looking for an accurate AR bullet !

[Tonygun500]

There's so many choices out there, .30 gr up to 90 gr. for handloading. I would like to start in the ball park, not the parking lot. I started reloading in 1987 and the little .223 is new to me. i've mastered handgun loads from .38 up to .500 S&W and the larger .30 cal belted magnums. I would like to spend more time shooting and less time working up the most accurate load, for this little beast.

 

[grunt soldier]

Depends on your rifle honestly but 69 is a favorite along with the hornady 75gr and the Sierra 77's

 

[Hillbilly]

77g SMKs have always done really well for me in a variety of rifles. Part of the equation depends on the twist of your barrel and what you are planning to do with it. Plinking at 100 yards, or target work at 700 yards.

 

[Sniper 79]

Like others have said it all depends on what you are looking to do and what barrel twist you have.

55grn Hornaday soft points would be a good starting point then go to some 69grn SMK

 

[Fordtough25]

I just got some hornady 75 gr to try out, can't wait!

 

[blacknwhite]

What is your definition of accurate? What are your goals with the round?

 

[bocefus78]

Twist rate on your barrel? Intended budget per projectile?

I've had sub moa groups from the 69 smk over varget as have most, but for half the price, I've had the same sized groups from the nosler 55gr varmageddon hp over h335.

 

[red_zr24x4]

My Savage 10 likes 60g V-max with some AA2015

 

[Tonygun500]

The twist is 1 in 9 ,my range out back is 200 yds. I have plenty of coyotes and ground hogs to keep me busy out to 600 yds. So this is my platform for the .223

 

[natdscott]

For that barrel, the easy button is two different bullets. Sierra's 65 GameKing and 69 MatchKing, placed in front of full charges of 4064, Varget, or AA2520 lit by a Remington or CCI BR primer, will shoot. Seat them to 2.255".

 

[natdscott]

And when you rebarrel, get an 8 twist.

 

[aaron580]

77gr vote here. Stupid accurate in my mk12

 

[natdscott]

The reason I don't come up with the 77 SMK is threefold. First, it is pretty marginally gyro stable in a 9 twist...and actually that's enough right there. That said, the 77 SMK has proven to me over about 3,000 rounds that it is just not quite as gilt-edge accurate as the smaller 69...and I run them in a 7.7 Krieger. Finally, for animals, the higher speed of the 65/69 is an asset under 250 yards or so because the .224 is still pretty small anyway you slice it.

Keep in mind I DO run the 77 myself...but it's specifically because the windage difference matters more to me than the precision difference.

The 77 is not a choice for this gentleman.

 

[KJQ6945]

77gr vote here. Stupid accurate in my mk12

Same here. Another vote for the 77's

MK12 Mod 0
55gr LC. (Bottom three holes were glass adjustments.) 5 round group.

Same gun, same day etc.
Black Hills 77gr Sierra TMK, 5 shot group

5 round group in the little target on the left.

77's through the right barrel are impressive.

 

[Tonygun500]

Thank you, it's a rainy weekend good time to spend loading.

 

[sheepdog697]

another +1 for the 77smk.

 

[BE Mike]

Same here. Another vote for the 77's

MK12 Mod 0
55gr LC. (Bottom three holes were glass adjustments.) 5 round group.

Same gun, same day etc.
Black Hills 77gr Sierra TMK, 5 shot group

5 round group in the little target on the left.

77's through the right barrel are impressive.

What distance please!

 

[KJQ6945]

What distance please!

That was setting up the scope at 100 yards. Sorry, nothing impressive.

 

[sgreen3]

To find whats best for your rifle your going to have to just try a few and see how they perform. With that said Ive had very nice results using a 68gr Hornady HPBT over top of 4320 IMR powder...

 

[natdscott]

To the posters recommending the 77 Sierra so highly: did you read his post listing a twist rate of 9" ??