Heaviest bullet wt for AR-15

sdelane1 · May 6, 2002, 08:07 PM

What is the heaviest wgt. bullet I can use for Colt AR-15, .223, 1-9" twist rate, hvy barrel, match?
Thanks
Just bought a Colt Mod. MT6700 Match. I would like to load my own rounds.

addecus · May 6, 2002, 08:46 PM

of the heavy 22 bullets, the heaviest that i have heard used in a 1x9 is the 77, but in my own 1x9s, best results came from 69s.ymmv.

Steve Smith · May 6, 2002, 08:46 PM

69's ought to work great, but you might be able to get by with 75 Hornadys, 77's, and who knows...even 80's. Doubtful, but its worth a try. Barrels seem to be weird like that. Some 1:9's will handle them all, and some won't even shoot 69's.

blades67 · May 6, 2002, 09:18 PM

It depends on the chamber and rifling. The heaviest I've heard of is 80-grains, but I've never seen anybody using anything heavier than 69-grains.

Ron Emery · May 6, 2002, 09:21 PM

Don't use the 80 grn bullets unless you have a special freebored barrel,. You may have a KB, as they have a longer OAL.

Steve Smith · May 7, 2002, 12:08 PM

Good point, Ron! Having never owned a "regular" AR, I don't think of those things. Definitely DO NOT load 80's as they're designed to be loaded out toward the rifling. If you use it, you'll force the bullet into the rifling and the case somethin' feirce. The heaviest you can play with is 77's loaded to mag length. Makes for a hot load (low case capacity), so be careful.

Steve Smith · May 7, 2002, 12:10 PM

blades67, we gotta get you out more! 77's and 80's are awesome in the right guns!

Poodleshooter · May 7, 2002, 04:01 PM

Quote:

blades67, we gotta get you out more! 77's and 80's are awesome in the right guns!

I don't really see 80grs either. My club shoots 100yd reduced COF for highpower, so everyone uses 69's or 52/53's. Unless you live near a range with 600yds of wide open space, there's no point to spending the extra coin on 75's, 77's, or 80's.

Steve Smith · May 7, 2002, 04:15 PM

Poodleshooter, I'll bet you a soda you live closer to Quantico than I do to my closest 600 yard range! I get up at 4 am (out the door by 4:30) to make a match my closest 600 yard range.

Poodleshooter · May 8, 2002, 01:26 PM

Yes, I live about 1.5 hours from Quantico. My local 100yd highpower club is 15 minutes away. I can practice there on weeknights.
Besides that, I'm not even ranked yet (newbie). I'd be too embarrased to show up at Quantico! I'll sharpen my teeth on local RCOF, and work my way up to full course.

Steve Smith · May 8, 2002, 05:55 PM

(Harnessing DI style barking)

Poodleshooter, don't you dare do that to yourself. I win the damned Coke, and I drive that distance twice a month! You get yourself on that 600 yard line and shoot it. There's no reason to be "embarrased" regarding shooting at that distance. The only added dificulty is the wind. You'll have one of the best times of your life, and nothing feels like taking that first long shot and the target goes down.

Get out and do it...have fun!

Chemistry · May 11, 2002, 11:56 PM

Kuleck and Duff suggest using a bullet weight from 50-69 grains in combination with a 1 in 9" twist barrel. 1 in 8" should stabilize from 62-80 grain bullets, and anything heavier should be using a 1 in 7" twist.

Steve Smith · May 12, 2002, 10:27 AM

At this time, there are no bullets that the 1:7 will stabilize that the 1:8 will not. Next step is 1:6.5 for experimental 90 grainers.

EchoFiveMike · May 12, 2002, 11:44 AM

At this time, there are no bullets that the 1:7 will stabilize that the 1:8 will not. Next step is 1:6.5 for experimental 90 grainers<<<<

Got one(26" space gun, 90gn JLK's), have not had a chance to play with it yet. Will let you know how it works out. S/F...Ken M

May 6, 2002, 08:07 PM	#1
sdelane1 Junior Member Join Date: May 2, 2002 Location: Hamlin, NY Posts: 1	Heaviest bullet wt for AR-15 What is the heaviest wgt. bullet I can use for Colt AR-15, .223, 1-9" twist rate, hvy barrel, match? Thanks Just bought a Colt Mod. MT6700 Match. I would like to load my own rounds.

May 6, 2002, 08:46 PM	#3
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	69's ought to work great, but you might be able to get by with 75 Hornadys, 77's, and who knows...even 80's. Doubtful, but its worth a try. Barrels seem to be weird like that. Some 1:9's will handle them all, and some won't even shoot 69's. __________________ Favor the X. Steve Smith NRA Life Member

May 6, 2002, 09:18 PM	#4
blades67 Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 1999 Location: Chandler, Arizona, USA Posts: 6,014	It depends on the chamber and rifling. The heaviest I've heard of is 80-grains, but I've never seen anybody using anything heavier than 69-grains. __________________ Guns cause crime like spoons cause Rosie O'Donnell to be fat! I hunt, therefore I am.

May 6, 2002, 09:21 PM	#5
Ron Emery Junior Member Join Date: April 13, 2002 Location: Danville, PA Posts: 1	Don't use the 80 grn bullets unless you have a special freebored barrel,. You may have a KB, as they have a longer OAL. __________________ Remember: Last one out, turns off the lights.

May 7, 2002, 12:08 PM	#6
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	Good point, Ron! Having never owned a "regular" AR, I don't think of those things. Definitely DO NOT load 80's as they're designed to be loaded out toward the rifling. If you use it, you'll force the bullet into the rifling and the case somethin' feirce. The heaviest you can play with is 77's loaded to mag length. Makes for a hot load (low case capacity), so be careful. __________________ Favor the X. Steve Smith NRA Life Member

May 6, 2002, 08:46 PM	#2
addecus Member Join Date: January 23, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 87	of the heavy 22 bullets, the heaviest that i have heard used in a 1x9 is the 77, but in my own 1x9s, best results came from 69s.ymmv.

May 7, 2002, 12:10 PM	#7
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	blades67, we gotta get you out more! 77's and 80's are awesome in the right guns! __________________ Favor the X. Steve Smith NRA Life Member

May 7, 2002, 04:15 PM	#9
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	Poodleshooter, I'll bet you a soda you live closer to Quantico than I do to my closest 600 yard range! I get up at 4 am (out the door by 4:30) to make a match my closest 600 yard range. __________________ Favor the X. Steve Smith NRA Life Member

May 8, 2002, 01:26 PM	#10
Poodleshooter Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2000 Location: Floating down the James River in VA Posts: 2,599	Yes, I live about 1.5 hours from Quantico. My local 100yd highpower club is 15 minutes away. I can practice there on weeknights. Besides that, I'm not even ranked yet (newbie). I'd be too embarrased to show up at Quantico! I'll sharpen my teeth on local RCOF, and work my way up to full course.

May 8, 2002, 05:55 PM	#11
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	(Harnessing DI style barking) Poodleshooter, don't you dare do that to yourself. I win the damned Coke, and I drive that distance twice a month! You get yourself on that 600 yard line and shoot it. There's no reason to be "embarrased" regarding shooting at that distance. The only added dificulty is the wind. You'll have one of the best times of your life, and nothing feels like taking that first long shot and the target goes down. Get out and do it...have fun! __________________ Favor the X. Steve Smith NRA Life Member

May 11, 2002, 11:56 PM	#12
Chemistry Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2001 Location: Central Alabama Posts: 158	Kuleck and Duff suggest using a bullet weight from 50-69 grains in combination with a 1 in 9" twist barrel. 1 in 8" should stabilize from 62-80 grain bullets, and anything heavier should be using a 1 in 7" twist.

May 12, 2002, 10:27 AM	#13
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	At this time, there are no bullets that the 1:7 will stabilize that the 1:8 will not. Next step is 1:6.5 for experimental 90 grainers. __________________ Favor the X. Steve Smith NRA Life Member

May 12, 2002, 11:44 AM	#14
EchoFiveMike Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2000 Posts: 416	At this time, there are no bullets that the 1:7 will stabilize that the 1:8 will not. Next step is 1:6.5 for experimental 90 grainers<<<< Got one(26" space gun, 90gn JLK's), have not had a chance to play with it yet. Will let you know how it works out. S/F...Ken M