So you want to buy an AR-15 - FAQs

Looking forward to your review on this.

Did you read any reviews before you bought it?

 

Hey guys,

I am relatively new to the AR platform. I picked up a Bushmaster for a stupidly cheap price. (Don't worry I had a Master Gunsmith check it out before shooting, it is in fantastic shape).

Now to my question, the barrel has a 1/9 twist rate. What grain would be the best for this twist rate?

It will be use primarily for target shooting.

Any info on quality ammo brands for .223/5.56 would be great too.

 

55gr .223

your barrel should be stamped with .223 on it. Shoot that and only that through it.
Check your gas key for proper staking.

now go have fun.

 

It actually has 5.56 stamped on it, does it make too much of a difference?

 

if its 5.56, no. if its .223, YES.
5.56 chambers can shoot 5.56 and .223
.223 chambers (except wylde) can only shoot .223

 

this.

 

Thats what I had thought. It has the 5.56 NATO stamp on it. From what information I have read I figured it would eat both .223 and 5.56.

Any brand preferences?

I use Federal for target and Hornady for PD in my pistols. I have found both brands to be great.

 

cheapest COMBLOC garbage you can find.....personally, my rifle prefers these

 

Ive been using the wolf WPA and hornady steel cased stuff along with federal XM193 mixed in.

 

Thanks guys.

 

X2 I love my Noveske N4 Recon.

 

I recently built my LMT. Aimpoint M4 Comp, soon to get the 3x magnifier. Love it. If its good enough for the SAS and SOG...good enough for me.

 

If you want accrate groups that bear is a stretch. I shot some the other day and it was all over the target. Then switched to some hand loads and got .90 inch group.

 

you are comparing apples to oranges...

bench shooting of course you want quality ammo if your trying to get groups...

thats like saying "I took my prius to the drag stip and it didnt do that well" well no shit

 

Very true but oranges are better than apples.....
I'm just saying, at least for my gun, is that the only thing bear is good for is pulling the trigger really fast. I think I got a 6 inch group with them at a 100 yards bench shooting.

 

i was getting 1/2" groups with BB 62gr SPs at 50 yards.....that's as good as any other ammo i've used

 

I never said anything about "pulling the trigger fast". I just wouldnt expect to get good groups from cheap bulk ammo...

If you need to hit center mass at 25-50 yards off hand I dont think you would have a problem though

 

^this
i'm terrible shooting offhand, but i can consistently hit a 6" steel circle plate at 70 yards with BB.....which is good enough for me

 

i'd just shoot .223 if you're just doing recreational shooting.... PMC makes good .223 FMJ for recreational shooting, and their brass is even annealed at the neck - which may be good if you plan to reuse the brass in reloading... i've never had a problem w/ PMC... remington UMC .223 FMJ has also worked fine for me...

for a 1/9 twist out of a 16" barrel, i think 50gr to 62 gr is probably the range of bullets that work best... most FMJ is 55gr, 50gr SPs (and sometimes lower) are generally varmint rounds that travel at super high speeds for rapid terminal expansion...

 

Well, I joined the mad rush for AR-15's this week. I ordered a LaRue OBR 16" 5.56. It will be a long time before I get it considering how backlogged production is right now. Most people were waiting close to six months for their rifles to be delivered and that was before all of the panic buying started. Hopefully, AR's won't be banned before I get mine. Now, I just need to decide on back up iron sights and whatever optics that I can afford.