Best SHTF Ammo for a 10.5 inch Barreled AR.
- Thread starter Broker
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Has anyone considered a non-WROL SHTF scenario, such as being stranded in the far north with an SU-16? Would it really make sense to hunt small game (birds, squirrels, rabbits, turkey, ducks etc.) with a .30 cal rifle (although from the looks of things, it sounds as if .223 is still too big for this application too)?
The human argument aside, IF you decided to go that route and take a .223 as a general purpose truck or backpack gun what kind of ammo would you bring?
I've always wondered about the merit of using a .223 against a large Canadian animals like moose or brown bears. It's not ideal, I know, but wimpy, non-expanding PMC Bronze may not be the best choice. If it will just pencil through big Mr. Bear, it may not stop him from turning you into lunch. If it yaws and shreds off huge chunks - and if you can get 9-10 well placed shots off - maybe it might.
Either way - it's good (and interesting) to know.
A lot of folks (particularly folks I've encountered in the military) will bash 5.56/.223 without offering an explanation (or offering an incorrect or partial one) as to why it sucks. My understanding is 5.56/.223 out past 100 yards is a rough equivalent to a .22 magnum, but up close it performs as well or better than an intermediate 7.62/.30 cal round.
Whether it's military, hunting, shtf, or just general interest - it doesn't hurt to know. Rather than dismissing 55gn FMJ outright as useless, understanding it's limitations seems more prudent.
The human argument aside, IF you decided to go that route and take a .223 as a general purpose truck or backpack gun what kind of ammo would you bring?
I've always wondered about the merit of using a .223 against a large Canadian animals like moose or brown bears. It's not ideal, I know, but wimpy, non-expanding PMC Bronze may not be the best choice. If it will just pencil through big Mr. Bear, it may not stop him from turning you into lunch. If it yaws and shreds off huge chunks - and if you can get 9-10 well placed shots off - maybe it might.
Either way - it's good (and interesting) to know.
A lot of folks (particularly folks I've encountered in the military) will bash 5.56/.223 without offering an explanation (or offering an incorrect or partial one) as to why it sucks. My understanding is 5.56/.223 out past 100 yards is a rough equivalent to a .22 magnum, but up close it performs as well or better than an intermediate 7.62/.30 cal round.
Whether it's military, hunting, shtf, or just general interest - it doesn't hurt to know. Rather than dismissing 55gn FMJ outright as useless, understanding it's limitations seems more prudent.
A lot of the 223 bashing is done by people who couldn't hit #### and don't understand terminal performance as it relates to bullet design and velocity. More than a few big names in the industry have nothing but praise for 223.
Tdc
Tdc
I've taken deer with polymer tipped .223. The damage is unreal. That said, it doesn't blow massive holes out the backside either, all the damage stays inside the chest cavity. The bullet penetrates just past the ribs, then tears apart. Unfortunately, as deer don't wander out onto the range around here, I can't comment on the terminal effects of .223 from my 10.5 LMT upper. However, just based on the design of the polymer tipped bullets, it's almost inevitable that the bullet will expand at slow velocities.
Here's some food for thought:
Hornady's website indicates that the V-max has been tested down to a muzzle velocity of 1598 fps, but recommends a minimum velocity of 2000 fps for reliable expansion. This would suggest a maximum distance of about 100 m out of a 10.5" barrel under a more conservative scenario. However, you'd have to chrono the ammo out of your gun to actually see for yourself how the velocity changed at various ranges. Then determine at what distance your 2000 fps cut off lies.
I can't comment on the Speer Gold Dot as I've never even seen a box of it.
Here's some food for thought:
Hornady's website indicates that the V-max has been tested down to a muzzle velocity of 1598 fps, but recommends a minimum velocity of 2000 fps for reliable expansion. This would suggest a maximum distance of about 100 m out of a 10.5" barrel under a more conservative scenario. However, you'd have to chrono the ammo out of your gun to actually see for yourself how the velocity changed at various ranges. Then determine at what distance your 2000 fps cut off lies.
I can't comment on the Speer Gold Dot as I've never even seen a box of it.
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Just go try different ammo. Whatever you are most accurate with is best. Hell, Even HEDP rounds don't do damage if they don't hit the target. Shot placement over fancy rounds is something to consider. Something quality, brass cased, and something that maintains a zero regardless of the lot # on the box, everything else is a nice to have. The projectile weight will depend on the twist rate of your rifling, and what your gun "likes to eat", and range will also be a factor.
blaxsun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
You've been spending too much time with Justin Trudeau...
I'm partial to my 55gr hornady v-max reloads out of my tikka for shooting stuff...
these are pretty neat though... From my internet research (
) the consensus is to not even bother trying to replicate MK262/Mod1 velocities as they are way over pressured.
you'll have to extrapolate for a 10.5 inch barrel
I can't find the specs for 68 grain blacks hills ammo; so i'm going to assume it's a typo.
and FYI 75 grain a-max listed OAL is too long for magazines.
I have to think that the 70 grain vld with the longer ogive would fragment further out than the 69 grain smk.
I don't have the resources to test this unfortunately.
these are pretty neat though... From my internet research (
) the consensus is to not even bother trying to replicate MK262/Mod1 velocities as they are way over pressured.
you'll have to extrapolate for a 10.5 inch barrel
I can't find the specs for 68 grain blacks hills ammo; so i'm going to assume it's a typo.
and FYI 75 grain a-max listed OAL is too long for magazines.
I have to think that the 70 grain vld with the longer ogive would fragment further out than the 69 grain smk.
I don't have the resources to test this unfortunately.
Simple answer for shtf with a 10.5 is 75gr TAP (T1 or T2) or 77 nosler if you can stabilize them.... depending of your twist.
Otherwise i'd go with Hornady 60gr JSP, 60 gr nosler partition, 64gr gold dot or 62gr fusion
Easy to find in most store.
And try to get the ammo with canelure to prevent setback.
Otherwise i'd go with Hornady 60gr JSP, 60 gr nosler partition, 64gr gold dot or 62gr fusion
Easy to find in most store.
And try to get the ammo with canelure to prevent setback.
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