Author Topic: suggestions please .223 ammo (Read 1673 times)

bljc27 · « **on:** August 12, 2009, 10:57:00 AM »

I need some advise on what the best factory ammo would be for my 8 year old daughters 223. She wants to shoot her first deer so bad, she can't hardly stand to wait. I don't reload yet, so I would need help with what FACTORY ammo I should use. I know that it is a 1:9 twist in a .223 youth mfg 2007 it is still brand new, never shot. She is a really good shot with her other .22 so I am confident that she will make proper shot placement. I won't let her shoot over 60 yards and it will have to be a direct broadside shot into the deer. I plan to spend the next 2 months preparing her for this at the range. She already knows that if you aim small you will miss small.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks again
BC

Oldshooter · « **Reply #1 on:** August 12, 2009, 11:41:43 AM »

I would suggest a 55 or 60 gr soft point! anything Hornady makes would work! MY personal choice in factory ammo!

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** August 12, 2009, 12:02:35 PM »

Winchester 64gr Power Point ammo shoots real good in H&Rs, is reasonably priced and is good for deer.

Any ammo loaded with the Nosler 60gr partition, 53gr or 62gr TSX would be worth while shooting too.

Tim

stumped · « **Reply #3 on:** August 12, 2009, 12:50:20 PM »

The Triple shock X bullets are great bullets for small cal guns like 223, because they don't come aport like many 22 bullets at high velocity. Don't know how easy the TSX will be to find in factory ammo. They maybe hard to find in factory ammo, but I know you can order them from midway USA all ready loaded in 53 gr. I hand loaded 50 for my handi and they shot very good.

gstewart44 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 12, 2009, 12:53:30 PM »

Never used it on deer but have taken many hogs with Winchester 64 gr PP. Most hogs DRT or only ran a few feet. Farthest one ran was 30 yds. Deadly round.

gendoc · « **Reply #5 on:** August 12, 2009, 01:19:15 PM »

tim and oldshooter both are on target
i see more 60gr hornys move for hunting whitetail,
we have lotsa h&r hunters with the 223, and they like both for factory rounds..
i really can't tell ya my experiance with them, cus i handload everythang.
but my favorite bullet is the hornady 60gr in my load fer tha .224

bljc27 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 12, 2009, 04:38:31 PM »

Thanks for all of the help. I always know who to turn to when it comes to this kind of stuff. - the REAL HANDI MEN

Another question i have is has anyone ever shot the WOLF ammo from one of these guns just for fun, not for hunting? Since this is a new gun for her, I thought about buying a few boxes of the cheap stuff just so she could get a feel for the gun. Before I start pooring $20-$30 a box for the good stuff and getting real serious about accuracy.
Thanks again
BC

gstewart44 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 12, 2009, 04:50:48 PM »

I ordered 500 rds of 223 Wolf ammo about 4 yrs ago just to "have some fun". I must say the accuracy with these rounds was so abysmal that the shooting/plinking turned out to be no fun whatsoever. This stuff gives maybe 3"-5" at 50 yds. I have about 350 rds left in my ammo box.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #8 on:** August 12, 2009, 04:57:03 PM »

funny you should ask about the wolf stuff. I put my hands on some wolf silver for about .40 cents a shot and I'm gonna check it out with the "rabbit" soon I'll post results.

marsh monkey · « **Reply #9 on:** August 12, 2009, 04:59:33 PM »

Another vote for the 64 grain Powerpoint for deer. Like has already been said the 60 Nosler partition is good too. I hear the barnes 53 and 62 grain TSX are deadly but I have not used them yet.

For plinking my dad has shot a fair amount of the Wolf ammo in his .223 Handi. Shoots fairly decent in his and he has killed Feral hogs with it as well as that is what he had in it at the time. The 55 grain hollowpoints performed pretty well on the pigs but it sure would not be what we would use if we were seriously hunting. That being said the pigs all died.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #10 on:** August 12, 2009, 05:01:44 PM »

Quote from: gstewart44 on August 12, 2009, 04:50:48 PM

I ordered 500 rds of 223 Wolf ammo about 4 yrs ago just to "have some fun". I must say the accuracy with these rounds was so abysmal that the shooting/plinking turned out to be no fun whatsoever. This stuff gives maybe 3"-5" at 50 yds. I have about 350 rds left in my ammo box.

Well heck that is still "minute of man" maybe good for something yet. Was it wolf silver?

gstewart44 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 12, 2009, 05:09:14 PM »

Naw it was the cheapest wolf stuff I found out of a popular mail order sporting goods flyer....steel cases and fmj. very hard primers... got it for about 23 cents/round. Minute of man is about right. I could load up a 30 rd mag in my mini 14 and give decent cover fire but that's about it with this stuff..

Oldshooter · « **Reply #12 on:** August 12, 2009, 05:12:53 PM »

Quote

about 23 cents/round.

Now that's bargain basement pardner!

But its a deal nonetheless!

bljc27 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 13, 2009, 02:31:49 AM »

I really appreciate the help. Now, do any of you fine gentlemen know where I could buy some of this ammo? Everywhere I have checked online is sold out! I went to the local Gander Mountain and they don't have anything but FMJ or varmit loads. The local Wally World don't have anything either. I would like to try the Winchester 64 gr Power Points if I could find them. I guess this would be a good reason to hand loading, but I just don't have the time right now. I can't find the TSX in stock anywhere either.

Thanks Again
BC

pvtschultz · « **Reply #14 on:** August 13, 2009, 03:22:31 AM »

Cabela's has some lighter Hornadys:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/purchase/item-added.jsp?_requestid=22071

And so does Midway:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=366197

.375 Hawk · « **Reply #15 on:** August 13, 2009, 03:25:40 AM »

Quote from: bljc27 on August 13, 2009, 02:31:49 AM

I really appreciate the help. Now, do any of you fine gentlemen know where I could buy some of this ammo? I guess this would be a good reason to hand loading, but I just don't have the time right now. I can't find the TSX in stock anywhere either.

Thanks Again
BC

Hi bljc27, Check with Quality Cartridge, they have Barnes TSX or MRX and many other great choices......

http://www.qual-cart.com/

CLICK ON; View our Listing/ Download Printable Catalog.

Eddie

quickdtoo · « **Reply #16 on:** August 13, 2009, 05:32:48 AM »

Grafs has a few choices in stock, Able and TGS does too.

Tim

http://www.grafs.com/ammo/103

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/default.php?cPath=10480_14658_14743_14902_14766

http://www.thegunsource.com/category/721-Corbon_223_Ammo.aspx

http://www.thegunsource.com/item/3157_Federal_Ammunition_Federal_P223Q_Vital-Shok_.aspx

bljc27 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 13, 2009, 03:19:07 PM »

Thanks again for all of the help. I think I found some of the 64 gr winnie power points that were recomended. Has anyone ever used the Rem core lokt soft points in either the 55gr or the 64gr? Just wondering how they do.

Thanks again
Barry

Oldshooter · « **Reply #18 on:** August 13, 2009, 03:55:37 PM »

Remi core lokts are good, especially for what you wanna do! I keep a box or two around all the time.

bljc27 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 13, 2009, 03:59:02 PM »

So do you think that they are as good as the Winchester power points? Or are they just an OK substitute for a higher quality round?

Barry

Oldshooter · « **Reply #20 on:** August 13, 2009, 04:08:15 PM »

From my experience just as good. now that being said as far as accuracy goes you might find a gun that wont group well with them but that is universal for all ammo.

Default · « **Reply #21 on:** August 13, 2009, 08:38:13 PM »

I am with the guys on the 60 gr nosler partition and the 64 gr win PP ( thou my bull barrel didnt give me great groups with the 64 gr PPs) the Triple shocks are good if the the twist is the 1 in 12 ( I'll be experimenting with the 53 gr and the 55 gr barnes in the near future for my ruger ) ... My 223 was absolutrely in love with the Hornady TAP 75 gr 223 ammo , one ragged hole or close too it .. And very consistent about it too .. That round knocked the snot out of a 257 lb. wild boar and a texas dahl ram .. And believe me that ammo will be kept on TAP in this after my results with it , An yeah all pun intended

And here is some more ammo links : http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php/ammo-for-rifles/223-rem-5-56mm-nato-/p/223-fusion-f223fs1-62gr-20-rd-box/cPath/12_38/products_id/3725

That 62 gr fusion SP looks promising...

http://www.ammoman.com/index.htm

Ammo man has the 55 gr hornady TAPs and its on sale..

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8390&dir=18|830|845

And Wideners had the 55gr TAP among others available.

Was looking around on midway after i posted and found these 55 gr SP Hornady at $31 and change for a 50 count box which would be a hell of alot better for plinking and sighting in and maybe even a decent hunting round for a pretty good price compared to $20 to $30 a box of 20

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=366197

Default

Oldshooter · « **Reply #22 on:** August 14, 2009, 12:16:54 AM »

Quote

found these 55 gr SP Hornady at $31 and change for a 50 count

Thats what I'm talking about! Havent shot em yet, but I picked up some at Academy(TX) the other day,
Thats a good deal and its hard to beat Hornady for dependability

bljc27 · « **Reply #23 on:** August 14, 2009, 03:48:39 AM »

So from what I'm getting is I should probably buy a couple different brands and see which one the gun likes the best. Right? I just need to find the best deer load. I guess I need to find something between 55gr to 64gr in a soft point, preferably nosler partition. Wait for a direct broadside shot and let her put it in the boiler room. Does this sound right?

Has anyone had any experience with quartering away shots with a 223?

Thanks again
Barry

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #24 on:** August 14, 2009, 04:13:39 AM »

If you are gonna keep her under 75 yards I would even look at some 69gr and up for your 1-9 lots of guys are having good luck with heavy bullets out of the 1-9 just need to stay with the soft points.Mine also shot 62gr Black Hills soft points really well. Kurt

bljc27 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 14, 2009, 02:43:01 PM »

thanks again for all of you guys help!!!

I have learned a lot over the past couple of days.

Barry

PeterCartwright · « **Reply #26 on:** August 14, 2009, 05:23:52 PM »

I've shot exactly one (1) deer with my .223 Handi (just last year). I used a hand loaded 53 gr. Barnes TSX bullet. The average sized doe was only 50 yards from the muzzle. Shot through the heart/lungs, the doe did a brief, ten yard pirouette and tipped over. Postmortem convinced me that the properly loaded .223 is certainly deer capable on broadside shots. Beyond those parameters, I haven't had any experience. As noted above, plenty of other folks have. Hope your daughter gets the chance to bloody up her rifle.

PC

murphdog · « **Reply #27 on:** August 15, 2009, 05:11:23 AM »

BC,

Regarding steel-case Wolf ammo, I would recommend trying a few first before loading up on it. After shooting 2 or 3 rounds, they started sticking in my chamber to the extent that I had to pound the cases out from the muzzle with a cleaning rod and rubber mallet. The steel cases have some kind of laquer coating to keep them from rusting, and I speculate that the laquer started building up in my chamber. Made for a frustrating range session, and I worried it might damage my chamber. I won't shoot them anymore. Fortunately, my local gun shop allowed me to return all unopened boxes for credit.

Duane

pvtschultz · « **Reply #28 on:** August 24, 2009, 08:40:53 AM »

Quote from: murphdog on August 15, 2009, 05:11:23 AM

BC,

Regarding steel-case Wolf ammo, I would recommend trying a few first before loading up on it. After shooting 2 or 3 rounds, they started sticking in my chamber to the extent that I had to pound the cases out from the muzzle with a cleaning rod and rubber mallet. The steel cases have some kind of laquer coating to keep them from rusting, and I speculate that the laquer started building up in my chamber. Made for a frustrating range session, and I worried it might damage my chamber. I won't shoot them anymore. Fortunately, my local gun shop allowed me to return all unopened boxes for credit.

Duane

I didn't have any stick out of the 50 that I had to put through my .223 REM bull barrel, but they didn't group worth a sheet either. They did shoot minute of deer, but nowhere near the groups of Blackhills reman ammo.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #29 on:** August 24, 2009, 05:21:33 PM »

Try the wolf silver, it seems to work well and olympic arms recommends them for their AR's