Author Topic: 223 Shooters (Read 636 times)

Bullseye · « **on:** February 08, 2004, 05:13:14 PM »

I have been shooting 45 gr bullets with my 223 and getting great accuracy (both out of a 14" and 23" barrel). I know the T/C's with the 1:12 rifling do not like the heavier bullets, but how high can I go and still get good accuracy. Will it shoot a 52 or 55 gr. with good results.

Thanks!

MS Hitman · « **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2004, 05:21:40 PM »

I've shot 50s and 55s out of my Contender barrel for years and gotten excellent accuracy. You shouldn't have any problems.

Hawkeye · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2004, 04:38:38 AM »

I have a Contender 14" and a Contender 21" and shoot 55's in both. Matter of fact, I shoot the same load in the 14 & 21 w/55's. The 14" will shoot 1/2" groups at 100 yds on sandbags and the 21" will do the same.
I just tried some 60's from the 21" carbine barrel and they are doing around an inch and I think I can shrink that by playing with the OAL.
I tried the SPSX Hornadys but some were coming apart after leaving the barrel and went to the 55 grn SP Hornady or the 55 SP Dogtown bullet from Midway for Prairie Dogs.
good luck with you barrel.

Mike

Duffy · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2004, 07:01:01 AM »

Just did a few calculations and came up with a max bullet length for a 1:12 twist of .63-.70. Now a 55g Nosler BT measures .810 oal but because of the plastic tip having no weight to speak of they are actually in the range of .70. I have shot 60g bullets out of my M70 1:12 with pretty good accuracy but at 69g it starts to get pretty iffy. It has more to do with length than weight, that's why some people had troubles with the Barnes bullets keyholeing.

Ryan

Jeff Vicars · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2004, 02:27:31 PM »

Duffy you have to count the plastic tip also. Velocity figures in too.

Bullseye · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2004, 04:34:25 PM »

Thanks all. I have been shooting Winchester White Box 45gr varmint packs. These run about $12 for 40 here which is 30 cents per shot. I have a set of dies on the way and will reload some, but was also wanting to try some of the cheaper 223 ammo such as S&B and Winchester FMJ but they are almost all 55 gr. bullets. I will try the cheaper stuff and reload a little too (even though I bought this caliber hoping to find cheap ammo that shoots good so I did not need to reload). Problem is I have this fairly new powder dispenser and electronic scale, added a trimmer motor to my trimmer and am now thinking that I have made the reloading awful easy as long as I have time even if it only saves 10 to 15 cents per round. That adds up when you shoot some rounds and have some fun.