223 24" best bullet to blow up P Dogs?

[searcher]

Depends what ‘best’ means to you. Your title says ‘blow up’. You haven’t seen explosive until you’ve hit a pdog with a 36 gr Barnes Varmint Grenade. I also like the 40 gr Noslers. Those little suckers are very flat shooting at 3800 fps out to 400 yards and really unzip varmints; more so than the heavier bullets are within that distance. Beyond that I usually switch to a 22-250, Swift, or 6mm since they buck the wind better.

Another ‘best’ for me is accuracy. If the load doesn’t shoot well, it’s worthless IMHO.

I’ve only tried the 53 gr Nosler Varmageddons, though it’s similar to the Vmax. 3300 fps is a lot more realistic than 3600 in a 24” barrel. My 223s have 1:9 or 1:10 twist barrels (except for my Cooper which is still 1:12). They handle the lightweights up to the heavier 69 gr SMK just fine.

You are so right about those Varmint Grenades! The 50's are even better. The critters look more like they were shot with a 22/250 rather than a .223

 

[searcher]

Since you are going next year - you are not under time pressure to make decisions. When I go on such a hunt, I take a combination of rifles for short and long shots all the way from .17 Hornet to 6BR - but 90% of my shooting will be with either a .223 or .20 Practical. In the .223, I shoot 50 V-Max which is a very slight disadvantage to the 53 V-Max, but I had bought many 500-count boxes of the "Z-Max" packages that Hornady sold years back really cheap (like $40.00 for 500 on sale). If I couldn't keep up with my buddies shooting the 55 Blitz kings and such, I wouldn't shoot them. if I deplete my stock, I'd opt for the 53 V-Max or 55 Blitz king. When shooting a few thousand rounds - the price difference between bullets can really add up - so I'd try a few of the less-expensive bullets to see what your gun can do. For example, the price difference between using 3,000 Nosler "blems" from shooters Pro Shop and the price of 53 V-Max or Blitz Kings could pay for all or most of the cost of your upper. If most shooting were to be inside 450 yards (it usually is), the 50 grain Varmint Grenade blows things up like no other. It is ballistically inferior but very accurate and really blows them up if you want to see pieces flying 20'. I alternate with the .20 Practical shooting both 40 V-Max or 39 Blitz king (the absolute best bullet for the .20 Practical in my opinion). I leave the 32's at home when wind is expected - not to say you can't still hit targets out there.

You get much bias on this site as to what rifle (bolt or A/R). I shoot both a lot on a trip and if I could only have ONE prairie dog or squirrel rifle, it would be an A/R designed for this type of shooting. My choice would be either a .20 Practical or .223 chambering (or .22 Nosler if you didn't mind the higher price of brass as it will shoot 40 grain all the way up to 75 for longer shots or bigger game). I'd get a quality barrel, preferred 26" length, 1-9 twist on the .223 as will shoot lead-free, 1-11 tw. on the Practical, 1-8 tw. on the .22 Nosler, heavy contours on all. The only real downside in function of the .22 Nosler is the barrel heats up noticeably faster than either the .223 or .20 P. I'd also add a brake, a trigger that lets off at about 2 lbs (as good as you are going to safely get with an A/R), a heavy buttstock, a decent brass catcher and as good of a quality scope as your budget allows for (I like one which will allow for up to at least 30X magnification, though resolution is key. I'd put a brass catcher on it (I like the Caldwell model that allows you to clip it on and off with a rail that mounts to your scope base), a barrel hand guard that allows for good ventilation and finally, attach a sled to your hand guard that allows your rifle to be shot off of a quality rest. I use a toggle rest and there are some out there now that aren't too expensive. An A/R in this configuration will allow you to see your hits, make a quick visual adjustment for your follow-up shot. One can squeeze off several shots at a scattering bunch of PD's without taking your eye off the targets and the bolt gun is at a HUGE disadvantage there. You can squeeze more accuracy out of a good bolt gun, but getting fast second shots and not having to take your eye off the scope or adjusting your hold is worth more in real-world field situations. Even a good off-the-shelf upper with a 24" barrel such as those sold by Fulton armory will do 1/2" or better when tuned. I use my bolt gun when there are sparse targets or when taking extremely long shots with larger caliber rifles. There just isn't any real advantage OVERALL using a bolt gun. And I love both when I say this.

Your "pencil barrel" will not serve you well - not only because of the extra heat, but because of recoil. Even the little .223 will rock you off your sight picture without a brake. It is no fun not seeing where your misses landed - or seeing your target hit clearly. You mentioned 22/250. You will be limited to about 8 to ten shots and waiting to cool, versus a shot every ten seconds almost continuously with the .223 and .20.

If you build, I'd look at a quality barrel like Krieger, Shilen, Hart, etc. They all make great barrels. I'd tend to not trust a "no name" barrel. If the company making an upper you are looking at offers these barrels as part of their build - all the better. Fulton Armory did last time I ordered something for friends. good luck in your decision and have a fun hunt!


T

 

[cb186]

AR is not a good PD gun. 3000 -223 brass get a 20 practical heavy barrel, in at least a 11 twist. 40 gr Nosler or 39 Sierra work well. I have never regretted the 20 Practical over a 223.

I disagree, they can be great PD guns, once converted to manual. No buffer/buffer spring and trim the ejector spring a little. No brass damage, stays clean and the brass piles up right next to you.
On our way back from ND now. Will be converting to 20 Practical for next year.

 

[redrockranger]

I disagree, they can be great PD guns, once converted to manual. No buffer/buffer spring and trim the ejector spring a little. No brass damage, stays clean and the brass piles up right next to you.
On our way back from ND now. Will be converting to 20 Practical for next year.

I have 20 P on a 700 action 11 tw Pac Nor. Why did i wait so long to a 20 cal.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have 20 P on a 700 action 11 tw Pac Nor. Why did i wait so long to a 20 cal.

That's a question only you can answer. I headspaced one of Urbanrifleman's Wilson barrels on my buddy's action chambered in 20 Practical. I'm old school and sticking with my .223 and 53vmax for pdogs.

 

[sw282]

I have 20 P on a 700 action 11 tw Pac Nor. Why did i wait so long to a 20 cal.

l was on GunBroken a couple yrs back looking at Cooper 21s. Up pops one in TAC20
Phoenix 26'' barrel, fluted. ''Buy Now $1000''! l could not hit ''THE PRICE IS RIGHT'' button
fast enough! With 32gr bullets, lts a true 4000FPS gun. Brass is quite easy to make. Accuracy is acceptable with 32s. lt shoots patterns with 40gr bullets. After a half dozen shots the barrel is BOILING. The fluting doesn't seem to help much with the heat either.

l recently found the ''perfect'' load for my Cooper Varmint in 222rem. Twas right before me in bold print in Noslers latest guide. lts their ''ACCURACY'' load for 50gr Varmageddons. Using H322 powder, 7 1/2 Rem primers, R-P brass. Recoil is much LESS than the TAC20. Barrel is cooler too!

 

[Gabe22BR]

I think the Nosler Ballistic tips do a nice job..

 

[sw282]

I think the Nosler Ballistic tips do a nice job..

For me. NBTs are almost like solids. The same animal hit with a VMAX, BlitzKing, Varmageddon, or TNT would have been nothing more than a RED MIST

 

[Gabe22BR]

I doubt that- these aren’t pdogs- sag rats

For me. NBTs are almost like solids. The same animal hit with a VMAX, BlitzKing, Varmageddon, or TNT would have been nothing more than a RED MIST

10lb groundhog
Skin holding head on only..
Little tiny 20-221AI- running the Nosler 3700fps on the accuracy node- not just blasting 4003fps just b/c it will…

Kinda funny how all the BALLISTIC tip bullets came about- isn’t it ????

 

[RegionRat]

I agree with Gabe, bigger body mass on the rockchucks and groundhogs.

A rockchuck can run to over 11 pounds, and groundhogs can go near 14 pounds.

It takes more terminal energy to get acrobatics out of a full sized rockchuck or groundhog compared to a prairie dog that weighs from 1 to 3 pounds.

Placing the shot right below the diaphragm will usually create a more dramatic impact than one that is just ribcage and lung. The other major factor is the impact velocity being above about 2300 fps and the energy being at least roughly 500 ft*lbs. Just about any bullet hitting one of these critters going above that speed/energy puts on a pretty good show.

 

[sw282]

I doubt that- these aren’t pdogs- sag rats

10lb groundhog
Skin holding head on only..
Little tiny 20-221AI- running the Nosler 3700fps on the accuracy node- not just blasting 4003fps just b/c it will…

Kinda funny how all the BALLISTIC tip bullets came about- isn’t it ????

Ballistic Tips came about FIRST in deer hunting calibers like 30 cal, 270, 7mm.
''FOR ME'' NBTs are like solids. My targets are 1/2 to 2 pounds

 

[biggun2869]

Nosler made varmint BT bullets 1st. The hunting BTs came much later and were packaged 50 per box. It was several yrs later when Hornady and Sierra jumped on the bandwagon. I know I was there.

 

[sw282]

Nosler made varmint BT bullets 1st. The hunting BTs came much later and were packaged 50 per box. It was several yrs later when Hornady and Sierra jumped on the bandwagon. I know I was there.

History

Explore the world of Nosler, renowned for crafting the finest bullets, ammunition, rifles, and brass. Discover our extensive lineup, including Partition, AccuBond, E-Tip, Ballistic Tip, Custom Competition, and more. Experience superior quality and performance with Nosler products.

www.nosler.com

Nosler Ballistic Tips came out in 1984 for deer, antelope, sheep hunters. As per Nosler history

Update. l dug out my Nosler #3 printed 1989. No listings for any Ballistic Tips smaller than 25 caliber.
None bigger than 30 cal.
Nosler #5 from 2002 lists Ballistic Tips starting @ 40gr in 22 cal

 

[Gabe22BR]

Ballistic Tips came about FIRST in deer hunting calibers like 30 cal, 270, 7mm.
''FOR ME'' NBTs are like solids. My targets are 1/2 to 2 pounds

Good luck in your adventures

I see you’re a hornady man

 

[redrockranger]

I think the Nosler Ballistic tips do a nice job..

Very accurate in my gun.

 

[B23]

Very accurate in my gun.

I don't think I've, ever, had a Nosler BT not shoot well in anything I shot them in and they always seem to dial in pretty easily. I'm shooting 70gr BT's in my 6CM and I don't know how I could ask for it to shoot any better. Used to shoot 40gr Nos BT's in a cheap little Weatherby Vanguard 223 I bought at Sportsman's Warehouse years ago for barely over 300 bucks. It had a 20in varmint contour 12tw barrel and those 40gr BT's with Benchmark shot crazy good in that cheap little rifle. It's one of the few Weatherby's I wish I hadn't sold.

 

[DogBuster]

I have 20 P on a 700 action 11 tw Pac Nor. Why did i wait so long to a 20 cal.

Have used 20 P's for quite a few years

Pac Nor 12 twist & 40 V's

Awesome cartridge

Only 20 cal I'm running now is a 20-222 9 twist

Original chamber was 20 BR

Now if Hornady would mfg a 50 gr V Max for the 20 cal

 

[Gabe22BR]

Now if ANYBODY would mfg a 50 gr V Max for the 20 cal

Agree

 

[JSH]

Accuracy Speed and Hydraulics is what I like.
I run the 36 grain Barnes in my 222 and get all of the above.
223 I run 40-69 grain from the same rifle, depending on chore at hand.
Have a box of 69TMK wondering if they make a mess?

 

[Gabe22BR]

As a competitive shooter, I sort my bullets.
So far these are pretty good. Here’s 500ct sorted-OAL,BTOHow does the Hornady stack up??

I just got my Sierras- looking like they are spot on also, as always…