Best .224 bullet for 300 yds?

[Ralo79]

Hello, New to AS forum, I’m looking for suggestions for the most accurate bullet in my .223 bolt. Running a 26” criterion match with 1-7T. I mostly shoot 300 yds at my backyard range. I’ve been reading on the Berger 80.5 fullbore. I presently shoot the 70& 80 gr VLD’s. Would the 80.5’s be much different?
Ron

 

[dusterdave173]

The 80.5 .020 out shoot really good for me in a 7 twist
Using Varget not a hot load at all--pretty tame but shoots great
The 80.5 seems to be forgiving and shoot well in several brass brands I have tried also a plus
I think you will like them Brad at Urban said .020 out on his ISSF .169 FB barrels and it was dead on--nothing else shot as well

 

[Ralo79]

Thanks DD173,
I will probably get a few to try. My loads are also moderate loads using N135 .

 

[CharlieNC]

80.5 is best I've used at 300. Going out further it falls behind due to wind and the 90 is much better.

 

[jelenko]

The Berger 80.5 and Sierra 80 are great bullets - shoot just about the same.
Assuming the VLD's are Hornady's, there is less consensus. Some people use them in competition due to their ballistic coefficients, others have found them not as accurate as the Sierra or Berger.

 

[urbanrifleman]

The Berger 80.5 and Sierra 80 are great bullets - shoot just about the same.
Assuming the VLD's are Hornady's, there is less consensus. Some people use them in competition due to their ballistic coefficients, others have found them not as accurate as the Sierra or Berger.

80 VLD is Berger.

75 ELDM and 88 ELDM are Hornady and both are outstanding.

 

[Ralo79]

80.5 is best I've used at 300. Going out further it falls behind due to wind and the 90 is much bett

 

[Ralo79]

80.5 is best I've used at 300. Going out further it falls behind due to wind and the 90 is much better.

Thanks Charlie,
I was curious about the 80.5’s since the 80 VLD’s have a slightly higher BC ,

 

[qec]

I"m shooting 1/8 not 1/7 but I've had very good luck with 69gr SMK out to 300.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Thanks Charlie,
I was curious about the 80.5’s since the 80 VLD’s have a slightly higher BC ,

I honestly don't know if the 80 VLD outshoots the Sierra 80. The Serria sure seems easy to tune.

 

[Ralo79]

I"m shooting 1/8 not 1/7 but I've had very good luck with 69gr SMK out to 300.

Thanks qec, The sierras shoot well but the Berger’s seem to be more accurate, was seeing if the 80.5’s are preferred over the 80 VLD’s

 

[ebb]

You used to hear that if only going 300yds a boat tail has no advantage over a flat base bullet. I think Bart has put that to rest with some of his creations, but it very well could be the high quality of his bullets rather than the boattail. I have a rifle that was built when the heavy 223 bullets were just coming out and they seemed to me to be too heavy for a 223. I guess that idea didn't pan out in reality. But my rifle has a 1in9 twist so the heavy bullets are a nonstarter for me and 223. But I think I have a pretty good compromise. The 73 grain Berger. I have no idea how much it gives up to the 80 and 80.5 grain bullets, but knowing Berger bullets for many years I doubt much.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Thanks qec, The sierras shoot well but the Berger’s seem to be more accurate, was seeing if the 80.5’s are preferred over the 80 VLD’s

Much more forgiving.

A lot of customers have sent me a lot of groups, and that 80.5 seems to shoot the smallest groups I've seen in 22.

At 100.

Honestly I think they're all going to be outstanding at 300. You could also include the 77 SMK and most likely the 77 TMK. The 75 ELDM, the 80 ELDM, the 88 ELDM. The 80 SMK, the 80 VLD, the 80.5 full bore.

I guess you would have to weigh the difference between shooting small groups and having a higher ballistic coefficient. Which is something we all have to do.

 

[Richard Hall]

Hello, New to AS forum, I’m looking for suggestions for the most accurate bullet in my .223 bolt. Running a 26” criterion match with 1-7T. I mostly shoot 300 yds at my backyard range. I’ve been reading on the Berger 80.5 fullbore. I presently shoot the 70& 80 gr VLD’s. Would the 80.5’s be much different?
Ron

The 85.5 Berger is an excellent bullet however the freebore in you chamber may not be long enough to get good velocity. The next choice for me would be the 80 grain sierra or berger

 

[jelenko]

most accurate bullet

I don't think there is one bullet that would be universally the most accurate. If you really, absolutely mean 'the most accurate' you need to test how the bullets will shoot in your gun across various powders, seating depths.

Anything Berger can shoot great - you would need to test in your rifle.

In choosing which bullets to test, you need to decide how important wind resistance [i.e., ballistic coefficient] is to you.

 

[Jeff Porter]

How well are the VLD's shooting in your current loads? How much better can you hold and break the shot?

Berger 80.5 is my current Go To for .223 but I have also shot tiny groups at 300 with 69 SMK and Lapua 69's, old Hornady 75 Amax and 75 VLD.

N135 is working for me but H4895 was always a touch better with CCI 450 primers.

 

[Ralo79]

How well are the VLD's shooting in your current loads? How much better can you hold and break the shot?

Berger 80.5 is my current Go To for .223 but I have also shot tiny groups at 300 with 69 SMK and Lapua 69's, old Hornady 75 Amax and 75 VLD.

N135 is working for me but H4895 was always a touch better with CCI 450 primers.

Hello Jeff, I really don’t know what kind of accuracy to expect at 300 yds in .223 but on a good day I can shoot in the .6’s but it doesn’t happen every session.I feel like I’m doing my part on breaking shot, just trying to squeeze out that little bit more accuracy ,
btw that’s with the 80 vld’s

 

[Ralo79]

Much more forgiving.

A lot of customers have sent me a lot of groups, and that 80.5 seems to shoot the smallest groups I've seen in 22.

At 100.

Honestly I think they're all going to be outstanding at 300. You could also include the 77 SMK and most likely the 77 TMK. The 75 ELDM, the 80 ELDM, the 88 ELDM. The 80 SMK, the 80 VLD, the 80.5 full bore.

I guess you would have to weigh the difference between shooting small groups and having a higher ballistic coefficient. Which is something we all have to do.

Thanks urban, yes Ihave tested many bullets and weights, my 1-7 likes nosler every well, but Bergers seem to have a slight advantage.

 

[Turkeytider]

I"m shooting 1/8 not 1/7 but I've had very good luck with 69gr SMK out to 300.

2nd on the 69SMK. Excellent through my Savage 12 LRPV out to 500. 7 twist.