Rifle cartridges....

[don heath]

I have been playing….With my family now mostly resident in rural Sweden I wanted to look for a suitable  ’survival’ calibre for use up there. In Africa, the wildlife available means the minimum is .308. But elsewhere….so I built up a few rifles and have tried them on African plains game for the last year.

1-   .223 with a 1:7 twist barrel
2-    6,8 SPC
3-   6mm BR
4-   6,5 Grendel
5-   CZ min in 7.62x39

All were built on Sako or CZ mini actions and all had 20” barrels with a reflex silencer built in.  I have an unlimited, free supply of 6mm BR with 105grn bullets…so it was worth the extreme hassel of getting it to fit in the short action (it is 1mm too long when the 105grn factory ammo is used)

Mostly I have shot impala and warthog but also played with them on the range.

In conclusion…..

1)   The .223 with appropriate ammo is adequate for game up to 500lbs with careful shot placement and using bullets of 77grns or over. The heavier bullets also stretch the usable range to 500m provided the wind isn’t too strong. It is not a .308 and no amount of trickery will make it into a .308 but it is a lightweight and offers surprisingly good performance.
2)   6,8 SPC….is great for what it was designed for- close range effectiveness in a .223 sized platform. No amount of playing with the bullets will make it into anything more than a 300m round, but at ‘normal’ hunting ranges it is more effective than the .223- a better ‘stopping round and a better hunting one. The problem for me is that ammo was almost non existent in Africa and I have never seen any in Europe. Nice concept…beats the 7,62x39 round at everything.
3)   6mm BR Norma- The best ‘hunting’ round of the lot and also the best long range cartridge. The down side is that ammo is relatively bulky. Yes the rounds are shorter than a .308 but they are the same diameter…The sako mag that holds 5 .223 can just hold 3 BR rounds with a lot of machine time!
4)   6,5 Grendel…Not in the same league as the 6BR. Better for long range work than the .223 but not significantly so. More effective on impala but not up to the 6,8 or 6BR..Interesting, but Glad I found somebody who really really wanted the rifle….
5)   7,62x39- along with the .303 the most commonly available cartridge in Africa. Given decent hunting bullets it is a fine medium game round. It is a 200m round and has the shortest ‘reach’ of any of the cartridges tried. The freely available com block ammo though is all corrosively primes and uses .310” bullets (instead of the .308 I used and had a barrel for). Didn’t make much difference. The gook ammo still shot to it’s normal poor standard out of the smaller bore and pressures are low enough that, in a bolt action at any rate, you are not going to have a problem. If however, you want groups not patterns you need to use the correct sized, US made bullets!

Of them all, the 6mm BR is the most effective, both on game and in terms of reach- it isn’t exactly a common round though!  It also has the ability to put pullets through cover that would defeat any of the other rounds.
The 6,5 Grendel beats the standard 7,62x39 in terms of range but not in terms of efficiency on game (when the 7,62 has good bullets). No more accurate than a good 7,62x39 and I doubt as effective on people under 200m. It also really needs a 24” barrel to deliver.

The 6,8SPC…great round but just too obscure here or in Europe. It also is the most efficient out of a short barrel (16”)

7,62x39 – can be made effective with a good barrel and good ammo. Efficient from a short barrel if you needed it. A 7,62x39 AI would have considerable merit, provided you could fire standard gook ammo if needed. An extra 100fps at the muzzle would do things for this round.

.223- but set up for heavy bullets. A surprisingly good compromise – and when all is said and done, my choice. One can also shoot mil spec ammo if you need to (although the military seems to be moving this way anyway..I have some US military MK 262 ammo which is loaded with the sierra 77grn MK bullet.) 

[Dee]

So Don, what you are saying is that the 223 won the contest in an OVER ALL comparison?

[243dave]

I think Don is saying a fast twist 223 is a good comprimise of power, range, availability and weight when it comes to a survival cartridge.  Its not the best at anything but is satisfactory for most all things.  And I agree, a fast twist 223 shooting heavy, expanding bullets will do better than most people suspect.  Here in the US, IMO, it is the best survival round, of course this is debatable.  Dave  

[Swampman]

The .30-30 would be better than those listed.

[Dixie Dude]

You can also get a .22LR McAce adapter to shoot 22LR in the .223 for small game in a survival situation.

[teamnelson]

You can also get a .22LR McAce adapter to shoot 22LR in the .223 for small game in a survival situation.

... only if you can get them to return their emails ... I have been trying to order some more and nothing.

Don, I like that you're using a bolt gun to test. Its a more forgiving platform for bullet testing, and also minimizes "gun" interference when what you're testing is the cartridge. Forgive me, I'm not familiar, but is the 1in7 .223 the factory option for CZ? And if instead of M262 77grn, you fed it some milsurp 5.56, what might that look like? Thinking survival application, bullet selection would be limited, although 5.56 might be plentiful.

Mahalo, Chaps

[Graybeard]

I have an unlimited, free supply of 6mm BR with 105grn bullets…so it was worth the extreme hassel of getting it to fit in the short action (it is 1mm too long when the 105grn factory ammo is used)

Interesting. Care to share the story with us how you get an unlimited free supply? I'd like to fall into such a situation as that myself.

[teamnelson]

Don,

Now you got me on the hunt ... any chance you tried Hornady .223 Rem 75 gr. BTHP Match ammo? Prior to reading this, I was contemplating swapping off a 20ga side by side for a Saiga 556 ... just a blaster, accuracy not important. But now I'm warming up to putting a .223 bolt gun in the armory.

Mahalo, Chaps

[don heath]

In order...Dee- I think the 5,56 with 1:7 twist is the best compromise
Swampman- For me, accuracy beyond 200m is important- from combat experience, if I can open the gap to over 200m, I am safe from 99% of nasty people...on the other hand, they are not safe from me. A 30-30 is a bulky cartridge- if you are going to carry something that large and that will not fit in a short action, carry a .308

Team Nelson- No the CZ .223's I have, had a 1:12 twist. I built up the .5,56 on a Sako mini action using a 1:7 hammer forged, chrome lined bore barrel. Because silencers are legal here, I wanted a rifle where I could leave the silencer attached. As anybody knows who has used one muc, If you leave the silencer on an un-chromed or non stainles barrel the front 2" of rifling disapear quite quickly due to errosion. Also the CHF barrels have a life span of 25-40,000 rounds compared to 5000 rounds for a good standard barrel.

Greybeard...how to get free ammo...be a consultant for Norma who makes the stuff

[243dave]

TeamNelson,  I've loaded up the 75gr hornadys on top of blc-2 and was able to pop balloons out to 450yds with no problem.  I used a tricked out ar-15 with a 1-8 twist that shoots this load about half a inch at 100yds for five shots.  I've only shot this bullet at targets so I can't say if it would expand or fragment on game.  If your looking for a fast twist boltgun Savage 223's have a standard 1-9 twist and one of their varmint models(or maybe its one of their target models) have a 1-7 twist.  The 1-9 might stabilize a 75gr bullet but its on the border.  The 1-7 will stabilize a 80gr bullet with no problem and perhaps a 90gr one.  Besides savage, Tikka makes their 223's with two different twists, a 1-12 and a 1-8 twist barrel.  You should be able to stabilize a 80gr bullet with the 1-8 twist.   Dave

[Dee]

That's the way I thought I read it Don, thanks. I have to agree on portability and the fact that man is for the most part the thinnest skinned animal of all, and not being bound to fmj bullets the 223 is plenty at extended ranges. That was a good study and realistically used in hunting situations and tested against each other on real game. That was one of the best I've ever read from a layman, whose not trying to sell guns.

[don heath]

in .223. 1:8 twist stabilises 80grn berger bullets just fine...a friend has a border barrel with this twist on his 300m gun.

I went for 1:7 becuase I could economicallly buy a Hammer forged, chrome lined barrel in this twist (US$279) From H&K..ie a military 20" barrel before it has been profiled and had the gas port cut in it.

A Krieger or Border 1:8 or 1:7 will give you comfortably sub moa out to 600m IF you don't have a double cross wind. (common here...ie blowing from say the right for the first 200m then a gap then blowing from the left further out...makes doping the wind very hard). The Mil Spec H&K barrel is surprisingly good considering it has been chromed. The Sierra 77grn MK give a reliable 3" group at 300m IF i do my part on a still morning. I cannot ask for better than that from a lightweight (5,5lb) 'sporter'. (ok...It has been properly bedded and the Norma gunsmith who builds Olympic match rifles put it together for me...but it is still a sporter with a 20" barrel not a heavy match rifle with a 24" tube.   

[don heath]

One other vital consideration....smooth feeding.

If you are shooting an AR and it works this is irrelevant, but in a bolt action.....The 6mm BR was by far the most accurate round used (fluted Krieger barrel, sako action 6 3/4 lbs empty), but it wasn't flawless feeding at speed. The 6,5 Grendal also wasn't all it could have been compared to the 7,62x39 built on the same CZ action.

Yes, I am a trick/stunt shooter almost by profession- but with the .223, 6,8 SPC (on Sako actions) and 7,62x39 (CZ) I could keep two shots down to under 1 second(oh and still hit a target at 50m)...the other two rounds fed just fine if you worked the bolt a bit slower. I see the same 'failing' with many big borerifles clients bring on safari- they work fine on the range but when adrenaline is pumping they jamb (the Ruger 77's in .416 rigby do this on demand). And funnily enough, even Mr corporate client who is not really a shooter but has come on safari to get bragging rights can work a bolt faster than you would think when there is a lion at 20 yards - Test all equipment on a range in competion with others a pro-shot timer to see who is really fast. This will a) Speed you up and b) show up weaknesses in the kit

[MarkNJ]

Don, a suppressed .223 with a fast twist ..... almost begs to be tried with subsonic loads. Any thoughts on this.

Shooting Impala with the 223, were you targeting the heart or lungs, perhaps neck or brain shots, any quartering shots and were any of the animals "spooked". I know you said careful shot placement, just wondering where you target your shots.   

Informative post, many thanks   

cheers

[Drilling Man]

Greybeard...how to get free ammo...be a consultant for Norma who makes the stuff

  That's the only way i'd take any Norma brass.

  As their "consultant", why don't you tell them to toughen up their brass.  It's too soft, and doesn't last long enough when reloaded.  The brass that they make for Weatherby has the same problems.

  DM

[don heath]

Mark

With appropriate bullets (Barnes or Oryx) you can take any angle shot on an impala. The Sierra 77grn MK's...depends. If they have the military cannelure they tend to break in half (as intended). If they don't have the cannelure, they go straight. I would be quite happy taking white tailed deer out to 200m with appropriate loads in the .223.

Re Subsonic- Have several formula's...mostly to cycle in AR 15's. In a bolt gun the pressure curve is largely irrelevant since it doesn't have to work the action, but you don't want the bullets to get stuck in the barrel. The extreme shock non cycling ammo tends to do this in any barrel longer than 14½"...which to be fair to the makers...it was designed for 14½" guns.  Just remember also that a 77grn Oryx or 75grn A Max at 1100fps is not quite twice the power of a .22LR! I don't have access to US powders often but trail boss or 4457 seem to be the best choices

[don heath]

Drilling man...case hardness depends on brand and who ordered it. I often hear Americans waxing Lyrical about  some calibres from Lapua or Sako or Federal...and I know that it is actually Norma made brass! Equally there is a bum batch or Norma .223 out there with primers that are pearcing....they were made for Norma by Federal!  Norma makes cases using two different processes. One gives a much harder case head than the other. Norma are slowly shifting all the magnum cases and the 'match' (6ppc, 6BR, 6XC) that are to be sold as empty brass to the harder case head process. In loaded ammo, depends on what the customer wants. The US Olympic and Military rifle teams (which shoot exclusively Norma) Don't want the harder case head...

Also depends on use...The Lapua system of making cases always results in a much harder, yet much more brittle cases. If pressures are kept within limits...this is fine and you will get many more relaods out of a case. If for some reason you get a pressure spike...you had better be wearing glasses or hope that your rifle has a good gas block behind the fireing pin. In hunting ammo where pressures are going to frequently go above 70,000PSI you do NOT want a brittle case head. (you also don't want to bother trying to reload the case...even if it is a more ductile one)  

[MarkNJ]

Thanks Don, I am interested in the subsonic side of it as I already load and use 308 subsonic for some of my hunting (with trailboss powder). I suppose a 223 rifle like the one you have described having two loads would make the rifle a lot more flexible, the "deer" load with copper bullets and a "rabbit" load thats silent and useful for small game.
When I have time, I intend building up a rabbit load for the 308, suitable also as a cheap plinker.

  And of course, the ethical arguments for and against hunting deer with a 223 has been hotly debated for decades. I always thought taking deer with a 223 was limited to not much more than 100 yards but then those ideals were based on a 55 grain bullet. Your research has just doubled that useable range.
With a silent rabbit load, the 223 becomes a very useful caliber indeed!

cheers

[jlwilliams]

  Excellent information.  Thank you, Don.

  I have a little input on the subsonic 223.  While it is tempting to want to have a one gun set up, the subsonic 22 centerfire is kind of a false economy.  It is at least in the context of modern America where we can own as many guns as we can afford.  If you want a set up that would fit the 'post apocolyptic' concept of one rifle set up to handle all things, that may be different.  Point being, at east in my breakdown of the dollars for effect, if you get one good registered silencer you can just screw it onto a 22lr rifle and have subsonic ammo off the shelf for low cost and high availability.  22lr will sound good through silencers made for larger calibers because they have the volume and that's key.

  All that said, what Don is doing with the suppressed supersonics is really a practical way to go.  Quiet enough to be hearing safe but not "Hollywood quiet" is pretty good.  The sonic crack doesn't carry as far as the full blast either, so people not so far away may not notice that you bagged some game.  Discression in a full powered load.

[Drilling Man]

Drilling man...case hardness depends on brand and who ordered it. I often hear Americans waxing Lyrical about  some calibres from Lapua or Sako or Federal...and I know that it is actually Norma made brass! Equally there is a bum batch or Norma .223 out there with primers that are pearcing....they were made for Norma by Federal!  Norma makes cases using two different processes. One gives a much harder case head than the other. Norma are slowly shifting all the magnum cases and the 'match' (6ppc, 6BR, 6XC) that are to be sold as empty brass to the harder case head process. In loaded ammo, depends on what the customer wants. The US Olympic and Military rifle teams (which shoot exclusively Norma) Don't want the harder case head...

Also depends on use...The Lapua system of making cases always results in a much harder, yet much more brittle cases. If pressures are kept within limits...this is fine and you will get many more relaods out of a case. If for some reason you get a pressure spike...you had better be wearing glasses or hope that your rifle has a good gas block behind the fireing pin. In hunting ammo where pressures are going to frequently go above 70,000PSI you do NOT want a brittle case head. (you also don't want to bother trying to reload the case...even if it is a more ductile one)  

  I made my comments based on my experence with the Norma brass i have bought, and all of the sorry Wby. brass i bought that Norma made.  AND the constant complaints i keep reading about the current 9.3x74R Norma brass.  Go to the DR forums on the net, and it doesn't take long before you will see that it's a constant problem.  YET, the older RWS brass in the same cartridge doesn't have any of those same problems.  (yes i know Norma and RWS share brass at times)  Anyway, i don't have the soft brass problem with any other brand that i've bought.

  DM

[don heath]

DM...Glad you have found what you like. Often times I sit in Africa drooling over what is available in the USA and 'making do' with what we can get. The last batch of ammo our parks department bought got 4 officers killed in the first week...it was .458 Win loaded with copper plated 300grn bullets intended for cheep practice in the ,45-70....and it really pissed off ele and buff. I got hold of the maker (Ivan Monsure) who I knew quite well, and he said the order had specified cheep training ammo, so we got second hand cases , prac bullets, cheep chinese powder...at least he used decent primers....

[don heath]

Another thought on 'survival cartridges'....I built these rifles and did the tests I did because a) I could (somebody else was esentailly paying) and b) I wanted a decent 'first centrefire' for my kids both for hunting and 'filed shooting' competitions which are very popular (animal targets at unknown ranges from 100-400m)

HOWEVER....I carry a 9,3 as my daily 'survial gun', and I got to thinking about that...A survival gun is not really for hunting in a long term survival situation- it is a vital componant in short term survival though...it is mainly to protect oneself...and bad people out number rabid lion by several million to one where I live. My 9,3's are pretty effective on people...the solids I carry for elephant will go through most armoured cars and any trees around here...there ain't alot of 'hard cover' when your opponent has a .338 Lapua and up! and secondly the speer 270grn or Norma 286grn 'plastic points' are awsomely effective on soft skinned game- like people. My .308's are more 'versitile' and have a longer reach (due to different scopes mainly), but for dealing with bad people and bad animals under 200m the 9,3 wins on all scores - IF the  objective of a survival gun is to shoot only a few effective shots and only when necessary - it also guarantees the plainsgame animal that I snap shoot at and get a marginal hit on in a survival situation isn't going far....thoughts?

[LabRat2k3]

don heath, I think you are on the right path. One must tailor all of their survival supplies to the area in which they are going to find themselves. I have no need for a round that can stop charging elephants or cape buffalo, nor do I need to worry about encountering grizzlies or taking elk, but some do. I could get buy with a lighter round as the largest critter I could run across would be a 300-350 pound black bear. Most of the game I would take would be squirrle and rabbits, with whitetails hunted during the winter when meat would be the primary food source. I may need more cold weather gear than some and less than others. Water collection would be no problem in my area but I would still need some form of filtration/purification. It is about doing a realistic assesment of your potential threat and knowing what you need to meet that challenge.   

[jeepmann1948]

Don, My compliments on a very good article. It is very informative and honestly written. Thanks