AR loads for moderate distance - suggestions?

[bison]

I've decided to upgrade my basic AR to a decent distance shooting gun. Application will be shooting targets at my ranch in the 300-500 yard range and whacking critters that may wander into same. So far I've ordered a White Oak 20" varmint upper (1/8 twist) and a Geissele match trigger, tbd on the 'scope (suggestions welcomed) and accessories.

So far I've only loaded pretty basic .223 rounds for plinking at the range with bulk 55 grain bullets and 25 grains of H-335 with the CCI primers. My understanding is that a heavier bullet (77 grains?) may be better. Any suggestions for loads (powders/bullets)?

Thanks!

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

It all depends on what your rifle shoots well. Your 1 in 8 barrel may or may not stabilize 77 grain bullets.
Lots of load data on powder manufactures sites, Hodgden's is very good.
In my rifles 55gr FMJ's are never the most accurate, but there bullets that shoot well aside from premium target bullets.

 

[Sunray]

Sierra says their 77 grain Matchking requires 1 in 8 or faster. 1 in 10 or faster for their 69 grain HPBT and their 65 grain SPBT. Also 1 in 10 or faster. Varmints only for match grade bullets. The 65 isn't a match bullet.
25 grains of H-335 is very close to the max load. You work up to that? Not that it really matters. You'll be working up a new load with the 77's anyway. H335 is on the 77 grain list.

 

[R_Blaze]

You might look into the sierra matching 69 grain hollow point boat tail for your 1-8 twist. H-335 is a good start you can also look in to accurate 2230. Have had good results in my 1-7 twist 20in h-bar.

 

[Ifishsum]

77gr Sierra MK, even the 80s shoot very well in both of my 1:8 20" barrels. 69 gr MKs also shoot well as do Hornady 75gr HPBTs so don't be afraid to try the 77s if that's what you want to shoot. All except the 80 gr MKs shoot well loaded to magazine length also. Varget and RL-15 are my two preferred powders for the heavier bullets.

 

[Allen One1]

Hornady 75 grain BTHP over 24.3 grains of CFE 223 or 23.7 grains of Varget works pretty well for me with an 18" barrel.

 

[Dudedog]

Scopes are all how much money do you want to spend/what can you afford.

Don't know what you plan on spending but this works well for me and is reasonably priced.

https://www.nikonsportoptics.com/en/nikon-products/riflescopes/p-223-3-9x40-bdc-600.html
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1009649851/nikon-p-223-rifle-scope-3-9x-40mm-bdc-600-reticle-matte
$170 right now from Midway

Not saying it is the best scope in the world but excellent value for $ spent, lifetime warranty.

 

[Varminterror]

@bison Have you tried shooting your 55grn load at 300-500yrds yet? I only ask, because 300yrds isn't asking much of the 55 grn pills, and 500yrds is still very manageable. I've been shooting the 50 V-max to 600yrds at least since the late 1990's, never have struggled to reach out to 500-600yrds with light bullets. Bigger bullets will penetrate better upon arrival, but that's only relevant if you're flinging bullets at coyotes and care about recovery.

With a 20" tube, only shooting to 500yrds, you'll be able to stabilize the 77SMK just fine. The wheels will fall off somewhere around 750, in my experience, but getting to 500yrds won't be a challenge. The 77SMK is a rather short bullet, for its weight. The 69 SMK is a fine bullet as well, but I prefer the 77.

I've been playing with the 73grn ELD this fall, it's very promising. Considering price and availability, I'm shifting most of my practice shooting over to it, rather than the 77 SMK.

 

[farmerboy78]

Bison, I also have that upper! It' stupid accurate! I use 77gr nosler cc over 23.6gr tac in reworked LC brass... it' very accurate! Shoot that round out to 800yds regularly... I have a vortex hst 4-16 sitting on top...

 

[JO JO]

I have had very good luck with 69 gr bthp sierra and 23.8 gr TAC

 

[2ndtimer]

I like the Nosler 69 gr Custom Competition HPBT and 24.0 gr of Ramshot TAC for a longer distance target load. But the accurate 55 gr tipped bullets (Ballistic Tip, V-MAX, Z-MAX, Varmageddon) also do surprisingly well out to 500 yards or so.

 

[MtnCreek]

77smk or 75 hornady bthp and IMR8208 is what you need. If you want a true hunting bullet for critters, 55 N BT and H4895 shoots great at the shorter ranges I've shot them.

For a scope, older bushnell 4200 elite tactical 3-12 are hard to beat for the money. I've bought two of the used for around $600 / ea or maybe a little less.

 

[Kaldor]

300-500? Easy and cheap, 68gr Hornady BTHPs and IMR 8208 XBR.

The Hornady 68s are more than enough for those ranges and the price is right on them. They also shoot fine from an 8 twist barrel. 8208 is a short cut extruded that is not temp sensitive, will drop accurately from a rotary drop, and generally has very good results.

I havent tested the 73gr ELDs or 77gr TMKs enough to know if the extra expense is worth the money to be honest. The Sierra 69s are a little more pricey than the Hornady 68s.

 

[Toprudder]

I have a 20" 1:8 Wylde barrel, and I've had no problem stabilizing the 77 smk. But I seem to have the best luck with Hornady 75 bthp, getting about .75 moa @ 100 yards. I've shot them out to 300 yards with great results, but have not tried them past that. The most accurate bullet I've tried @100 yards so far is the Hornady 55SP flat base soft point bullets, at about 0.55moa. I have no idea what they do at longer range, though - never tried them. So far the best loads have been using Varget powder, though I admit I have not done enough serious testing with other powders yet.

I have not tried a lot of different factory ammo, but the only factory ammo that has given me 1 moa or better so far has been the Winchester black box 77 match, at around 0.75moa @100.

 

[444]

I shoot Sierra 77 grain MatchKings over Varget.

I arrived at this load simply because when I have read about NRA High Power shooters and what loads they use at 600, I saw the vast majority use that combination (at least the ones that posted about it or wrote articles about it). This load also happened to be the load recommended by the manufacturer of my upper (who is a noted NRA Service rifle competitor). And the vast majority of them use the same powder charge; which I am not going to give because it is over book maximum. I didn't work up my load and I didn't experiment with various powders and bullets. This load shoots great and I stopped right there. Which is incredible for me because one of my primary joys in shooting is working with my loads.

I have worn out steel plates at 500 and 600 yards with that load.