Light loads???

[Jmeier1981]

I just put together a 20" AR for a buddy of mine. His sons been borrowing one of my 20" ARs the last couple years for youth season so I know he can handle it but no his itty bitty little sister wants to hunt too... Anybody ever load really light loads with any success?

[Bmt85]

Well I wouldn’t recommend the 225 ftx for hunting, it seems to frag a lot. I probably wouldn’t try the 200 XPB, because it has a pretty high expansion velocity.

What you could look into is the 200ftx, can’t remember the minimum velocity for it. You also have the Lehigh 220 XD and the 135 XD. Cutting edge has a 160 Raptor, maybe even try their 200gr flat point.

[303hunter]

However you load it, the 450 still has some thump. Some people handle recoil better than others. My 13 year old daughter can handle the 250 FTX factory loads with no problems, and she weighs 110 pounds. Let the young lady try the rifle and see how she does.

[plant_one]

what length gas system does that upper have?

have you considered putting on an AGB to see if it moderates the thump enough?

in theory if you go to a lightweight buffer like a 3oz carbine... and tune the gas system so its not bottoming out but still getting lock open... combined with a decent brake and it should reduce the felt recoil pretty significantly.

[Hoot]

The 200 FTX over 36gr of Lil Gun is a very tame load yet cycled my AR back when I was first experimenting with it. I let an 9 yr old boy who was at the range with his dad, take a shot and he didn't think it was bad. Then again, young boys will take some punishment to impress their dad's and others observing. At 36gr of Lil Gun, I wouldn't hesitate to take it deer hunting if that was all that was available. My rig at the time did have a Ross muzzle brake and a weighted A2 stock with recoil pad.

Hoot

[Jmeier1981]

Sounds like hes gonna try some factory 170g loads from DRT and see if she can handle those... He says hes only looking for something to be lethal on deer out to 50yds so Im guessing those should do the trick

[Bmt85]

Sounds like hes gonna try some factory 170g loads from DRT and see if she can handle those... He says hes only looking for something to be lethal on deer out to 50yds so Im guessing those should do the trick

Looked at DRT's site. It sounds like its more of a varmint bullet (High fragging). It does mention being used on Elk, though. Maybe if he loaded it down it might hold together better.
Anyways, let us know how it goes.

[Jmeier1981]

Sounds like hes gonna try some factory 170g loads from DRT and see if she can handle those... He says hes only looking for something to be lethal on deer out to 50yds so Im guessing those should do the trick

Looked at DRT's site. It sounds like its more of a varmint bullet (High fragging). It does mention being used on Elk, though. Maybe if he loaded it down it might hold together better.
Anyways, let us know how it goes.

It claims to "Be devastating on deer and hogs"...
Hes going to try their factory loaded 450BM loads and he said he'll keep shots at 50yds and in, and Im guessing his lil girl will shoot the 1st little doe that gets close enough but well see I suppose

[Bmt85]

Well when they say, “massive damage to organic targets”, “witness extreme wound cavities”, “some meat loss may occur”, and from what I can tell, all their bullets deal with powdered metal. I’m thinking it’s going to act more like a varmint round. That’s what I get from it anyway.

Like I said, let us know how they work out.