Ammo, optics, and $$$

[FluorideInMyWater]

So, putting together an AR for 3gun. Almost done. Im currently looking at 3 scopes (vortex AE, Bushnell AR, amd, amd and primary arms) all are 1-6x
Now, i know tou can shoot 223 in a 556 gun. I see lots of 223 55-grain (around $300 for 1000) but i wiuld prefer to shoot 62grain 556 (of you ask me why i cant give you an answer other than :thats what ot was designed to shoot") but 556 62 gr is way more expensive. These 6x scopes are, from what ive read and YouTube videos I've watched, seem to be set up so the reticles with BDC marks will align or calibrate closer to the BDC marks if tou use 556 62gr. But i have no idea. This is my first AR and 1st scope.
So my question becomes
#1 what is better to use? 223 or 556?
#2 when I calibrate the scope, which should i use. 223 oe or 556.
#3. Should i reajust a choose 1 of the 2 calibers by flipping a coin and then buy 1000 rounds of that and zero in the scope with that anmo? Im wondering of people chamber different rounds w different weigts for certain purposes and then re calibrate it with other ammo for a different purpose.
At the moment i just want to target shoot amd maybe orepare for 3-gun, which isnt long distance. Can amy recommend some good cheap ammo? If.I'm going to be ahootong a lot then ill probably buy a Dillion 1050 reloader, or somerhing like that..... but i still need to star with my intended purpose and specific ammo needs to get started ( i.e. 62gr 556 FMJ)
thanks in advance for your help!

[kcheung2]

You should zero the scope with the ammo you're going to use. Since you plan on using 62 grain M855, then zero with that ammo.

But realistically you're way overthinking things. The purpose of LPVO scopes is for quick target acquisition, and those BDC reticles will get you on target very quickly. But they're not intended for punching very small groups onto paper at long distances, and 3gun isn't about punching very small groups onto paper at long distances, so don't worry about it.

[NapalmCheese]

Now, i know tou can shoot 223 in a 556 gun. I see lots of 223 55-grain (around $300 for 1000) but i wiuld prefer to shoot 62grain 556 (of you ask me why i cant give you an answer other than :thats what ot was designed to shoot") but 556 62 gr is way more expensive.

What was designed to shoot 62 grain bullets? Certainly not the AR-15; not that it matters.

These 6x scopes are, from what ive read and YouTube videos I've watched, seem to be set up so the reticles with BDC marks will align or calibrate closer to the BDC marks if tou use 556 62gr. But i have no idea. This is my first AR and 1st scope.

The reticle and hash marks will only line up exactly on every 3rd summer solstice following a late frost. They are set up to be good approximations based on averages of unkown provenance.

So my question becomes
#1 what is better to use? 223 or 556?

Either.

#2 when I calibrate the scope, which should i use. 223 oe or 556.

Either.

#3. Should i reajust a choose 1 of the 2 calibers by flipping a coin and then buy 1000 rounds of that and zero in the scope with that anmo?

No. Buy small amounts from various venders and find what shoots well in your rifle, then stack it deep.

Im wondering of people chamber different rounds w different weigts for certain purposes and then re calibrate it with other ammo for a different purpose.

Yes, they do. Light bullets for varmints, heavier bullets for things bigger than varmints, sleek bullets for targets.

Find ammo that shoots well in your rifle, buy a lot of it, chrono it, do the math to figure out your reticle and knobs.

[Meety Peety]

Dude don't buy a scope with a BDC reticle.

Or at least if you are going to, take 8 minutes to read and understand their limitations first.

[kcheung2]

What was designed to shoot 62 grain bullets? Certainly not the AR-15; not that it matters.

...

The ACSS reticle on Primary Arms scopes was calibrated around M855.



But most definitely this...

...
Or at least if you are going to, take 8 minutes to read and understand their limitations first.

[HKAllTheThings]

You can use 55s or 62s.

Just plug in your velocity into an app like Strelok and it will tell you the drops for your rifle with that ammo for that optic.

[FluorideInMyWater]

Interesting!
6 of 1 half dozen of another.
As far as BDC scope, i would think it woul be an advantage for targets out past 200 yards. If a scope is true 1x i read that it functions like a red dot.
Ok, I'll take the bait. What was an AR designed to shoot?
308 maybe? Don't know if it makes any difference but my upper has an m16 bolt. I don't know if that means tje upper is of m16 design also. It's a stag lefty.
Any recommendations for target ammo in 223 pr 556?
Thanks for your help

[the86d]

What barrel length and twist?

62 gr doesn't mean SS109's (steel tips, AKA typically "green-tips") loaded as (X)M855, there is the SS109 projectiles and 62gr FMJ's also.

FYI: SS109 projectiles are not as accurate as 62gr FMJ's due to being tri-metal steel-tip (Copper coated steel tip, in front of lead, with a FMJ gilding)... If you want accuracy don't go SS109/(X)M855, but FMJ in 62 or 55gr, and sight-in with that. Don't over-crimp when you start reloading them, as I tend to.

[HKAllTheThings]

For target ammo, use the cheapest 55s you can find. It will work for match ammo as well as long as the targets aren't out further than 300 yards.

[NapalmCheese]

Ok, I'll take the bait. What was an AR designed to shoot?

The Armalite AR-15 was designed with a 1:14 twist barrel to fire 55 grain .224 caliber bullets.

This means absolutely nothing to you as you do not have an original Armalite AR-15 and your barrel twist is likely somewhere between 1:7 and 1:9.

IIRC the 1:7 barrel twist was adopted by the military to better stabilize long for weight tracer ammunition with the added benefit of stabilizing heavy for caliber 75+ grain bullets used in some ammo.

Again, none of this matters.

Shoot a bunch of different ammo. Choose that ammo that shoots best in your rifle. Stack it deep. Do the math to calibrate your reticle/knobs.

[JackEllis]

Shoot a bunch of different ammo. Choose that ammo that shoots best in your rifle. Stack it deep. Do the math to calibrate your reticle/knobs.

^^^^This!

I have a slow twist Howa 1500 in .223 that, according to Berger's stability calculator, is not supposed to like 62 grain FMJs. Turns out it shoots them just as well as a Tikka T3 with a faster twist barrel. Who knew?

As for BDC reticles, in my opinion they are useful for ranging if your mental math is good, and they may be helpful if you have to hold over because the match format doesn't allow enough time to twist dials. However you need to practice so it becomes second nature.

[ar15barrels]

So, putting together an AR for 3gun. Almost done. Im currently looking at 3 scopes (vortex AE, Bushnell AR, amd, amd and primary arms) all are 1-6x
Now, i know tou can shoot 223 in a 556 gun. I see lots of 223 55-grain (around $300 for 1000) but i wiuld prefer to shoot 62grain 556 (of you ask me why i cant give you an answer other than :thats what ot was designed to shoot") but 556 62 gr is way more expensive. These 6x scopes are, from what ive read and YouTube videos I've watched, seem to be set up so the reticles with BDC marks will align or calibrate closer to the BDC marks if tou use 556 62gr. But i have no idea. This is my first AR and 1st scope.
So my question becomes
#1 what is better to use? 223 or 556?
#2 when I calibrate the scope, which should i use. 223 oe or 556.
#3. Should i reajust a choose 1 of the 2 calibers by flipping a coin and then buy 1000 rounds of that and zero in the scope with that anmo? Im wondering of people chamber different rounds w different weigts for certain purposes and then re calibrate it with other ammo for a different purpose.
At the moment i just want to target shoot amd maybe orepare for 3-gun, which isnt long distance. Can amy recommend some good cheap ammo? If.I'm going to be ahootong a lot then ill probably buy a Dillion 1050 reloader, or somerhing like that..... but i still need to star with my intended purpose and specific ammo needs to get started ( i.e. 62gr 556 FMJ)
thanks in advance for your help!

Be careful WHICH 62gr ammo you get.
Many 3gun matches use steel targets and they will not take kindly to you shooting M855 at their plates.

Personally, I load 55gr FMJ-BT to 3100fps and it matches the trajectory of M855 from a 14.5" barrel close enough to use hold-over reticles to 600yds.

[hambam105]

Purpose...3 Gun...Cool.

Target one is at 65 yards and Target two is at 136 yards. And the maximum score ring is the size of a basket ball!
What is the point of impact difference between a standard M193 or M855 round going to be?

If I was designing the rifle match I'd place tennis ball size targets closely encircled with no shoot targets at
10 yards, 15, 20....out to 100 yards and watch everyone freak out.

[smoothy8500]

That's funny, they would freak out.

[baranski]

Be careful WHICH 62gr ammo you get.
Many 3gun matches use steel targets and they will not take kindly to you shooting M855 at their plates.

Add to that that most RANGES don't allow them either (fire risk).


Choose wisely.