100 to 300 yd bullet for 223 AR

[rebs]

What is your bullet of choice for 100 to 300 yr shooting in your AR ?

[Unclenick]

I shoot 53 grain flat base Sierra Match Kings (SMK's) at 100 and 200 yards. I switch to either the 69 grain SMK or the 77 grain SMK at 300 yards and on out to 600 yards. If you will shoot the different ranges at a match, you want to work up loads using the same powder so you don't have to settle a different fouling pattern in as you go to longer ranges.

[chiefr]

Concur with Nick
> 63gr for over 300yds. Make sure your barrel twist will stabilize the longer bullets.

[rebs]

As for barrel twist I have two AR's one is a 16" 1 in 8 and the other is a 20" 1 in 9. Which bullets would be better for each of them ?

[MarkCO]

Are you shooting paper, steel, varmints, deer? I'd hardly recommend a bullet when the target is unknown.

[allaroundhunter]

I shoot 55 gr bullets out to 625...

18" barrel with 1:8" rifling.

[rebs]

I shoot 55 gr bullets out to 625...

18" barrel with 1:8" rifling.

what bullets do you find most accurate ?

I mainly shoot target with an occasional coyote.

[MarkCO]

Well then, I would go with Nosler. The 55 and 60 Ballistic tips are both great Target loads and perfect medicine for Coyotes. I will shoot either out to 400 yards or so. For your 100 to 300, I would probably go with the 55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. The TOF is not enough where there will be any significant difference between the 55s and the 69s and the 55 BTs will be better on the Coyotes.

Past 400 yards, the 69 Nosler Custom Competition is a great choice. I have gotten better accuracy with those than the Hornady and the Sierra versions, and they cost less.

If you want an inexpensive 55 FMJ for plinking, the Hornady 55 FMJBTs are the accuracy leader for FMJs.

While you can get some very good accuracy from the 40s through 53s, you will probably want slower twist barrel and a cooler powder than what we typically use in the .223 ARs. Especially through 1:7s and 1:8s, the lighter bullets will reduce the life of your barrel due to the higher heat/velocity.

[mjes92]

I have similar barreled AR's. 1-8" 16" carbine and 1-9" 24" Accurized AR.

I load exclusively 55gr - Nosler Ballistic tip and Hornady V-max for prairie dogs and stuck with 55 gr for punching paper (pretty much anything). 55 gr seems to be a happy medium for both my rifles. The big difference I found was the powder. The 24" barrel shoots just about any powder very well (Varget, CFE 223, X-terminator) but the 16" was more of a challenge. Getting similar fps (3000 fps) out of the 16" barrel required going to the faster burning X-terminator powder. Also improved accuracy.

In reality the choices are endless. Good luck.

[rebs]

If you want an inexpensive 55 FMJ for plinking, the Hornady 55 FMJBTs are the accuracy leader for FMJs.

I have loaded these with H335 powder in my 16" 1 in 8 twist and did not find a real accurate load. What could I have been missing ?

[mjes92]

Rebs,
I think you have a perfect opputunity for an experiment. As stated erlier I had the same issue with the 16" carbine accuracy. I spent a lot of time scratching my head on what to do. I decided I wanted a load I would be happy with shooting in two very different AR's. Without changing anything except powder and sticking to the goal of 3000 fps velocity I stummbled across a powder that worked for me in two differnt AR's.

I'd try a differnt poder to start.

Have fun & Good Luck

[MarkCO]

Agree, try a different powder Rebs. X-Term and the Accurate powders have been the best for me with the 16" guns. Realize you are not going under 1 MOA with a 55 FMJ, even the good ones like the Hornady which I get right at 1 MOA in my 16" guns. Most are in the 2 MOA range.

[allaroundhunter]

Originally Posted by rebs

what bullets do you find most accurate ?

I mainly shoot target with an occasional coyote.

Usually FMJs commercially loaded. But if I was to handload for it I would go with a 55 or 62 gr vmax for targets and coyotes.

[TimSr]

Are you shooting paper, steel, varmints, deer? I'd hardly recommend a bullet when the target is unknown.

I too was surprised to see so many recommendations without this info!

[allaroundhunter]

Originally Posted by TimSr

I too was surprised to see so many recommendations without this info!

Well, it asked what bullet I use, not what bullet I recommend the OP to use. At least, that was his initial question.

[Boomer58cal]

Hornady 52g BTHP Match and 53g V-max work great for me. The V-max is awsome on yotes.

Boomer

[pctechdude]

For my 100 to 300 yard shots a 55gr vmax, 25.5gr varget, CCI Small rifle primer, c.o.l 2.250 yielded 1" groups at 300 yards and .4" groups at a 100. I have yet to find a 223 with a 1 in 9 twist that doesn't shoot that load well. I have given that load to at least a dozen people and all the same results and that's a mix of semi autos and bolt actions.

[ripnbst]

Heck at those distances Milsurp works.

[rdmallory]

63 if there is a wind otherwise 53 or 55 work fine.

Be careful going much heavier than 70 in a AR as there is a chance of loading the bullet too deep to get it in the mag.


Doug

[Fatelvis]

69 SMK

[rebs]

Rebs,
I think you have a perfect opputunity for an experiment. As stated erlier I had the same issue with the 16" carbine accuracy. I spent a lot of time scratching my head on what to do. I decided I wanted a load I would be happy with shooting in two very different AR's. Without changing anything except powder and sticking to the goal of 3000 fps velocity I stummbled across a powder that worked for me in two differnt AR's.

I'd try a differnt poder to start.

The powders I have available besides the H335 are CFE223, IMR3031, AR Comp and H322. What powder that I have would be recommended to try ?

[NWPilgrim]

I have found the 68-69 gr BTHP very accurate with several powders in my 1;7" bbl. For some reason these bullets shoot better than any other weight or style. My best loads are with BL-C2 and H335, although Varget and H4895 are not far behind.

I have also found very little difference in accuracy of the Hornady 69 gr BTHP (cheapest generally), Sierra 69 MK (usually most expensive), and Nosler 69 gr BTHP (cheapest when purchased in the 1,000 ct bulk box). I love this bullet weight.

I would start testing with your H335 and CFE223. I am not familiar with AR Comp, but you may not get top velocities with H332 and IMR3031. But you never know. The .223 cartridge seems to be funny in that powders that theoretically shouldn't do well sometimes are the best and vice versa. But the 69 gr bullet is on the heavy side for caliber so the medium burn rate powders should do better. IMR8208XBR is also one I have heard is very good.

[Unclenick]

The powders I have available besides the H335 are CFE223, IMR3031, AR Comp and H322. What powder that I have would be recommended to try ?

Rebs.

Try the H322 and 3031 for 55's. I actually like 4198 for this, which is even faster (so you lose a little velocity), but which is a good accuracy powder. The faster 8" twist should also shoot the 69's and the 77 grain SMK's, but you can use your slower powders with them.