Best .224" for the money? Best overall?

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777funk

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Curious on this? I've tried the 55FMJ by Hornady in 223/556 and have gotten 1.5" 100 yard groups with a scope, which I don't consider to be terrible or great. I haven't really worked up a load yet but I'm curious if it's worth spending time with? For the money they're not a bad deal I suppose even if only 1.5MOA.

Curious what other people have found to shoot well in target AR's and Bolt guns in the bang for buck catagory and in the best accuracy overall category?
 
You can get cheap, or good. PICK ONE. Don't count on bulk bullets for stellar accuracy.

The AR needs specific bullet styles, there are plenty of accurate ones out there.
 
As far as the accurate .224 bullet, I'd go Sierra Matchking all the way. I love their MK's. I use a lot of them.

As far as bulk, there's a bunch of bulk 55gr FMJ out there, just try to find the best beal. I like Hornady FMJ that I load for my daughter to practice with, just to get trigger time.

Best bang for you buck, and accurate normally don't go together. Accurate, consistent bullets are going to cost. Cheap practice bullets, isn't always all that accurate. I would suggest two different loads. One for you to just throw lead down range. The other, when you want to go for tight groups.
 
Curious on this? I've tried the 55FMJ by Hornady in 223/556 and have gotten 1.5" 100 yard groups with a scope, which I don't consider to be terrible or great. I haven't really worked up a load yet but I'm curious if it's worth spending time with? For the money they're not a bad deal I suppose even if only 1.5MOA.

Curious what other people have found to shoot well in target AR's and Bolt guns in the bang for buck catagory and in the best accuracy overall category?
Click to expand...

The million dollar question is what gun are you shooting?

If you chasing sub MOA groups with an M4 barrel or something similar then only luck will get you there.

I shoot hornady fmj boattails in my rifle and easily get sub moa groups with it but with a $400 barrel it better shoot well.
 
So is there a decent compromise bullet? There has to be a place where you get the best blend of cost/accuracy.
 
I use mostly Hornady v-max 55gr bullets in my AR's. P-dogs dont like them but I do! Most Three of my AR's have Krieger barrels so accuracy is great but even the stock barrels shoot them very well.
 
Curious on this? I've tried the 55FMJ by Hornady in 223/556 and have gotten 1.5" 100 yard groups with a scope...
Click to expand...
Hornady's bulk 55gr Spire Points are inherently more accurate than the FMJ.
You don't say what your barrel twist is but if it's 1:7 you need to look at a heavier bullet.
 
My Bullets of Choice in order

Dogtown HP's 55gr
varmint Nightmare HP's 55gr
Z-Max 55gr
Hornady 55gr SP's


The HP's all are tack drivers... of the SHOOTER can shoot... so for me, well, they shoot good.....

the Seirra Match Bullets rea VERY accurate but not cheap... the Dogtowns and Varmints are a Great price for 500, Like $50ish...

For Longer distance and less Bullet drop the Hornady FMJ-BT and SP's work Great... SP's for me are a lot more accurate but the FMJ's shoot good at longer distance

Hope this helps


Stav....
 
You never said what rifle or twist. Too many variables to consider. The bullet being only one of them. Even the best "perceived" bullet is only as good as the rifle, shooter and load.
 
The "best" is an ambiguous and subjective term at "best", LOL. Sierra BK's are the most accurate 55gr pill I've found so far out of my 1-7 AR.
 
I have a 1:7 twist (got it to stabilize deer hunting bullets for my son). I'd read that the fast twist can still work well with 55 grainers but a 1:9 wouldn't work as well with the 62's and above.
 
The Hornady 55 gr SP are really inexpensive and very accurate for bulk bullets. Just a hair more than their 55 gr FMJBT and well worth it. That's my plinking round, but it'll hold an inch @ 100 group easily.

My target loads (I don't compete but like to see what I can do from the bench) are 55 gr V or ZMax. They hold <.75" groups @ 100 easily.

Both are inexpensive for shorter range accuracy and a good value. I'd go with a heavier SMK for longer distance or outdoors where wind is a factor.

I like a lot of different bullets for different things, but Hornady is hard to beat overall for that balance between cost, accuracy, & consistency. I'd say the same thing for Montana Gold (pistol bullets - never tried their .223). Not too many others come to mind*. Lots of people making really good bullets, but the cost is up there with most of them too.

Anyway, for a couple bucks difference per 1K, the Hornady 55 gr SP are much more accurate for me than any 55 gr FMJBT I've tried and well worth it. It's a noticeable difference on paper.

*need to try some of those Varmint Nightmare - that's a good price and no soft point to squish :)
 
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Here is my results last Saturday using hornady 55 gr sp using my precision ar-15 with 24" varmint barrel at 100 yards.

Load data:
Hornady 55 gr sp .224 bullets
C.O.L. 2.215
Powder 24.7 gn AA 2230
Primer #7-1/2 rem
FPS 3050 average
 

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777funk said:
I have a 1:7 twist (got it to stabilize deer hunting bullets for my son). I'd read that the fast twist can still work well with 55 grainers but a 1:9 wouldn't work as well with the 62's and above.
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A 1:7 barrel should be using 69gr. and above. 69gr bullets have a longer bearing surface and the extra weight helps buck the wind.
But if your content with your 1.5" MOA then continue using the 55 grainers.
 
RE: 69gr and above, the only problem there is that it doesn't leave me with much other than target/match HP's. I purchased this as a deer rifle for my son and of course an enjoyable target gun as a side benefit. I see Sierra Game Kings at 65gr. We may try that and see.
 
Otto said:
A 1:7 barrel should be using 69gr. and above.
Click to expand...
Some may be of that opinion but there is no such rule.

69gr bullets have a longer bearing surface and the extra weight helps buck the wind.
But if your content with your 1.5" MOA then continue using the 55 grainers.
Click to expand...
My milspec AR with 14.5" 1-7 chrome lined barrel shoots my 55gr handloads just fine. Even pressure test workups with powder charges varying by over 1gr it still shoots sub-MOA 100m groups (shooting over a chrony at the same POA just for velocity data). I am definitely content with the 55gr BK. YMMV.

65gr and 77gr shoot well too and 69gr are on my to do list, but I see no rational reason to not try 55gr bullets. I was going to start experimenting with 53gr and 50gr pills and H322 or AR-Comp before the weatherman said temps were going to be in the 30s and that we could get snow, so that might have to wait until next spring.
 
777funk said:
RE: 69gr and above, the only problem there is that it doesn't leave me with much other than target/match HP's. I purchased this as a deer rifle for my son and of course an enjoyable target gun as a side benefit. I see Sierra Game Kings at 65gr. We may try that and see.
Click to expand...
Yes, I was about to suggest the 65gr GK. It shoots outstanding in my 1-7 AR over Varget.
 
A 1:7 barrel should be using 69gr. and above. 69gr bullets have a longer bearing surface and the extra weight helps buck the wind.
But if your content with your 1.5" MOA then continue using the 55 grainers.
Click to expand...

What barrel do you have?

Is your forend free floating?

Trigger?

I have a sub moa AR that can't miss(.5 out of a rest isn't uncommon) with bulk bullets and one that takes alot of effort to get close to 1"(closer to 1.5) and match bullets,heavier,different powders don't seem to help much.

One has a match mid weight barrel from lothar walther and the other a bull barrel from green mountain.

The lothar barrel outshoots the other by alot.
 
I have a barrel with sights, and a HEAVY trigger, I'd guess it's probably 10 lbs, (although I don't notice any drifting during my slow pull). I suppose I better address the heavy trigger... I still wonder if it's workable with practice though.
 
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I have a barrel with sights, and a HEAVY trigger, I'd guess it's probably 10 lbs, (although I don't notice any drifting during my slow pull). I suppose I better address the heavy trigger... I still wonder if it's workable with practice though.
Click to expand...

A barrel with a mounted front sight post is a M4 barrel(usually) which while light,handy and great in battle they aren't very accurate.

Pair that up with that 10lb trigger and you should consider 1.5" grouping to be amazing. If you know someone with a very accurate AR maybe try your ammo in their gun but I'd bet you are chasing your tail trying to fix ammo that isn't broken.

I bet you are good at working that trigger and I bet the barrel is the thing holding you back for shooting groups. If all you do with it is shoot off a bench with a scope I'd go for it.

A good reason to keep it would be for 3 gun competitions or if you want a light gun for whatever reason.
 
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