223 1-8" twist bullet choice.

[Mtstalker]

Hey guys i picked up a tikka 223 with a 1-8" twist barrel. I picked the 1-8" so i can use a wide variety of bullets. I would like to use 55 grain bullets for coyotes but im being told buy a few guys that the spitzer style bullets will come apart in the air due to the fast twist. Has anyone shot the hornady 55gr sx or nosler shots or varmint nightmare extremes out of a fast twist 223? Thanks.

 

[DIBBS]

55 SX's have a thinner jacket than some, hence the designation SX for super explosive IIRC.

I think personally I would (and do) use a 75 grain Amax or ELD-M in an 8 twist for coyotes. I just recently got the rifle so have not had the opportunity to test them on a song dog, but have read others have used them with good success. Nosler ballistic tips have a thicker base, and they held up well for me and passed through coyotes with a 22-250 Ackley Improved that I used to shoot and carry a lot.

 

[Mark M.]

50gr. Vmax out of my Sako 85 varmint 1-8, sub 1.5" at 300

 

[jpx2rk]

I have a RAR 223 8t with pencil barrel, it likes the Nosler 55g hp's.

 

[shadrac]

69 grain sierra tmk

 

[MarkS]

Hey guys i picked up a tikka 223 with a 1-8" twist barrel. I picked the 1-8" so i can use a wide variety of bullets. I would like to use 55 grain bullets for coyotes but im being told buy a few guys that the spitzer style bullets will come apart in the air due to the fast twist. Has anyone shot the hornady 55gr sx or nosler shots or varmint nightmare extremes out of a fast twist 223? Thanks.

I have a 10 wt 223AI and have had 8 tw. both run a 50gr Blitzking with no problem.
Mark

 

[Clancy]

As others have hinted about, the 223 doesn’t have enough ass to rip those bullets apart.

I would look at the 80.5 Berger for paper and the 55 Nosler Varmageddon tipped for predators. Depending on what velocity you get, the 80.5 may do both jobs.

 

[jepp2]

Has anyone shot the hornady 55gr sx or nosler shots or varmint nightmare extremes out of a fast twist 223?

The only bullets I have had come apart from an 8T was the Speer 52 gr HP #1035. Everything else had done just fine.

 

[vmaxpro]

Id snag some 53gr vmaxes. I can tell you I hammered foxes and coyotes with 40gr vmaxs from a 7 twist with no problems.

 

[cocopuff]

77 gr sierra and max load of H 4895..getting 1 inch at 200 yards if I can hold still

 

[JLT]

Id snag some 53gr vmaxes. I can tell you I hammered foxes and coyotes with 40gr vmaxs from a 7 twist with no problems.

This, right here. The 53 gr. V-Max is an outstanding bullet for varmints and predators. High BC, accurate and it hits with authority.

This is my favorite all-around bullet for the .223/5.56 and my 1:8 twist barrels shoot them very, very well.

 

[searcher]

I have a Criterion chrome-lined A/R barrel that loves 50 V-Max as well as 50 Varmint Grenades equally - very accurate and none come apart at the velocities i shoot them at which is on the slow side - but only shoot them there due to accuracy window being best. Did shoot them much faster during load development but no blow-ups. I shoot both of them at 3,100. The only barrel I have that shoots two different bullets with different powders at the same velocity best. If you are not averse to lead-free bullets, both the Barnes and the Nosler products have tolerated all extreme velocities I have tried them in with different barrels (maybe a dozen), including my 7 twist Colt H-Bars. Perhaps some brands do blow up with some barrels.

 

[stacy]

I HAVE A 22DASHER 1/8 THAT LOVES 75GR VLD'S BERGERS AND THEY HAMMER VARMINTS KILLED GROUND GRIZZLYS AT 500 YDS WITH GREAT RESULTS

 

[K22]

I also purchased a 223 Tikka T3X this fall that has an 8" twist. This was my first exposure to the 8" twist since all my other 223's have 12" twist which shoot the 50 and 55 grain bullets very well. I use Nosler 50 and 55 BTs.

My Tikka didn't shoot the 50 or 55 Nosler BT's very well so I tried the 60 Nosler BT's and 60 Vmax. Both of these shoot much better and more consistently approx 1/2 to 5/8" at 100 yards with H4895 at about 2850 ft/s.

I wasn't able to get any 53 Vmax's but I understand that they shoot well from an 8" twist because of their high BC. I intend to try some when I can get them.

 

[Mtstalker]

Thanks for the information. I tried some 55gr berger fb varmints with imr 8208 xbr. The powder was extremely dirty even up to 25 grains, which was max in my gun. 25grs shows the smallest group of .75" of 5 shots. And all bullets made it down range. Ill get some 53gr v max and try them. Any recommendations on powder for the v max?

 

[6MT]

I use 80gr Berger VLD's in my 8 twist out to a kilometre.

 

[tuttlefarm]

I am shooting a heavy barrel AR with an 8 twist for coyote. My load is 24.0 gr of H322, Sierra 50 grain Blitz King, CCI 400 and my AOL is 2.240 for mag length. Very deadly out to 400 yards.

 

[Mtstalker]

i Tried some more Imr 8208 and the 55 gr bergers. At 25grs the powder started buring cleaner. The average velocity at 25grs was 3025FPS. The groups were ok, after 3 rounds i would start throwing flyers due to it being -10 degrees out and having 16" of snow on the ground my hands were going numb. The First three were grouping in 3/8". im thinking of trying some Supreme 748 or Ramshot xterminator with the Vmax.

 

[Mtstalker]

So i tried the 53gr v-max and they shot pretty good. I also am trying Ramshot Tac with thim in lake city brass, velocity is a bit dissapointing at 3100FPS. Groups are averaging .5 to .75 inches for 5 shots. Going to load some more and mess with seating depth. Also how is the lake city brass for accuracy? Its all the same lot and seems decently consistent but then again i have never used it. Thanks.

 

[JaoeyP]

For 223, with 50-55gr bullets, I would recommend Varget, RL-15, or H322. I've never had any issues shooting these weights out of my 8" twist rifles. Never measured groups, they were all good and tight. Never killed coyotes with them but killed lots of prairie dogs.