Who loads heavy .223 Barnes for SBR?

Predator257Roy

Predator257Roy

New member
I'm looking at developing a load for my AR-15 SBR (10.5") using a heavy weight Barnes bullet for hog hunting. Either 62 gr. TSX BT or 70 gr. TSX BT. My barrel is either 1 in 7 or 1 in 8. Purpose is dedicated hog round / hog rifle. Has anyone loaded something like this? Will the short barrel stabilize the bullet as this will be very important with a suppressor screwed on the end? Will 70 gr TSX BT load in AR mag? My two AR powders on hand are Varget and H335, I've only ever loaded varget. I've heard loading Barnes is a little differant because of their design, and this will be the first round I develop for the SBR, that's why I have the questions.
 
They should both load to length and stabilize in your rifles. My concern would be having enough velocity with the short barrel to expand those bullets. I'd probably try the 62gr first.
 
Assuming I load mid to mid/high, how much velocity would be lost on the 10.5" compared to. 18" barrel? Most shots would be within 100 yards f that makes much difference. I've been able to kill hogs with no problem using 60 gr Hornady V Max, but the SBR will be for my daughter to use as well as me and will be for hogs. Just wanting something to deal the damage on whatever hog we see or come across. Once I build the Grendal, then the SBR will be the primary for my daughter.
 
I load 62gr ttsx for two ARs, a 1-8 and a 1-7, both are plenty to stabilize that bullet. They barely fit in P-Mags and fit with a little more room in metal mags.

As another poster mentioned, they need to be going over 1800fps or so to expand.

My load in my 16" barreled guns chrono at around 2450 fps, I don't know what kind of velocity loss your going to see in a 10" barrel but lets say its 50fps, they would be leaving your barrel at around 2150, doesn't leave much room. If your shots are 100 yards and under you might be ok?

That load is using RL15 and shoots to the same POI and decent accuracy with SS109s which worked out great for practice at the range!
 
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If you're only hunting within 100 yards you'll probably be fine. You could always test them and see. Heavier isn't always better with the monolithic bullets though.

The suppressor will add back pressure into the action of the rifle, not behind the round increasing the velocity. It basically just cycles everything harder and dirtier.
 
I haven't shot them out of an SBR, so take all of this at face value.

I couldn't get better than 1.5-2.0 MOA with H335 and 70gr TSX at mag length in a BCM 14.5" upper.

I was able to get around .9 MOA with the 70s using H4895. I haven't tried Varget yet.

It also helped to load them really short (like 2.19" COAL) at .08" off the lands. Barnes recommends trying .03-.07" off the lands to start, despite their load data saying mag length.
 
Both my ARs have 20" barrels. Unsupressed. So can't help there.

I load TAC and Varget in my 1-8 twisted RRA. Mostly with 70s, but some 62s as well. Seated as long as I can get the mag to still function. They are great on deer and coyotes. I'd definitely run them at hogs as well, but never have....
 
Ran across this on another forum today:


70gr TSX chrono results - SBR & 16" (10 feet, 100y, 200y)
A friend and I set up the Chrono today to check actual velocities from my two ARs that will be used for hunting deer & hogs.

We tested ASYM .223 70gr TSX and SSA 5.56 70gr TSX

The guns

BCM 11.5" ELW
BCM 16" ELW

All shots suppressed with a Griffin M4SDII 5.56

Here are the 3 shot averages for both guns

First the 11.5"
10 feet - 2467 (ASYM) / 2450 (SSA)
100 yds - 2198 (ASYM) / 2170 (SSA)
200 yds - 1963 (ASYM) / 1945 (SSA)

Next the 16"
10 feet - 2659 (ASYM) / 2620 (SSA)
100 yds - 2380 (ASYM) / 2336 (SSA)
200 yds - 2116 (ASYM) / 2081 (SSA)

We did shoot a few without the suppressor at 10 ft and shots from the 16" were about 25fps slower without the suppressor. With the 11.5 the difference was about 10 fps slower without the suppressor.

I've been using the 16" for hunting (Max shot ~175yds). With the TSX expanding down to 1800 fps I'm comfortable using the SBR now. That was really the purpose for today's testing.

Hope this helps someone out there.
 
Why the heavy bullet? The TSX/TTSX are designed to provide complete penetration and full expansion with a bullet that is light for caliber. The extra velocity of a lighter bullet ensures proper expansion at increased distances and increases hydrostatic shock.

So why not a 55gr TSX or better yet TTSX? The TSX is the old version. The TTSX is improved.
 


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