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Looking for heavy .224 SD bullets.

Blackgrub0331

I'm sure this has been asked before so please forgive me. I'm looking to stock up on SD bullets the heavier type for my 12.5-inch AR-15 pistol it has a 1:7 twist on it and seems to like the 69+ gr so far.

I'm wanting advice because I have read not all HP bullets when it comes to .224 are the same. I was told that some HP bullets are HP for accuracy, not expansion. When I look to see a lot of 77 gr SMK or Hornady 75 gr BTHP never used any of them don't want to buy them and find out that they are not what I'm looking for.

Any advice would help or suggestions on a good bullet. I'm looking to load 500+ of these so also not looking for a bullet that costs a lot of money also. Just to add if anyone has a suggestion for a good .224/225 mold for casting I'm willing to hear that also that I'd also like to have an HP and solid pin.

Thanks!
 
FWIW - many target bullets such as the 69 or 77 SMKs are technically "open tip match" bullets, not hollowpoints, even though the meplats have a "hole". They will generally not expand like a hollowpoint bullet, or a match bullet with a ballistic tip (plastic) will. They're not designed to do that.

With your 7-twist barrel, you should be able to load any bullet up to at least ~80 gr in weight if you so desired. The shorter barrel will have some impact due to the lower velocity attainable, but realistically, you should be able to load anything up to 77 gr weight. At that point, the greater importance should be precision and how easy to tune a particular bullet is. If the acronym "SD" stands for "self-defense" (I wasn't sure), any of the true HP or ballistic-tipped hunting bullets in the 55 to 77 gr range ought to work well. In these times, whatever you can lay your hands on is sometimes the only choice. However, you have a pretty wide range of options. In terms of being more specific than that with regard to actual load data, I'll let someone else chime in. I've owned a couple Sig 5.56 pistols, but I didn't reload for them, using commercial ammunition only. Given the inherent limitations of these types of firearms with regard to attaining uber-precision at longer range, I'd think that availability, expansion, and reasonable precision would be an acceptable goal.
 
Ned Ludd said:
FWIW - many target bullets such as the 69 or 77 SMKs are technically "open tip match" bullets, not hollowpoints, even though the meplats have a "hole". They will generally not expand like a hollowpoint bullet, or a match bullet with a ballistic tip (plastic) will. They're not designed to do that.

With your 7-twist barrel, you should be able to load any bullet up to at least ~80 gr in weight if you so desired. The shorter barrel will have some impact due to the lower velocity attainable, but realistically, you should be able to load anything up to 77 gr weight. At that point, the greater importance should be precision and how easy to tune a particular bullet is. If the acronym "SD" stands for "self-defense" (I wasn't sure), any of the true HP or ballistic-tipped hunting bullets in the 55 to 77 gr range ought to work well. In these times, whatever you can lay your hands on is sometimes the only choice. However, you have a pretty wide range of options. In terms of being more specific than that with regard to actual load data, I'll let someone else chime in. I've owned a couple Sig 5.56 pistols, but I didn't reload for them, using commercial ammunition only. Given the inherent limitations of these types of firearms with regard to attaining uber-precision at longer range, I'd think that availability, expansion, and reasonable precision would be an acceptable goal.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I'm not a precision loader or really care about that in this caliber. Maybe in 308? This is a close quarters rifle something you can use to 200 yards.

Might be over estimating since my 7.5 inch 300 blk I can hit at 100 yards on a IDPA 2/3 steel target with a red dot as long as I do my part and that's not very much!
 
Something I do when considering a certain bullet is type into a search engine "xxx-gel test." You can find lots of good information this way. One of my favorite bullets for 223 nd 22-250 (fast twist barrels) is the Hornady 75 grain bthp. Here's a video:

 
Blackgrub0331,
You should consider a purpose built bullet for your SD application.
We make the Speer Gold Dot line for exactly this application, and we build an enormous amount of ammunition for various agencies and general LE sales with the Gold Dots. We have several weights, but you probably want the 75gr. I doubt you'll find a better bullet for terminal performance on the handloading market.
We worked up data for the 223 Rem and 5.56 x 45 NATO (links below)
If you decide to go for the 75gr Gold Dots you will want to find some Power Pro(TM) 2000-MR powder for best velocities.

Speer Ammunition

Speer Ammunition
www.speer.com www.speer.com
 
Alliant Reloading said:
Blackgrub0331,
You should consider a purpose built bullet for your SD application.
We make the Speer Gold Dot line for exactly this application, and we build an enormous amount of ammunition for various agencies and general LE sales with the Gold Dots. We have several weights, but you probably want the 75gr. I doubt you'll find a better bullet for terminal performance on the handloading market.
We worked up data for the 223 Rem and 5.56 x 45 NATO (links below)
If you decide to go for the 75gr Gold Dots you will want to find some Power Pro(TM) 2000-MR powder for best velocities.

Speer Ammunition

Speer Ammunition
www.speer.com www.speer.com
Click to expand...
Nice and all but where can you buy the bullet at? I've found no one that has any in stock.
 
Blackgrub0331 said:
Nice and all but where can you buy the bullet at? I've found no one that has any in stock.
Click to expand...
Sorry about the supply situation Blackgrub0331, but I just wanted to give my best advice on your original question.
I would still suggest keeping an eye out for them when they reappear, as they will answer the mail for what you are looking for.
Shoot well,
Paul
 
Alliant Reloading said:
Blackgrub0331,
You should consider a purpose built bullet for your SD application.
We make the Speer Gold Dot line for exactly this application, and we build an enormous amount of ammunition for various agencies and general LE sales with the Gold Dots. We have several weights, but you probably want the 75gr. I doubt you'll find a better bullet for terminal performance on the handloading market.
We worked up data for the 223 Rem and 5.56 x 45 NATO (links below)
If you decide to go for the 75gr Gold Dots you will want to find some Power Pro(TM) 2000-MR powder for best velocities.

Speer Ammunition

Speer Ammunition
www.speer.com www.speer.com
Click to expand...
The 75 Gold Dot is my first choice for an SD load. It shoots under an inch in my rifles, and performs well in all the tests that I have seen.

- 77 TMK. It has a good reputation but they are hard to find right now.

- 64 Winchester PSP. This is an older hunting style bullet but has a good reputation with law enforcement.
 
I think the 75 GD is one of, if not the, best choice. I keep watching for them but haven't been able to get any for a long, long time now. Factory loaded Speer GD ammo IS available and that would be an excellent choice. Isn't there even a dedicated "Short Barrel" factory loading?

Actually plain old XM-193 5.56 is not a bad choice for defense either, all things considered.
 
Between Sierra Matchking and Nosler custom competition 77 grain bullets, the custom competition bullet supposedly has better terminal ballistics: https://www.ar15.com/forums/ar-15/N...y-Accuracy-and-Terminal-Ballistics/16-688776/

Testing by ar15.com and the social regressive shows the 75 Speer Gold dot performs well.

At that barrel length and twist rate, I would also try some of the 62 grain options so that you can maximize the potential to achieve higher velocities. Lehigh defense controlled chaos 62gr bullets tend to shoot really well with most powders I have tested. Speer gold dot 62gr bullets seemed to prefer Hodgdon Benchmark, with Varget, and Shooter's World Precision powder also giving acceptable results...no luck with IMR 8208 XBR for me with that bullet
 
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