5.56 Hornady TAP Question.

[kaforgey]

Hey INGo, I have a question. I bought a few boxes of Hornady TAP 5.56 ammo and I was looking at the boxes tonight and realized that it says to shoot out of a barrel with a 1 in 9 twist or faster. I have a Colt Match Target AR with 1 in 7 twist. Would I be ok to shoot the ammo through my rifle? Thanks for your time.

 

[lovemywoods]

You're in luck! The 1:7 twist is considered a 'faster' twist since that barrel has a full rotation in 7 inches. That will spin the bullet faster than the 1:9 barrel that makes a full rotation in 9 inches.

 

[kaforgey]

Sorry I forgot to mention that the bullets are 75 grain.

 

[kaforgey]

Thank you for clearing that up for me! As I was ponding the situation, I figured that the 1 in 7 twist was faster but concluded that with my luck that I would blow up gun.

 

[slow1911s]

It won't blow up your gun. What they are getting at is that a lot of old ARs/M-16s/ and bolt 223 guns had really slow twists: 1/10-1/14. Those probably won't stabilize the 75gr heads.

Your 9-twist tube should do just fine. Some 1/9s like heavies, some don't (mine likes 52s, go figure).

 

[Disposable Heart]

FRom ym limited experience:

The 75gr "tap" is loaded warm enough to stabilize in most 1:9, ANY 1:7s
The component V-max bullet, not so much, gotta load it hot to do any real fun.

I used to stock up on the 75gr stuff when I was an AR nut. My practice load was: (please work up, do not use at face value, YMMV, etc...)
23gr AA2230
75gr Prvi JHP

Replicated the Hornady load The Prvi component, even loaded at min, stabilized in various 1:9 I have fired them through.