Hornady fmjbt and Hornady soft points ?

rebs · October 29, 2013, 07:53 AM

In 55 gr for an AR which do you find the most accurate one of these two ?
Does anyone have a pet load to share ? I have been loading them both with 24.0 of H335 for both my 16" 1 in 8 twist and 1 in 9 20" seating them both to 2.230.
I tried 25.0 grs of AR Comp but I think that load is a little too much as it is not as accurate as the first load of H335.

jersurf101 · October 29, 2013, 08:25 PM

I have used Hornaday 55 gr FMJ's but not the soft points. My pet load is 23.8 gr on Hodgon Benchmark with a CCI 400 in a variety of brass that I have tried.

The brass is all trimmed to size and sorted by headstamp. This is my plinking ammo for my 16 inch AR. This data is on the low end of scale and is as accurate as I am.

rg1 · October 29, 2013, 08:48 PM

I've gotten better accuracy from the SP's possibly because of the flat base of the 55 SP's and testing at 0-300 yards. Lots of rifles shoot flat base more accurately at short ranges than boat tailed bullets. I load both at 25 grains of H335 or 26.4 grains of Win 748 powder using RP and LC brass mostly and RP 7 1/2 primers. Both are near maximum loads. All loads I've shot in different AR's and one bolt action .223. I seat them both from 2.220-2.230".

FtrPilot · October 29, 2013, 09:13 PM

I load them both, shoot them both, and prefer the SPs. I believe the SPs are slightly more accurate than the FMJs.

My fav recipe for the SPs is 27gr of CFE 223, CCI 41 primer, 2.2 COAL. I also like 24.9gr of H335, CCI 41 primer, 2.2 COAL.

All shot out of my M&P M4, 16" barrel, 1 in 9 twist.

overthere · October 29, 2013, 09:37 PM

Another vote for the soft points, they are more accurate than the FMJs in both my bolt action and AR 15

jepp2 · October 29, 2013, 09:53 PM

Quote:

In 55 gr for an AR which do you find the most accurate one of these two ?

At 100 yards not enough difference to tell in an AR. So for general plinking I use the FMJ since they are cheaper. For steel I use the soft points since they are a little easier on the plate.

My favorite load is 26 gr. of IMR 4895 with the bullet at 2.260". It is about max, so work your way up.

Ifishsum · October 29, 2013, 10:22 PM

I couldn't get the 55 FMJ-BTs to group better than 2 or 3 MOA, whereas several soft point or HP designs (usually flat base) easily do MOA or better in my 20" 1:9. My most accurate load so far uses 26.5 gr BL-C(2), a CCI magnum primer and the 53gr Sierra MatchKing HP (#1400)

rebs · October 30, 2013, 05:20 AM

Quote:

I load them both, shoot them both, and prefer the SPs. I believe the SPs are slightly more accurate than the FMJs.

My fav recipe for the SPs is 27gr of CFE 223, CCI 41 primer, 2.2 COAL. I also like 24.9gr of H335, CCI 41 primer, 2.2 COAL.

All shot out of my M&P M4, 16" barrel, 1 in 9 twist.
FtrPilot is offline Report Post

what size groups are you getting at 100 yds ?

FtrPilot · October 30, 2013, 09:26 AM

Both of these groups were shot using a sled at 100 yards.

The black bullseye in the center of each target is 1 inch diameter.

rebs · October 30, 2013, 04:55 PM

I am going to stock up on the SP's since they are slightly more accurate and make a good choice for target shooting and have the expansion if needed for small game if I ever get the opportunity to hunt coyote's etc..

Rusty W · October 30, 2013, 09:52 PM

This is a 5 shot group but only at 25yds. I had just put a Vortex Sparc on a new build and was zeroing it in.
I am using 26gr of CFE223, 55gr Hornady sp, Tula SR primer, mixed brass loaded on a LNL AP. The AR (one on the bottom) is a throw together job, Anderson lower, CMMG LPK, & Red X upper, 1-9 twist, floated. Sometime in the near future I'll get around to shooting 100yds. Need to find a scope for the longer range stuff. I shoot 12" steel plates @ 200yds w/the dot but it isn't much for getting a good group.

October 29, 2013, 07:53 AM	#1
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	Hornady fmjbt and Hornady soft points ? In 55 gr for an AR which do you find the most accurate one of these two ? Does anyone have a pet load to share ? I have been loading them both with 24.0 of H335 for both my 16" 1 in 8 twist and 1 in 9 20" seating them both to 2.230. I tried 25.0 grs of AR Comp but I think that load is a little too much as it is not as accurate as the first load of H335.

October 29, 2013, 08:25 PM	#2
jersurf101 Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 553	I have used Hornaday 55 gr FMJ's but not the soft points. My pet load is 23.8 gr on Hodgon Benchmark with a CCI 400 in a variety of brass that I have tried. The brass is all trimmed to size and sorted by headstamp. This is my plinking ammo for my 16 inch AR. This data is on the low end of scale and is as accurate as I am.

October 29, 2013, 08:48 PM	#3
rg1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Posts: 1,125	I've gotten better accuracy from the SP's possibly because of the flat base of the 55 SP's and testing at 0-300 yards. Lots of rifles shoot flat base more accurately at short ranges than boat tailed bullets. I load both at 25 grains of H335 or 26.4 grains of Win 748 powder using RP and LC brass mostly and RP 7 1/2 primers. Both are near maximum loads. All loads I've shot in different AR's and one bolt action .223. I seat them both from 2.220-2.230".

October 29, 2013, 09:13 PM	#4
FtrPilot Member Join Date: September 4, 2010 Location: Woodstock, GA Posts: 88	I load them both, shoot them both, and prefer the SPs. I believe the SPs are slightly more accurate than the FMJs. My fav recipe for the SPs is 27gr of CFE 223, CCI 41 primer, 2.2 COAL. I also like 24.9gr of H335, CCI 41 primer, 2.2 COAL. All shot out of my M&P M4, 16" barrel, 1 in 9 twist.

October 29, 2013, 09:37 PM	#5
overthere Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2012 Posts: 290	Another vote for the soft points, they are more accurate than the FMJs in both my bolt action and AR 15

October 29, 2013, 10:22 PM	#7
Ifishsum Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,033	I couldn't get the 55 FMJ-BTs to group better than 2 or 3 MOA, whereas several soft point or HP designs (usually flat base) easily do MOA or better in my 20" 1:9. My most accurate load so far uses 26.5 gr BL-C(2), a CCI magnum primer and the 53gr Sierra MatchKing HP (#1400)

October 30, 2013, 04:55 PM	#10
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	I am going to stock up on the SP's since they are slightly more accurate and make a good choice for target shooting and have the expansion if needed for small game if I ever get the opportunity to hunt coyote's etc..

October 30, 2013, 09:52 PM	#11
Rusty W Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 84	This is a 5 shot group but only at 25yds. I had just put a Vortex Sparc on a new build and was zeroing it in. I am using 26gr of CFE223, 55gr Hornady sp, Tula SR primer, mixed brass loaded on a LNL AP. The AR (one on the bottom) is a throw together job, Anderson lower, CMMG LPK, & Red X upper, 1-9 twist, floated. Sometime in the near future I'll get around to shooting 100yds. Need to find a scope for the longer range stuff. I shoot 12" steel plates @ 200yds w/the dot but it isn't much for getting a good group.