which is more lethal 55gr @ 3200fps or 62gr @3000?

[UT PROSIM]

Im looking at buying a case of wolf/tula for my ar as practice ammo, but in a pinch, if i had to use it in a self defense role I would like to have the better of the two. Now common sense would say that heavier is better but with a 200fps loss im not so sure. So does 7gr more of bullet weight make up for 200fps? now i will lose some velocity out of a 16" barrel over the stated, but given that which of the two is better?
Thanks,
Pat

 

[TurtlePhish]

The 55gr has a better chance of fragmenting due to the higher velocity and lighter bullet construction, and the fragmentation of .223/5.56mm FMJ is what does the real damage.

I'd go with 55gr over 62.

But I'd go for something like Hornady TAP over either.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

High velocity is the only thing besides shot placement that matters with .223. The high velocity makes it yaw and/or fragment. Out of a 16" barrel 3200fps is going to drop down to probably 2850-2900fps, roughly. But at a truly defensive range I don't think you'll see much difference.

 

[HorseSoldier]

At distances where you can legally justify self-defense, it makes no difference at all between the two. Either one should be a fight stopper. Be prepared to repeat if necessary.

 

[68wj]

Before buying a case, have you fired both in your rifle to ensure function?

 

[UT PROSIM]

thanks for the quick help, i was thinking the same thing but forgot about fragmenting.
I have shot both and they have been 100% out of 200 rounds.
I have some pretty hot 75gr BTHP for coyotes and home defense, but im not too worried about practice ammo being off a few inches, at self defense distances it wont even matter.

 

[~Abstract~]

I'd go light and hollowpoint.

 

[NG VI]

About 12% weight gain for about 7% velocity loss.

I don't think it matters.

 

[lefteyedom]

IT WILL NOT MAKE A DANG BIT OF DIFFERENCE!!!

If you are shooting at someone at a distance where it would make a difference, one of two things will be true.
1. If it is a lawful use of force, you should be using a larger caliber.
OR
2. Mostly likely, you will be going to jail for unlawful use of a firearm. They are too far away to be a present threat.

 

[MachIVshooter]

40 gr. polymer tipped @ 3,600

 

[C-grunt]

Both will work. However I have read before that the cheap Russian ammo has a tendency not to fragment because of thick jackets and lower muzzle velocity.

Im a fan of the heavier/longer bullets for increased lethality over distance. Once you get below the fragmentation threshold your main wounding mechanism is going to be yawing and a longer bullet yaws better.

 

[303tom]

Yeap....................

 

[CraigC]

The bullet's construction will be a FAR more significant factor than weight or velocity.

 

[Art Eatman]

My opinion is that "defense" is within fifty yards; probably much less. So, I figure that most any old bullet will probably work as good as any other. Control of adrenalin and skill with the rifle is far more important.

 

[ironhead7544]

Havent heard of any tests on this ammo. Might not fragment at all. Would like to see some tests on the HP and SP Russian loads, too. I would use one of the good US loads, SP or HP for home defense. I have the TAP.

 

[Jeff F]

Both will work. However I have read before that the cheap Russian ammo has a tendency not to fragment because of thick jackets and lower muzzle velocity.

Im a fan of the heavier/longer bullets for increased lethality over distance. Once you get below the fragmentation threshold your main wounding mechanism is going to be yawing and a longer bullet yaws better.

Thats because most of the cheap Russian .223 uses a steel jacketed copper washed bullet not a copper jacketed bullet, even the hollow points.

 

[OilyPablo]

Tula ammo sucks. IMHO.

I'd trust Brown Bear a bit more, in fact I like all "Bear" series ammo, but can't see it as SD ammo in any related SD situation excepting SHTF back up ammo.

 

[SaxonPig]

I imagine any 5.56 bullet is deadly if it hits the right spot.

You do understand that planning to kill someone, even in self-defense, at the least looks bad and at the worst might be legally actionable? You shoot to stop a criminal attacker, not kill him. Now, if he happens to die as a result of being shot, too bad. But you should not announce publicly your desire to kill someone.

Still makes my skin crawl to read questions like this. I can just imagine some anti-gun Congressman pointing to such discussions as proof that gun owners are bloodthirsty "Rambo types" loading their assault weapons with the most lethal ammo they can find.

 

[nathan]

Any ammo as long you hit the center torso or what not. Have a mag with 55 gr and another mag with 62 greentip if target wears heavy clothing.

 

[ns66]

for people who hints SD has to be short distance, i am curious what happens if the BG is shooting at your house 100 yards away

 

[offroaddiver]

simple answer is that the 62gr bullets seem to be more stable in my AR. But for fun lets do some math....

If this helps there are common formulas used to compare loads: foot lbs pressure exerted which is velocity x velocity x bullet weight in gr divided by 450240 will result in ftlb and taylor knockout formula which is bullet in gr x speed fps x diameter in inches divided by 7000.

From what I understand about these formulas they are ways to compare rounds in how they initially would react with a target.

so for the bullets and speeds listed you have
ftlb 55@3200 is 1250
ftlb 62@3000 is 1239

TKO 55@3200 is 5.632
TKO 62@3000 is 5.952

from the ftlb comparison the 55@3200 has .88% more in the TKO the 62@3000 has a 5.68% advantage.

Since the Taylor formula is designed for deciding between loads for big game hunting it will give advantage to a wider bullet and heavier bullet.

Or consider the momentum formula p =m*v which is
55@3200 176000 grfps
62@3000 198400 grfps

Sorry the Engineer side of me kicked in.

The math shown does not account for twist, aerodynamics or anything else just a way to compare.

 

[conhntr]

//
for people who hints SD has to be short distance, i am curious what happens if the BG is shooting at your house 100 yards away
//
Ns66 didnt you know that the second amendment says guns are only to be used for self defense at ranges under 50 yards! Makes my skin crawl to think that people buy/train with rifles for any use other than deer hunting or short range home defense (under 50 yard limit!)

 

[rcmodel]

Have a mag with 55 gr and another mag with 62 greentip if target wears heavy clothing.

Shirley, you jest!

They don't make heavy clothing heavy enough to stop a 55 grain bullet out of a .223 rifle.

rc

 

[kimberkid]

Ive had mixed results with Tula & Wolf ... plus they seem really dirty.

For about the same money you can buy Silver Bear 62gn hp ... It's my plinking ammo of choice.
I don't know the speed or coefficients but I average 1" - 1.5"; 5-shot groups @ 100 yds in all my 16" AR's, SiG-556's ... the only thing it doesn't preform well in is a 24" varmint AR and my Daewoo AR110C which has a 1/12 twist.

 

[Walkalong]

Six in one hand, half a dozen in the other. Shot placement will trump any small difference in those two. That puts it all on you, not the ammo. Mindset is far more important.