Bullet Differences?

[Phil3]

I am new to reloading and am ordering three or four powders and some bullets, but not sure if it is wise to concentrate on just a couple of bullets or have many types on hand to test, even they are similar (see below). The rifle is an AR15 using a Krieger 1:9" twist barrel. My question can I really expect to see any difference between similar bullets, or should I concentrate on trying to develop accurate loads with different powders, powder loads, etc.

Berger 52 grain HP flat base
Berger 55 grain HP flat base
Sierra 52 grain HP boat tail
Sierra 53 grain HP flat base

I am also trying the Sieera 69 grain MatchKing, which is is different enough to warrant testing.

- Phil

 

[sward]

I too am not as experienced with the reloading as some on this forum, but, i would venture to say that it may not be to much of a difference to be seen when changing bullet weights in such small increments......i would just work up a string with all the different bullets and try em to see which one was the most accurate and then tweek that one out a little more until satisfied.
Sorry if i aint that much help! It is a good question though, and maybe someone else here can guide you if i am wrong! Good luck!

Steven

 

[Rust]

I'd say pick a bullet that you think will work for you and work up a load.

Take a look in the .223 section for combinations that have worked for others with similar rigs and start there.

 

[Laurie]

Phil,

some barrels will shoot a storm with almost any reasonably suitable bullet, and any reasonable powder combination, but usually you'll find they have preferences.

For instance my first .223, a Remington 700VS, really liked the 52gn Hornady A-Max, and did almost but not quite as well with the 52gn Sierra MK. It wasn't nearly so happy with the 53gn Hornady HPM or Speer 52gn Gold Match.

When I got another .223 700 recently, an SPS Tactical in 9" twist, I more or less assumed it would do well straight off with the A-Maxes - it didn't! But it shoots the 52gn Sierra really well.

An 8" twist AR15 with Lilja match barrel I had (manually operated - we're not trusted with semi-auto centrefires here in the UK) really liked 69gn Lapua, Sierra, and Nosler match BTs, but wouldn't perform at all with 68gn Hornady HPBTMs. Other .223 shooters had good results from this bullet though, and my rifle really liked the 75gn Hornady A-Max.

The morale is don't go out and buy 1,000 of something because your friends say they're best, or you read of good results with them. Buy 100 of something or as you suggest several things, and find out what the rifle likes, using one or two of the popular powders for that bullet weight. This may be the first bullet you try, or maybe not. Once you have something that performs, develop and fine-tune your loads for it and get a good supply in.

Laurie,
York, England

 

[82boy]

The bullets may be similar in weight but they may have different bearing surface lengths, and different meplats. the boat tails and the flat backs sometime have different load data do to pressures. I have found that the bullets you have listed I have had good luck with them all.

Common myth is the boat tailed bullets will not stabilize until the reach out past 200 yards. I have found that the SMK in 52 and 53 will shoot very similar. Sierra's manual list them both together as far as load data goes. I have found that Hornadys 53gr fb Match shoot similar to SMK's. These are all great bullets.

The Berger bullets 52gr bullet I found is similar to the SMK 53gr, I think it shoots about the same. The 55gr Match is a bullet my 22br loves. Reports I have heard from other people say that have problems with this bullet.

Nosler makes a 52gr match bullet and it is a good shooter, I found that it is easier to hit the land with this bullet over the SMK, and Berger bullets.
The thing is you just have to try them and see, but for the most part i have found them all to shoot about the same.

 

[bheadboy]

all .224 bullets are not the same diamiter, bearing surface, overall length, ojive, runout (roundness) thus though simular they differ.

Some barrells tolerate these differences well, others do not. the powder choices help get the most of each bullet design, however, there almost always is one bullet and powder combination that works the best, if only slightly so. this is often lost in the shooters ability, scope, bedding, shooting conditions -

my suggestion is get a box of each you wish to try, and do some testing, then settle on the one you find works best in your rifle, brass, primer, powder combination.

using a dial micrometer bullet spinner i find the Sierra, Nosler, Hornady, speer read runout from good to bad in the above order. I also find they shoot in that order from most of my rifles.

Good luck

 

[MaxOwner]

My own limited opinion would be a trial and error sort of thing.

Pick a few and try them out. Then another batch, etc.

 

[SS427]

You could find a huge difference between those bullets. I would try several different powders with them until you found one that shoots. All four of them might be very accurate. Or could be neither of the four are very accurate with any powder and that 1:9 twist barrel will only shoot heavier bullets well (although that is unlikely).

None of my two .223s liked the Berger bullets very well, but the seemingly exact Sierra bullet would shoot great, or good, depending on the gun. I'd heard Bergers like to be very close to the lands or jammed, and with my factory rifles I couldn't get them that close and still retain enough of the bullet in the case. I couldn't get the Sierra's close either, but they didn't seem to mind the jump. If your Krieger barrel is throated for heavy bullets, it might be a problem for you too.

One of my .223s likes just about any bullet (other than Bergers) with any powder. It does have a couple combos that shoot better, but for the most part they all work well. On the other hand I have a Wby .223 and it will only shoot Nosler 55 Ballistic Tips with Varget, which it shoots dead on. Same load with a Sierra Blitzking and group sizes double or even triple. Go figure.

One of the things I've changed in how I go about this is to have realistic expectations of what the gun will do. I've wasted way to much money chasing those "one hole groups all day long" BS stories. If I can get a quality factory rifle shooting 1/2 inch groups on a consistent basis, I'm pretty much done with load development. Factory rifles just don't shoot much better than that.

 

[Laurie]

Otter: One of the things I've changed in how I go about this is to have realistic expectations of what the gun will do. I've wasted way to much money chasing those "one hole groups all day long" BS stories. If I can get a quality factory rifle shooting 1/2 inch groups on a consistent basis, I'm pretty much done with load development. Factory rifles just don't shoot much better than that.

+ 1 on that - there are precious few factory rifles that shoot consistent half-MOA groups never mind better.

Laurie

 

[Phil3]

Thanks for the advice...looks like different bullets, even if similar in weight and shape, may shoot quite differently. I bought the bullets below...one or more should shoot quite well. I also bought the powders shown. Using Remington 7-1/2 primers in Winchester cases. Reloading being done with a Forster Co-Ax press, RCBS 1500 scale/dispenser, Redding full length sizing die and micrometer bullet seater.

Berger 52 grain HP flat base
Berger 55 grain HP flat base
Sierra 52 grain HP boat tail - MatchKing
Sierra 53 grain HP flat base - MatchKing
Sierra 69 grain HP boat tail - MatchKing
Hornady 52 grain boat tail - A-Max
Hornady 68 graun boat tail - Match

Vhitavouri N133 (Sierra accuracy load for AR15 with 52 and 53 grain MatchKings)
Hodgdon H322
Hodgdon Varget (Sierra accuracy load for AR15 with 69 grain MatchKing)

Thought about trying Hodgdon H335 and Winchester 748, but can not find.

- Phil

 

[SS427]

Varget and H322 are my favorite powders for the three .223s I currently own. The 133 shoots more accurately out of all three, buy only marginally better. Since the local cost of 133 is ten bucks a pound more than the other two, it will never be my go to powder for these factory guns, despite the improved accuracy.

H335 has never been a really accurate powder for me. Suppose to be one of the best for the caliber and I've noticed Cooper .223 test targets almost always use that powder with 50 gr SBKs. So it must be a good choice. If you ever have the opportunity to try it, be sure to do so. It meters about the best of any powder I've ever used. I've heard people recommend a magnum primer because of how fine the powder is. I did try that but didn't get any better results.

I've had really good luck with the Hornady 68 grain match bullets in a 1:9 Savage. Slightly better accuracy than the Sierra 69s. The nice thing about this is the Hornday's are less expensive. With the cost of components going crazy, I've started load development with the less expensive stuff first, hoping I find a great load at a low price. I know, I'm cheap.

 

[cliffy]

Bullets are different, but superior .223 Loads require Alliant RL-10x for best velocity. 23.7 grains of 10x is a great starting point for all loads betwixt 36 to 55 grain loads. Experimentation trumps all guess-work, yet what works BEST for my rifle may not make yours happy. When using a chronograph, you will find your favorite, if only by accident. Cliffy

 

[Phil3]

Phil
I would skip the Barnes bullet for now and stick with a tangent ogive bullet if it was my gun.The Sierra 52 and 53 grain bullets and a Berger BT Match bullet in a similar weight would be the easiest to get to shoot well in my opinion.
The secant ogive bullets tend to be more finnicky so try them later.
Lynn

Lynn,

I did not order any Barnes bullets, just Berger, Sierra, and one Hornady.

- Phil

 

[cliffy]

I've tested many .224" bullets in .223 Remington loads. Fifty-five grain Berger Varmint/Target are extremely accurate to 300 yards plus, yet Nosler Ballistic-Tip orangies hold their own accuracywise. 24.8 grains of Alliant ReLoder 10x produces smooth recoil and 300 yard accuracy from 55 grain Ballistic-Tips. .223 Remington caliber thrives on 55 grain fare downrange. Cliffy