Can you see the bullet impact in 223?

[Al in Nebr.]

Hey, great forum, I'm new to all of this.  Keep hearing a lot of talk about the 204 Ruger and how you can see the bullet impact through the scope.  I've never shot a Handi, but love the concept.  Just curious if you can see the bullet impact with the .223.  They only time I've shot this round was through the M-16 in basic.

 Thanks.

[safetysheriff]

i've seen the bullet impact with white-box winchester loads in the 55 gr' fmj iteration......but not with my handloads, and that's with a heavy barrel handi with wood stock.     the .223 is not hard on barrels, so why load it lightly?  

the idea is to hit the game first....then think about how it looked.

just my two cents,

ss'

[AZ223]

I have the .223 Ultra, and while the recoil is negligible as far as comfort is concerned, there is just too much barrel jump even with the bull barrel to see the impact. My 17HMR, on the other hand, is great that way -- don't even blink when you pull the trigger, just watch things blow up downrange... :eek:

[Datil]

Hello Al in Nebr Welcome to GBO forums! I have never seen a bullet impack throu scope. Never shot a 17HMR, or any 17's. Marv.

[cheatermk3]

I don't have a handi in 223 but I do know what you mean...for me seeing the hit is what it's all about when I'm shooting varmints especially PDs.  In any of my bolt guns 223 is biggest round I shoot and can still be confident of seeing the "desired effect".

It may be that the handi is a bit light but I think that a sandbag laid over the barrel could arrest the jump enough to let you see the hit.  It may be that the twisting element of the recoil would be the biggest impediment to seeing it.

I do know that a hornet will  let you see the hit but of course they are no where near as spectacular as a hit form a 223 using varmint bullets like a vmax, ballistic tip or a blitz.

If I were starting out with no large supply of bullets and brass, I would definately go with the 204.

[Ditchdigger]

I've seen knockdowns on coyotes at 200 to 300 yds with my 223 but they have to be alot farther than 300 to see them get hit with my 220 Swift.
But on the other hand I have loads for my 45 70 that you can shoot,light a cigerette,lean back and watch it bust rocks at 100 yds. :-D  :-D  Digger

[myarmor]

Hi Al in Nebr. Welcome to Greybeards.
I believe our friend is refering to the "Red Mist"? If so, yes I have seen it on a few occasions with my 223 H&R Ultra. There is actually a club -"seekers of the red mist" . Though I for one don't personally enjoy seeing it.
Anyway to answer your question I have seen it on a few occasions, with the WWB 45gr JHP's, Some handloads with Hornady 50gr V-Max Molys, and even some cheap 55gr UMC FMJ's-I really don't recomend these for varmints.
If it's a recoil question, then I don't think you should have much to worry about, seeing as how the 223 hasn't got much in that department, especially compared to many other varmint calibers.

[trotterlg]

With a .223 you probably won't see the impact, depends on the scope power, I cannot see it with a heavy barrel .223 and a 12X scope, probably could see it if I set it to 4X, just never tried it.  I am having a .17 remington built on a .17 MACH2 barrel and I may be able to see the impact with that one.  I think a .204 would be fairly much the same as the .223, about the same weight bullet and a little faster.  If you want an out of the box rifle you can see the impact with I think the .17 HMR would be about it.  Larry

[warf73]

I saw the pretty red mist when shots were made around 300+ yards in my 223 Ultra, with my 55gr hand loads.

Now on the other hand I seen the red mist every shot while shooting my 204 Ruger in the Ruger Target Grey (even on 24X) but this is a much heavier rifle than a H&R.

To me that is the best part of Pdog shooting is seeing the red mist or watching body part fly up.

Sorry if this is sick to anyone but that was the main reason in getting the 204.

I had a great time smoken a few hundred Pdogs this spring.

Warf

[Zeak]

Hi Al from Nebr welcome to GBO. What part of Nebr are you from? I live in the Wahoo area just west of Omaha.

[Al in Nebr.]

Hey Zeak, I'm close by in Gretna...