Bullet Weights for a Handi .223

[Frank V]

What bullet weights are you finding the best accuracy in the Handi .223? This is a new rifle & I looked up the rate of twist & it's supposed to be a 1-9". I'm thinking probably a 55 gr.? I"ve had just acceptable accuracy with the 40gr bullets my other .223 likes.  Heavier? Thanks.
Frank

[JW307]

Mine likes the heavier bullets.  I've had my best luck with 69 grain Sierra MKs and the 68 grain Hornady match bullets.  Both shoot sub moa consistently and I've taken a few coyotes, foxes, and crows without any problem.

Jake

[bikerbeans]

Hi,

The below is from www.6MMBR.com regarding twist rate for the 223 REM.  I am shooting 55 grain Hornday FMJBTs from my handi 223, 1 in 9 twist, 22" barrel.  Still working up a load, but have had a few of my loads shooting 1" @ 100 yds.

Bikerbeans



Twist Rates
The .223 Rem shoots a wide range of bullets very effectively, from 35gr flat-based varmint bullets, to ultra-long 90gr VLDs. However, you'll need the right twist rate for your choice of bullet. For max velocity and accuracy with the lightest bullets, a 1:14" twist may be ideal. More versatile is a 1:12" twist that will allow you to shoot the popular 60-64 grain match bullets. (However, a 1:9" twist is needed for the steel-core 62gr bullet used in the M855 military loads, because that bullet is as long as most 70-grainers.) For normal lead-core jacketed bullets, a 1:9" twist will let you shoot up to 73gr bullets. Since most .223 Rem shooters prefer bullets in the 50-73gr range, a good "do-it-all" solution is a 9-twist, unless you're a Highpower competitor.

For long-range match purposes, long, high-BC bullets are favored for their ability to buck the wind. You'll want at least a 1:8" twist to shoot the 77gr and 80gr MatchKings and 80gr Bergers. To shoot the new 90gr pills, a 1:6.5" is recommended, though a true 1:7" will work in most conditions.

Overall, what twist rate is best? For varminting we like a 12-twist. The slower twist will give you a bit more velocity, and minimize the risk of jacket failure at high rpms. For general use, an 8-twist barrel will let you shoot the excellent 77gr and 80gr Sierra MatchKings and nearly all varieties of non-tracer milsurp ammo. We'd only select a 1:7" or faster twist barrel if we had a need to shoot the 90gr VLDs.

Barrel Twist Rate   1:14"        1:12"        1:9"          1:8"           1:7" or 1:6.5"
Max Bullet Weight  55gr FB     65gr FB     73gr BT     80gr BT      90gr BT VLD

[manatee1947]

My savage has a 1-9 twist, I find 55gr and 60 gr vmax shoot best. I use 26 gr of RL15 and a 55gr V-max most of the time. The 64 gr win power point also shoots very well.

[brian58]

Frank, My .223 Ultra Varmint with 1:9 twist really likes Federal 50 gr. JHP, and they're easy to find at Wal Mart.
                                             Brian

[Frank V]

Thanks everyone, my Cousin just gave me some Speer 70gr bullets to try & I found some Hornaday 50gr SX bullets to try. Hoping one of these will give good groups & give me a place to start. Any more suggestions I'd like to hear them. Thanks.
Frank

[Frank V]

 ;DHere is an update/ range report on the 70 gr Speers & 50gr Hornaday SXs
I went shooting yesterday  shot the 70gr Speers I had been given. Using 24gr Varget & RP cases off the bench rest I got a group of 5 shots into 15/16". Now the best part is that the 1st 3 shots were vbery close together & I kind of choked on the 4th shot pulling it out of the group. The 5th shot went right back into the group. When I measured the group it was overall 15/16", but the 1st,2nd,3rd,&5th were measured at just 1/2". I was happy.
 Next I tried the 50gr Hornday SXs & 25grs H335 & WW cases. The first 3 shot group were all touching. I later measured it at 3/8". I had 3 rounds left & made a sight adjustment, then fired the last 3. I shot #1&2 & they were very close. I looked at what I had 100 yards downrange & kind of choked on the 3rd shot. I was thinking boy do I want to risk ruining what could be a good group, but decided I needed to know how this load was going to shoot so I fired the 3rd shot. It felt just a little off & when I looked it was just a bit low & right. All 3 were still in 7/8". I was very happy I only wish I hadn't waited so long to test heavier bullets. I'd been trying to get the 40gr bullets to shoot.
  Now I need to get to loading & get a good zero on this rifle. I'm sold on it! Thanks for looking.  
Frank

[McLernon]

The Handi is 1:9 twist but it is only half-depth rifling.............................is it capable of putting the full spin on the long ones??
Has anyone got good accuracy with the VLD's??
Mc

[SM Bob]

My 223 bull barrel likes 55gr Sierra Spitzers over BLC2. I tried bullets from 45-62 grains and 5 different
powders before I found the Sierra 55gr BLC2 combo. It will shoot groups well under 1" at 100 yards
all day long.

                                                Robert
 

[dw06]

I've had two handis in 223,and the best loads so far is the 50gr hornady sx. One likes IMR 3031,and the bull barrel IMR 4198. Tried both with various 55gr bullets and while not bad just didn't shoot as well as the 50s did.
Been meaning to try a couple heavier bullets just to see how they would do,but haven't got around to it yet

[Frank V]

I went to the range today to zero my rifle I got a zero with the 50 grain Hornaday SX, then decided to see where the 70 gr bullets hit compared to the 50 grainers. They were one inch above the 50 grain loads & right on for windage. I'd have thought they'd be low, a lot of rifles will shoot heavier bulles lower. These are just one inch high so I can use the same zero for both loads. I think I'm ready to go now I can't wait for our Gophers to end their hibernation!
Frank

[rex6666]

I put my 223 barrel on a choate varmit stock set last week, took it
to the range Sat. it shoots the 40 and 55gr Hornady  fairly well for
my first trip with it, tried the 75gr Hornady TAP and it keyholed them.

[Reverend Recoil]

Service rifle shooters have given up on 90 gr. match bullets regardless of twist rate.  It seems the 20in service rifle barrel cannot fire them fast enough for them to be stabilized.  90 gr bullets might work with a 26 in barrel with a 1-7 or 1-6.5 twist.

[PowPow]

I tried R-15, Varget, W748, H335.
So far, my 1:9 223 bull likes 27.5-28 gr H380 for 40s, 55s, and 70s.

[dwalk]

my older handi .223 has the 1:12, my new ultra-varmint has the 1:9.

the 1:12 will not stabilize bullets over 55 grain properly, the 1:9 will.

incidentally...the older Handi was a, near, tack driver 'right out of the box' when i got it shooting the 55 gr FMJ factory ammo with no modification to it.