AR-15 Ammo thoughts

[Sgt Dog]

I had a 1:9 twist AR I sold. I built two others with Wylde chambers and 1:8 twist.

I bought a thousand rounds 55gr 5.56 American Eagle back when I had the original 1:9 but thinking about trading for 68gr Frontier if I find more.

The 68gr Frontier is .223. But I have not read any reviews by anyone shooting it.

I was shying away from green tips due to the steel core and some limitatiins at ranges and such.

Any thoughts

 

[JEVapa]

I shoot 55gr M193 out of everything I have, and it works fine. It has zero issues, is accurate, and is cheap so it's great for training and plinking and whatever. It used to be required for shooting steel because it won't jack it up like 855 and 855A1 does.

That said, I'd hang onto it and just buy your expensive-er stuff for shooting accuracy and for SD activities.

 

[diggler1833]

Frontier is basically bulk ammo loaded with match bullets. Some rifles like it, some don't. I certainly wouldn't trade the bulk of your ammo without trying out a box or two first.

 

[Sgt Dog]

Thanks Gentlemen. Appreciate the feedback.

 

[dennishoddy]

Yep, 68 grain will run fine in that 1:8 barrel.

 

[edl]

1:8 should stabilize up to 75 grain bullets.

 

[swampratt]

I love my 55gr V-max in all my 5.56/223 rifles from 1:9 to 1:7 twist.
I have tried the heavies and my rifles like that 55gr best.

 

[Sgt Dog]

Right. I wanted to use heavier projectiles. That was why I sold the slower twist. And one reason why I asked about experience with Frontier. The other consideration was chamber. Generally speaking I’d think 5.56 would be slightly tighter chambering in a Wylde than .223, so a tradeoff. But selection seems to taper off after the 68gr and Greentips. Hadn’t seen many bulk offerings above 68gr for ammo you see recommended at 68 and above in AR forums. And when I say bulk, I just mean boxes of five hundred or a thousand. Not bulk as in ‘surplus’. I load for everything else but you can tell I’m not reloading for the AR-15 yet. Beginning to think I’ll die of old age before prices on heavier bulk quality ammo come back to sanity.

 

[okiebertt]

Beginning to think I’ll die of old age before prices on heavier bulk quality ammo come back to sanity.

Agreed, the good ole days of cheap ammo are gone.

 

[diggler1833]

1:9 twist is great for bullets in the 68 - 69 gr range, and will stabilize up to 75 grains on a case-by-case basis. My most accurate .223 runs the 68 gr Hornady and 69 gr SMK like they were made to go together and it has a 1:9 twist. Unfortunately I can't run the 75 gr AMAX or VLD fast enough to stabilize those well before I run into pressure signs in that particular barrel.

The 1:8 became popular due to the popularity of the 75 - 77 gr bullet weights.

Either twist rate does well with the 55 - 62 grain bullets too.