AR-15

[brush_buster]

I just got a new Ar and need some load information please. My gun is .223 with 1-9 twist in a 5.56. Thanks in advance.

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

I just got a new Ar and need some load information please. My gun is .223 with 1-9 twist in a 5.56. Thanks in advance.

It would really help if you could be a little more specific:

What barrel length?
Targets, varmints, etc?
Anticipated ranges?

That info would provide a good starting point.

 

[Sarge]

brush buster--I have a Bushmaster AR with 24 in. barrel. It loves 25 grains of AA2230C behind a 69 grain match bullet. It has a 9 twist barrel. My velocity was 2894 in 40 degree weather at 3250 ft elevation. My Kimber SVT with 9 twist, shoots tiny groups with this same load. I seat the bullets to "just" fit in the AR magazine.Same length works great in the Kimber.

 

[fdshuster]

brush buster: So many load and rifle combinations it's mind-boggeling. Suggest you start by going to this web sites' home page and select 223 info page. A wealth of information available, all high-quality info.

 

[brush_buster]

Billy,

I like to punch paper out to 300 yards [range limit] as well as hunt varmints. My Rock River has an 18 inch barrel. The factory ammo I have shot with it have consisted of both 55gr. FMJ and 62gr. HP. My rifle likes the 62 the best.

Thanks for the replies from everyone. Keep them coming.

 

[fdshuster]

brush buster: Your Rock River should have a Wilson 1-9 twist,?), and for 300 yd., an excellent load combo,, for my ARs') has been 24 to 25 grs. of Varget w/ Sierra 69 gr. #1380, seated .020" off the lands. Primers are std. cci400, Lake City brass. I have gone to 26 grs. of Varget,Lyman #48 manual max accuracy load), at 2881 fps chrono. velocity. That load will hold moa at 600 yd. If using factory, the Black Hills with the 69 gr. #1380, is excellent, high-quality ammo, at a reasonable cost,,this day and age). For shorter distances, their 50 & 55 V-Max are also excellent, at 100 & 200 yd. I would not waste my time, and money on the Wal-Mart type "bargain" ammo w/ the fmj bullets.

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

brush buster,

With an 18" 1/9" twist barrel:

300yd. paper punching - 69 gr Sierra MatchKing bullet, start at 25.0 gr. of W748, Winchester brass, Rem 7 1/2 primer, 2.25" COAL for magazine shooting. Your factory throat is probably too long to allow you to kiss the lands anyway. Be careful when using this powder at extremely high temperatures, cause it can go crazy if the ambient temperature is 90F + and you leave your loaded cartridges out in the sun too long. But this load is very accurate and fast. It was the USAMTU 300yd. competition load for a long time.

Prarie dogs, etc. - try the 55 gr. Sierra BlitzKing over 25 gr. H4895 to start. All other specs as above. Very accurate, it blows up those dogs very well. The 52 gr. Sierra MatchKing is extremely accurate in one of my AR's using the above recipe, but it doesn't yield the spectacular expansion of the BlitzKing especially at the longer ranges.

These are just some loads that have worked for me for years. YMMV

 

[brian923]

what about varget???

i was using h4895 in my loads, and ran out. i was givin some advice to use varget, and was wondering if the varget will be better, or worse, than the h4895. i have 40 grn ballistic tips, 55 grain v-max, 55 grn sps, and 60 grn v-max, and some 75 grn a-max. i am paper punching, and varmite hunting? will the varget do me good??


brian

 

[billmo]

brian, I have tried Varget in my RRA A-4 Varminter with 69 gr. SMK @ 25.7 gr. and it works very good. I have been able to take out pop bottles filled with water at 500 and 600 yds. consistantly on a kind of calm day. Have not tried it in the wind yet.

 

[kelbro]

The Varget works better with the heavier bullets, not so well with the 40-50 class bullets.