What bullet to use 223

[Fern]

So I have a 20 tac shooting 32s (have lots of loaded ammo from previous owner)
I have a 204R that is being rebarreled and will be shooting 40g vmax or bergers
My 223 tikka varmint is set up shooting 40gnoslers at 3700fps. I’m debating about doing a work up for 50 or 55g vmax for the 223 since the 204R will be already shooting 40s?
Thoughts or input is appreciated

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Try the 53 gr vmax.

 

[COhunter]

55gr NBT and Benchmark are amazing in my Tikka 223

 

[Fern]

I have 50 and 55s already so was leaning towards those
I did think about maybe trying the 55nbt maybe offering up 40s in a trade.

 

[JB10]

I shooot a lot of 50gr vmax with w748 and H335 with good results in 4 rifles. I love nosler ballistic tip varmint, but those are rare around my parts and way higher in price. I buy the 50gr vmax in bulk

 

[varmintshooter]

Why not try different bullets and let the gun pick. It might not like your choice

 

[BW64]

Try the 53 gr vmax.

What powder are you using?

 

[SteveOak]

What is the twist rate of the barrel? That will tell you the longest bullet you can use and help you pick an optimum bullet.

 

[drover]

So I have a 20 tac shooting 32s (have lots of loaded ammo from previous owner)
I have a 204R that is being rebarreled and will be shooting 40g vmax or bergers
My 223 tikka varmint is set up shooting 40gnoslers at 3700fps. I’m debating about doing a work up for 50 or 55g vmax for the 223 since the 204R will be already shooting 40s?
Thoughts or input is appreciated

Question- what are you planning to use the 50/55's for? The 40's and 223 are almost a match a perfect match for varmint up to and including coyotes. If you are looking to shoot larger varmints, wolves for example, then the heavier bullet makes a bit more sense, otherwise I don't see much point to them.

I have been shooting the 223 since mid-70's and have gone through a lot of bullet choices but settled on 40's quite a few years back and have no regrets.

Since you are already shooting 40's in your 204 though I can sort of see why you are wanting to change up something since the 40's in 204 and 223 are nearly identical.

drover

 

[jpjulian]

I load for 6 .223's. I like both the 50 & 55 VMax and buy either depending which may be on sale when I need them. I also really like the Nosler Varmageddon 55 grain in my Rem700 12 twist. H335 is the powder of choice. 25.1 grains with the 55's and a bit more for the 50. I do not load for a specific rifle. My load works well in all 6 of my rifles with 7, and 8, 12 & 14 twists.

 

[rdremsek]

Try 55 grn sierra blitz kings they shoot great with h4895

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

What powder are you using?

I like Benchmark with bullets under 55 gr in the 223. Both my bolt guns and gasers. H335 for plinkers.

 

[Fern]

I use the 3 rifles for prairie dogs. Not that I get that much action but I like to switch it up after so many shots. Every now and then we do see a coyote on the ranch we hunt and my buddy nailed one at 175 yards in full speed run. He was using lefter over 82 grain bullet that is no longer made and that coyote went down hard doing kart wheels with a tennis ball size exite wound

 

[JLT]

Try the 53 gr vmax.

^^^^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^

If your barrel likes these bullets, that's all you'll ever need for varmints! Outstanding bullet.

 

[BradY]

53 vmax and a stout load of 8208 works well. But since you have all the varmint type bullets working fine in other guns why not change it up? Sierra 55gr gameking soft points hit like the hammer of thor and good for slightly larger critters

 

[Gabe22BR]

Sell the 223, oil up the barrel stick in the corner…
The 204 will out do the 223…
ya got the distance covered with it..
Them 40gr BiB are great on coyotes- but then again- your stash will do anything ya want…

That’s my opinion…

 

[Dgd6mm]

What powder are you using?

Shooters World Match Rifle and VV133

 

[Fern]

My tikka has a 1/8 twist and powders I have are xterminator h4198 imr4198 varget 8208 xbr wc844 (h335 pull down)

 

[Fern]

I shooot a lot of 50gr vmax with w748 and H335 with good results in 4 rifles. I love nosler ballistic tip varmint, but those are rare around my parts and way higher in price. I buy the 50gr vmax in bulk

Couple years ago found a place blowing them out at 250 packs for $15 and 50vmax for $8/100. I bought couple thousand of each and wish I would have. Bought 5 times what I did

 

[searcher]

My tikka has a 1/8 twist and powders I have are xterminator h4198 imr4198 varget 8208 xbr wc844 (h335 pull down)

I shoot thousands of the 50 V-Max (only because I bought them so much cheaper than the 53 V-Max long ago), a lot of 55 Blitz king and a lot of the 50 Varmint Grenade. I have a lot of heavy-barreled varmint rigs in .223 and they seem to prefer their own powder for these bullets (mostly 1-9 or 1-8 twist). The powders that always seem to work best for me have been Accurate LT32, IMR 8208XBR and Reloader 7 - though the H4198 and pull-down powder work really well with those bullets too. I shoot .20 Practicals as much as the .223's. For knocking coyotes down, the 50 grain bullets out of the .223 do it much better than the 32-40 grain bullets out of the Practical. If I'm shooting squirrel-sized critters - I prefer the smaller bullets in the Practical. Good to have both rigs.