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I was at BPS today and they had some of the UPC 'Mega Packs' of .223 45gr hollow points. Ive never tried them in my Bushmaster XM15-E2S. If Im not mistaken, it has a 1:9 twist barrel. I have always shot the good old 55gr FMJ in it with good results using iron sights out to 100 yards. Has anyone had any experience, good or bad, with this ammo? Ive been told that when using the .22 conversion kits the barrel tends to foul out, but I am of the opinion that this is because of the lead bullet, not because of the bullet being lighter. It would seem to me that a lighter bullet would spin up faster and like a tighter twist like 1:9, as opposed to something like 1:12. Am I wrong?

The 200 round Mega Packs were $119 and before I shell out the bucks for it, Id like to hear from other folks who have tried it.

Also, Ive killed hogs with ear and eye shots with the 55gr FMJ. How do yall think a hollow point 45gr would perform? Doesnt seem like a good round for hogs to me, but coyotes, bobcats or javelina would be a better choice for this ammo. Then again, I have seen the video of the guy killing a hog with a .177 Gamo airgun with a shot to the head. If the 45gr ammo is accurate out to 100 yards, I would like to put a scope on the AR and get me some varmits with it. Ive been invited to do some varmit control on my buddies lease after deer season is over.

My Bushmaster Varminter (24" 1:9) does not shoot the 45 grain bullets very well at all. It takes a minimum 55 grain bullet to stabilize it well, and it is happiest with 68/69 grain bullets. I can't speak with absolute certainty to what will happen with a carbine length barrel with the same twist, but my gut tells me that it would not really be any better. If you're just plinking, that's fine, but I don't think you'll be impressed with the accuracy.

A friend of mine recently shot a 250 lb. running sow at 90 yards with a head shot behind the ear using his AR15; but I happen to know that he shoots a hand load using a 62 grain Sierra Game King, and his rifle has a Shilen barrel with a 1:8 twist. But that is not a shot I would have been comfortable making, myself. My friend is a superb marksman. (Last year, he took a mule deer down near Dryden with a shot through the back of the head, while the deer was moving away from him, uphill, at a lasered distance of 625 yards, using a custom built .264 magnum. Heck of a shot.)

Anyway, I wouldn't use a 45 grain bullet to to hunt hogs with, myself. Others may differ.

Yeah, Im thinking the same thing. Ive only shot the 55gr FMJs and havent tried anything heavier through it. I was tempted to get some and try it out first, but they didnt have any other 45gr rounds in the store. Glad I didnt spend the bucks. Ill instead wait till I can find some of the heavier ones. I think you hit the button on the stabilization issue.

Tell your buddy Id like to take some lessons from him. He sounds like a true marksman.

Well the 1/12" twist works fine with those light 45-55g bullets, and the 1/7" twist works good for 60g+ bullets. The 1/9 is supposed to work great for 55-60 gr bullets but the 45 gr may be too light.

AFJailor wrote:Well the 1/12" twist works fine with those light 45-55g bullets, and the 1/7" twist works good for 60g+ bullets. The 1/9 is supposed to work great for 55-60 gr bullets but the 45 gr may be too light.

My Bushmaster 24" Varminter is most accurate with 68 & 69 grain Match Kings, and it has a 1:9 twist. My son's RRA Varminter rifle has a 1:8 twist, and it shoots the 75 & 77 grain Match Kings most accurately. My friend, who I referenced in my post above this one, has a 1:8 Shilen barrel, and he gets great results with 62 grain Game Kings. My point is that a lot depends on the individual rifle, and you never really know what an individual rifle is going to do until you actually run a variety of loads through it to see. It may be true that faster twists are better for heavier bullets, and slower twists are better for lighter bullets, but that is only true in a general way. Your individual mileage may vary - particularly with rifles. They are endlessly fascinating to me for that reason.