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.223 bullet selection for M4

geneinnc

Since I am getting a Dillon 550, I am looking for an all purpose bullet for my Double Star M4 Carbine 1/9" twist. The gun will wear an EOTech with Troy BUIS. This is a home defense gun and will be used a lot for practice & plinking.

I was looking at the vast array of bullets in the 55gr range and was overwhelmed. I bought a box of VMAX to start with, as it seems to shoot well in evey AR at the ranges I freguent. I also plan on getting a box of Nosler Ballistic Tips since that is by far my favorite all around bullet.

I was hoping on a suggestion for a cheaper bullet that might come close to the performance of the above 2 bullets, and not have the high price. I don't mind buying in volume after finding a lower end bullet that works.

Should I try to find a cheaper HP instead of FMJ, in case I need some SHTF ammo?

I do have some heavier bullets to try, but they might be a bit heavy for a short barrel 1/9" barrel.

I have the following:

55gr Vmax
70gr Berger VLD Match
80gr Sierra HPBT Match (pretty heavy for 1/9")

Any others I should try?

Thanks!

Gene
 
Sierra 69HPBTs are pretty affordable and have always shot great for me. AA2520 throws awesome through the dillon powder measure...

ARs are great fun for plinking but consider them very carefully for home defense. If you MUST use an AR, its a good idea to use factory ammo for home defense - handloads don't look good in the legal system...

-Mark
 
Gene: The 55 gr. V-Max is my standard bullet for distances up to 200 yds. Very accurate in all 3 of my AR uppers. I've mounted a scope on one of my flatops and with approx. 26 grs. of Varget they easily hold consistant moa or slightly smaller out to 200 yds. I buy them in the 250 count boxes, so you get a small price break there. The "bulk" military surplus FMJ boatail with a crimping cannalure are basically junk in my opinion. I've also tested them at 100 yds., 12x Leupold scope, benchrest equipment & procedures, and "groups" are in the 3" to 4" category: good if you want to blast tin cans. My standard "do-all" next heavier bullet of choice is the ever reliable 69 gr. Sierra hpbt #1380, used from 200 to around 400, above that & it's the 8 twist barrels with the 80 gr. Sierra hpbt MatchKings. Just noticed your mention of the 80 gr. Sierra's in a 9 twist. I doubt the 9 twist will stabalize them, but load up 5 or 10 rounds and give them a try: you never know. :)
 
go on the weidener's website and you can order some of the surplus military 62 grain M855 bullets. they are something like $42/1000--that was when I last bought them.
 
If you just want blasting ammo that is fun to shoot a target with everyonce in a while but aren't looking for a huge expense or benchrest accuracy, I would recommend the Hornady 55gf. FMJ. They are more accurate than the Win, IMI, rem or other ones that are a little less expensive. They shoot good out of 1:9
Also, my M4 really liked the Nosler Cust Comp 77's. They ran a special on them several years ago and I picked up a bunch of them. They shot much better than the 55fmj and at the time, weren't that much more for the 2nds on clearence.
You may want to check out AR15.com as most guys here are more bug hole group, accurate bolt rifles discussions. You may get some addl. info that you won't find here. B4 long range, I had the BRD0 Black Rifle Disease bad, built a dozen AR's, bought sold traded on that site alot. But got into F class and the AR's have either been sold or sit in the safe.
 
For most of your shooting if it is not going to be for best of the best groups. I would suggest shooting the standard 55gr FMJBT. They are cheap and can shoot MOA to 1.5 MOA if you work up the right load. I have a few ARs and I just load them almost max and crimp the neck a little and that is what I get in my better rifles. My CAR15 with peep sights I can shoot them about 2.5" to 3.5".

If you want a good bullet for SHTF I would shoot some 55gr Vmax. You can crimp then and they shoot very well and do plenty of damage on critters when you hit them.


As far as if you want to hunt with your rifle that can be hard. I would just pick a bullet that works for that application and what shoots in your rifle.
 
If you want a good bullet for SHTF I would shoot some 55gr Vmax. You can crimp then and they shoot very well and do plenty of damage on critters when you hit them.

people: Since the 55 gr. Hornady V-Max ( or any of the V-max line for that matter) do not have a crimping cannalure groove, how do you apply a crimp?
 
Some 223 ammo gets crimped and others do not. I have crimped plenty bullets that do not have a crimping ring. Just do not crimp it very hard.
 
As for the crimping... try a Lee taper crimp die - works very well and does not need a cannelure.

As for the bullet... currently using S69MK over 25.0gr Varget (loaded on my RL550B) in my 16" middy 'bullet-hose' carbine.
 
For crimping, the Lee factory crimp die will crimp anything, doesn't need a cannelure and trim length isn't critical as long as it's not way off.

For cheap plinking and practice rounds, it's hard to beat the M855's. They are as cheap as they come, and I get around 1.5MOA with them. If your doing drills and just racking rounds for experience and fun than pinpoint accuracy isn't top priority, having enough ammo is. And at an average cost of $50 per 1000, you can get in a lot of practice.

For defensive use, a 55-62gr Barnes TSX should provide plenty of penetration through bone or heavy clothing and still have enough expansion to do serious damage. I would never trust a varmint round to defensive use. Too soft and fragile for up close heat of the moment work. I want penetration regardless of where I hit. If I need to hit them with a side shot in the shoulder area I want to go through the shoulder and end up in the chest cavity.
 
Links to a few different sites that offer good deals on brass and bullets from time to time.

http://www.polygunbag.com/bullets.html

http://www.rvow.com/Brass%20and%20Bullet.htm
 
I use the Remington Premier Accutip-V 55 grain in my M4 with great results. The bullet is a clone of the Hornadys and Noslers. It is a boattail and does have the plastic tips and cannelure for crimping. Price is right also. I accidentally discovered them during post election blues when a large shop was out of everything I had been using, so I tried these and was pleasantly surprised.
 
Nosler Shots from an Australian "Overrun" put 1000 rounds through my American Ruger Mod 77. They worked JUST FINE and, although not precisely Speer TNT accurate, both at 55 grainage are very suitable for predator hunting, $100 for a thousand worked well-enough for months of cheap practice at the range. Currently, I'm enamored with 36 grain Barnes Varmint Grenades @ 3900 fps MV and 2600 fps at 200 yards. This lightweight rascal will shoot through 3/16" thick mild steel, yet produces a fist-sized hole up to six inches deep. I've had a very busy week, so have not shot since Monday! I hate shooter's withdrawal. Tomorrow for sure! I have many new loads to run through my chronograph. Lee Factory-Die Crimping is a standard practice for me. Don't let anyone tell you "It's wrong" because a bullet that shifts in the magazine is truly "wrong." Cliffy
 
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