AR15's and hollowpoints

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Brentn

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Just curious to know how many of you own an AR15 and have fed it hollowpoints in which it reliable shot them?

I had a whole bunch of them left over from a friend and they wouldn't feed reliably at all. I have an 11.5" AR15 with an M4 ramped barrel and a standard A2 ramped upper. Wierd configuration I know, but it feeds FMJ perfectly, but the hollow points catch on the overlapping ramps on each side...

So if you have an AR15, and have reliably fed it hollowpoints, post your setup and state what kind of feed ramps you have, which is the most important part.

thank you!
 
FYI...It is ill advised to try and shoot hollowpoints in an AR.
The BEST thing that can happen is what you've experienced...they just don't feed well as the hollow point 'hangs up' on the feed ramp.
The WORST thing that can happen is that the bullet nose hangs up, gets pushed back into the case, and then proceeds to be fed into the chamber....
KABOOM!....You have set up an overpressure situation which can wreck guns, hands, eyes, etc.
The AR system is not suitable for use with hollow points UNLESS the rounds are 'hand fed' above the feed ramps, thus avoiding the chance of the bullet being pushed into the case.
 
Never put any 45gr hollowpoints in an A15. Especially not Remington.
I witness bullet set back about 3-4 times with this type of ammo (both Win & Rem ammo in different rifles). Luckly they jammed the system, so that's how we could see it. And when they feed, accuracy is ####.
 
I would think the sharp point of a Fmj would be just as likely to hang-up as a HP such as Winchester white box. Nil to none. In any case handloads should be well crimped to prevent set backs.

Of other concern may be that lightly jacketed varmint bullets, especially those designed for "Hornet" velocities coming apart in a high speed fast twist barrel.
 
The feedramps won't make a dime of difference, just make sure the bullets are well crimped.

The American Eagle 50gn JHP is crimped/cannalured and shoots well.
 
I use the win jhp valuepacks from wally world all the time. no issues.
 
nza said:
I use the win jhp valuepacks from wally world all the time. no issues.
Click to expand...

They're not recommended. Works all the time until the time it doesn't, then you have a KB.

Not due to the hp, due to the lack of crimp. Many many people have had problems with this ammo and ARs.
 
I've had feed problems with HP rounds also. I no longer use them. I only use 55 gr FMJ now and have had no stoppages at all with them.
 
dangertree said:
They're not recommended. Works all the time until the time it doesn't, then you have a KB.

Not due to the hp, due to the lack of crimp. Many many people have had problems with this ammo and ARs.
Click to expand...

Interesting to know. Well, I guess after i use up my last batch of the wally world, I'll go back to the 556 I found.:D
 
huh... These were not the answers that I was expecting, but I guess that answers my question.

Not a good idea.

Thanks all for your input
 
HP is not the problem - crimping is. We used to have these AE 52gr HP that could be pushed in with the thumb. It is a QC issue more than anything else. Why put a cannulure around the bullet if these guys don't crimp it.....

Factory ammo should be crimped properly.
 
So hollowpoints in general are not crimped properly?
What is crimping? is it the amount of length between the tip of the bullet and the edge of the casing where the bullet resides?

What brands have proper crimp jobs?
The remington HP's that I had and used are defenitly a no go as they caught on the feedramp's more than a few times.
 
Brentn said:
So hollowpoints in general are not crimped properly?
What is crimping? is it the amount of length between the tip of the bullet and the edge of the casing where the bullet resides?

What brands have proper crimp jobs?
The remington HP's that I had and used are defenitly a no go as they caught on the feedramp's more than a few times.
Click to expand...


Here is a definition of crimping:
hxxp://www.exteriorballistics.com/reloadbasics/crimp.cfm

basically the crimping process forces the mouth of the case to tighten around the bullet after the bullet has been seated to its desired length, usually at the cannelure. And it is the pressure of the friction grip that is at question for some of the manuf rounds. too lose a crimp, and the bullet can be pushed in by finger, which is no good for feeds, and obvious other reasons. Too tight and well...
 
bisonhd said:
I would think the sharp point of a Fmj would be just as likely to hang-up as a HP such as Winchester white box. Nil to none. In any case handloads should be well crimped to prevent set backs.

Of other concern may be that lightly jacketed varmint bullets, especially those designed for "Hornet" velocities coming apart in a high speed fast twist barrel.
Click to expand...

I can tell you from personal experience: The chance of a hang-up with those Winchester whitebox varmint (45gr HP) is far better than zero. I had the following happen one fine day at the range with an AR-15 and that very ammo:

- Chamber first round, OK
- Bang! nice shot. Second round hangs on feed ramp.
- Eject round, notice that it's a bit short. The round was turtled up so that the bullet was only protruding about 3/16". Better be careful before chambering if any more hang up, I thought.
- Chamber third round.
- BRUUUP... empty mag
- Damned heavy spring + damned light load = 3 rounds downrange, thankfully this was a standard magazine.

- Curse.
- Set down rifle with shaking hands, apply trigger lock, and go home.

The same rifle shoots fine with AE FMJ - no feed ramp hangups, and no goddamn invisible happy switch. Functional checks were fine before and ever since.

Now if a round had chambered and fired after turtling the way the second round did, I'm sure I would have had a KB. Scary. Unfortunately, I have since disposed of the round that did hang up.
 
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