Formula for a cheap AR plinking round?

[Droppin Deuces]

I'm pretty new to this and have been working mainly on finding a bestie round for my LaRue. But whiile learning, I've prepped over 2000 cases, and they're just kind of sitting there waiting for some love.
What's my best bet for powder/bullet combos? I'm not looking for extreme accuracy. Just want to work up some plinking rounds for the standard AR's.
I'm finding that Hornady FMJ 55gr are around $87-$90/1000, but I'm not sure about powder prices. Is there something available that is cheaper than the $23+/lb that I've been paying for Hodgdon stuff at Turner's?

Thanks.

[bjl333]

I don't know about SD but up here we go to Covina for our reloading stuff. www.phillipswholesale.net I would suggest spotting a reloader at your local rifle range and interagate him for supply info!! I have a very accurate load for my AR, its 21.5gr Reloader7 powder, 55gr Sierra bthp, Win primer, PMC cases. Sub 1/2" groups are the norm for this load and I've gotten 1/4" from my Savage 10FP with this same load!!

I'm sure there are loads other Calgunners can share with you. Good Luck!!!

[joelogic]

Wolf primers $15/1k
Pulled 55gr bullets $70/1k
Tac powder $118/8lbs

But for practice nothing beats a spikes conversion.

[SixPointEight]

h335 or pulled mil powder, cheapest 55gr FMJ you can find. For the cheapest round, load at min charge weights.

[GeoffLinder]

WW 748 is also a cheap powder and a good choice under the 55gr Hornady (also a highly recommended choice). I get MOA results from that combo in my AR's.

[PoofNoEyebrows]

I agree with the 748 being a good choice, especially if you are going to load light to reduce cost.

[rsrocket1]

h335 or pulled mil powder, cheapest 55gr FMJ you can find. For the cheapest round, load at min charge weights.

I tried that, using 55g extreme fmjbt's @ $40/500 with H335 @ 139/8# otd Sportsman's Warehouse (No tax sale day).

At first I loaded w/23gr and everything functioned fine, but I ran loads at 23, 24 and 25 grains and the 25 grain load was so much more accurate than the other loads that it was well worth the extra 8.6% cost/round. Of course YMMV, but you really would benefit from working up a load that your gun likes and that shoots better than you can, otherwise you'll never know whether the crappy shooting is because of you or your bullet load.

Once you find a load that is "good enough" for your purposes, you can crank away at the press and load up a bunch of rounds and have them ready to go for the range, the field or where ever.

I would not load more than you expect to shoot in several sessions because you may find that you want to eventually develop an accuracy load or a hunting load with different projectiles and if all your bullets are already loaded, you'll have to do some pullin'.

[Droppin Deuces]

Thanks so much, guys. Exactly the kind of info I was looking for. Why can't the centerfire rifle section be like this???

[SixPointEight]

I tried that, using 55g extreme fmjbt's @ $40/500 with H335 @ 139/8# otd Sportsman's Warehouse (No tax sale day).

At first I loaded w/23gr and everything functioned fine, but I ran loads at 23, 24 and 25 grains and the 25 grain load was so much more accurate than the other loads that it was well worth the extra 8.6% cost/round. Of course YMMV, but you really would benefit from working up a load that your gun likes and that shoots better than you can, otherwise you'll never know whether the crappy shooting is because of you or your bullet load.

It depends on your purposes. If you need a load to sharpen your iron sights skills, then by all means load something accurate. If you want the CHEAPEST plinking round, and 3moa doesn't matter, then you might as well just go cheap.

[Super Spy]

Wolf primers $15/1k
Pulled 55gr bullets $70/1k
Tac powder $118/8lbs

But for practice nothing beats a spikes conversion.

Where can you currently get Wolf primers for $15/1000?

[WileyWilly]

Where can you currently get Wolf primers for $15/1000?

$15.50/1000--

http://www.wideners.com/itemview.cfm?dir=278|284|737

Of course that's not including haz-mat

[Bongos]

for plinking 55gr
26gr of 748
25gr of H335

[joelogic]

Thanks so much, guys. Exactly the kind of info I was looking for. Why can't the centerfire rifle section be like this???

Because Centerfire and Off Topic are where we allow the mall ninjas and keyboard comandos to hang out.

[Super Spy]

Thanks WileyWilly!

[anothergunnut]

For bullets, Widener's has Hornady 55 gr FMJ for about 8 cents per, shipped, if you buy 6K. http://www.wideners.com/mfgview.cfm