Choosing a Load for Your AR: America’s Rifle

The AR-15 is America’s rifle, and it fires the single most popular caliber in America. While there are other AR rifle calibers, the .223 Remington is more popular than all the rest put together. The AR-15 rifle — or KelTec’s SU16 and Ruger’s Mini-14 — is well suited to a variety of chores including pest shooting, varmint hunting, personal defense, competition, and in some cases, the taking of medium-sized game.

Interestingly enough, all of the chores the AR-15 is suited to demand good marksmanship. After all, the AR-15’s excellent handling compliments a trained shooter. The .223 Remington cartridge will vaporize a varmint at 300 yards — if you can hit the small target. And taking a deer with the .223 is easily done with good shot placement.

The AR is also a versatile rifle that will perform many other chores well too. Changing the optics and load allows the shooter to address many needs with a single rifle.

Considerations

It’s easy for a novice to be confused about the different AR loads available and their uses. Poor recommendations in the popular press have not helped. While we may address the choice of practice ammunition with whatever is cheapest, that isn’t the whole story — although it is certainly part of the story. Also, keep in mind that the 5.56mm NATO and .223 Remington, while identical in dimension, are not quite the same.

The 5.56mm is loaded to greater pressures. The cartridge case is thicker in some cases with the 5.56mm and may run to higher pressures with the same amount of powder. If you handload, know what you are doing with load selection. However, that is a different story. In this report, we are looking at ammunition performance.

For range use, there is some truth to “whatever is cheapest.” As a rule, steel-cased ammunition is less expensive. It is usually dirtier as well. Steel cases may be harder on the extractor. For long-term storage, steel cases seem more susceptible to the elements.

Just the same, for running a few hundred cartridges through the Springfield Saint in a single range session, steel-cased ammunition is hard to beat. After all, if the rifle runs well with steel case loads, why not use them? You simply should not expect the best reliability and accuracy.

Then we have brass-cased Winchester, Federal, Remington, Hornady, and other loads. These loads usually use a 55-grain FMJ bullet, some use a 62-grain bullet. These loads are more than accurate enough for meaningful target practice. The American Eagle loading is just about as accurate as much more expensive match-grade loads.

Brass case 55-grain FMJ loads are among the most useful practice loads. And, while I prefer a different load for personal defense, the 55-grain FMJ loading is more than effective at close range. The high velocity often makes the projectile break in half at typical defense ranges.

Let me recap. If the barrel is marked 5.56mm, all loads are useful — .223 or 5.56mm. If marked .223 use only, use .223 Remington loads exclusively. The .223 Wylde chamber is useful with either cartridge. That is a basic amount of knowledge you must have squared away before you choose a working load. However, this article is about individual classes of AR-15 rifle loads.

Varmint and Pest Loads

I have seen the Varmint Grenade, a very fast 36-grain bullet, do the business by blowing up varmints. This load rapidly expands and vaporizes varmints. The 40-grain V-Max is much the same. The Federal 40-grain Blitz is another superbly-effective choice.

A caution… despite the recommendation of those who should know better, never use such light AR loads for defense. They may blow up on the lightest resistance such as a cell phone in the pocket or belt buckle. This is their design.

The AR may sometimes short cycle with these loads, especially when the rifle is dirty. For the intended purpose, the ultra-light loads offer instant effect and a degree of safety. They tend to break up rather than deflect, a trait of most .223 ammunition. They are highly unlikely to ricochet as they blow up on light resistance.

Longer Range Varmints

50 to 55-grain bullets such as the Hornady V-Max are ideal for longer range use. I have fired a good number of 40-grain loads, but far more of the 55-grain loads. At least in my rifles, the heavier bullets are more accurate. A V-Max bullet is reliable in expansion well past 300 yards.

Heavy Bullets

Based on good-to-outstanding accuracy and proven effectiveness, among my favorite AR loads is the 69-grain Sierra Match King. These are great when loaded by Fiocchi or in a handload. The balance of expansion and penetration is ideal, and accuracy is simply amazing in the right rifle.

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The 77-grain bullets have earned an excellent reputation and would be a good choice as well. For home defense, a 55-grain JSP is probably the best choice. The load has proven effective and expands well, while offering far less chance of ricochet than most loads.

Performance

The .223/5.56mm soft point penetrates less in a soft target and is less prone to ricochet than most pistol bullets. The result is greater safety. The rifle also has much greater hit probability, making for an excellent all-around home defender.

When choosing a load, first consider the likely duty. If I could have only one loading for every duty, it would (most likely) be a 55-grain JSP. However, I am glad that I don’t have to narrow my choices.

The performance of your AR-15 can easily be improved by choosing the load for your barrel twist, range, and mission. What are your favorite AR loads and uses? Share your answers in the comment section.