May 14, 2012, 10:19 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 28, 2012
Posts: 215
|
.223/5.56 bullets
I recently bought a BCM M4 Mod 2. It has a 16" 1:7" twist barrel. I've only reloaded pistol cartridges so far so this will be my first attempt at reloading rifle cartridges. Should I look at 55 grain bullets for that barrel? Heavier? Flat base or boat tail? I'd think boat tail would be easier to load. I'm looking to load a lot so cheap is great, but also want accurate. Which bullets should I consider?
|
May 14, 2012, 10:35 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 3, 2009
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 3,930
|
With the faster twist rate you should be able to shoot the heavier bullets if you want to. As far as lighter bullets well you will have to try a few to see. For general purpose plinking loads the 55 grain Reminton should get into the minute of pop can at 100 yards without fail. Even better if you can milk it for that. Though they are flat based. Those are the cheapest I would go.
The Hornady 55 grain FMJBT will do a good bit better. With a price of less than $15 for 100 they should be worth a try. If they do well, and you want even better than V-Max cost a slight bit more, and give even better results. 68 grain HPBT Match Hornady are great in fast twist rate barrels. My 1 in 9 Savage drives tacks with them using Varget, and Reloader15.
__________________
No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you. |
May 14, 2012, 11:00 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 24, 2008
Location: Loveland, CO
Posts: 1,476
|
If the 55 grain pills work for you, they can be bought in quantity for just over $0.08 each shipped. Montana Gold and Widener's have the best prices I have found.
As far as accuracy goes, both of the sources listed will group around 1" at 100 yards for 5 shot groups. Last edited by jepp2; May 14, 2012 at 11:03 PM. Reason: add detail and pic |
May 14, 2012, 11:06 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 22, 2007
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,295
|
I haven't gotten 1 inch groups at 100 yards yet, but 55 grain bullets seem to work in my 16 inch 1-7 twist barrel.
|
May 15, 2012, 12:48 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 7, 2009
Posts: 995
|
Using a stock Colt AR15 A2, 1:7 twist, NRA offical high powr target, with factory Fed or Win 55 gr fmjs; The rifle will hold the 10 ring at 100 and 200 yards in standing, sitting and prone. If you would like to do better, use heavier bullets.
|
May 15, 2012, 10:16 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 28, 2012
Posts: 215
|
Thanks for the suggestions. I ordered 1,000 55 grain FMJ from Montana Gold to get me started and make up some plinking rounds. I'll order smaller quantities of bullets of various brands and weights to see if they do better for me when I'm shooting for precision.
Now I have to learn how to reload rifle... Pistol cartridges are so stinkin' easy. I've got some reading to do. I load on a Lee Pro 1000 and am not sure I'd trust myself to reload rifle on it. Might pick up a Rock Chucker to load rifle on. |
May 15, 2012, 10:38 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 8, 2012
Posts: 239
|
MG is a great choice. I've used several thousand, with excellent results. lf you can ever find IMI 55gr fmjbt @ Widner's, buy 'em!! They're the most accurate bulk 55gr bullets I've ever used.
|
May 15, 2012, 05:22 PM | #8 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 4, 2006
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 2,258
|
Quote:
__________________
I don't ever remember being absent minded. |
|
May 16, 2012, 11:34 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 22, 2007
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,295
|
I've loaded the 65 gr Sierra Game King short enough for the mag with halfway decent results.
|
May 18, 2012, 09:26 AM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 14, 2011
Posts: 524
|
take a look at the Hornady 60 gr Vmax. That is what I am working on now with good results so far
|
May 18, 2012, 09:56 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 20, 2007
Location: S.E. Minnesota
Posts: 4,720
|
I would start with 62 grain FMJ's. Try to get them without the steel penetrators (that can't be good for accuracy.) I bought 1000 from goldenwestbrass.com but they are out of them now. MG should have them.
I've read that softpoint and HP rifle bullets are inherently more accurate than FMJ because the base is much more uniform. It makes sense, but I'm a lousy shot so that doesn't matter to me yet.
__________________
"Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth |
May 18, 2012, 10:08 AM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 16, 2008
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 11,061
|
55s will work find in your 1:7 twist. In fact I have a report where the Army was checking the accuracy of Lake City's Mann device (Mann accuracy device is used to test ammo).
They used Sierra 52 grn Match Kings (with 25 Grns of 3031 in remington Brass and fed primers). They ended up with groups from .19 to .31 Mean Radius. You can also go to 80-90 grn pills for long range shooting. Hornady 52/53 grn match bullets are normally found for good prices. I use them for 100 yard reduced practice. I use 77 & 80 SMKs for 200, 300, 600 & 1000 in my 1:7 White Oak Service rifle. If you're just plinking then you can find 55 grns bulk bullets that work pretty good. I shoot them out of my Colt SP1. (1:12 twist.
__________________
Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071 |
May 18, 2012, 12:03 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 20, 2002
Posts: 2,108
|
The most accurate bullet I've used in 5- 223's is the Sierra Match 52grbt, .700 or less in my AR and .500 or less in my Savage model 12 depending on how I shoot on any given day.
|
May 18, 2012, 01:12 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 10, 2012
Posts: 3,881
|
MidwayUSA has the Hornady 55 gr fmjbt for 44.99 per 500. But they are out of stock right now.
|
May 19, 2012, 06:55 AM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 7, 2006
Posts: 514
|
On lighter bullets, both my AR's really like the Nosler 55gr dogtowns. On the heavy side they like the Sierra 69gr & 77gr Matchkings.
__________________
Crime Control. NOT Gun Control. |
May 19, 2012, 11:21 AM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 9, 2005
Location: Owego, NY
Posts: 2,000
|
Good luck with your purchase but I would never buy 1000 bullets without first knowing if they worked in my gun. Let us know how they work out.
__________________
,,, stupidity comes to some people very easily. 8/22/2017 my wife in a discussion about Liberals. Are you ready for civil war? |
May 19, 2012, 01:03 PM | #17 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 20, 2002
Posts: 2,108
|
Quote:
|
|
May 19, 2012, 06:51 PM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 28, 2012
Posts: 215
|
I bought these to load a bunch for plinking. If they give me 4" groups at 100 yards, that's fine. I'll buy lots of 100 to make up loads to test for accuracy.
I need to order some powder to try out. Can anybody give me some suggestions? I'd like to just use one powder for loading the 55 grains I purchased as well as heavier bullets when going for long range accuracy. I thought I'd give IMR 4895 a try. What other powders should I try? |
May 19, 2012, 07:10 PM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 16, 2008
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 11,061
|
I like 335 for the lighter bullets, and R-15 for heavy bullets.
BUT. 4895 makes a good load. If you have some, try it before buying a different powder.
__________________
Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071 |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|