5.56 ballistic

towfuu_ · Oct 9, 2025

I'm in the process of building a compact 10.5" or maybe an 11.5" AR for thick brush and some heavy-duty truck use. Curious what 5.56 loads do you all recommend for these shorter barrels? I’m really aiming for great expansion without losing too much velocity. Any suggestions?

NoyTilano · Oct 10, 2025

I’d go with either Speer Gold Dot 62gr or Barnes TSX 62gr. You won't regret choosing these two.

A-300 Dave · Oct 11, 2025

What barrel twist are you looking at?

Deleted member 143 · Oct 13, 2025

What noy says, gold dots are hard to beat. I personally use hornady tap because i found a steal of a sale and bought 2 cases a while back
My personal 10.5 in consists of an odinworks stainless .223 wylde barrel with adjustable carbibe length gas block and 8 twist. Will one hole 10 rounds the size of dime when rested, any thing I shoot in that barrel has done well from 55grn to 77grn factory or handloads

https://www.odinworks.com/223-Wylde-10-5-Carbine-Barrel-p/b-223-10-c-tg.htm

I have built several ar pistols the wylde chamber is much more accurate with the heavy bullets, pm me if you need help

Lhee_Vogue · Nov 8, 2025

When it comes to a 10.5" barrel, having an adjustable gas block is important. Factory ammo can be quite hot from that length, and by dialing down the gas, you can really smooth out the recoil, cut down on muzzle flip, and extend the lifespan of your components.

sebastianc366 · Wednesday at 10:03 PM

It's really the bonded soft points with short barrels for me. In my truck and brush setup, I often use 64gr Gold Dots because they expand well, even when the velocity isn’t high, and they stay intact if you hit something tougher than you expect. They’ve been incredibly reliable for me over the years....

5.56 ballistic

towfuu_

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