Jump friendly .224 projectiles

[Mike_R]

Yesterday I was doing some load testing at the range and experimented with some Nosler 77 grain CC bullets just off the lands in my AR. They performed wonderfully, but single loading was a bit of a pain. I know they aren't a VLD bullet but they definitely liked starting close to the lands much more than jumping at mag length.

It got me thinking that perhaps another bullet profile might work better, I have heard the Hornady 75 BTHP is a good choice for mag length, and I haven't tried anything between 55 and 77 grains yet other than the 60 V Max, which was not bad, but not that impressive either.

Maybe the Berger 70 LTB? Any other ideas? I know I need to find out what works best in my particular barrel(its a WOA SDM 1 in 7 twist) but what projectiles have worked out well from at a COAL of say 2.26 or less?

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Jump friendly .224 projectiles

I jump smk's and custom comp's, have you tried the CC's seated deeper?
Sorry, over looked the part about seating deeper,

 

[gcoulsey]

Re: Jump friendly .224 projectiles

77 Berger bthp jump just fine, loaded to 2.26"
1/8 twist
Consistent .75MOA and less in my friends AR

 

[mscott]

Re: Jump friendly .224 projectiles

Give the Hornady 75 BTHP a try. I've grown to really like that bullet as it has shot well in everything I've tried it in.

 

[BERTMAN77MK2]

Re: Jump friendly .224 projectiles

+ 1 for Hornady 75

 

[wrhunter]

Re: Jump friendly .224 projectiles

69 SMK with varget is a great load in my rifle. Good balance of bc and velocity makes it hard to beat inside of 600 yards for an AR.

 

[jbailey]

Re: Jump friendly .224 projectiles

Just load the Nosler 77grainers to mag length - 2.260" and you will be fine. There is little if any need to mess with seating depth with that bullet. The Hornady 75gr HPBT and Sierra 77gr SMK are the same think. You only need to mess with seating depth for the VLDs and AMax's, at which point they are no longer mag length.

 

[Mike_R]

Re: Jump friendly .224 projectiles

Thank you for all the input. I will pick up a box of the Hornady 75s and the Bergers to experiment with as well as the Sierra 69s.

I understand loading the Noslers to mag length "should" be fine but my results in my barrel suggest otherwise, as setting them back to mag length doubled the average group size compared to just off of the lands. Thats why I want to try some different profiles.