223 Rem Varminting and Long Range Round

[Scrumbag]

Hi folks,

In my quest to develop a "suite" of loads for my 1:9 twist 223 Rem bolt action, I am looking for a longer range target load and a varmint load.

I was reading around the internet (always a dangerous idea) and I wondered if I could use the same bullet for both?

So I have 2 questions:

1) Has anyone used the 60gr Sierra TMK for varmints and how's you find it?
2) Has anyone used the 60gr Nosler Varmint Ballistic tips for longer range shooting?

Follow up question: Does anyone have any other suggestions?

My rifle is a CZ527 and handles 5.56 NATO pressues fine so I would think I would use Ramshot TAC or Exterminator so should be able to run them ~3,100 out of the 22" bbl.

ATB,

Scrummy

 

[COhunter]

My remington 700 with a 20"- 1:9 twist really like's the 60gr TMK with a fairly stiff load of Varget in lapua brass and a cci 400 primer. The performance on smaller varmints is quite impressive, to say the least, haven't tried them on coyotes but i have heard that they are not fur friendly. Still waiting for the groundhogs to start popping up and we will see how this bullets performs on them. Good luck

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I have a TC Venture II. 223/5.56. My load is 50 Vmax and H335. I have a 480 yd kill with this load on a Pdawg, last week.. Yes I held over.

 

[Scrumbag]

My remington 700 with a 20"- 1:9 twist really like's the 60gr TMK with a fairly stiff load of Varget in lapua brass and a cci 400 primer. The performance on smaller varmints is quite impressive, to say the least, haven't tried them on coyotes but i have heard that they are not fur friendly. Still waiting for the groundhogs to start popping up and we will see how this bullets performs on them. Good luck

Thanks, that's good to know. Must admit I've had good luck with the 160gr TMK in my 7x64 so I do like the bullet.

Sadly we can't get Varget here but Ramshot TAC and also Viht N140 are thought of in a similar niche.

Fur friendliness for foxes here not an issue here as no market for the fur I'm afraid so it's more control the numbers to keep them off the lambs and the birds.

Keep the suggestions coming folks.

Scrummy

 

[Scrumbag]

I have a TC Venture II. 223/5.56. My load is 50 Vmax and H335. I have a 480 yd kill with this load on a Pdawg, last week.. Yes I held over.

Nice job! May I ask the speed you are getting?

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Nice job! May I ask the speed you are getting?

Haven't chrono'd it.. Yet

 

[WVRJ]

I've shot both bullets in my 9 twist 700.I actually load a lot of the 60 grain Noslers for my AR which is also a 9 twist.They work really great on varmints,and I've killed a couple of deer with careful shooting,just to be sure they would work in a pinch.I went up to the 69 grain TMK in my bolt gun because they will shoot out to 1,000 yards if the wind is calm,and they're superb at more moderate ranges.The 60 grain TMK's are great bullets also.Either one will serve you well.

 

[JB10]

I use nosler ballistic tip varment 50gr bullets, LC brass with W748 powder. Have taken it to 525 yards with great accuracy.

 

[Newhouse]

My Savage 12FV 26” and 1-9 twist likes the 69g SMK with Benchmark.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have a TC Venture II. 223/5.56. My load is 50 Vmax and H335. I have a 480 yd kill with this load on a Pdawg, last week.. Yes I held over.

Isn't that 5speed's combo also? Congratulations on the kill.

 

[skeeljc]

I have had good results with Hornady 75 grain HPBT with Reloader 15 in my 1 in 8 twist.

 

[K22]

My 9" twist Vanguard shoots the 55 Nosler's with H4895 in sub 1/2 moa groups but I had to lower the powder charge as compared to my 12" twist 223's to get the 55's to group at varmint grade accuracy. It's running about 2950 f/s in a 24" sporter weight barrel.

The 60 Vmax's shoot well under 1/2 moa in my 8" twist Tikka's at about 2,800 - 2,900 f/s in a 22" and 24" barrel respectively

I'm an avid varmint hunter (eastern ground hogs) and use hold over so the flatter shooting 50 grain Nosler's in my 12" twist rifles work better for me. In a 26" varmint barrel these are running about 3,200 to 3,300 f/s.

With the load testing I've done thus far, the 50's don't group at varmint grade accuracy in my 9" and 8" twist 223's. I might experiment more if components free up but I can't afford inventory wise to embark on a lot of load development at this time

Long range for me is 300 yards. Most of the farms I hunt you don't get safe shooting opportunities beyond that range.

 

[jpx2rk]

I've shot a pdog at 520 yds with a 55g Nosler Varmageddon tipped pill in front of Varget. Just punched a hole thru the pdog, and it fell over dead. I held over quite a bit for that one, and took more than one shot as well. LOL

 

[ronemus]

I have had good results with Hornady 75 grain HPBT with Reloader 15 in my 1 in 8 twist.

+1 - I like the 75 gr HPBT, although I only shoot paper with it. It's a thin jacket, so it should work well on varmints. I get max performance with VV N-550, loading long to maximize the available powder volume; I get 2930 fps easily. Both RL-15 and N-550 work best with WSR primers for me. The 75 gr HPBT probably has the highest BC that will stabilize in a 1:9; in my 1:7 barrels it will hold 1/2 MOA easily. If you want to push to 900 yards it will still be supersonic.

 

[Indianhead15613]

70 gr Berger , varget , 7 1/2

 

[Scrumbag]

I've shot both bullets in my 9 twist 700.I actually load a lot of the 60 grain Noslers for my AR which is also a 9 twist.They work really great on varmints,and I've killed a couple of deer with careful shooting,just to be sure they would work in a pinch.I went up to the 69 grain TMK in my bolt gun because they will shoot out to 1,000 yards if the wind is calm,and they're superb at more moderate ranges.The 60 grain TMK's are great bullets also.Either one will serve you well.

Good to know and thank you!

 

[Scrumbag]

I have had good results with Hornady 75 grain HPBT with Reloader 15 in my 1 in 8 twist.

I tried the 73gr ELD-M in my rifle and it's just too damn long to go through my magazine which for a varmint bullet I would very much like.

 

[Scrumbag]

+1 - I like the 75 gr HPBT, although I only shoot paper with it. It's a thin jacket, so it should work well on varmints. I get max performance with VV N-550, loading long to maximize the available powder volume; I get 2930 fps easily. Both RL-15 and N-550 work best with WSR primers for me. The 75 gr HPBT probably has the highest BC that will stabilize in a 1:9; in my 1:7 barrels it will hold 1/2 MOA easily. If you want to push to 900 yards it will still be supersonic.

Often hard to beat good Vihtavouri powder

 

[MGYSGT]

Don't worry about using 50 or 55 grain VMax or Blitzkings bullets at 500 yards. Back in the day, we qualified with M16's at 500 yards with iron sights. With a scope and a good bolt rifle those little bullets are deadly. Have shot many PD's that far out with a little Kentucky Windage and Elevation.

 

[ronemus]

I tried the 73gr ELD-M in my rifle and it's just too damn long to go through my magazine which for a varmint bullet I would very much like

For use from the magazine, the 75 gr Match BTHP is the ticket; good BC and very jump tolerant. The ELD-M is too long to be stable in a 1:9 twist barrel. The Match BTHP is the highest-BC bullet that will be stable in a 1:9.