Author Topic: Best bullet for 223 (Read 3862 times)

Ric · « **on:** April 09, 2003, 12:24:43 PM »

What is your opinion as to the best all-around-bullet for gophers/prairie dogs/coyotes and others; when using the 223 Remington case? For quite sometime now, I've used Moly coated 40 grain Nosler BT's with a 99% load of AA-2230 powder for excellent accuracy and performance. Do you think all things being concidered like, wind, Balistic coefficient, energy and distance that I'm giving up something buy not using the 50 grain bullets at there lower velocities?

Appreciate your opinions...

Ladobe · « **Reply #1 on:** April 09, 2003, 04:38:30 PM »

Hi Ric,

I used to play the bullet game in all my 222's, 222 Mag and 223's - loaded something different in just about each one. They run from a 14" Bullberry Contender and custom 15" XP100, through several rifles and carbines with barrel lengths from 18"-26". I settled on the Speer 50 TNT across the board, adjusted loads and seating depth for each firearm to match it, and have been more than pleased in the killing fields. To me, shot placement should always be critical, so I have had no problems even on coyotes with the frangible pills. I save the 40's for my three 221 Fireballs now. Anyway, it works for me. YMMV

BTW, does RCR ring a bell with you?

Ladobe

Ric · « **Reply #2 on:** April 09, 2003, 05:28:22 PM »

Ladobe,
Thanks for the response, sounds like you developed a simple approch to your reloading other than seating depths. I tried the 50 tnt bullet once and did not get the accuracy however, that was in another rifle. Perhaps I'll try them again having several thousand on-hand. Still, I like the velocity of the 40's better than the fifties, a nice ballistic program would answer my question.

Ric

Johnly · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2003, 01:49:10 PM »

Quote from: Ric

What is your opinion as to the best all-around-bullet for gophers/prairie dogs/coyotes and others; when using the 223 Remington case? For quite sometime now, I've used Moly coated 40 grain Nosler BT's with a 99% load of AA-2230 powder for excellent accuracy and performance. Do you think all things being concidered like, wind, Balistic coefficient, energy and distance that I'm giving up something buy not using the 50 grain bullets at there lower velocities?

Appreciate your opinions...

It depends on the range that you're shooting at. Inside of 200 yds. any bullet will do, so use the best one from an accuracy and performance(expansion) standpoint. If you want to reach out beyond 200 yds. with a 223, I'd suggest a 50 gr. V-max or a 55 grain V-max or BT.

Kirkned · « **Reply #4 on:** April 15, 2003, 02:29:16 PM »

I am with Ladobe on this one. Only I shoot the 50gr SP Hornadays they work great for me and all my 223s like them. Just remember Speed is not everything if you can't hit it you can't kill it, I do believe that you will find out that although the 40's start out faster they soon give up the race to the 50's superior BC down range. Shoot what works best for you, remembering all rifle barrel are diffrent and each has it's own likes and dislikes. :grin:

Scarlet Pumpernickel · « **Reply #5 on:** April 15, 2003, 07:49:26 PM »

I, too, give a big 'Thumbs Up' to the 50 gr. TNT. I load it over 23.5 gr oe AA 2230. This is the best combo I have found.

BobMachus · « **Reply #6 on:** April 16, 2003, 07:42:31 AM »

Hornady 50 gr SX over 27.5 gr H335 for me. Great performance on p-dogs and coyotes. Here in CO you can see, and shoot a long way, and to me the 50s carry and buck the wind a bit better.

Ric · « **Reply #7 on:** April 16, 2003, 04:08:43 PM »

Thanks guys for the great response, I have tried the 50sx bullets with great results, never thought they would be better balistically than the 40grain Nosler, and they are cheaper!

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #8 on:** April 17, 2003, 07:31:21 AM »

Ric

I too have used the 50 gr SX years ago but as with the guy woho settled on the TNT I settled on the 55 gr SX. In bolt guns with 1-12/1-14 twists they are always extremely accurate, many times shooting groups in the .5 to .75 MOA. I use AA2230 and H335. 26 gr of the 2230 and 26.5 of the H335. These are pretty much max loads for SAAMI chambers and velocities run 3200+ depending on barrel length. Some faster twist barrels (1-9) handle them but most (1-8 & 1-7) cause the bullets to disintegrate upon exit from the barrel. The 55 SX has proved the best choice since I started using them in the mid '70s. Haven't found any other bullet that shoots as consistantly accurate and always gives spectacular terminal performance on critters from small picket pins to coyotes. The exception here is the Speer 52 gr HP for use with the same powder charges in 1-10 & 1-12 Mini-14s and AR15s. The SXs work ok in those but the bullet tips get beat up if more than 5 rounds are used in the magazines.

I would not call the Hornady SX a "cheap" bullet, less expensive than the newer bullets but certainly not cheap. I have tried many of the newer bullets and haven't found one that gives better performance, accuracy or terminally, than the less expensive 55 gr SX in .223s. The TNTs did work pretty good with the lower loads mentioned for them. I found when pushed to the higher velocities the .223 is capable of accuracy fell off.

Larry Gibson

dunawayeric · « **Reply #9 on:** April 21, 2003, 02:23:33 AM »

i shoot 35 grain v max out of my 223

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #10 on:** April 21, 2003, 07:03:37 AM »

Franklin

" I favor the heavier bullets and the 1 in 9 rifling twist, for their better performance on heavier targets. It's just not that tough to get inside .22 lr conversion unit range of crows and prairie dogs."

Was reading of the Aguilla (sp?) 60 gr subsonic .22LR ammo in one of the gun rags. They said it required a 1-9 twist for best accuracy. Wondering if you or anyone has tried it in AR with 1-9 or 1-7 twist. Sould be an excellent small game choice for the AR conversion units if they feed. I have the military .22LR conversion unit. Which do you have?

Larry Gibson

Tallyman · « **Reply #11 on:** October 06, 2003, 07:29:29 PM »

I use 21.5 Gr of IMR4198 behind a Remington 55 Gr HP bullet in all three of my .223 rifles. I get 1/2" groups in both of my Remington 700BDL Varmint rifles. My Remington Model Seven carry gun is also accurate on prairie dogs from a kneeling position out to 150 yards, but it has been awhile since I tested it for group. The Remington bullets I use are the ones that are electroplated - I can't remember what they are called, but thay are accurate and explosive.

jhm · « **Reply #12 on:** October 07, 2003, 03:05:28 AM »

I like lobode have pretty much settled on one bullet weight and it is the 55 gr as for the most part our shots here on the farm tend to be in the 200 yd plus range and I just like a little extra weight,

JIM

varmit_master · « **Reply #13 on:** October 07, 2003, 06:30:11 PM »

i am trying the AA2015 powder 50gr Nosler BT or 50gr SX out of my 223 i have got the 50gr SX to group great out of my 22 250 with Varget powder the Bullet out of that gun would be to lite for a coyote it would blow up on the skin i dont think it would ever go in because it is going so fast i loaded some to shoot crows with but out of the 223 i think it would do a great job on a coyote VM

Questor · « **Reply #14 on:** October 08, 2003, 02:41:56 AM »

I picked the Speer 50 grain TNT bullet for my 221 fireball for the same reasons you want a bullet. It is a fantastic bullet, it's the most accurate in my gun, and it costs a lot less than any of the plastic tipped bullets. You can buy it in bulk packs of 1000 for about $80 if you shop around. After trying about ten different kinds of bullets, this is the one I chose.

Hounddog · « **Reply #15 on:** November 04, 2003, 03:30:29 PM »

We've gotten great results w/V-Max and Barnes VLCs in 40/50grs in front of Hogdon Benchmark 26.5 grs. Groups under 1.5" @ 200 yds consistently for 10 shots groups.

Wayne

yottee · « **Reply #16 on:** November 18, 2003, 03:38:48 PM »

used 40gr vmax with varget, very fast and hot but a lil wind blows it around alot. moved to a 52gr match A-max. very accurate shoots clover leaf groups with varget out of a remington 700 bullbarrel

thecowboyace · « **Reply #17 on:** December 17, 2003, 08:21:49 PM »

I agree that the rifle twist has a lot to do with wht bullet it will handle. I have one of the NEF .223 and I use the 52gr HPBT leaving the barrel at 3100fps and a tad more 1100'#s energy. I don't think it is doing that in my gun though because Sierra used a Remington 600 24" barrel. What is it, about 25fps per 1" of barrel? I cannot remember.

They have 1-12, 1-10, 1-8's and a few 1-7. The 52-57gr bullets can be loaded in the middle of the recommended powder and will work good in all twists.

I have just started back reloading again. Kids picked me up a Shooting Chrony F-1, all I need now is the remote printer, palm pad dilly-whopper and would be completely set up.

Lawdog · « **Reply #18 on:** December 18, 2003, 09:49:37 AM »

I use to play the bullet game, one bullet for this animal a different bullet for another. All this does is fill your shelves with half empty boxes of bullets. In .224 caliber anymore I use 50 gr. Hornady V-Max. They just work. Lawdog

thecowboyace · « **Reply #19 on:** December 18, 2003, 04:34:16 PM »

I have found my .224 bullets. Sierra's 50gr Blitzking and the 55Blitzking. I must have lilked them cause I have close to 200 of each. I don't really think that the 5gr difference will matter unless a little wind. It certainly doesn't take much wind to blow a light bullet and then a tad bit lighter bullet to drift.

I would have swore that I had been using a 50-55gr JHP in my .222 Don't know why I switched to these tho. But the .222 Remington 788 went out of business, February 17,1989 6:45pm in a house fire. Meltdown in bolt department A gun smith took a cutting wheel and did some cuts thru it and it wasn't good. I picked up the NEF .223 at that time. Already had a .22 Hornet Mannlicher stock and a standard stock on a NEF .243. I don't know why buy I like shooting these guns.