bullet for 223 for 250 yard f class

[cocopuff]

tell me your est bullet to use in a 1 in 9 twist barrel,for 250 yards as well as a wind bucking bullet....Been using sierra 69 gr,but thought maybe then is something better than that one..thanks

 

[jr600yd]

77 smk's

 

[Dgd6mm]

75 grain Amax

 

[MK 19]

The best success I have had with a 1:9 twist Savage 223 has been with the Berger 73gr Match Target BT over VV N133 with Lapua brass and CCI BR4's, but your milage may vary

 

[mac86951]

With my experience, if 69s aren't doing it for you at 250y, the 77 isn't going to help much either.

Question 1: What barrel length,
Question 2: What chamber,
Question 3: What powder,
Question 4: What wind strength,
Question 5: What trigger,
Question 6: What brass,
Question 6: well you get the picture at this point.

We get a LOT of AR questions on this forum so please search away! I've written a few threads myself.

To summarize, I'll tell you now that all AR barrels are super sensitive and tempermental beasts that require the user to find their own data. What we mean by this is that one 1:9 is not equal to another. Some like Nosler, Hornady bullets, others need Berger or Sierra. Woe is upon you if your barrel only likes JLK (mine does and I love and loathe it).

That said, I would recommend you go to 53 or 52gr match bullets for 250y and work up from there to the 69(ish) grains. 77gr is my competition 600y bullet, but I would trade the velocity for BC in a heart beat if shooting at sub 300y. I should point out that where I shoot crosswinds under 10MPH only happen in January.

Definitely try the 77gr, a box of 100 is good insurance that you know how your barrel performs vs. the unknown, but I'd estimate that in the long run with plenty of shooting and reloading practice, you'll be doing just fine with a lighter weight bullet in all but high cross-wind type shoots. That said I don't know more, so please TRY TRY TRY. What works for one guaranteed will not work for you, so try them ALL. (work up pressure safely).

-Mac

 

[cocopuff]

guess I should have included all that information

Stevens action
Savage bolt
30 inch McGowin barrel,bull 1in9
bell carlson stock
timmney trigger
Harris Bipod..
Black Hills brass...Lapus sucks.
H 4895 or H322
Sierra 69 gr MK
CCI BR PRIMERS small rifle
weaver 36x scope

Do you need more info? I wouldnt take an AR if you gave it to me..AK 47 ROCKS...LOL

 

[mac86951]

Ok, given that information you can definitely use the slower powders.

Varget is another good one, so is AR-Comp, CFE223, BL(C)2, and VVN140. H4895 is appropriate for the 77gr or heavier and do some work-ups for COL off the lands when possible.

Trouble is that 30" barrel length is going to give you plenty of velocity, but the 1:9 isn't going to stabilize the 80 or 90gr bullets which would be perfect for the 30" barrel.

I would recommend trying up to an 80gr (can't hurt to find out), but mostly try different brands. Lapua, Berger, Hornady, Nosler, Sierra all have something in 69ish and 77ish weight. Treat VLDs separate and try them too.


-Mac

 

[MGYSGT]

At 250 yards the 69 you are shooting, should be more than enough weight. I didn't have any luck with the 75's in my 1:9. Groups opened up to twice the size of the 68's and 69's.

Tom

 

[varmintshooter]

I have Mcgowen 22-250 9 twist on a savage m 12. I tried 75 amax with imr 4895 @ 3280
fps and they worked well on hot days but temp dropped the group was more of a pattern. I think a shorter bullet would be a better choice with a 9 twist.

 

[Scott Harris]

75 grain Amax

I can barely get the 75 AMAX stable with a 1:8 twist and definitely would not recommend it with a 1:9 twist barrel. You'd have much better luck with an 80 SMK in a 1:9 twist barrel...go to the 77SMKs to be safe.

 

[Dgd6mm]

75 grain Amax

I can barely get the 75 AMAX stable with a 1:8 twist and definitely would not recommend it with a 1:9 twist barrel. You'd have much better luck with an 80 SMK in a 1:9 twist barrel...go to the 77SMKs to be safe.

Well Scott, I have to admit I thru that out there too quickly. My 1-9 shoots Hornaday 68gr. BTHP out at 200 in tiny groups, I have not had it out to any farther. My 26" .223 Benchmark barrel that is a 1-8 twist I use for Mid-Range F/Class with a 75gr. Amax has giving me 191-196's, not bad for 600. 300 yards on the reduced F/Class target my score has been 196-199 with good x count. I did check the 1-8 twist and it is actually 1-8.3" I'm sorry I got rambling, I'd try the 68 hor. bthp and the 77 smk.

 

[cocopuff]

FWIW----I tried the berger 73 grain with some luck..But you might get 5 in a tight cluster and then the rest out..At leaset an inch or more away...??
Tried different OAL's as well...Now I did'nt try but 2 powders..H4895 and H322..So maybe I will stay with the 69 grain sierra...I know they shoot well...Appreciate all your comments.....One fellow I talked with said he was shooting 55 grain bullets in the 1 in 9...Did'nt know rater to eleive him or not..lol

 

[akajun]

Try a 77 smk, Berger, or nosler , they are all about the same in an ar. Also look at the hornady 75 bthp,

 

[wrangler5]

FWIW----I tried the berger 73 grain with some luck..But you might get 5 in a tight cluster and then the rest out..At leaset an inch or more away...??
Tried different OAL's as well.

I had the same experience with my Marlin X7 with its 9" twist, 26" long, heavy barrel. My tiniest groups have been with 75-77g bullets (groups under 0.3MOA at 200 yds from bench, bipod and rear bag), but the next group from the same batch looked like a shotgun pattern. The benchrest guys at my club say that's common with too-heavy for twist bullets - it's not that they'll never shoot well, it's that they won't shoot well consistently.

I wanted heaver-than-69g bullets to use in my club's 600 yd F class matches, but have decided that it just isn't going to work without a faster twist barrel. I have a pretty consistent and accurate Varget/69 SMK load worked up, and have some Berger 70 VLDs I'm going to try, to see if they're significantly better. Whichever one I go with, I'll just have to learn to read wind better than I would have to do with heavier bullets.

 

[nastynatesfish]

I'd look at the wind difference between the 69 and a 52-55gr bullet. The 53gr boho are good bullets and the velocity that you can push them might outweighs the benefits of the heavier bullets. I think >300 yards the weights won't make a huge difference unless your shooting in a 20 mph cross wind but it'll push the heavier too

 

[Pyscodog]

My Remington bolt rifle has a Shilen 1/9 twist. It shoots the 77grain Bergers pretty good but wouldn't shoot the 75 A-Max worth a flip.