my AR has a 14.5" 1:7" twist WOA match barrel. I've been looking everywhere for 62gr varmint bullets to reload but can't find any. Will 55 or even 40 grain bullets work or is my twist to aggressive

to aggresive you better give it to me!lol you just need to use a faster burning powder for the shorter barrel.both should work fine.

I'm no AR expert, but I would think the faster you push that light bullet, with that twist, the more the groups are going to open up. I've seen it with some .223 bolt actions and .243 bolt actions.

I shoot the 55's with no problem from my 1:7 twist Colt. They are very accurate. The problem people used to have was the very thin jackets on the varmint bullets could actually start to pull away from the core if spun too fast. Accuracy went to pieces. The newer bullets are constructed much better, the core has a better bond to the jacket. A bullet with a plastic tip flies more like a slightly heavier bullet too as witnessed by the higher BC. I have not tried 50 grain.

Good information.

This.

Bullets are very well constructed these days and a 1/7 twist works great from 50-90 grain.

Only thing I have not tried is 40 grain...

Fatalwishes did a nice write up on .223 loading previously. Find it and read it. BTW, the all copper or gilding metal bullets need a faster twist than a comparable weight lead bullet. The twist rate needed depands on the LENGTH of the bullet. When bullets are lead its easy to say longer equates to heavier.

Try 52/53gr HP bullets. Don't remember if you reload BD590...

Bullets need a certain rotational velocity, or rpm, to stabilize depending on their length and sectional density.

A very short barrel gives up quite a bit of velocity. A short barreled rifle with a 1:7 twist is not going to impart near as much rotational velocity as a longer barreled rifle with 1:7 twist, shooting identical loads of course. This should be taken into account.

So, what works well in a 18" or 20" 1:9 barrel might work about the same in a 14" 1:7 barrel (just rough numbers picked out of the air for illustrative purposes).

Just something to think about.

Why not spend a few minutes and talk w/Ty Herring at Barnes Bullets...he'll respnd to ph calls or Emails and has never led me
wrong..I've loaded a 55 grain TSX in my 22-250 for years that he
advised me on and it is right on and in a 1 in 14 twist..Don

I am guessing that you are loading those TSX bullets to a higher velocity in that 22-250 than we would in a .223?