40gr .223 for AQTs? Thoughts?

[ColonialIron]

Good day all.

I am looking for the opinions of the soooo many folks online that are smarter than I.   

I have been loading up .223 rounds with 40gr varmint hornady points.  I have been able to get them in bulk and for very cheap.  I have been taking them to my backyard range and practicing AQTs.  I have been looking at this as good center fire practice for a low price.  Other than that I will need to re-zero my rifle for heavier ammo, are you aware of any other "gotchas" I should be aware of in using the 40grs for practice @ 25 meters? 

Thanks

[slim]

At 25, it's going to matter so little you probably won't even notice. At 500, "give 'er two clicks and fire for effect." I've personally not noticed enough of a difference on a man-sized target to make any sight corrections at all but then again my only switches have been between 55s and 62s which both function fine in ARs with 1x7 or 1x9 rifling.

I'd reckon if you shot those 40s in a 1x7 (and maybe even the 1x9) you'd spin 'em so fast they'd do all types of crazy stuff at distance. Please report back here whatever results you have. Now I'm curious!

[Reddot]

I agree with Slim; at 25, shouldn't be any problems.  Further out, guess you'll see. Please do report back, I'd be interested in what you find out.

[TaosGlock]

 At an early RBC, on my first KD qual after the rear sight on my M1A finally gave up, I grabbed my AR. It is a 20" WOA upper with fast 1-7 twist. Only ammo I had was untested in that rifle: Fed. Bulk 50 grainers. I had the typical 25/300 yd. zero. At the 400 yard stage I dialed up the standard 3 MOA for the heavier bullets-55-69 grains. I shot way high! Shoulda known better. All, just barely in the upper "head" portion of the FD AQT. Those Little pills shot like a ray gun! The 3 MOA was not needed. Well under 4moa still. Later I chroned the load. At 7200' they were running close to 3300 fps. I have not tried 40's yet but I do still have some hand loads from another project. BTW, Sierra's lists their 40 grainers at close to 3600 fps from a 20" AR upper with  a 1-7 twist!
Like others have said it will be a dead on hold with those light bullets more or less to 400 yards and a couple minutes dialed up to get close at 500 yds.
Let us know.

[PA10mm]

Good to know that the 50gr bullets did good with the 1x7 twist barrel. I got a great deal on 1,000 50gr Hornady Z Max about a year ago, and gonna load em up soon, probally with W748 or H335. We have 2 M4geries with 1x7 twist tubes.

[KodyJaret]

At 7200' they were running close to 3300 fps.

That would be like a mile and a half ?

[DEH]

I have seen a few examples of varmint bullets having their jackets stripped in the 1/7 barrels.  You may want to consider loading them at the lower end of the velocities.  YMMV.

[PHenry]

In my exp - all about twist. I prefer 1:7, but 40g is pretty light for that twist. 40g is more what Stoner had in mind, but he also used a slower twist, causing wobble / tumble. His design resulted in something effective within med range, but not GC compliant from what I have read.

If u have a 1:9 or slower - should be fine with fast burn ball powder like wc844 surplus or H335 and smoking velocity, but if u have 1:7 - may wish to go easy on load / velocity. $1 says u can make it work.

[oladcock]

Yep, and it's not unheard of for POI's to rise switching to heavier bullets, I've seen it in several of mine. Reason being is more recoil/muzzle rise before the bullet clears the barrel. Mine (20") with 65gr bullets and a 46yd zero, it'll stay within 3" POI out to 300 and -14" at 400. Pretty easy to judge....O.L.

[PHenry]

i've seen this as well and it defies conventional wisdom - thanks for explanation.