Quick AR question

Razorbacker

I've got my eye on one. A Bushmaster 16" bbl 1:9 twist. Is that twist gonna stick me with 55 grn bullets only? Or no?

Thanks in advance.

breamfisher

Some folks have had good results with that twist with heavier weight bullets. It kinda depends. If you're going to use it for plinking and general piddling, you'll generally be shooting less expensive ammo which is in the 55 gr. to 62 gr. class, and that will shoot fine through your AR.

Answer is: it depends. What do you plan on using the AR for?

Razorbacker

breamfisher wrote: »

What do you plan on using the AR for?

Good question, I've actually been wanting 2. 1 for HD and one for 'yote/predator hunting. In my hunting area a red dot will suit both purposes just fine. So no hassle of switching optics, etc. I also think that with the right bullets 55s to 62s will do just fine. I don't plan on ever deer hunting with it but if I did I'd just shoot 'em in the neck or head maybe.


BTW in you guys AR HD set ups do you guys use FMJ? If not, what?

breamfisher

I use 62 gr. JSPs in my AR for HD loadout because that's what the LGS had. I'd also consider Hornady's ammo, which has a V-Max, I believe.

I would think that for your hunting 1:9 would be dandy.

USUFB

Razorbacker wrote: »

Good question, I've actually been wanting 2. 1 for HD and one for 'yote/predator hunting. In my hunting area a red dot will suit both purposes just fine. So no hassle of switching optics, etc. I also think that with the right bullets 55s to 62s will do just fine. I don't plan on ever deer hunting with it but if I did I'd just shoot 'em in the neck or head maybe.


BTW in you guys AR HD set ups do you guys use FMJ? If not, what?

As other have said, you should be good up to about 69 grains, maybe a little higher. Depends on the gun. If you do take it deer hunting, try the Federal Fusion .223 62 gr load. My RRA (1-8 twist) puts them in practically the same hole if I do my part.

tubabucknut

Razorbacker wrote: »

I've got my eye on one. A Bushmaster 16" bbl 1:9 twist. Is that twist gonna stick me with 55 grn bullets only? Or no?

Thanks in advance.

My Bushmasters, with 1in9 barrels, would not stabilize anything over 69 grain.

My hd load is a hp, but I don't think it matters.

A buddy of mine uses 62gr black hills soft points for deer hunting. He neck shoots them, and they drt.

Razorbacker

breamfisher wrote: »

I use 62 gr. JSPs in my AR for HD loadout because that's what the LGS had. I'd also consider Hornady's ammo, which has a V-Max, I believe.

I would think that for your hunting 1:9 would be dandy.

Okay I'm no bullet expert and my only knowledge of ARs or .223/5.56 is shooting a friends and what I've read, here and elsewhere. So here's the stupid question. In the HD roll the longest indoor shot would be about 30 yards. Could there be any concerns about bullet performance at indoor ranges? I don't know about MV but I wouldn't think you'd get hardly any velocity loss from that 16" tube.

I have zero concerns about over penetration.

JasonMPD

tubabucknut wrote: »

My Bushmasters, with 1in9 barrels, would not stabilize anything over 69 grain.

My hd load is a hp, but I don't think it matters.

A buddy of mine uses 62gr black hills soft points for deer hunting. He neck shoots them, and they drt.

FWIW, my 1:9 shoots 75gr Hornady TAP into a 0.5 MOA circle.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk

tubabucknut

JasonMPD wrote: »

FWIW, my 1:9 shoots 75gr Hornady TAP into a 0.5 MOA circle.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk

Mine Key holed at less than 40 yards. I think it is awesome yours worked. If I were buying with the intent of shooting the heavier longer bullets I would never take the chance on a 1:9.

jbohio

Razorbacker wrote: »

Okay I'm no bullet expert and my only knowledge of ARs or .223/5.56 is shooting a friends and what I've read, here and elsewhere. So here's the stupid question. In the HD roll the longest indoor shot would be about 30 yards. Could there be any concerns about bullet performance at indoor ranges? I don't know about MV but I wouldn't think you'd get hardly any velocity loss from that 16" tube.

I have zero concerns about over penetration.

No. Put fmj in it, forget about it. Our military men breach houses every day with 14" barreled M4's. They seem to do fine.

JasonMPD

tubabucknut wrote: »

Mine Key holed at less than 40 yards. I think it is awesome yours worked. If I were buying with the intent of shooting the heavier longer bullets I would never take the chance on a 1:9.

I didn't buy it with intentions of shooting 75gr bullets. I just tried them one day. TAP bullets are short with short bearing surfaces like 55gr bullets. That may have something to do with it.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk

Razorbacker

jbohio wrote: »

No. Put fmj in it, forget about it. Our military men breach houses every day with 14" barreled M4's. They seem to do fine.

I freely admit to over thinking things at times but when it comes to SD I consider that no vice. But I was already thinking what you posted. It may only be a .22 but it's still a high powered rifle

Razorbacker

cpj wrote: »

My Savage axis just shot 65 grain Game Kings into a nice quarter sized group. It's a 1:9

Mmmmmm, I love me some GKs. If I buy it , and I most likely will. I'll order some dies and hope they have some GKs in stock as well. I'd also like to try some Amaxes. Is there any real difference in some of Hornady's stuff or do they just change tip colors some times. Like between Amax and Vmax and those green tipped Zombie things

Razorbacker

cpj wrote: »

Amax are Vmax are different. Amax are more of a target bullet, with a thicker jacket than the Vmax. The Zmax is a Vmax with a green tip.

So you're in the camp that Amax is strictly a target bullet and totally ill suited for hunting then. :fan:

Razorbacker

cpj wrote: »

Oh hell no. Only idiots think that.

Evidently you missed the emoticon or my lame attempt at stirring the pot. I've seen Zee's autopsy pics, that's why I have a shelf full of Amaxes out in the shop. I want to try them in my 7x57 but even more in my wife's 7mm08. She's yet to kill a deer but when she finally gets a shot, Any hit in front of the diaphram should lead to DRT.

I actually find it quite ironic, coming from Zee because if there's one thing O' Connor taught us is that it's that a fast stepping, quick opening bullet on light skinned game is sure medicine. And his own pics prove it.

jbohio

Razorbacker wrote: »

I freely admit to over thinking things at times but when it comes to SD I consider that no vice. But I was already thinking what you posted. It may only be a .22 but it's still a high powered rifle

Nothing wrong with thinking things through!

horselips

Worse than the 1 in 9 twist you're wondering about is the 1 in 10 twist that came with my Saiga .223 rifle ($299). But all is not lost. With a $50 scope and Silver Bear 55 grain ammo ($.26/round), it will shoot a 1.5" 3 round group at 100 yards. For a 5 round group, add another inch. With Colt 62 grain zinc coated steel cased ammo, the performance is the same, but the Colt brand costs $.32/round and even though it's a heavier bullet, that's a little too proud a price.

I would imagine a good quality AR rifle, with optics, with a 1 in 9 twist would do well with any premium ammunition loaded with a bullet weighing up to 75 grains. But no two rifles are ever exactly alike. Sadly, the 21st century is still a trial-and-error world.

snake284

I don't have an AR(YET), but my Stevens Model 200, though it shoots crappy so far, has shot some of its best groups (Like 1.25 inch) with Sierra 65 grain HPs. It also shoots the Speer 70 Grain Semi Spitzer as well as anything else and it's also an 1-9. Of course, the Speer 70 is not a true Spitzer but a Semi Spitzer and it is much easier to stabilize than other comparable 70 grain bullets. This rifle still isn't anything to write home about. I haven't pin pointed the problem yet, and in truth I haven't really looked into it lately, but it is very much MOD (Minute Of Deer).

Merlin

I have the same weapon. I load 75 grain HP for an HD scenario. With a 1:9 twist, that round would start to tumble at about 50 yards. A 1:7 twist would be better, if the range is beyond 50 yards. But I also have several mags, each loaded for different options.

Eli

Merlin wrote: »

...... that round would start to tumble at about 50 yards......

No. No it will not.