[Lugnut]

My first dedicated varmint rig is ready for next summer:

The rifle itself is failry humble, PSA lower, Geiselle trigger, Magpul PRS stock, 18" SS bbl with 1:7 twist and Wylde chamber. The optics are pretty good, Nightforce SHV 5-20x56 in a Badger Unimount.

I need to make a range trip to see what groups best from this. What are some good varmint ammo varieties to try out?

 

[was skruske]

40gr bullets will run through it but probably won't produce the best results.

You should start with 55gr & work up. 62gr should do well with that twist rate.

 

[Paul Workman]

It strikes me....

With that scope and trigger and a 7" twist and Wylde chamber, I'd say you were building a long range rig designed to shoot 75-80 gn bullets to 1000 yards...except I stub my toe on the 18" bbl!.

Is it a heavy bbl (at least)??

.

 

[Coltfan]

I'd try 55 vmax first if it was me. Good call on not going the 24 inch barrel route. Every one I go with and me included have went from 24 inch ars to 16 and 18 inch barrels.

 

[jimp]

53g bullets might work well with that 7twist,

 

[Markbo]

Just an FYI: I have 3 ARs in .223 with different twist rates 8, 9 & 10. After extensive testing they all shoot 55gr bullets best. Don't know why. Just do. For varmints I shoot Vmaxes in all 3 exclusively.

 

[Lugnut]

I'd try 55 vmax first if it was me. Good call on not going the 24 inch barrel route. Every one I go with and me included have went from 24 inch ars to 16 and 18 inch barrels.

Can you explain why you went from 24" down to the shorter barrels? What's the problem with them?

 

[TinMan]

If you have to carry it around, and not just a bench rifle, the 24" barrel gets heavy really quickly. Shorter than 16" and they get much louder with a lot of muzzle blast. I have a 24" HB and it is heavy, but shoots real well. Make sure you learn how to hold an AR to keep it vertical, as it is very easy to get cant/tilt.