AR-15 Hunting bullets

[mohr308]

So, what bullet do you use when hunting small to medium game? Im working on a medium game round next for my AR-15 (5.56/.223) and I wanted to hear from other reloaders what you're using. I am currently looking at few different bullets, one of which I seem to favor more is the Sierra Gameking (.224) 65 grain Spitzer Boat tail.

[UtopiaTexasG19]

What is the twist rate of your barrel? I have a 1:7 and my particular rifle is very accurate with the 65 grain Game Kings. 55 grain bullets I've tried....not so good.

[mohr308]

I have a 1:9 twist

[rebs]

I have a 1 in 8 twist and it likes the 52 gr Hornady Amax bullets

[ruger357w]

I have a 1 in 9 and a 1 in 8 twist. both shot 68gr. hornady BTHP's great and they do a nice number on coyotes.

[Wyosmith]

Try the 60 grain Nosler partition.

[steve4102]

I have a 1 in 8 twist and it likes the 52 gr Hornady Amax bullets

Really? You use the A-Max Target bullet for Hunting? What are you hunting and at what distances are you target animals?

[mohr308]

the nosler partition looks very nice, good BC and weight retention. Its nice that Nosler puts the load data right there for you! Anyone know who has the best price on those?

nosler partition 60 gr .224

[mohr308]

Wyosmith, have you loaded that Nosler yourself? If so what powder are you using?

[CAOxInfinity]

+1 for the nosler

Dont have an AR but I use them in my AK with excellent results

[Wahoo95]

Nosler Partition
Winchester Powerpoints
Barnes TSX
Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw


Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

[snuffy]

A 1-9 twist will stabilize up to a 69 grain bullet, mine does!

This ? comes up enough times that I decided to do some research, mostly testing on heavier bullets in .223.

So, I limited my testing to 60+ bullets.

The ones I could buy at that time were;
1. Winchester 64 grain power point.
2. Speer 70 grain soft point,(flat base)
3. Barnes 62 TSX BT
4. Nosler 60 grain partition.
5. Hornady 60 grain spire point.
6. Berger 70 grain VLD.

I not only loaded and shot these bullets, I did expansion tests in a test medium called the bullet test tube.* Range was 25 yards to limit the walking, AND to simulate worst case of shooting at short range. That MIGHT cause bullet failure because it hadn't had time to slow.

I wanted to test the Sierra 65 game king, they must only make that bullet once a year, couldn't get any. NOW I have some, I may get a chance to test them yet this summer.

Nosler partition;


The above pic is with the small dab of lead that was all that remained of the lead in the nose after the bullet came to a stop.

Below is the wound channel with the remaining lead left on the bullet base.



Another look at the wound channel;



Barnes 62 grain TSX-BT;

Hard to see the shape of the wound channel, NO LEAD to show up!



Typical barnes four segment expansion with complete weight retention and penetration. I knew some of the bullets would go all-the-way-through, so I filled an empty tube with old clothes,(rags) to catch any that went on through. Those barnes still had plenty of steam after penetrating the whole 11" of test medium. It went through 10 layers of heavy cloth.


(continued next post.)
*
http://www.thebullettesttube.com/

[snuffy]

Winchester 64 g. power point;





Lack of lead showing up in the wound channel means this bullet shed little of it's weight. 55.2 grains retained with .515 expansion!



Retained weight of 55.2 grains, expansion of .515.



Any conclusions yet? I have more pics of the above mentioned bullets IF any one is interested. Just ask, I'll put them up.

[snuffy]

Any conclusions yet? I have more pics of the above mentioned bullets IF any one is interested. Just ask, I'll put them up.

Looks like I wasted nearly an hour doing those 2 posts!

[HiBC]

Did you try the 70 gr Bergers?

[snuffy]

Yes. I didn't show the results before because I considered it a bullet failure. Lost too much weight and the jacket separated from the core;






I should run that one bullet again, the medium was NOT homogenous, if the wax is heated too hot, it shrinks leaving voids. That's why it looks like that in the pic. It could and probably did affect the performance of the B. VLD.

I also didn't show the results from the Hornady 60 spire. It darn near exploded in the medium, only penetrated 5.5 inches and only retained 35 grains of weight.

Same for the 70 grain speer. 8.5 penetration 50% weight loss and a bunch of lead particles throughout the wound channel. It truly IS a varmint bullet.

[A_Gamehog]

Try a 70 Grain barnes TSX in the 1-9 twist, with a hot load of varget. This round really penetrates and is very accurate, but you need a light crimp to make it all work. Try it, you will also read it won't shoot, my first hand knowledge says it will with a crimp and 2.260 COL. 1/2 MOA @ 100 yards.

good work on the testing, thanks.

[mohr308]

Thats two posts were not a waste, actually very nice to see. Its nice that you have all this data for us, with pics! I will have to bookmark this post for reference.

[mohr308]

How about this bullet:

Sierra GameKing 22 Caliber (224 Diameter) 65 Grain Spitzer Boat Tail

[snuffy]

How about this bullet:

Sierra GameKing 22 Caliber (224 Diameter) 65 Grain Spitzer Boat Tail

Notice I mentioned the sierra 65 game king, but couldn't get any at that time;

I wanted to test the Sierra 65 game king, they must only make that bullet once a year, couldn't get any. NOW I have some, I may get a chance to test them yet this summer.

I may test the game king, and re-test the berger, yet this summer.

Try a 70 Grain barnes TSX in the 1-9 twist, with a hot load of varget. This round really penetrates and is very accurate, but you need a light crimp to make it all work. Try it, you will also read it won't shoot, my first hand knowledge says it will with a crimp and 2.260 COL. 1/2 MOA @ 100 yards.

good work on the testing, thanks.
You're welcome. I enjoy the experiments and it gives a basis for my own selection of which bullet I would use IF I hunted with my AR.

I'm surprised the 70 grain Barnes would stabilize in a 1-9 twist. It must NOT be a boat-tail, and the point must be more of a spitzer shape. The all-copper bullets are longer for their weight, length is also a concern for stability.

The performance of the 62 grain TSX boat-tail is just about perfect. I may re-test that one as well, with a second bullet-test-tube in back to catch the bullet, to see just how far it would penetrate. If you're at all concerned about lead fragments in the meat, then a copper solid bullet is what you want.

I'd be first in-line to buy a Hornady GMX in .223. My experiments with those in 300 WSM, the 165 had tremendous expansion and penetration. That was before the wax medium, shot into water-filled-milk-jugs.

[mohr308]

i went to my local gun shop today, they do not have any game kings in .224 65 grain But they did have the 62gr barnes tsx bt's! Cant wait!

[tahunua001]

my AR with 1:9 twist does pretty good with 62 grain soft points. it took 200 pound deer at 250 yards so it's got plenty of bite for anything smaller than bear.

[Bamashooter]

I have killed deer with 65gr gamekings. I use tac powder. I have been wanting to try some of the 62gr tac-x bullets. With my 1:9 twist mini-14. I dont think it will stabilize the 70gr. Nosler partitions 60gr should work pretty well. My uncle swears by them but Ive always been a sierra bullet fan.

[A_Gamehog]

The 70 is borderline in a 1-9 and the 62 is marginal. For the TSX

[snuffy]

Bama, the nosler partition is a 60 grain bullet. It should work well in a mini-14.

Those partitions would be my second choice of the bullets I tested. First would be the Barnes. Third would be the elcheapo 64 winchesters.