i need help selecting ar-15 non-lead varmint load

[Hornet_RN]

dad has this LWRC M6 AR-15 rifle chambered in .223 Rem which he has a Leupold AR-15 scope (18x zoom max), he has asked me to make a varmint load for him to blast rabbits and various varmints away this coming rabbit season in Nevada where he lives.

well, i also want to use this rifle in California, so i need to make a NON LEAD varmint load.

our barrel on the LWRC is 1:7 twist...pretty fast, so i think we can handle heavier bullets. also, the barrel is 18 inches long.

what are your guys' thought on bullet weight?

should i look into BARNES? all they do is non-lead right? varmint grenades any good, what weight should i try?

also...what powder does well with heavier bullets for .223? (i have a lot of IMR 4064 for my .308 and .30-06, but i felt that powder was too large for .223)

thanks,
Hornet_RN

[Sub95]

off of barnes website.


*Many different rifling twists are available in this chambering. It’s important to know your rifle’s twist
rate before selecting a bullet.
*To stabilize in flight, 45-grain Banded Spitzers and 53-grain TSX bullets require a 1:12” or faster
twist; 62-grain TSX and 55-grain MPG bullets need a 1:9” or faster twist.
The 36-grain Varmint Grenade works fine in barrels with a 1:14” twist, while the 70-grain TSX
needs a 1:8” or faster twist. The 50-grain Varmint Grenade requires a 1:10" or faster twist.