Which bullet for AR15 with 1 in 9 twist

[Lovesbeer99]

I've been using 55 grain bullets but I plan to expand my experimentation. With a standard 1 in 9 twist chrome lined barrel do most people get better results with the 52 gr, 55 gr, 62 gr or 69 gr bullets. I know each barrel is differnent but generally speaking what do you get best results with.

By the way, I've seen match grade bullets for all the above weights except for 55 gr. What gives?

Finally, Do you load OAL on the short side, 2.215, of the long side. 2.230?

Thanks in advance and shoot safe, I do.

Lovesbeer99

 

[Shoney]

According to the twist charts for barrel maker Lilja: 68-75 gr.

Shilen barrel makers say :up to 70 gr.

In reality bullet weight on either side of those listed will shoot well.

OAL usually to the longest that will fit in the magazine without malfunction.

 

[crux]

I had real good luck with Black hills BB 75gr match ammo in a 1/9 RRA carbine, so I tried reloads with Hornady bullet and TAC. It would shoot under 1 MOA for 5 shots. It is rumored not all 1/9 will shoot 75gr bullets. That carbine also seemed real fond of Sierra 55gr bullets and AA2230. The one bulet I would tell you to avoid is the Hornady 68gr OTM, could not get it to shoot well in anything.

YMMV

 

[Ares45]

Ammo Oracle = interesting and informative read.

FWIW my RRA Mid-length 1:9 won't stabilize anything much over 62gr. Obviously each rifle is different. YMMV. Shoot em' and see.

 

[cracked butt]

The one bulet I would tell you to avoid is the Hornady 68gr OTM, could not get it to shoot well in anything.

Is that the Hornady hollow point match? I bought a box of them but haven't tried them yet.

 

[45ACPUSER]

69SMK or 69CC with Varget worked up for you gun ought to be optimum. I would use either CCIBR4 or RP7.5 primers. But, each bbl is a rule unto itself. I have driven 80gr in 1-9 twist fast enough to stabilize them froma 26in bbl.

 

[crux]

Cracked,
Yes, it is the 68 match. Luckily that bullet seems to be well regarded by the jello shooters for SD use, so I loaded them up with a stiff charge of TAC and put them into storage as hurricane insurance for my brother. Added benefit is the poi/poa is very close to XM193 at 100yrds.

 

[layusn1]

My 1:9 RRA AR15 gives me my best groups with my Speer 52gr HPBT Match loads. I can get a dime size 5 shot group out of them. I gave up on 55gr after just one try because someone told me when I just started out that 4895 was THE powder for 223 and all my attempts with that powder sucked. I switched powders, went to the 52gr HPBT Match, CCI Small Rifle Magnum Primers and never looked back.

 

[NuJudge]

Distance will determine optimum bullet weight

For 100 yards, and for 200 yards on a range with no wind, I like 52 or 53 grain match bullets, 26.5gr 748 and a CCI primer in WRA cases. This load works in every rifling twist. At 200 yards I get groups of 1.25" or less in no wind; if there is variable wind, I'll get a 4" wide group by 1" high. Winchester 748 is supposed to be very temperature sensitive, and if temperatures run high pressures are supposed to go way high, causing popped primers and other unpleasant things.

For 200 and 300 yards, I like 69 or 68 match bullets, 24.3 gr IMR 4895, and a WRA primer and case. This shoots groups in the neighborhood of 1.25" and deals decently with wind. I do not see a difference in results between the Sierra 69 and Hornady 68 grain bullets in my 20" 1:9 and 1:7 barrels. I worked a lot with 748 and these bullet weights and did not get what I needed.

I cannot get either Hornady 75 to shoot in my 1:9 barrel. I do not get huge groups or keyholes, I just do not get small groups.

CDD

 

[Walkalong]

someone told me when I just started out that 4895 was THE powder for 223 and all my attempts with that powder sucked. I switched powders,

Well, which powder?

 

[MinnMooney]

Hey, layusn1.........

I'm, also, wondering which powder. I've tried 4895 and Varget and get very good results with each. Why are you using Magnum primers in the little .223 Rem cartridge? That's a lot of primer for such a small area.
Back when I first started shooting with amtch shooters, they used to tell me the same crap. Such & such powder or such & such bullet was the ONLY one to use in X caliber or the same statements AGAINST a certain powder, primer, bullet or casing. I took it all with a grain of salt and have since found out that they were as correct as the Chevy, Ford, Dodge purists.
Try their loads if you want but remember to mix, match and experiment with your individual gun to see what IT likes.

 

[layusn1]

I am using W748 and the reloading manual I am using calls for CCI Small Rifle Magnum Primers with all of the ball type powder in their load data. I followed their data and had great success with it and never really felt the reason to try regular primers. To be honest, I have only been reloading for a little over a year so I suppose a regular primer could work just as well but I was just "following the directions". On the plus side, when everyone was complaining about not finding small rifle primers a few months back I had no problem finding mine. From what I understand, the magnum primer is supposed to ignite the ball powder more evenly. I can't swear by it or say it is the right or wrong thing to do, all I can say is it is what the manual said to use and it worked in my rifle. Heck for $2.50 for 100 it couldn't hurt to try them out if you are using one of the ball powders in 223 and see if it works better for you. If there is a better powder/primer combo out there I seriously doubt that my "skills" would be able to take advantage of it so I'm pretty happy with it. Some people swear by the CCI Small Rifle Benchrest Primers. Who knows...maybe a good deal of it is personal preference and what works in your particular rifle but I have learned that half the fun of reloading ends when you find the load that works best. Then again, it gives you an excuse to buy and load for another caliber...lol Hope all that rambling makes sense, pain meds are kicking in, sorry guys.

 

[snuffy]

My bushy 20" chrome lined bbl. loves the 60 gr. Hornady V-max. It also likes their 60 gr. HP. At the same time I've used 55 grainers, like the WW 55 SP, rem 55 FMJ and others. Again the 69 gr. Nosler BTHP match bullet does well. Best group was .065 with the nosler match, others are all under an inch @100 yds.

Powders I use are WC-844 surplus, 4895 surplus, wc-846 and Varget. Primers are wsr or rem 7.5. These are loaded on my 650 dillon.

 

[glockman19]

I think teh 55 grain and 62 grain are most accurate depending on what your rifle likes. My Mini-14 & AR-15 eat both effectively and accurately.

 

[loadedround]

Just reading these replies has made me think. I thought the AR 1/7 barrel twist was for the 62 gr and heavier bullets and the 1/9 twist were for the 50 and 55 gr bullets. If I am incorrect, what is the reccomended bullet weight for that 1/7 barrel. Will be loading for a 1/7 AR and want the proper bullet.

 

[ftierson]

I only shoot 55 grain bullets (usually M193 type) in 5.56x45mm...

While I prefer a 1/12 twist, 1/9 works quite well for these bullets...

Forrest

 

[snuffy]

Just reading these replies has made me think. I thought the AR 1/7 barrel twist was for the 62 gr and heavier bullets and the 1/9 twist were for the 50 and 55 gr bullets. If I am incorrect, what is the reccomended bullet weight for that 1/7 barrel. Will be loading for a 1/7 AR and want the proper bullet.

A response to this question by someone once was " the 1-9 twist is MADE FOR the 60 grain bullet". That seems to be correct with mine. It WILL shoot the 69 grainers quite well, but won't completley stabilize the 75 grain Hornady HP, bullet make a "slot" instead of a round hole.

At the same time, the 55 grainers shoot pretty good with a quality bullet. They may be over spun, but they stay together,,,at least to 100yds.

Your 1-7 twist should be able to go as high as 80 grains and still stabilize those bullets. The lightest I'd try,(if I were you), would be a 60 grain bullet.