14+ Bullet Weights For the .223 (What Do You Use?)

U

UtopiaTexasG19

New member
I have been re-loading bullets for my AR-15 in .223 for 2 weeks now and am confused by the 14 bullet weights just on the chart for one powder manufacturer. I have been loading the 55 grain weight for target shooting and am interested in finding out what weight, and why, others use in the .223? I realize that the .223 is used in other platforms. What weights are generally used for plinking, hunting and home defense. Some of the other calibers I load for are much easier as to the weight ranges used. I am confused why there are so many options. Thanks...
 
Last edited:
Good question, don't know. But I use 50 grain, 52 grain, 53 grain, 55 grain, 60 grain and 75 grain bullets in 223. Almost all are Hornady and I like the A-Max and V-Max bullets. The 75 Grain bullets are used in a bolt action 223 all the rest find their way into my ARs.

Jim

Opps, also the 62 grain pulled steel core penitrators.
 
Plus one for Jim. I use only Hornady in 60 gn and 75 gn. All depends on the distance i am going to shoot as to what weight i use. Don't know if 75 is a option for you as it will not fit Mag length.
 
I like Nosler bullets, and have used the 52gr, 69, 77 and 80gr Custom Competition bullets.

I really, really like the 77gr bullets when they are available. (Apparently they are now in stock again in most places; they weren't in stock when I bought a couple thousand bullets last summer.) It can be loaded to magazine length for an AR-15 and makes a reasonable option to shoot all the way out to 600 yards if you want to. These are primarily at their best in 1-8 and 1-7" twist barrels. The common 1-9" twist may not reliably stabilize these.

The 69s make a nice target round out to 300 yards and are very accurate in most rifles with minimal load development.

An 80gr .223 bullet is a specialized thing, really intended for shooting as a single-shot rifle out to long ranges. I use these in an AR-15, and there is no way they are going into a magazine. But for shooting at 600-yards at Highpower matches, this is my go-to bullet.

If I were loading and running something like an M-Faux or a 20" A2/A4 type rifle, I'd probably just load 55gr FMJs and go shoot happy. Much cheaper and still shoot reasonably well for the most part.
 
Normally I find the 52gr match Berger or sierra match king most accurate at100 yards but stepping out to 300 need more weight,since most my target shooting is 100 yards I use 50-52 with great success.

Just never know until you begin working up loads for your rifle which is part of the fun of reloading when you get that magic mix that makes one small hole.;) Been loading 40+ years and still looking forward to trying a different blend...
 
I use 55 grain Nosler ballistic tips, mainly because when I bought my AR I bought 500 rounds and just havent switched to anything else, even when I sold my AR. My Savage 12 FV shoots average groups of .43 inches so I figured why do I need to switch? Id like to try some heavier grain bullets but around here no one carries them.
 
75 grain almost exclusively now. Although I will probably end up loading 55 gr bullets for 200 yard standing work.

Jimro
 
I am just getting into loading 223 with my new 700 SPS Tactical. Right now I am starting out with 55gr SBK's.
 
1)Older cartridges ,woodchuck cartridges,have been around a long time.Bullets have been around a long time for these cartridges.One of the ancestors of the .223 was the .222.The .222 would typically have a slower 12 or 14 twist.Accuracy and high velocity would be had with bullets in the 45 gr range

2)n the 60's.the 5.56/223 came on scene to feed the AR-15/M-16.That was set up with a 12 in twist for 55 gr bullets

3)Later,the military upped the bullet weight and tightened the twist for the 5.56.There are developmental variants,and I do not want to quibble the fine ponts.I think 62 gr is the standard for NATO now.A 1 in 9 will stabilize that,I have found a 1 in 9 stabilizes 69 ghr MK's and Nosler Comps fine for me.

Twists of 1 in 7 are common in the M-4 SPR,DMR,and match rifles.Heavier bullets,such as the 77 gr MK,give the military better long range penetration .

Both the Military and match shooters find they buck wind better.

Generally,in a rifle designated .223 you will have a slower twist for lighter bullets.Lilely they will be throated shorter for better accuracy with lighter bullets,Heavier bullets may jam the rifling.

With the exception of early rifles,todays 5.56 designated rifles will typoically have a twist of 1 in 9 or faster,and the throat will accomodate most bullets thnat can be mag loaded.

Some bullets,such as the Hornady 75 gr A-max,and some 75 gr+ VLD's,and the 80 gr plus bullets,cannot be loaded short enough for AR mags.These are used in matches in AR type rifles single loaded

If you are shooting varmints and want an expanding bullet,about 60 gr is the heaviest I know of.

Very generally,.223 will be more about lighter varmint bullets and slow twist,and 5.56 will take you more toward tighter twists and heavier bullets for target or military use.

No hard and fast rules,but,an answer to your question.
 
I guess I mostly just use the 55-grain soft-point for everything. I don't do much paper-punching at long range, so I figure those bullets are fine for everything from prairie dogs to social work.
 
Different uses and different rifle twist require different bullets.

For my 1:12 twist Colt SP1 and Rem 700 bolt gun I'm limited to 55 grns and less. I bolt gun for varmints and the 52-53 grn match bullets are quite accurate and work well.

I use the SP1 in multi gun type matches up to 400 yards and the 55 grn FMJs work quite well in it.

For my White Oak Service rifle and its 1:7 I can use heavier bullets. I use 77 SMKs for the 200 & 300 yard stages of High Power, and 80 SMKs for 600 & 1000 yards. I in the process of working with 90 grn Berger's to see if they might work better at longer ranges. I use the 55 grn bullets for 100 yard practice in Off Hand. I'm not good enough standing on my hind legs to justify the higher price match bullets. The faster twist will shoot the lighter bullets but the inverse isn't true, Slower twist don't like heavier bullets.

I reload except for someone gave me 1500 speer 64 grn LE rounds. They don't work well in my SP1. The do pretty good at 100 yards with my bolt gun but past that they start going south.
 
KISS, is the right thing to do here,

so I just use the 68gr Sierra MK for high power matches.

For when I go deer hunting I'll use the Winchester 64gr power point.

Do have some 55 gr ammo, but haven't use much of it.
 
There's so many options because there are so many things people want to do with a .223 Rem. Short range varmints-40grs for explosions. Longer range varmints, plinking or short range match loads: 50-55gr. Longer range plinking or deer loads:60-64gr. Mid range match loads: 68-75. Long range match loads: 75-90gr.

Most of my use is 52,53 and 55gr loads, with the rare 60gr Vmax. The trajectory differences for the heavier bullets don't really come in to play at the maximum range I have available. I don't have a place to shoot that exceeds 300yds, and even the range at which I shoot highpower is a RCOF 100yd range, so most everyone uses 52/53gr SMKs. I can't hunt deer with a .223 in VA, so the 63/64gr soft points are relatively useless for me.
 
I buy surplus M193 55 grain FMJ for serious stuff. So I reload 55 grain FMJ and SP's for practice and shooting vermin around the property. I've got some M855/SS109 but I've never been in love with it. So when I wanted to go heavy, I went all the way. Sierra 77 grain. Yes, it does fit "mag length." I tried several powders before I found one that gave me the velocity and accuracy I wanted. I've killed one deer with that load just to try it out. Worked just fine. So I keep a few loaded mags with the rifle. Among other things!

My Tikka Tactical bolt rifle likes those 77 grain Sierras as well. But I use Lapua match .223 brass in that rifle as well as slightly less powder.

So, in conclusion.... 95% of my 5.56 reloading is either 55 grain or 77 grain.

Gregg
 
I use 77gr MatchKings in factory loads from Black Hills and HSM.
Shoot great out of 1/8 AR barrel.
I bought some 90gr VLD's from HSM...haven't opened the box...will probably sell them.
 
I load V-max, SP and FMJ, all are 55 gr all are Hornady.

V-max - use in Rem 700 Varmint
SP - use in Rem 700 Varmint
FMJ - for the AR15

I have tried the SP and V-max on the AR as well and they are very accurate. However, it's cheaper to shoot the FMJs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top