AR 15 1:9 twist Ammo

Dan31 · November 19, 2010, 03:30 AM

So I have the rifle picked out but which ammo is best suited to it? 16" barreled Stag Arms 3L with 1:9 twist. I have seen everything from very light bullet weights up to heavier stuff near 100 grains. I'm sure anything will do for just range time but what about home defense?

JackieNeil · November 19, 2010, 03:47 AM

The 1:7 twist barrels shoot the higher grain better. The 1:9 twist can shoot the lighter grains

NWPilgrim · November 19, 2010, 04:29 AM

A 1:9 twist should be able to shoot anything at least from 50 gr - 68 gr. Some can shoot the 75 gr OK.

It depends on how much you want to spend and how densely populated is your area. A basic round for SD would be a 64 gr soft point like the Winchester Super-X Power Point, or Federal Power Shock. Or there is the Hornady 60 gr TAP polymer tip. These would be better for more populated areas, if you are going to use the rifle.

A premium load would be the Corbon DPX or Black Hills with 62 gr Barnes Triple Shock X, which would be superb all around SD round, especially where your neighbors are not too close as it would penetrate better than most. A much more affordable alternative for this role would be the Federal Vital Shock with 60 gr. Nosler Partition SP, or Federal Fusion 62 gr bonded SP, or Remington Premium CorLokt Bonded 62 gr.

All of these are available at Midway, as well as other online or store front shops.

gdvan01 · November 19, 2010, 07:35 AM

The Ammo Oracle on AR15.com is a good resource for info on .223/5.56:

Code:

http://ammo.ar15.com/ammo/

thesheepdog · November 19, 2010, 09:16 AM

I shoot 75 OTM's in my 1:9 and they're accurate at 100 yards.

kraigwy · November 19, 2010, 10:55 AM

1:12 shoot < 55 grns
1:9 shoots < 68 grns
1:7 shoots < 90 grns

You can shoot lighter bullets out of a faster twist better then you can shoot heavier bullets out of a slow twist.

Pretty much any twist & any bullet will shoot to 100 yards. Its when you move to 300 + where you see the the difference.

The Army shoots 223s (5.56 for nit-pickers) in 55-77 grns (80-90 in competition) but they use 1:7s so it dosn't matter to them.

zombieslayer · November 19, 2010, 01:21 PM

My minis both have 1:9 barrels and they LOVE 62gr 5.56's. So did my AR's with the same twist.M855's are my load of choice...

Danny45 · November 19, 2010, 02:28 PM

It's really going to depend on your barrel. True 1 in 9 barrels like the light stuff best. Sometimes, you get a 1 in 9 that really is closer to 1 in 8, and they shoot just about anything really well. 1 in 7 is best for 55 grain and up.

deadcoyote · November 19, 2010, 03:28 PM

I agonized over twist rate in my own build. I ultimately found its alot of what your rifle likes as well. I went 1:7 and it shoots 69 grain better than 55, 62, and 75 by the same manufacturer. Just experiment with a bunch of types and find what your rifle likes.

Bamashooter · November 19, 2010, 08:11 PM

i reload 60, 65, and 69 grain sierra for my 1/9 twist ruger and it shoots them all very well. i have shot some 75gr. and it seemed to shoot those just as good as it did everything else. my most accurate load is the 69gr with IMR-4895 powder. honestly i have never shot anything under 55gr. out of my rifle. im a big fan of heavy for caliber bullets.

Dan31 · November 26, 2010, 01:37 AM

TY all for the input.

NWCP · November 26, 2010, 11:32 PM

I own two ARs with a 1 in 9 twist. They seem to favor 52-68 grain fodder with 62 grain working particularly well in both.

A_Gamehog · November 28, 2010, 05:21 PM

1-9 twist in my DPMS AR-15 .223, and Savage Bolt .223 both shoot:

34 grain Dogtowns-75 Hornady match HP.

Best loads are with 60 Grain V-Max Hornady stout load of Varget.

Even the Longer 70 Grain Barnes TSX (Crimped) into the first band.
3/4MOA

November 19, 2010, 03:30 AM	#1
Dan31 Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: Graham, WA Posts: 145	AR 15 1:9 twist Ammo So I have the rifle picked out but which ammo is best suited to it? 16" barreled Stag Arms 3L with 1:9 twist. I have seen everything from very light bullet weights up to heavier stuff near 100 grains. I'm sure anything will do for just range time but what about home defense? __________________ I was told once "if you don't have anything good to say don't say anything at all"

November 19, 2010, 04:29 AM	#3
NWPilgrim Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,346	A 1:9 twist should be able to shoot anything at least from 50 gr - 68 gr. Some can shoot the 75 gr OK. It depends on how much you want to spend and how densely populated is your area. A basic round for SD would be a 64 gr soft point like the Winchester Super-X Power Point, or Federal Power Shock. Or there is the Hornady 60 gr TAP polymer tip. These would be better for more populated areas, if you are going to use the rifle. A premium load would be the Corbon DPX or Black Hills with 62 gr Barnes Triple Shock X, which would be superb all around SD round, especially where your neighbors are not too close as it would penetrate better than most. A much more affordable alternative for this role would be the Federal Vital Shock with 60 gr. Nosler Partition SP, or Federal Fusion 62 gr bonded SP, or Remington Premium CorLokt Bonded 62 gr. All of these are available at Midway, as well as other online or store front shops. __________________ "The ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone. ... The advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation ... forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition." - James Madison

November 19, 2010, 07:35 AM	#4
gdvan01 Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2006 Location: Home of the first First Lady Posts: 463	The Ammo Oracle on AR15.com is a good resource for info on .223/5.56: Code: http://ammo.ar15.com/ammo/ __________________ NRA Endowment Life Member Proud Son of a former Tomb Guard

November 19, 2010, 09:16 AM	#5
thesheepdog Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2010 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 1,996	I shoot 75 OTM's in my 1:9 and they're accurate at 100 yards. __________________ Krav Maga/Judo Qualified Rifleman/Marksmanship Instructor/Lic. Medic "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" Romans 8:1

November 19, 2010, 10:55 AM	#6
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	1:12 shoot < 55 grns 1:9 shoots < 68 grns 1:7 shoots < 90 grns You can shoot lighter bullets out of a faster twist better then you can shoot heavier bullets out of a slow twist. Pretty much any twist & any bullet will shoot to 100 yards. Its when you move to 300 + where you see the the difference. The Army shoots 223s (5.56 for nit-pickers) in 55-77 grns (80-90 in competition) but they use 1:7s so it dosn't matter to them. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

November 19, 2010, 03:47 AM	#2
JackieNeil Junior member Join Date: September 11, 2010 Location: The Volunteer State Posts: 52	The 1:7 twist barrels shoot the higher grain better. The 1:9 twist can shoot the lighter grains

November 19, 2010, 01:21 PM	#7
zombieslayer Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,198	My minis both have 1:9 barrels and they LOVE 62gr 5.56's. So did my AR's with the same twist.M855's are my load of choice... __________________ "An angry prophet, denouncing the hypocrisies of our time"

November 19, 2010, 02:28 PM	#8
Danny45 Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2000 Location: Tulsa Oklahoma Posts: 434	It's really going to depend on your barrel. True 1 in 9 barrels like the light stuff best. Sometimes, you get a 1 in 9 that really is closer to 1 in 8, and they shoot just about anything really well. 1 in 7 is best for 55 grain and up. __________________ Danny

November 19, 2010, 03:28 PM	#9
deadcoyote Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2009 Location: northern CA Posts: 674	I agonized over twist rate in my own build. I ultimately found its alot of what your rifle likes as well. I went 1:7 and it shoots 69 grain better than 55, 62, and 75 by the same manufacturer. Just experiment with a bunch of types and find what your rifle likes.

November 19, 2010, 08:11 PM	#10
Bamashooter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2010 Posts: 1,860	i reload 60, 65, and 69 grain sierra for my 1/9 twist ruger and it shoots them all very well. i have shot some 75gr. and it seemed to shoot those just as good as it did everything else. my most accurate load is the 69gr with IMR-4895 powder. honestly i have never shot anything under 55gr. out of my rifle. im a big fan of heavy for caliber bullets.

November 26, 2010, 01:37 AM	#11
Dan31 Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: Graham, WA Posts: 145	TY all for the input. __________________ I was told once "if you don't have anything good to say don't say anything at all"

November 26, 2010, 11:32 PM	#12
NWCP Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2006 Posts: 1,903	I own two ARs with a 1 in 9 twist. They seem to favor 52-68 grain fodder with 62 grain working particularly well in both.

November 28, 2010, 05:21 PM	#13
A_Gamehog Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2009 Location: Central Oregun Posts: 563	1-9 twist in my DPMS AR-15 .223, and Savage Bolt .223 both shoot: 34 grain Dogtowns-75 Hornady match HP. Best loads are with 60 Grain V-Max Hornady stout load of Varget. Even the Longer 70 Grain Barnes TSX (Crimped) into the first band. 3/4MOA __________________ "Happiness is knowing the Barred Owl is Eating the Spotted Owl and environmentalists are watching Nature take it's course"

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