Any .224 fmj bullets worth a darn

garryc · February 15, 2012, 02:44 AM

I bought some bulk .224 62gr fmj's, not worth crap. Same for my bulk 55gr FMJ bullets. I think they are both PRIVI, I ask now. The thing is that reading around it doesn't seem and of the 55gr FMJ's are any good.

How about Remington, Hornady and Winchesters? Are any of them worth a darn? I'm not looking for match stuff, but under 2 inches might be nice. I've been using TAC, Will try some 748 this weekend. I might dip into my precious Varget just to see if I can get the bullets to shoot. I wanted to use a spherical so I don't have to trickle every charge.

At this rate I might as well use military pulled.

thump_rrr · February 15, 2012, 02:57 AM

I use Hornady 55gr FMJ-BT with cannelure.
I think Varget will be too slow with 55 gr bullets.
I use it with my 69gr SMK's
I use IMR XBR 8208 with the 55gr. Good velocity and not much flash.

FrankenMauser · February 15, 2012, 04:43 AM

The Winchester 55 gr FMJs and SPs are absolute crap. Stay far away.

Remington 55s are tolerable, but not great.

Hornady 55s are great bullets, especially for the price.

alloy · February 15, 2012, 09:08 AM

Quote:

reading around it doesn't seem and of the 55gr FMJ's are any good

Widener's Lake City 55(xm193 projectiles) will shoot under 2" without unexplainable fliers out of my 16" 1 in 7. I use H335 and WSR primers with them loaded fairly hot, so that's all I got on powder/primers, but they make good plinkers, FCD crimped, and shoot consistant enough for me.

Tried 1000 Armscor 62 grainers and failed to hit anything smaller than 4 or 5 inches so I know what you mean.

Uncle Buck · February 15, 2012, 09:12 AM

I use both Sierra and PRVI 50 and 55 grain bullets in my .222.

The Sierra 50 grain seem to shoot a little tighter, but the 50 and 55 grain PRVI works for me.

garryc · February 15, 2012, 11:54 AM

Well, I need to separate issues. My 55 grain V-max load using Varget will stack them in one hole from my RRA NM. So I might as well try that in the M-4 with 55gr FMJ's, And I might as well burn some WW748 while I'm at it. I think I have a little 4198 left, why not.

I wanted a spherical powder so I can run the loads fast. I want to make 2000 or so and put them on strippers. Three to a vacuum sealed pack and stack them away. Then I can rotate stock.

I'm going to loose that goofy expandable stock and put on either an A-2 stock or a Magpull MOE. I don't see room clearing or CQB in the future for my fat old butt. And that trigger is gritty as all heck. A two stage match trigger would be nice.

February 15, 2012, 02:44 AM	#1
garryc Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2005 Posts: 2,268	Any .224 fmj bullets worth a darn I bought some bulk .224 62gr fmj's, not worth crap. Same for my bulk 55gr FMJ bullets. I think they are both PRIVI, I ask now. The thing is that reading around it doesn't seem and of the 55gr FMJ's are any good. How about Remington, Hornady and Winchesters? Are any of them worth a darn? I'm not looking for match stuff, but under 2 inches might be nice. I've been using TAC, Will try some 748 this weekend. I might dip into my precious Varget just to see if I can get the bullets to shoot. I wanted to use a spherical so I don't have to trickle every charge. At this rate I might as well use military pulled.

February 15, 2012, 04:43 AM	#3
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2008 Location: 1B ID Posts: 5,387	The Winchester 55 gr FMJs and SPs are absolute crap. Stay far away. Remington 55s are tolerable, but not great. Hornady 55s are great bullets, especially for the price. __________________ "Such is the strange way that man works -- first he virtually destroys a species and then does everything in his power to restore it."

February 15, 2012, 09:12 AM	#5
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,434	I use both Sierra and PRVI 50 and 55 grain bullets in my .222. The Sierra 50 grain seem to shoot a little tighter, but the 50 and 55 grain PRVI works for me. __________________ Inside Every Bright Idea Is The 50% Probability Of A Disaster Waiting To Happen.

February 15, 2012, 02:57 AM	#2
thump_rrr Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2010 Posts: 199	I use Hornady 55gr FMJ-BT with cannelure. I think Varget will be too slow with 55 gr bullets. I use it with my 69gr SMK's I use IMR XBR 8208 with the 55gr. Good velocity and not much flash.

February 15, 2012, 11:54 AM	#6
garryc Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2005 Posts: 2,268	Well, I need to separate issues. My 55 grain V-max load using Varget will stack them in one hole from my RRA NM. So I might as well try that in the M-4 with 55gr FMJ's, And I might as well burn some WW748 while I'm at it. I think I have a little 4198 left, why not. I wanted a spherical powder so I can run the loads fast. I want to make 2000 or so and put them on strippers. Three to a vacuum sealed pack and stack them away. Then I can rotate stock. I'm going to loose that goofy expandable stock and put on either an A-2 stock or a Magpull MOE. I don't see room clearing or CQB in the future for my fat old butt. And that trigger is gritty as all heck. A two stage match trigger would be nice.