Bullet recommendation for 223 Rem.

[ncageneral]

I use 60 gr Sierra HP's and Sierra 65 gr Gamekings out of a 26" barreled Rem 700 SPS Varmint. Apparently I am pushing the 65's fast enough to stabilize out to 400 which is as far as I have checked. Thats a 1:12 twist barrel . They hit really hard on coyotes and I have no doubt they would cause a rapscallion considerable damage as well.

 

[jk80]

I have always had really good luck with Hornady 50-grain SX bullets for both accuracy and terminal performance on groundhogs and such, but they will definitely come apart in flight with a twist any faster than 1-12.

They leave a spectacular vapor trail out of a 220 swift! I couldn't figure out why I wasn't hitting the target at first. Talked to hornady and they advised no velocity over about 3400 fps. Really had me scratching my head! For a 222 0r 223 they work great on varmints.

 

[SSL]

They leave a spectacular vapor trail out of a 220 swift! I couldn't figure out why I wasn't hitting the target at first. Talked to hornady and they advised no velocity over about 3400 fps. Really had me scratching my head! For a 222 0r 223 they work great on varmints.

I first discovered it years ago in a .22-250. Years went by and I was using the SX bullets in an XP100 in .223 with excellent results on groundhogs. Guy that worked for me bought a Savage in .223 and brought it out for me to help scoping it. I grabbed a box of my loads and proceeded to put an occasional hole in the 100-yard target, but a lot of apparent misses. Watching him shoot, I noticed a puff of what appeared to be smoke about 50 yards out. The light finally went on in my brain. Grabbing a box loaded with 50-grain VMax bullets, the problem went away. Later I found Savage was using 1-9 twist barrels. Obviously not a good match for those SX.
Those VMax and even the Hornady 50-grain BTHP bullets seem to hold together well and shoot accurately out of my new Ruger American Predator with its 1-8 twist. Thought maybe they might go the way of the SX in that fast of a twist.

 

[thatguyshm]

My HD rifles all sport 60gr Vmax. It's been used by several LEO departments in Hornady TAP ammo, it's gonna put a hurting on whatever it hits and shouldn't over penetrate. Best in rifles between 12-7" twist, should cover most factory 223s.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I shoot the Hornady 50 sx out of 2 AR's 1/9, 1/8 twist both same load, accuracy wise but the bullet performs differently on coyote. No problems with the sx out of a 223 coming apart in flight. I'm loading near top by the book.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

A 50 gr 55 gr bullet will cover both needs and will stabilize from practically any twist rate. As far as something that will work on a 4 legged and yet will likely meet you criteria on a larger target I would lean towards the Nosler Ballistic Tip since it has a slightly thicker jacket than most varmint oriented bullets, although I suspect that the Sierra GameKing would do just fine also.

drover

Most, older Rem's are, 1-14 Twist, so I would personally avoid, the 55 gr. NBT's !
Stay with "shorter" bullets ( .740 / .750 long ) or LESS to be "safe" for, good accuracy.
The 55 NBT's I have are, .817 long and were NOT "good" in the Winter months, in my, 1980's Rem 700, .22-250, W/ 1-14 TW. The Hornady 55 gr. FB Soft Point's, shoot well ( and Hit Hard ! ) as do, the 60 gr Sierra FB, HP Varminter's.
Those Sierra 55 GK's, "should" work fine, as they are .722 long, per Sierra.

 

[std7mag]

Update....

Well our schedules finally matched on Monday, and i went to WV to pick up my welder & drop ammo off for my friend.

He was happy to see the ammo (52gr Sierra MK over mild charge of Win 748). Then commented that i hadn't seen his rifle yet.

He brings a dusty, but nice looking scoped rifle out.

My first thought is, "hmmm, Mauser action".
Then i notice the deep gouges on the sides of the scope. Then notice that the rear scope base & ring are floating in the middle of the action, over the bolt. No screws in the rear base.

Opening the bolt to check if it's clear, i notice that it's a "standard" bolt face, not for 223 Rem.

Verified cleared, i look at the muzzle. It's definitely NOT a 223!

Told him i'd have to do a chamber casting to find out what it actually is. Along with new base, rings & scope.
At this point he tells me Happy Birthday.

So now i have a new (to me) what i believe ia a commercial Mauser rifle at home.
I'll post pictures on another thread.

I'm thinking of rebarreling it to 7X57 Mauser. (I'm suspecting it's 8X57 Mauser right now)

People never cease to amaze me.

 

[SSL]

Update....

Well our schedules finally matched on Monday, and i went to WV to pick up my welder & drop ammo off for my friend.

He was happy to see the ammo (52gr Sierra MK over mild charge of Win 748). Then commented that i hadn't seen his rifle yet.

He brings a dusty, but nice looking scoped rifle out.

My first thought is, "hmmm, Mauser action".
Then i notice the deep gouges on the sides of the scope. Then notice that the rear scope base & ring are floating in the middle of the action, over the bolt. No screws in the rear base.

Opening the bolt to check if it's clear, i notice that it's a "standard" bolt face, not for 223 Rem.

Verified cleared, i look at the muzzle. It's definitely NOT a 223!

Told him i'd have to do a chamber casting to find out what it actually is. Along with new base, rings & scope.
At this point he tells me Happy Birthday.

So now i have a new (to me) what i believe ia a commercial Mauser rifle at home.
I'll post pictures on another thread.

I'm thinking of rebarreling it to 7X57 Mauser. (I'm suspecting it's 8X57 Mauser right now)

People never cease to amaze me.

Curious. What made him think it was .223?

 

[std7mag]

Curious. What made him think it was .223?

Of that, i'm still shaking my head over!

Although most of the time he spent in Vietnam was with a 45 & a flashlight....

Just say'n. Lol