Varmint Bullets in an AR-15

[GunAdmirer]

I've read that thinly jacketed varmint bullets tend to come apart in the fast twist rifles like my Bushmaster (1:9). Is this true? Are some varmint bullets made to work in an AR-15?

I've been wanting to develop a load with 55 gr. Hornady V-Max bullets.

 

[Mr. Chitlin]

Seems like I have heard of the light varmint bullets (40 grain or so) coming apart, but I have shot a ton of 55 grain Nosler BT and Hornady V-Max bullets in my 1/9 and 1/7 AR's without any problems.

 

[mc223]

I have heard of bullets coming apart in the old days. I think the technology of bullet manufacturing has improved over the years.
Your bullets probably would not come apart, but you will find difficulty in acheiving accuracy with the lighter and consequently shorter bullets.
I shoot a Bushmaster 1 in 9 also. By using the Greehill formula to find the approximate best twist rate for a given bullet. I found that the 1 in 9 should shoot a bullet around .850 to .900 in. long best. I have tried several different bullet styles and weights.
50g bullets from my rifle will not group much better than .85 regardless of powder of charge weight.
55g ar a little better but not great.
60g will group just under .5
63g about the same as the 60s
68g, 69g. Now .25 groups are the norm and if I do my part 3 of 5 in 1 hole are not uncommon.
The 75 A-Max when set to .015 off the lands will also see .25 groups @ 100
The 75s will shoot just under an inch @ 200yds.
The 40grainer would do much better out of a 1 in 12 or slightly slower twist.
Good Shootin

 

[Bullet]

I’ve been working on loads for 55gr V-MAX’s in a 1/9 twist Colt with a 16-inch barrel using VV N133. All the bullets have made it to the target at 100 yards. One thing I have found that with a 16-inch barrel velocities are reduced from what is shown in the Hornady manual (I believe they are using a 24 inch barrel).

 

[mc223]

I shot some 50g varminators today from a 1 in 7 twist barrel. 200yd. accuracy was pretty good. Just under an inch, None of them came apart. Velocity was 3370fps.

 

[Freddymac]

From what I've read

you cannot over stabilize a light bullet, but you can understabilize a heavy one. This is why most AR's will have 1:9 twists, so that they can work with a broad range of bullet weights. The faster twists like the 1:7's, are for the ultra heavy (for a .223 anyway) match bullets. These barrels usualy have special chambers to acomidate the longer, larger ogive match bullets. This is so the bullet is properly positioned and is not hitting the lands when chambered. I may be incorrect on the last part, but that is hoe i understand it.

 

[bogie]

I've gotta buncha el-cheapo speer TNTs... They come apart in my .22-250 1/12 barrel, but in the .223 1/9, they do just fine - lower velocity.

What I'd like would be a 1/14 twist AR-15, for 40-50 grainers...

 

[nvshooter]

1:14 twist in an AR

Krieger will make one for you, bogie. All it requires is cash and time...

 

[Clark]

33 gr Vmax will not cycle the action with Blue Dot.
Wimp loads are too low in pressure and hot loads are gone too fast...4,127 fps

It takes a heavier bullet and slower powder to cyle the action.

 

[redneck2]

This should answer your question. Bushie Varminter, Varget, Fed SR Match primers, WW cases, 50 grain Noslers seat to mag length
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e283/Indianaoutdoorsman/Gunpix-1.jpg
these are 2 consecutive 3 shot groups @ 268 yards, lasered

 

[Poodleshooter]

I had a Colt 1in7 chrome bored AR that would blow up reloads with Sierra 55HPBT or 55SP. It would even blow 55gr Winchester FMJs if they were pushed fast enough (over 3000fps) on a hot 100deg+ day. Groups from a scoped rifle were in the 12" range at 100yds. I sold it to someone who already has a varmint .223 and wanted to shoot big bullets.
Lots of folks with 1x7s have no problems at all. It's either a combo problem of barrels and load techniques,or just a problem with some individual fast barrels.
My current 1in 9 barrel stabilizes any bullet/load that will fit in an AR magazine,which is all I care about.

 

[GunAdmirer]

I finally got around to answering my own question.

I was able to buy some 55 gr. Hornady V-max bullets and make some initial handloads for my Bushmaster with a 16" 1/9 barrel.

The bullets performed fine in the targets. They stayed together, but I need to do some work to improve accuracy. The bullets were absolutely devestating to plastic milk jugs and laundry bottles filled with water. Knocked them off of their stands and blew them into pieces (broke the stand too). It was a kick. I'm hooked.

Are these bullets okay for animals up to coyote size or just the smaller varmints?

 

[g56]

Here's a Hornady 55 gr Spire Point out of an AR15 with a 1/8 twist barrel, IMHO performs pretty darn good!

100 yard 5 shot group