What Weight Bullet for .223

[Rlandry]

I have two AR's that I havn't started loading for yet. One has a 20" 1:8 twist and the other a 16" 1:9 twist. I have a Remmy .223 with a 1:12 twist, so I'm kinda stuck with 55g in that one. I want to shoot a heavier bullet in the two ARs. What would be a good weight that would be good for both ARs? I'm trying to not end up with shelves full of different brands and weights.
Thanks in advance.

 

[spife7980]

9 twist will limit you to 69 gr bullets for 100% confidence. Some get decent results with heavier bullets, I didnt.

What are you going to be doing with these bullets? Something precision where a match bullet is desired or just pissing them down range where a cheaper bullet is appreciated?

 

[MTRecon]

I'm using the Hornady 62gr HPBT from Midsouth with good results.

 

[Rlandry]

Plinking and target shooting, possibly hunting, but no precision shooting planned for the ARs.

 

[Steel head]

69 smk’s are magical!

You could certainly try 75/77’s as they sometimes shoot well from 1-9 barrel.
My old Windham carbine with a 1-9 barrel loved them as did a friends RR carbine.

 

[Codiekfx400]

The 55 grain zmax bullets are cheap and will work for you. I have had excellent accuracy and devastating terminal performance. https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/product/hornady-224-22-55-gr-zmax-500/

 

[RandyGM]

My rock river 16 inch wilson loves 68 hpbt hornady over varget. its a 1/9

 

[Mblackmon4]

It sounds like something cheap would be the way to go
I’d look at
Hornady 62gr fmj
Nosler varmageddon 62gr
Sierra gameking 65gr
Any place that has bullet seconds for sale such as midway or Midsouth

 

[Sniper266]

Refrencing the berger stability calculator; you could step into the 73gr bergers. They will be “marginally stable” and you “may get good groups” from a 1-10 twist barrel. Your 1-9 barrel would be just fine. Unfortunately for optimum stabilization in a 1-10 you can only confidently step intothe 69gr weight class.

I would look at what velocities you plan to achieve with 69’s, 62’s 55’s and even the 52’s... plug those into applied balistics and see what yeilds the best balistic outcome for your intended use.

 

[AMGtuned]

My 16" 1:8 eats 69gr smk over Varget and loves them. I use them for accurate, reliable, hit on steel, paper, and coyote. if I'm just blasting with friends, I have dope recorded for multiple production 55gr and those god awful 62gr mil junk. But they all hold 1-1.5 moa and are good enough for challenging steel hits with the buddies.

 

[RandyGM]

My plinking and SHF load is hornady 55 fmj over Accurate 2230 26.0 3250fps. At .08 each cant beat it.