I recently bought a BCM M4 Mod 2. It has a 16" 1:7" twist barrel. I've only reloaded pistol cartridges so far so this will be my first attempt at reloading rifle cartridges. Should I look at 55 grain bullets for that barrel? Heavier? Flat base or boat tail? I'd think boat tail would be easier to load. I'm looking to load a lot so cheap is great, but also want accurate. Which bullets should I consider?
.223/5.56 bullets
- Thread starter djcantr
- Start date
m&p45acp10+1
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With the faster twist rate you should be able to shoot the heavier bullets if you want to. As far as lighter bullets well you will have to try a few to see. For general purpose plinking loads the 55 grain Reminton should get into the minute of pop can at 100 yards without fail. Even better if you can milk it for that. Though they are flat based. Those are the cheapest I would go.
The Hornady 55 grain FMJBT will do a good bit better. With a price of less than $15 for 100 they should be worth a try. If they do well, and you want even better than V-Max cost a slight bit more, and give even better results.
68 grain HPBT Match Hornady are great in fast twist rate barrels. My 1 in 9 Savage drives tacks with them using Varget, and Reloader15.
The Hornady 55 grain FMJBT will do a good bit better. With a price of less than $15 for 100 they should be worth a try. If they do well, and you want even better than V-Max cost a slight bit more, and give even better results.
68 grain HPBT Match Hornady are great in fast twist rate barrels. My 1 in 9 Savage drives tacks with them using Varget, and Reloader15.
If the 55 grain pills work for you, they can be bought in quantity for just over $0.08 each shipped. Montana Gold and Widener's have the best prices I have found.
As far as accuracy goes, both of the sources listed will group around 1" at 100 yards for 5 shot groups.
As far as accuracy goes, both of the sources listed will group around 1" at 100 yards for 5 shot groups.
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armoredman
New member
I haven't gotten 1 inch groups at 100 yards yet, but 55 grain bullets seem to work in my 16 inch 1-7 twist barrel.
warningshot
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Using a stock Colt AR15 A2, 1:7 twist, NRA offical high powr target, with factory Fed or Win 55 gr fmjs; The rifle will hold the 10 ring at 100 and 200 yards in standing, sitting and prone. If you would like to do better, use heavier bullets.
Thanks for the suggestions. I ordered 1,000 55 grain FMJ from Montana Gold to get me started and make up some plinking rounds. I'll order smaller quantities of bullets of various brands and weights to see if they do better for me when I'm shooting for precision.
Now I have to learn how to reload rifle... Pistol cartridges are so stinkin' easy. I've got some reading to do. I load on a Lee Pro 1000 and am not sure I'd trust myself to reload rifle on it. Might pick up a Rock Chucker to load rifle on.
Now I have to learn how to reload rifle... Pistol cartridges are so stinkin' easy. I've got some reading to do. I load on a Lee Pro 1000 and am not sure I'd trust myself to reload rifle on it. Might pick up a Rock Chucker to load rifle on.
It depends a lot on the distance you are going to shoot. If I was shooting 300 yards or more with that twist I would go with a heavier bullet. You have to be careful because when you get into some of the heavier bullets they will be too long to load in a magazine. Yes a boat tail bullet is a lot easier to load. I would recommend trying some 55 or 62 grain bullets. It doesn't sound like you are looking at long range accuracy and the lighter bullets will be a lot cheaper.
armoredman
New member
I've loaded the 65 gr Sierra Game King short enough for the mag with halfway decent results.
browninghunter86
New member
take a look at the Hornady 60 gr Vmax. That is what I am working on now with good results so far
I would start with 62 grain FMJ's. Try to get them without the steel penetrators (that can't be good for accuracy.) I bought 1000 from goldenwestbrass.com but they are out of them now. MG should have them.
I've read that softpoint and HP rifle bullets are inherently more accurate than FMJ because the base is much more uniform. It makes sense, but I'm a lousy shot so that doesn't matter to me yet.
I've read that softpoint and HP rifle bullets are inherently more accurate than FMJ because the base is much more uniform. It makes sense, but I'm a lousy shot so that doesn't matter to me yet.
55s will work find in your 1:7 twist. In fact I have a report where the Army was checking the accuracy of Lake City's Mann device (Mann accuracy device is used to test ammo).
They used Sierra 52 grn Match Kings (with 25 Grns of 3031 in remington Brass and fed primers). They ended up with groups from .19 to .31 Mean Radius.
You can also go to 80-90 grn pills for long range shooting.
Hornady 52/53 grn match bullets are normally found for good prices. I use them for 100 yard reduced practice. I use 77 & 80 SMKs for 200, 300, 600 & 1000 in my 1:7 White Oak Service rifle.
If you're just plinking then you can find 55 grns bulk bullets that work pretty good. I shoot them out of my Colt SP1. (1:12 twist.
They used Sierra 52 grn Match Kings (with 25 Grns of 3031 in remington Brass and fed primers). They ended up with groups from .19 to .31 Mean Radius.
You can also go to 80-90 grn pills for long range shooting.
Hornady 52/53 grn match bullets are normally found for good prices. I use them for 100 yard reduced practice. I use 77 & 80 SMKs for 200, 300, 600 & 1000 in my 1:7 White Oak Service rifle.
If you're just plinking then you can find 55 grns bulk bullets that work pretty good. I shoot them out of my Colt SP1. (1:12 twist.
I bought these to load a bunch for plinking. If they give me 4" groups at 100 yards, that's fine. I'll buy lots of 100 to make up loads to test for accuracy.
I need to order some powder to try out. Can anybody give me some suggestions? I'd like to just use one powder for loading the 55 grains I purchased as well as heavier bullets when going for long range accuracy. I thought I'd give IMR 4895 a try. What other powders should I try?
I need to order some powder to try out. Can anybody give me some suggestions? I'd like to just use one powder for loading the 55 grains I purchased as well as heavier bullets when going for long range accuracy. I thought I'd give IMR 4895 a try. What other powders should I try?