AR bullet choice

[nakneker]

I’ve never been into ARs until about 5 years ago and since then I’ve enjoyed a dozen builds or so. it’s been fun doing the builds myself in a variety of cartridges and barrel lengths. Over the last month I’ve been loading a bunch of components that have been sitting around collecting dust for a couple years. I still have a lot of brass though, new starline stuff. I’ve loaded 77 grain TMK, 77 grain OTMs, 64 grain bonded Noslers and some 64 grain game shoks but I’m running out of bullets, I have a ton of 55 grain bullets left buts that about it. I’d like to find a bullet over 60 grains to use in a couple 16 and 20” 1:7 ARs. The bullets I mentioned above are fairly spendy, I’d like to find a bullet that you can find in stock and by at volume and be able to restock when your running low. Non FMJ, looking for a tipped or soft point bullet that is an accurate and hits hard. Cannelure or non cannelure. It needs to feed reliably in a variety of semi autos. To all you AR experts who have been doing this for awhile what would buy and why? Trying to stay away from the Gucci bullets.

 

[Adam in WI]

.224 RMR 69 Gr. BTHP 3GH *NEW* (Read Description Before Ordering) | RMR Bullets

We make this bullet ourselves. It is still in development so there may be some variances from lot to lot. We have pretty much gotten this bullet to where we want it. It is nearly perfect. I say nearly because city wastewater requirements mean we don’t currently have a way to polish/degrease this...

www.rmrbullets.com

$0.15 apiece if you buy 1000. Not sp, but not fmj either....

 

[mmcu]

Check out the Speer 70 grain semi spitzer.

When they go on sale, I buy as many as I can afford. Accuracy for me has been better than the Nosler / Winchester 64 grain bullets that I've tried in the past.

I've used them for culling deer and shooting hogs with good results.

 

[MisterHelix]

I’ve never been into ARs until about 5 years ago and since then I’ve enjoyed a dozen builds or so. it’s been fun doing the builds myself in a variety of cartridges and barrel lengths. Over the last month I’ve been loading a bunch of components that have been sitting around collecting dust for a couple years. I still have a lot of brass though, new starline stuff. I’ve loaded 77 grain TMK, 77 grain OTMs, 64 grain bonded Noslers and some 64 grain game shoks but I’m running out of bullets, I have a ton of 55 grain bullets left buts that about it. I’d like to find a bullet over 60 grains to use in a couple 16 and 20” 1:7 ARs. The bullets I mentioned above are fairly spendy, I’d like to find a bullet that you can find in stock and by at volume and be able to restock when your running low. Non FMJ, looking for a tipped or soft point bullet that is an accurate and hits hard. Cannelure or non cannelure. It needs to feed reliably in a variety of semi autos. To all you AR experts who have been doing this for awhile what would buy and why? Trying to stay away from the Gucci bullets.

I hear you on the Gucci bullets. I can’t afford them if I want to shoot as much as I do.

I’m using the 77 match seconds from midway right now at 15¢ per. When they’re out I’ll prolly switch to the 75’s from creedmore sports.

I used to get these 62’s from mid south for a dime but I guess they’re gone. I sound like my grandpa. Haha.

 

[jelenko]

.224 RMR 69 Gr. BTHP 3GH *NEW* (Read Description Before Ordering) | RMR Bullets

We make this bullet ourselves. It is still in development so there may be some variances from lot to lot. We have pretty much gotten this bullet to where we want it. It is nearly perfect. I say nearly because city wastewater requirements mean we don’t currently have a way to polish/degrease this...

www.rmrbullets.com

$0.15 apiece if you buy 1000. Not sp, but not fmj either....

I was going to mention Rocky Mountain Reloading also.

 

[nakneker]

Check out the Speer 70 grain semi spitzer.

When they go on sale, I buy as many as I can afford. Accuracy for me has been better than the Nosler / Winchester 64 grain bullets that I've tried in the past.

I've used them for culling deer and shooting hogs with good results.

That the kind of bullet I’m looking for, couldn’t find them in stock but I signed up for notifications. I’m a fan of Speer bullets, wish they would produce more than they have since Covid though.

.224 RMR 69 Gr. BTHP 3GH *NEW* (Read Description Before Ordering) | RMR Bullets

We make this bullet ourselves. It is still in development so there may be some variances from lot to lot. We have pretty much gotten this bullet to where we want it. It is nearly perfect. I say nearly because city wastewater requirements mean we don’t currently have a way to polish/degrease this...

www.rmrbullets.com

$0.15 apiece if you buy 1000. Not sp, but not fmj either....

Thanks Adam, I think I’ll try some and see how they shoot. Pricing is right on large quantities, I appreciate the input.

 

[nakneker]

I hear you on the Gucci bullets. I can’t afford them if I want to shoot as much as I do.

I’m using the 77 match seconds from midway right now at 15¢ per. When they’re out I’ll prolly switch to the 75’s from creedmore sports.

I used to get these 62’s from mid south for a dime but I guess they’re gone. I sound like my grandpa. Haha.

The older I get the more like my Grandpa I become, that’s a good thing imo.

 

[Gary in MD]

I went through a similar decision process for my AR. I settled on “seconds” from powder valley. They were Sierra 55 grain Game Kings.
Cheap, accurate, and I figured that they would expand some even at the velocities of my 16” barreled rifle. I bought a thousand and they have also worked well out of my Swift.

 

[JLT]

Along the lines of the RMR recommendation, you may want to give the 68 gr. Hornady BTHP a try. They are inexpensive, easy to find, and they shoot where you point them. They don't hit with the authority of a 53 gr. VMax, but they do signal their arrival.

 

[mic2377]

I am partial to the Hornady 75 BTHP, but they are not technically a hunting bullet. Have shot great in every AR I have fired them through with at least 1/8 twist.

I have also used some of the 55 and 70 gr Speer soft points with decent results. The accuracy has not been as good as the match bullets but is still very acceptable. I have not shot any game with these yet however. When I picked these up, I got them for between $70 to $90/1000... It was hard to resist and they are a great value.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

@nakneker, I'm starting to shoot a AR a little more now but haven’t reloaded for it yet. Do you crimp your bullets after seating?

 

[nakneker]

@nakneker, I'm starting to shoot a AR a little more now but haven’t reloaded for it yet. Do you crimp your bullets after seating?

Im not an expert on AR reloading, let me get that out of the way. Forum member OSO and Alf offer a lot of good advice for AR reloading among others. I started out shooting only crimped reloads and bullets with cannelures. I was loading 55 grain bullets at the time. That was fine for closer shooting but when I stretched things out to 600 it was quickly apparent the heavier bullets would get the job done and those 55s struggled in any kind of wind. So I started using heavier bullets like the 77 OTM and the 77 TMK which helped a lot, both of those bullets don’t have a cannelure but I used tighter neck tension and haven’t had any issues with the bullets moving OAL in the mag. I’ve read opinions that go both ways when it comes to crimping but using tighter neck tension and no crimp has worked fine for me. I’m using a 20”, 16”, 12” and 7” AR in 5.56. The little 7 is loud and obnoxious buts it’s fun. I’m not using a can, a can would tame things a bit more which wouldn’t hurt things. I have one in jail right now, TI dead air. The mighty armor die has given me good results I might add.

Anyone with better insights feel free to add your experience.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Im not an expert on AR reloading, let me get that out of the way. Forum member OSO and Alf offer a lot of good advice for AR reloading among others. I started out shooting only crimped reloads and bullets with cannelures. I was loading 55 grain bullets at the time. That was fine for closer shooting but when I stretched things out to 600 it was quickly apparent the heavier bullets would get the job done and those 55s struggled in any kind of wind. So I started using heavier bullets like the 77 OTM and the 77 TMK which helped a lot, both of those bullets don’t have a cannelure but I used tighter neck tension and haven’t had any issues with the bullets moving OAL in the mag. I’ve read opinions that go both ways when it comes to crimping but using tighter neck tension and no crimp has worked fine for me. I’m using a 20”, 16”, 12” and 7” AR in 5.56. The little 7 is loud and obnoxious buts it’s fun. I’m not using a can, a can would tame things a bit more which wouldn’t hurt things. I have one in jail right now, TI dead air. The mighty armor die has given me good results I might add.

Anyone with better insights feel free to add your experience.

That’s great information! Thanks for responding back.

 

[MisterHelix]

Some folks report tip deformation during chambering and/or lead build up in the receiver extension lugs of AR rifles when using projectiles with exposed lead tips.

Other folks say if you use them, maybe watch out for that and clean it off.

I’m not real sure if it’s a problem or not. I only ran a few hundred, but didn’t notice anything.

I like the Speer 165 spbt for a do-all, affordable bullet for my .308 bolt gun, though.

 

[Majday]

RMR also has 75s of the bthp they make. I'm Sure you have seen that if you have looked at their website. Same as the 69s I believe just heavier. Typically are in stock. I've loaded some 75s in a 20" WOA under 1 moa at 250. Have yet to get a yote with them but have pushed them to 2850 with xbr and good accuracy

 

[JB10]

50gr vmax for coyotes in one ar. 75gr hornady bthp in another one. And some 55gr sp hornady in another. All 3 projectiles i buy in bulk of 500 or more at a time from a website.

 

[karrarararararar]

I haven't tried them yet, bit Barnes makes a 77gr Match Burner.

Barnes 22cal 77gr Match Burner #32050

Product Information Caliber: 22cal Bullet Diameter: 0.224” Bullet Weight: 77 Grains OAL: TBD Bullet Style: Boat Tail Hollow Point G1 BC: TBD Part Number: 32050 Quantity: 100

www.bluecollarreloading.com

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I get Sub 1 MOA group's from my 16", 1-7 twist, AA-15, Piston Rifle with, 60 gr. NBT's, 65 gr. Sierra GK's and 69 gr. SMK's using Win 748 powder 25.7 grains for first 2 Bullets and, a flat 25.0 grains for the 69's.
I like to "Throw" Ball Powders,.. whenever, possible !
The NBT's are "Explosive" on, Sage Rats ! Not cheap Bullets, but sometimes, Second's are available.

 

[AccelR8]

...in stock and by at volume and be able to restock when your running low. Non FMJ, looking for a tipped or soft point bullet that is an accurate and hits hard. Cannelure or non cannelure. It needs to feed reliably in a variety of semi autos.

I really like the Hornady 60 grain spire point soft point, no. 2270 which is lower priced, easily available and performs well. Published load data from various sources suggest max loads producing about 3,000 to 3,100 fps or so. I down load a little and look for about 2,800 fps from my ARs.

Another bullet I like and shoot often is the 60 grain V-Max no. 22281. I seem to find these on sale often especially at Midsouth Shooters Supply. Same load data as above.

edit to add; after I wrote this I checked Midsouth...and they're both out of stock! Oops. But over the long term I've found these both readily available.

 

[nakneker]

I ended up loading 1000 of those RMR 69 grain bullets, they do a good job. They seem like a very consistent bullet. I’m gonna order another 5k for something to shoot, still gonna try a few others. The pic is a 10 shot group at 96 yards, the reticle is a chevon, scope has a max of 8x. I’m not use to the reticle, I think that’s where the horizontal wandering could be cleaned up a bit but it still held just over an inch and works fine for my purposes with that rifle.

.224 RMR 69 Gr. BTHP 3GH *NEW* (Read Description Before Ordering) | RMR Bullets

We make this bullet ourselves. It is still in development so there may be some variances from lot to lot. We have pretty much gotten this bullet to where we want it. It is nearly perfect. I say nearly because city wastewater requirements mean we don’t currently have a way to polish/degrease this...

www.rmrbullets.com