AR bullet choice

[Coyotefurharvester]

I wanted get some practice shooting using my Death grip tripod, standing/sitting in a chair(figured the Sept prairie dog run would be a good time). So I did a very quick and dirty load work with 55 BK for my 18" carbine(assembled from clearance parts several years ago) which I shoot suppressed. I had found a good supply of Sierra 55 blitz kings, below vmax price, shooting prairie dogs was easy and fun to about 240-245 yards. Past that not being able to level the rifle easily for dialing the turrents became an issue. I have since modified the tripod with a ball head, should help a bunch on long shots. Next I will try the Speer 55 TNT, cheaper to shoot, usually accurate.

 

[nakneker]

I wanted get some practice shooting using my Death grip tripod, standing/sitting in a chair(figured the Sept prairie dog run would be a good time). So I did a very quick and dirty load work with 55 BK for my 18" carbine(assembled from clearance parts several years ago) which I shoot suppressed. I had found a good supply of Sierra 55 blitz kings, below vmax price, shooting prairie dogs was easy and fun to about 240-245 yards. Past that not being able to level the rifle easily for dialing the turrents became an issue. I have since modified the tripod with a ball head, should help a bunch on long shots. Next I will try the Speer 55 TNT, cheaper to shoot, usually accurate.

Those blitz kings are one of my favorites, used them a lot in a couple 220 swifts. Deadly

 

[Zero333]

@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?

I use the LEE Factory Crimp Die for 5.56/223rem semi auto duty. It's as good as it gets and extremely consistent compared to a taper crimp or roll crimp. I wouldn't think about a crimp if it wasn't for the LFCD.
As long as you have 0.0015" neck/bullet interference you don't need a crimp anyways. So it's not a deal breaker to crimp or not to crimp. I've had great results with and without crimping.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I use the LEE Factory Crimp Die for 5.56/223rem semi auto duty. It's as good as it gets and extremely consistent compared to a taper crimp or roll crimp. I wouldn't think about a crimp if it wasn't for the LFCD.
As long as you have 0.0015" neck/bullet interference you don't need a crimp anyways. So it's not a deal breaker to crimp or not to crimp. I've had great results with and without crimping.

Thanks Sir, I do have that Lee die in a drawer here somewhere. My brain is not picking up what LFCD stands for this morning.

 

[Loudenboomer]

Lee Factory Crimp Die. From an old military acronym guy.

 

[David Milisock]

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 mostly shoot M193 or M855 however I do reload for practice at longer ranges out to 600 yards. However, the in my A2 the M193 performance is very much better than minute of man out to 500 yards. I reload with Hornady 68 grain match, the brass is Lake City, I only reload brass for the AR a few times, cartridge length is maximum for the magazine and I do not crimp. I can't remember the charge but powder is Varget.

 

[ebb]

I've used 69 SMK as my go to bullet for ARs for years. I used to get them for less than $20 per 100. They are so expensive now that I've been looking at the RMRs for a while (I still have about 700SMKs to load) The target Nakneker posted has me convinced that they are my new go to bullet.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Lee tech email, send them 2 -20 practical dummy rds. 30$+ shipping for a custom LFCD.

 

[Rsadams]

Yes...Light crimp... The action on an AR is violent....Also use a lee factory crimp die...

@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?

..

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Lee Factory Crimp Die. From an old military acronym guy.

I always miss the obvious ones! Thanks.

 

[Jet]

I try to duplicate the MK262 round using Sierra 77gr HPBTs. It meets your criteria and is very versatile. Like others have said, buy blems from powder valley.