5.56 with a 16", 1:12 barrel - Heavier bullet options...

[Galil5.56]

Any hands on work using a specific bullet/bullet and loads using bullets heavier than 55 grains? I'd like to have an expanding bullet option of a bit more weight (say 60-64 grains or so), and also be able to partake of some of those sweet blem/overrun sales I have so far not partaken of. I figure there must be some that would work well, or well enough.

I know there are twist calculators, twist calculators for certain bullets; Just the same I'd like to hear from folks who have actually tried a certain 55 grain+ bullet that worked (maybe didn't work) with 1:12, and could kindly report your results here. Thanks.

 

[Varminterror]

For a 16” 1:12”, and I’m reaching way back in my memory banks for this rifle, since I’ve long since had better sense to NOT buy 1:12” tubes....

I had reasonable luck with 60 partitions, which is a relatively short, flat base bullet, and which doesn’t have a high reputation for precision in general, but didn’t have luck stabilizing 69grn SMK’s. Shot gobs of 50 vmax’s though.

 

[Bottom Gun]

My Sako rifles have a 1 in 12” twist. They will shoot sub MOA with 64 gr Winchester Power Points, 65 gr Sierra Game King, 70 gr Speer soft point and 62 and 64 gr Fusion type bullets.
60 gr Hornady HP will shoot MOA and Nosler 60 gr Partitions will shoot 1 ½ to 2 MOA.

These are NOT factory loads. They are reloads using H335, Win 748 and IMR 4198 powder.

The 65 gr Sierra bullets give the best accuracy but the others aren’t far behind.

 

[Blue68f100]

1:12 are generally for the lighter pills. The slowest twist in my 223's are 1:10 which allows be to stabilize up to 65gr. Any thing over accuracy goes out the window. In some cases if you can push a marginal weight bullet faster you get it to stabilize. I would suggest you buy some small quantity and do some testing to see what your gun likes. Your max may well be 60 gr or less.

 

[Charlie98]

In some cases if you can push a marginal weight bullet faster you get it to stabilize. I would suggest you buy some small quantity and do some testing to see what your gun likes. Your max may well be 60 gr or less.

^^^This. Every barrel is different. Conversely, my Colt H-Bar 1:7 is abysmal with any 55grn bullet I've ever tried, but my RRA with same twist doesn't really care.

 

[horsey300]

Any hands on work using a specific bullet/bullet and loads using bullets heavier than 55 grains? I'd like to have an expanding bullet option of a bit more weight (say 60-64 grains or so), and also be able to partake of some of those sweet blem/overrun sales I have so far not partaken of. I figure there must be some that would work well, or well enough.

I know there are twist calculators, twist calculators for certain bullets; Just the same I'd like to hear from folks who have actually tried a certain 55 grain+ bullet that worked (maybe didn't work) with 1:12, and could kindly report your results here. Thanks.

I run a 12 twist 20 inch, and it's good with lightweights, the biggest bullets I'd try would be the 60 gr fbsp from Hornady (not the vmax) or 70 gr speer, but you'll have to push em FAST I'm thinking, nosler 64 was designed for slow twist tubes, and maybe that+varget max velocity would work well, that'd be my pick for a slow twist game bullet

 

[<*(((><]

Take a look at this chart (thank you JBM) which shows bullet length (which is what one wants to focus on when talking about spin stability and twist rate), you will want to find the shortest length bullet for the heavier projectile. Or look at common 50-55 gr lengths on that chart and try and get as close as you can to those with a heavier bullet. That would be where I would start.

What bullet do you shoot that stabilizes well in your rifle? I have the chart formatted where I can sort it by bullet weight and length. If I know a bullet that you use I can see what heavier options you have that are around the same length.

 

[Blue68f100]

You will have the best luck with a bullet that is short and fat ogive, flat base. The long skinny ones will more than likely not work.

 

[<*(((><]

Here are a few of the shorter in length heavier than 50-55 gr. options:

1. Hornady SP 60gr. 0.75"
2. Sierra Varminter 63gr. 0.755"
3. Nosler Varmageddon 62gr. 0.77"
4. Sierra HP Varminter 60gr. 0.776"
5. Nosler Spitzer Partition 60gr. 0.79"
6. Nosler Partition Protected Point 64gr. 0.80"

Intermixed with these length bullets there were lots of 55 gr offerings; so I would imagine you should be able to find one of the above bullets to work well. Depending on your application for the projectile there is a good mix there as well from SP, HP and Partitions.

 

[Bfh_auto]

My 22" 1-12 barrel doesn't stabilize the 53 VMAX or anything over 55 grain. I can push 55s at 3340 so I'm happy with them.
The same load in a 16" AR is only about 3025.
Look up 224 bullet length and try the shortest heavy one.

 

[<*(((><]

My 22" 1-12 barrel doesn't stabilize the 53 VMAX or anything over 55 grain. I can push 55s at 3340 so I'm happy with them.
The same load in a 16" AR is only about 3025.
Look up 224 bullet length and try the shortest heavy one.

That 53gr Vmax is 0.83" in length, which is long for the 55gr offerings, just adding that to the conversation.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I'

That 53gr Vmax is 0.83" in length, which is long for the 55gr offerings, just adding that to the conversation.

That's why I noted that it didn't work. It's awesome in a 12 twist 22-250 though.