223 AMMO

[BULLET 05]

I know it is a crazy question for most of you guys. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for good accurate factory ammo for a 223? I have a 1:9 twist barrel. I am trying to stay in the 50 - 60 grain bullets.

 

[acloco]

1:9 twist seem to be made for 68 and 69 gr bullets. Hornady 68's, Sierra or Nosler 69's over H4895 provides excellent accuracy and speed (3K in 26" barrels).

1:9 usually stabilize 75 gr Amax and 77 gr HPBT's as well.

Of course....anything from 40 gr on up will also work rather well.

 

[Toolbreaker]

The last box of factory ammo that I purchased was HPR .223 for my 1-9 Savage.

http://www.hprammo.com/catalog/14/rifle/

They have several different bullet weights using Sierra & Hornady bullets. I tried the 55 gn. VMax. Out of the box, they were grouping 3 shots between 5/8" to 3/4" at 100 yds. I had tried some Winchester factory ammo prior to this (and also a few LC Green Tips for grins), but the HPR was the most accurate. IIRC, it was about $30/50 round box at Academy Sports when I purchased it. Merry Christmas!

 

[fdshuster]

Black Hills Match grade.

 

[joshb]

I have heard a ton of positive feed back for Black Hills Ammo. I am old and I reload.😜😜😜

 

[searcher]

You never know what one particular rifle will like, regardless of the many different loadings available. As you mention only accuracy (not hunting), I'd look for ammo that is not military, F.M.J. or with canelures. Since I'm guessing short to medium range in wanting 50-60grain bullets, so I'd also look for flat-base design. I'd then look for inexpensive loadings with match Nosler Custom Competition, etc. or varmint bullets with known reputation such as V-Max, Ballistic Tip, A-Max, etc. If budget be damned, I'd try a box of the Black Hills, Lapua, and Berger (if they now have in .223) though the offerings will mostly or all more than 60 grains.

 

[stroked96s10]

My savage 12 fv, 26" with 1:9 twist liked any 69 grain I put through it, even the "cheap" Winchester match. the Winchester match did however feel like it had more pressure signs when pulling the bolt back after fire. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/2900335248/winchester-match-ammunition-223-remington-69-grain-sierra-matchking-hollow-point-boat-tail
I also used 69 gr lapua ammo and grouped just a hair better. But, I got It rebarreled because the chamber was leaving marks around my cases, got it back, and it liked 75 gr better than 69 this time...
I tried 55 on first barrel and my group was like 1.5" and I gave the other 15 rounds away to a buddy lol

 

[dreever]

I've had pretty good results with the Privi Partisan 75 grain Match in my rifles, and it's a lot cheaper than Black Hills or Federal Gold Medal.
Having said that for serious competition use handloads are the only way to go.

Danny

 

[mac86951]

Federal Gold Medal Match with the 69 gr SMK might be a good choice. Black Hills makes a similar load, and also has a 68 gr BTHP load. CorBon loads the 69 SMK, and some favor Hornady 55 gr TAP ammo. ASYM also makes a 68 gr load. It's reputed to be very good, but it's also very pricey. Buy a box of a few of the above and let your rifle tell you what it prefers.

+1 and Check for Nosler Custom Competition, but beware the Nosler is quite a bit slower than the FGMM or Black Hills.

FGMM is my go-to, though its barely 1MOA at 100y from my rifle, where I can handload .5MOA for 100y.

In the 50-60gr, look for the Varmint Ballistic Tip bullets. I don't know of any factory ammo using the 52/53gr Sierra Match, or other match bullets in that mass range, I've had great Sierra Blitzking results as well as Nosler, or Hornady A-Max, but again, not sure of factory loadings. (Zmax maybe?)

-Mac