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SD bullets for .223

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#1 ·
Gearing up for reloading in a few weeks after a few months absence (been too hot in the garage). Anyway, I'd like to assemble some SD ammo for my 1:9 twist AR and would like some SD bullet recommendations.

My primary SD guns are pistols and shotguns but I'd like to have a couple hundred rounds of SD ammo for my AR. For target and plinking, I'm shooting 55 FMJ-BT. I was looking at 60 gr HP and V-max.


Thanks
 
#7 ·
Yep, going from .223 to 5.56 to make a SD round won't be significantly different. Overpenetration inside your residence yes, but perhaps you are in a rural setting a .223 then is a nice go to gun.
 
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#8 ·
...Overpenetration inside your residence yes, but perhaps you are in a rural setting a .223 then is a nice go to gun.
Probably should clarify. I don't plan on using my AR for a "regular" SD weapon. I've got plenty of handguns and shotguns for that. But I would like to develop a SD load that will provide more stopping power if I ever find myself in a situation where an AR makes sense. Plus I'd like something I could also use for small animals. I have a 270 for larger game.
 
#9 ·
I do keep an BCM AR beside the bed along with my Glock. I load 62gr Barnes TTSX. They are pushing 2900fps. This is a barrier blind load that can easily bust through a car door, thick sofa, etc, and still expand when impacting the human body. I'm using AA2230, and worked the load up where it hits POA/POI with my 55gr FMJ loads.
 
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#11 ·
I'm with Gahunter on this one! Last year I rounded up six of what I considered to be very well regarded SD rounds in 223 cal, made an 18" thick target from wet newsprint and commenced to shooting. The two rounds that did the most damage were the Barnes 55g TSX and the Barnes 70g TSX with the 70g absolutely making a mess of the target beyond 12". I think those four sharp petals acted somewhat like a mini egg beater on steroids.

Around the home, my AR is loaded with the 70g TSX and like yourself, it's not my main SD gun but it's nice to have options depending where in the house when trouble strikes.

Barnes has some nice tables worked up for both 223 and 5.56 loads using all their TSX and other bullets. I was sent the load tables in an email from Barnes tech support a few weeks ago and could forward them if you'd like.

The 70g TSX has a load table recommending a 1-12 twist barrel but in the 5.56 load they recommend a 1-7 twist for the 70g TSX. My AR has a 1-9 twist and I called Barnes tech support last year and they assured me the 70g TSX would be fine in my gun, and I agree, it's the most awesome round I tried by far.

Below are the 55g and 70g TSX bullets recovered from the wet newsprint. If I can find where they are I can send you some photos I took of the actual target, or what was left of it.
 

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#13 ·
Ammo has change a lot since 2011 in the ar arena. Fragmentation of some 223 will give up the ghost on the first sheetrock wall. Look for the commercial ammo sold for self defense in both 223 and 556. Contact their tech support and see where that gets you started. Over penetration with some ammo exists for either 223 or 556. Then again, same for my 9mm and 40SW.
 
#14 ·
I do not load any of the ammo I think I might have occasion to use in SD against a human being. God forbid I ever have to use it as such, but I do not want a lawyer asking me why I loaded that round in the way I did. I would much rather be able to say " So and so Ammo recommended it for self defense, so that is what I used"
 
#16 ·
I do not carry reloads for EDC, because I like the Federal HST bullet, and have never seen them for sale "new". I do load Gold Dots for my .40s&w to put away for SHTF. I personally have no problem using a reload in my AR to defend my home. I figure lawyers will ask why/how I put 10 rnds CM before he hit the floor. I can't recall ever reading about someone being in hot water for using reloads, but I can recall reading about DA's trying to burn someone based on there training back ground.
 
#20 ·
You're all wrong, wrong, wrong and have is all incorrect. You use reloads at the lowest and slowest you can make so you get more target practice while they are still standing. You hit them with a one shot drop and your practice dummy is not good anymore! Sheeeesh, it's not rocket science!!!!
 
#21 ·
I'll just tell the legal types that I have several high powered pistols capable of doing a lot of damage but didn't want to hurt the bad guy so chose not to use any of those pistols. Instead I got the AR-15 which shoots little bitty bullets sorta like a 22 and the bullets I chose create big mushroom ends sorta like a parachute that I think help slow the bullet down so they won't hurt much but will get the bad guys attention. Yeah..... that's gonna be my defense! :)
 
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