Not all bullets and bullet weights are created equal. There is not a single best grain for 5.56 for every situation you’ll encounter – but there is a best grain for each situation. As an avid 5.56 NATO shooter, I’ve chosen my favorite 5.56 bullet weights for various scenarios.
What’s the Best Grain for 5.56?
55 grain is the best because it’s abundant, inexpensive, and has minimal recoil (not that any 5.56 round has heavy recoil, though). However, 62 grain bullets often work better for home defense, and 75 grain bullets work well for suppressed shooting.
Best Grain for 5.56 by Use Case
Its weight is one of several factors that determine how effectively a bullet will perform in a given scenario. Bullet design, barrel length, twist rate, and personal preference also contribute.
Best Grain for Target Shooting & Practice
55 grain bullets are the best for practice and target shooting because they’re inexpensive, low-recoiling, and reasonably accurate. They’re also great for stockpiling. But if you’re practicing or training for a specific scenario (e.g. defense, hunting, or competition), then it’s best to use the same weight you plan on using in that circumstance.
Best Grain for Home Defense
62 grain 5.56 bullets are best for home defense. They pack more of a punch than 55 grain bullets, helping them end the threat more quickly. Though I’m not a fan of using a rifle cartridge for home defense (due to increased likelihood of overpenetration that could endanger innocent bystanders), I would reach for a box of 62 grain SCHP or JHP ammo if my shotgun or pistols weren’t handy.
Best Grain for Hunting
68 grain bullets are my go-to for deer hunting with my AR-15 chambered in 5.56. The 5.56 is considered anemic for deer hunting, and also illegal for that purpose in many states (but not my home state as of this writing). But for those states where it is legal, a 68 grain or heavier bullet designed for hunting can ethically kill a deer within 200 yards.
For varmint hunting, I’ll use a 55 grain or lighter hunting bullet because they’re commonly available and a little less expensive.
Best Grain for Precision Shooting
75 grain bullets are an excellent choice when precision matters most, largely because they’re less affected by the wind than lighter bullets. 77 grain bullets are another great option, but bullet type is the most important consideration. Open tip match (OTM), hollow point boat tail (HPBT), and full metal jacket boat tail (FMJ-BT) are some of the most accurate because they tend to have higher ballistic coefficients than traditional FMJ or HP bullets.
Best Grain for Suppressed Firearms
75 grain bullets are the best option for suppressed shooting because they have a slightly lower muzzle velocity (though they still greatly surpass the sound barrier). A 77 grain bullet has an even lower muzzle velocity still, although it too breaks the sound barrier.
Most suppressed shooters use whatever is available. Bullet weight doesn’t make a significant difference in many instances.
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