Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

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fmelloni82

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Sep 15, 2011
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#1
Ok so I have this delton Ar-15 I built Its scoped so Id like to take it on my chuck hunts , just as either a back up or a close range offhand rifle. It has a 20" 1x9 5.56 barrel. Ill be using varget powder and a cci br Primer.

Any Ideas on a bullet ? what weights best for this twist rate ?
 
#3
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

I would go with the 50 grain Hornady V-Max. The Nosler is also a great bullet. But it costs more. And I can't see a pennies worth of difference in the performance of the two bullets. So why pay more??

Your faster twist barrel will stabilize a larger bullet if you want to shoot a larger bullet. But for ground hog hunitng out to about 300 yards or so there is no reason for a larger bullet. And past 300 or 350 the 223 runs out of steam as a good ground hog cartridge. So I would want a flatter trajectory with the 50 grain bullet. Tom.
 
#4
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

I get the best accuracy with 55gr Nosler Ballistic Tips from my 1/9" barrels, but the 50 and 55gr VMax's are no slouch in that department either. All 3 of those bullets are devastating on impact.


Fast and flat is ideal for those little critters, so I'd say HOGGHEAD is spot on. The 50gr VMax should serve you well.
 
#5
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

If you are wanting longer range shots, try heavier bullets. The 1X9 twist should be able to stabilize up to 69 and possibly up to 75-77 grain bullets.

I have shot 77 SMK's out of my 1X9 bolt gun and gotten groups as small as 0.4" at 200 yds. The only way to really know is to shoot them and see.

Varget does really well with the heavier bullets, the CCI BR primers are a good choice. Look at Remington 7 1/2 as well.

Dont over look brass, LC is fine for plinking. If you want real accuracy look to some of the commercial brass. Hornady, Nosler, Norma or Lapua should give a bump in accuracy.

One other thing to look at is seating longer than mag length. Play with it a bit and see how it works.

Good luck with it

Sean
 
#6
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

I get .75"@200yds groups shooting the 60gr V-Max over varget out of the 16" 1-9 on my AR at mag length. Tried a few loads with 50gr Noslers, they were mediocre, 40gr lead free noslers with W748 did well at 100 but accuracy is barely acceptable by 200yds
 
#9
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

I have had great results with 60gr VMAX and Varget...the 55gr VMAX have done well also but a little better accuracy with the 60's.

They are utterly devastating on groundhogs...

photo.jpg
 
#10
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

WOW! overwhelming responses , thanks guys. I think I'll start off with the 60 grain Vmax. I love the 178 Amax in my 308, great design . Id rather go heavy to dope the wind better. Im not expecting to take a shot past 200 yards with it anyway, sot that Ill have my .308 right next to me.

Thanks for the suggestion on the remington 7 1/2 's I ve heard other people mention that , at there $15 bucks cheeper then the cci's. Anybody notice a major difference between the two ? It barely pays to reload the .223's as is and I'd like to cut where ever I can without sacrificing accuracy
 
#11
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

Also give the new hornady 53g v-max a try. I have had great luck with these for a AR 15 varmint bullet.
 
#13
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

thanks BCP ill start with the rems to save a few bucks , im sure I can find what im looking for with them . Thanks for the charge weight range , thatll save me a ton of devel. Hey BCP that COAL is that a comparator COAL ?

How about everyone else , where do you guys seat (comparator measurement)?
 
#14
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

I run all of my AR loads to 2.26" so they fit in the mags.

I generally run 55 grain VMAX's or Nosler Ballistic Tips through my two AR's; ones a Colt 6920 (1:7 twist) and ones a RRA (1:9 twist). I pick based on which ever bullet I can get cheaper at the time. I've also had some promising results with the 60 grain iterations of both bullets, but I have finalized a load yet so I can't comment much more than that. I want to try the 53 grain VMAX's from Hornady, too. I've heard they're pretty sweet.

The 55 grain bullets have been devastating on the coyotes I have shot with them.
 
#15
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

I run a Rock River with an 8 twist and agree that varget may be a bit slow. My pet varmet load is 55 vmax and 25 grs. of Benchmark. For pdogs...55 gr dogtowns from Midway over the same charge do very well. I also use cci primers but, not the br's.
 
#16
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

+1 on the 55gr nosler bt or hornady vmax and 25g of benchmark & regular cci primer. I prefer a bullet with a cannelure for my ar loads. I recently loaded some remington psp's and although im not a fan of softpoints and ar's the psp werent very pointed & they were way more explosive than I was expecting
 
#19
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: polter71</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Also give the new hornady 53g v-max a try. I have had great luck with these for a AR 15 varmint bullet. </div></div>

Just curious, what's your load with the 53 grainers??
 
#21
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: polter71</div><div class="ubbcode-body">25.8 H335 2.255 OA </div></div>

Have you tried varget with the 53gr vmax?? Just curious, I'm going to try this combo when the bullets come in..
 
#22
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Frogman77</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: polter71</div><div class="ubbcode-body">25.8 H335 2.255 OA </div></div>

Have you tried varget with the 53gr vmax?? Just curious, I'm going to try this combo when the bullets come in.. </div></div>

If anybody is looking for the 53 V-max Third generation has some. They seem to be sold out everywhere.

http://store.thirdgenerationshootingsupply.com/browse.cfm/4,15590.html
 
#24
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

The Sierra 60 gr Varminter is a sleeper. its a FB bullet but very accurate out to at least 300 yds.( as far as I have ever shot it) Loaded it over 25.0 of H4895 It has always been the most accurate load in my AR's, it just doesent have the reach. But if your going to be 300 and in, its a great choice and usually can be found for around $14 a box.
 
#26
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

+1 on the 69 smk's. Used lc brass just cause I had it. 24.0-25.0 gr varget may be a good starting point. 77 smk was eratic with my 9 twist. If you are shooting a lot, you may consider black hills blue box. It shoots great in my gun, and I don't miss reloading it for the price. It has killed plenty of armadillos, and rings steel at 600
 
#29
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fmelloni82</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ok so I have this delton Ar-15 I built Its scoped so Id like to take it on my chuck hunts , just as either a back up or a close range offhand rifle. It has a 20" 1x9 5.56 barrel. Ill be using varget powder and a cci br Primer.

Any Ideas on a bullet ? what weights best for this twist rate ? </div></div>
50 or 55 VMAX but not Varget, Benchmark would be the powder to use with these 2 bullets, I use 24grs with the 55.
 
#30
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Frogman77</div><div class="ubbcode-body">53gr Vmax 26gr Varget win brass rem 7.5 seated to mag length....

This load is lights out! </div></div>
Varget didnt work for schitt in my 223 with the VMAX or other bullets.
 
#31
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Frogman77</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: polter71</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Also give the new hornady 53g v-max a try. I have had great luck with these for a AR 15 varmint bullet. </div></div>

Just curious, what's your load with the 53 grainers?? </div></div>
24.5grs Benchmark with the 52-53MKs. This load has taken a antelope @376yds in bro in laws hands using my rifle.
 
#32
Re: Recomondations for an AR 15 varmint bullet ?

I know, I didn't expect it to work very well either. It fills the case to the base of the neck and I get a bit of powder crunch for sure. But it sure is working well for me.

I'll use up this batch of varget and check out benchmark.
 
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