Heavy .223 bullets in AR-15 (Mag Length)

[Edwin Gideons]

I am looking to improve on my load performance for PRS Gas Gun matches and would like to upgrade in the BC department. I am currently running 77 SMKs at 2720 (factory ammo) and know that there are several bullets on the market that can improve upon BC, and I can push them a little faster with loading. I realize the 75 ELD-M is out because you can't even come close to loading those mag length. I'm wondering what other bullets have shown success at AR-15 mag length. Thanks in advance.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Without modifying your mags, the 77 is really about the longest/highest BC .223 bullet you can readily load to mag length. Pretty much all of the heavier, higher BC bullets are much too long to load to mag length without sinking them down in the case way below the neck/shoulder.

 

[cmillard]

I recently switched to sierra 77 TMK. Have the same G1 as an 80 smk and can be loaded to mag length. They shoot superb out of my 7 twist douglas with mr2000 powder and lc brass

 

[r bose]

Nosler makes a 70g RDF with a very high BC and can be pushed hard.....max velocities. also I've seen shooters use the 82g berger at mag length.....slower but at a higher BC.

 

[johnfred1965]

Nosler claims a higher BC for it's 70gr RDF. Now that they have started using radar to check their BC's, they have gotten a little more accurate. You could also push that bullet a hair faster.

 

[johnfred1965]

Nosler makes a 70g RDF with a very high BC and can be pushed hard.....max velocities. also I've seen shooters use the 82g berger at mag length.....slower but at a higher BC.

great idea!!

 

[r bose]

great idea!!

Thanks. I have friends shooting the 70g RDF XTC and doing very well with them. Has the BC of a 80g sierra. The 82g berger at mag length uses up a lot of powder capacity of the case but with a ball powder like Tac or 2000MR you'll get good speed and I've shot them out to 600 yards shooting XTC with very good results.

 

[johnfred1965]

Thanks. I have friends shooting the 70g RDF XTC and doing very well with them. Has the BC of a 80g sierra. The 82g berger at mag length uses up a lot of powder capacity of the case but with a ball powder like Tac or 2000MR you'll get good speed and I've shot them out to 600 yards shooting XTC with very good results.

Yeah, I posted about the same thing just a few seconds after you. we must have been typing at the same time.

 

[ronemus]

The Hornady 75 gr BTHP is another option - its BC is a bit higher than that of the 77 gr SMK, The Hornady BTHP is intended for use at mag length, and doesn't mind a long jump to the lands. With handloads I can run them at ~2930 fps from a 28" barrel with no issues; that's a pressure-tested load from Alliant, not a hot-rodded load.

 

[SteveOak]

Vihta Vouri N500 series powders will give you more velocity. The N530 looks to be about the right speed, N540 would probably be too slow.

 

[DR_2297]

You CAN load 80.5 / 82 Bergers to mag length. The ogive will be below the case mouth somewhat but it will feed from a magazine.

For 77’s mag length look at 23.4-5 of 8208 and push the 77’s back to 2.24 In a wylde chamber.

 

[mac86951]

I am looking to improve on my load performance for PRS Gas Gun matches and would like to upgrade in the BC department. I am currently running 77 SMKs at 2720 (factory ammo) and know that there are several bullets on the market that can improve upon BC, and I can push them a little faster with loading. I realize the 75 ELD-M is out because you can't even come close to loading those mag length. I'm wondering what other bullets have shown success at AR-15 mag length. Thanks in advance.

What distance are you looking for? Ive found that a 69 comes real close to a 77 on the ballistic wind drift out to 600y when mag fed restricted.

I've had good luck with the Berger 70gr vld from a mag which Trump's both in BC; and doesn't take up powder volume like a 77.

Mac.

 

[Bamban]

As Mac said, the Berger 70 VLDs shoot extremy well jumping from magasine. I load my 70 VLDs with LC/CCI450/24 grains of H4895.

 

[Edwin Gideons]

I appreciate all the replies, there is a lot of great information already on this thread. I shot a PRS gas gun match this past weekend with 77SMKs @ 2720 and lost a lot of points to the winds that we couldn't see (lots of terrain induced wind that several people couldn't see but our impacts sure showed it). They also put a lot of targets at a similar distance (within 40-50 yards) so having a flatter shooting round would be an advantage for holds. That latter part sounds like a job for a lighter, flatter bullet but not if you want to give up points on heavy plates at 600+ yards that become very hard to spot impacts on. With all that being said, I really hope I can get the RDFs to shoot because they fit all the bills really well.

 

[1lnbrdg]

Mag-fed for PRS, AR-15 sized upper, and you are reloading anyways, 6X45 (simple .223 necked up to 6MM) with a 87 gr Hornady BTHP 2810 fps thru my 26" barrel.

If someone else picks the brass up for their .223, they're going to just neck it back down in their die with shorter case life due to neck splitting.

 

[Edwin Gideons]

Mag-fed for PRS, AR-15 sized upper, and you are reloading anyways, 6X45 (simple .223 necked up to 6MM) with a 87 gr Hornady BTHP 2810 fps thru my 26" barrel.

If someone else picks the brass up for their .223, they're going to just neck it back down in their die with shorter case life due to neck splitting.

I'm shooting the tactical division so it must either be .223 or .308. Of course there were some cases of .223 AI laying around, I wonder what division they claimed?

 

[dcali]

You don't give up a huge amount with mag length 77s to long seated 80s. It's significant, but the 77's are pretty good out to 600. I would like to see someone come out with some mag length bullet in the 70-80 grain range that are better optimized for drag, but I don't think there's a whole lot that can be done due to the nose length constraint. They're really designed as a short range bullet.

 

[LVLAaron]

The Hornady 75 gr BTHP is another option - its BC is a bit higher than that of the 77 gr SMK, The Hornady BTHP is intended for use at mag length, and doesn't mind a long jump to the lands. With handloads I can run them at ~2930 fps from a 28" barrel with no issues; that's a pressure-tested load from Alliant, not a hot-rodded load.

I shoot a ton of these at mag length. They're cheap, and shoot great. 19 bucks per 100

 

[cmillard]

I shot the 85 grain barnes match burners but the accuracy wasnt too impressive given their price. Switched to sierra 77 tmk and havent looked back. Both bullets can be mag fed.

 

[deadduck357]

May wanna look at the 73 ELD-M. Higher BC than 77 SMK. Designed for .223 at mag length.