Bullet recommendation for 223 Rem.

[std7mag]

Issue.
Good friend with gifted bolt rifle in 223 Rem. Unknown make/model.
He is looking for bullet recommendation for both 4 legged , and 2 legged varmints.
Namely coyotes and scoundrels.

Since barrel twist rate is also unknown, i was leaning towards a 55gr bullet.
Something like a Sierra GameKing maybe.

Opinions?

 

[OKyote73]

Need more info, then decide!

 

[tiny68]

You really need to determine the twist rate. Easy enough - take a cleaning rod with a tight patch on the jag, then make a line alone the length of the rod with a sharpie at the handle end, once the jag is in the lands and twisting as you push it in make a second mark where the cleaning rod is at the back of the action, slowly push the cleaning rod in until the rod has done a complete rotation, make a second mark on the rod at the back of the action, extract the rod and measure the distance between the last two points. 12” would be a 1:12 twist. Then you can make a bullet selection. Luck, Tim

 

[std7mag]

So i have mentioned to him.
Doesn't help that i live about 2,1/2 hours away from him.

 

[tiny68]

Get him to send you a picture of the action and barrel stamp to identify if a factory rifle. Lots of factory rifles don’t have an optional twist for their calibers. Maybe that could get you the twist info. Tim

 

[JB10]

50 or 55gr sould work good enough. I use 50gr nosler ballistic tip for coyotes.

 

[SSL]

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.

 

[K22]

Once you know the twist rate there are a bunch of good bullets to choose from and having more than one option might be wise given the component shortages were are experiencing. As the post above describes, measure the twist rate first.

I have several 223 Rem bolt rifles with twists ranging from 8" - 9" - 12".

For the 12" twists, just about any of the 50 to 55 grain Sierra, Hornady or Noslers varmint bullets have all worked quite well for me. I like the Nosler 50 and 55 BT but the others are good too.

For the 9" twist, my rifle prefers the 55's.

For the 8" twists, my Tikka's prefer the 60 Vmax flat base bullets. The bullets you have to avoid are the one's with very thin jackets like the Sierra Blitz and Speer TNT's. These can come apart if driven too fast in a fast twist rifle.

My 8" twist rifle will group 55 gain bullets but I had to drop the velocity down to about 2,900 f/s to get them to group decently.

 

[std7mag]

Yes, i'm all too familiar with not knowing the twist rate.
So i have to go on the assumption of a 1:12. Hence the 55gr bullet question.
While he does have an issue with coyotes, he is looking for something more stout than a varmint bullet for 2 legged varmints.
More GameKingish.

 

[RegionRat]

It will be worth the trouble to see if this is a 12 twist bbl intended for light, fast varmint ammo, or a cross-over twist that can span the middle, or a slow twist for long heavy competition bullets.

I hope you can help your friend measure the twist. My best guess of a 223 bullet that does a good job on both varmints and two legged varmints would be the 77 TMK. It has a good BC for getting out past 300 and will act like a hollow point when used in a self defense role up close. Just about every other bullet I can think of in 223 would be good at one role and not the other, but some will come close like the Sierra 62 and 65 Game Kings and Speer 55 Gold Dots.

 

[Rem06]

Issue.
Good friend with gifted bolt rifle in 223 Rem. Unknown make/model.
He is looking for bullet recommendation for both 4 legged , and 2 legged varmints.
Namely coyotes and scoundrels.

Since barrel twist rate is also unknown, i was leaning towards a 55gr bullet.
Something like a Sierra GameKing maybe.

Opinions?

50gr SP hit hard, all i use

 

[Knotwild]

55 grain Nosler Varageddon

 

[std7mag]

2 1/2 what? Anyway if you cant get info about the rifle just use 50 grainers. they may not be the best for this rifle but adequate and any twist from 14 and faster should stabilize them and that should take in the range of twists of about all 223 barrels. some 14 twist wont stabilize 55s but i think most 223s are 12 and faster.

2-1/2 hours away. Sorry, fixed that.

 

[hunter67]

55 gr soft point. If you need more penetration then 55gr TTSX

 

[drover]

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

 

[std7mag]

I thank you all for the replies!

I know there were numerous posts about needing to know the twist rate, and how to go about doing that. Believe me, i've been banging my head against the wall trying to get that information from him.


But please be assured i do appreciate all the replies!

 

[searcher]

Any 50-55 grain varmint bullet will do nicely regardless of your likely barrel twist. (most most of the recent factory barrels are 1/12 to 1/7) While a varmint bullet will not likely penetrate through the 2-legged variety - the internal tissue damage would more than compensate and minimize risk of bullet going beyond your intended target. Best for the coyotes, too. Hornady V-Max, Nosler Ballistic Tip or Varmageddon, Speer TNT, Barnes Varmint Grenades, they all will do the job.

 

[redrockranger]

So i have mentioned to him.
Doesn't help that i live about 2,1/2 hours away from him.

It's time to get onboard and learn for himself. Don't you think.

 

[std7mag]

It's time to get onboard and learn for himself. Don't you think.

True, but at 75, i was trying to help him out.

 

[stosh]

50gr Hornady VMAX, shoots .25" and explosive on varmints, or anything else!