target shooting and short-medium range coyotes. Max range for any shooting I'm likely to do with my carbine would be 300. My twist is 1:9, and so far rifle has shown good accuracy with both Vmax and Varmageddon tipped 55s. Parameters are consistent feed and reasonable price (not necessarily cheap) and solid accuracy.

Obviously for the time being, I'll shoot what I can get, but looking to stock a good prospect if something becomes available. What have folks had the best luck slinging in this weight?

 

[badkarmamib]

Hornady V-Max

 

[TonyAngel]

Berger 55 and 60 grain varmint bullets. ~$30 per $100, but if your rifle is a shooter, these will make it shoot better. Put these in a 2 MOA rifle and that's about what you'll get.

When shooting light, which is what you're gonna do with a 1:9 twist, I usually just shot the V-Max bullets. Or the Sierra equivalent.

 

[Lee Q. Loader]

Varmageddons are my favorite bullet at any price! Happily they are less expensive than most.
Another good option for me are the Speer TNT's

 

[Charlie98]

Besides hunting bullets, there was (and may still be) some 62grn BTHP bullets running around, I got 1500 of them from MidSouth for 9.5/ea. So far they seem to work pretty well, but are obviously for target shooting and general plinking...

 

[Bfh_auto]

I like the 55sp or 52hpbt.
Vmaxs are never a poor choice.
My current load is a 40 gr vmax and CFE223. It's crow accurate at 350 yards.

 

[entropy]

I use Hornady 55 FMJ-BT, for plinking ammo, Hornady 55 gr. V-Max for coyote, and Nosler 55 gr. Ballistic Tip Varmint for deer.

 

[Bartojc]

Nosler Varmageddons are my most accurate varmint load. A close second is Sierra pro-hunter. Both in 55 gr and last time I bought them reasonably priced.

Jeff

 

[Varminterror]

I’ve sent ridiculous numbers of 50 V-Max’s (and the same Z-Max’s) downrange over the years. The 55 Vmax flat base hits harder on coyotes, and the 53 Vmax bevel base/boattail has a higher BC for reaching farther downrange, but I can’t say anything but good about the 50 Vmax. 27.3grn Varget under the 50, seated anywhere from Mag length to 5 thou off - if it doesn’t shoot well, the rifle is broken.

NBT’s and Win/CT Ballistic Silvertips will shoot tiny also, but the Vmax tends to be less expensive and more widely available.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I watch for bulk price deals on Hornady 55 gr FMJ-BT and grab a few thousand at a time.

 

[greyling22]

I've had very good luck with both the midway Dogtown bullet and the midsouth varmint nightmare, both in 50 and 55grn. Hollow point and soft point, in a variety of rifles. It may be that 223 is just an accurate round with almost anything.

 

[FROGO207]

For general 100 YD plinking the 55 grain FMJ from Armscor is a fairly accurate bullet at it's price point.

They have been all purchased at the usual vendors unless you want to pony up for 4K at a time though. Hopefully to be restocked soon.

 

[Random 8]

Found a deal at Grafs on the 55 Speer SP with a 20% rebate, so we'll see how those feed and fly. Still need to find a serviceable optic for the rifle, waiting to see if things settle down a tad so I don't have to wait 2 weeks for it to ship!

 

[brasscollector]

I will second a vote for the 50gr Vmax. I've had good to very good accuracy with those with just about any powder or rifle I tried.

Found a deal at Grafs on the 55 Speer SP

This is my go to soft point for 223. Cheap, reliable, plentiful and I've found them to be pretty accurate too.

 

[Blue68f100]

My favorite has been the 52gr SMK. I get good accuracy out of them to 300 yrds, provided the wind is not raising it head.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I’m with Varmenterror;
53gr Vmax has highest b.c. of any .224” bullet under 60gr.
I usually use 27.0gr of BLC2. All my AR’s shoot bug holes at 100yds with these.
In the past, when I got a deal on a bulk order, I used them for 200 and 300yds in my RR NM for CMP competition.

I ran out and now use the Hornady 75gr BTHP match as its cheaper in bulk. When I run out of 80gr MatchKings, I’m going to use them at 600yds also.
For 100yd practice on reduced target, I use the 55gr Hornady BTSPT bulk as they work in everything I have in .223. Also do well on deer. And are dependably more accurate than FMJ’s.
But, with a 1/9”twist, the 62gr BTSPT from Grafs Shooters Supply are better, particularly if deer are on the menu.