Did I purchase the wrong bullets ?

[amboy49]

As a “rookie” I’m starting my quest to put together a sub MOA .223 rifle/scope combination for varmint (eastern groundhog ) and prairie dog shooting. Realistic shots probably won’t exceed 500 yds. Rather than use old mixed head stamp range brass that I acquired with a Dillon reloader, I purchased some new Lapua brass from Brownells. They had a sale going on for bullets so I purchased some Berger match grade 55 gr . When they arrived I saw the box labeling says “For 1 in 14” Twist or Faster.” I also notice the BC is only .262 which is less than optimal (?)

The rifle I’m loading for is a Savage 10T which has a 24” 1:9 twist barrel. I don’t recall any info in the Brownell’s product information that stated the twist rate preference for thes bullets. I suppose I should have done more research and gotten on the Berger website before ordering.

I would really like to try to make this rifle a real tackdriver. Will I be handicapping myself by using these bullets ? If not - great. If so, what bullet(s) should I look at ?

Thanks in advance

 

[pilot]

They will work just fine. 14 twist is the minimum twist for them, your barrel is faster.

 

[Ned Ludd]

The only potential problem with your bullet selection and your setup is the [relatively] low BC of those 55 gr pills, not the twist rate. With a 9-twist barrel, I'd be thinking about .224 bullets in the 70-ish gr range, which have a boattail rather than a flat base. Some have had good luck with bullets as heavy (long) as the Hornady 75 gr in a 9-twist barrel, but it can be hit or miss. You can likely spin Berger's 70 VLD and/or 73 gr BT bullets sufficiently with your 9-twist barrel, and the BCs are markedly higher than the 55s, meaning much better resistance to wind deflection.

 

[Eric Leonard]

the 69 SMK shoots very good but the Berger 70 VLD is hard to beat in a 9 twist 223,,

the 55`s will be fine in close but at 500 yards the 69-70 gr bullets will be much better,,

 

[retired]

i have essentially the same rifle , i have shot lots of lite 22's in other rifles, so for this rifle i bought
55, 60 and 64 berger's.
so those will "work" but are not their HUNTING BULLETS.
next time buy the hunting bullet(typically orange box, but not always).

 

[ebb]

My nine twist likes the Berger 73. Maybe 2 loads on with the 55s for 250 or less and one with a bullet in the 69 -75 range for longer shots????

 

[Rsadams]

Try some 69gr Sierra matchkings next.... You won't be disappointed....

 

[snert]

Shoot them and learn to read the wind.

 

[ShootDots]

For a 9 twist, I have found that the most accurate bullet is the Berger 73gr. BT. Not the HIGHEST b.c. for a bullet in it's weight class, but it is definitely SUPER accurate! I would have to go back into my "archives" for the exact charge, but I do remember that VV N540 gave me the best accuracy and out of a 26" barrel it moved those 73 grainers at 3020f.p.s.!

 

[GrocMax]

Get some varmint bullets?

 

[sw282]

l usually choose my PD bullets based on the ''RED MIST'' factor... Hard to see them blow up @ 500yds. Blow UPS are best created with 40-50 gr bullets

 

[dcali]

Like other have said, it’s probably better to use the hunting version, but take that with a grain of salt because I’m not a hunter.

The twist is fine. It’s a minimum twist. Not the only twist. It’s over kill and (slightly) sub-optimal for 55’s but the trade off is definitely worth it so that you can shoot heavier bullets, which is really what you want at those ranges. It’s not worth worrying about.

As for bullet weight, those will start to get squirrely at medium and long range. Depending on your accuracy requirements, I’d call that a 300 yard bullet. For out to 500, I’d look at a 69 grain offering or thereabouts. You do give up some velocity there. I can’t xomment on what that means for the terminal ballistic (again, not a hunter). But consider that rather than simply chasing BC.

One more thing- the Lapua brass is probably wasted in an ar. Those beat the crap out of brass. For my money, I’d use new domestic brass and plan on chucking it every 4 firings.

 

[powderbrake]

I use 55 gr Sierra Blitzkings in my 223. Very accurate and very explosive.

 

[retired]

i do not know why you brought up ar's , he is shooting a bolt gun.
i have some lapua for both my ar10(308) and an ar15(223) that is over 15 years old, so do not believe every thing you read here. it is about how you treat your brass and in the case of the ar's if tune the ejection system.
for the record old 223 brass from lapua was sub contracted and not the same quality as today's "match 223.

One more thing- the Lapua brass is probably wasted in an ar. Those beat the crap out of brass. For my money, I’d use new domestic brass and plan on chucking it every 4 firings.

 

[dcali]

i do not know why you brought up ar's , he is shooting a bolt gun.
i have some lapua for both my ar10(308) and an ar15(223) that is over 15 years old, so do not believe every thing you read here. it is about how you treat your brass and in the case of the ar's if tune the ejection system.
for the record old 223 brass from lapua was sub contracted and not the same quality as today's "match 223.

Indeed he is - my mistake. Somehow I misread. I'll blame the little screen on my phone. OP - ignore that part. Lapua is the way to go.

 

[Texas10]

Prolly one of the best combinations you can shoot out of that gun, for the purpose you describe is the 53 gr V-Max. Superb BC, and quite deadly. I use IMR3031 and CCI400 and get 3350 fps. Also the Sierra p/n 1400 53 grain HP at around 3400 fps. Both shoot well under a minute at 500 yds and the V-Max with it's high BC is superior ballistically to the 69gr SMK until past 500 yds.

 

[hikfromstik]

I use 55 gr Sierra Blitzkings in my 223. Very accurate and very explosive.

The 55 blitz kings are like lasers . My favorite varmint along with 53gr VMAX . Just don't put the blitz in the same box as the 69gr tipped match kings . They all look the same .

 

[KWeigel]

View attachment 1047003 View attachment 1047001 As a “rookie” I’m starting my quest to put together a sub MOA .223 rifle/scope combination for varmint (eastern groundhog ) and prairie dog shooting. Realistic shots probably won’t exceed 500 yds. Rather than use old mixed head stamp range brass that I acquired with a Dillon reloader, I purchased some new Lapua brass from Brownells. They had a sale going on for bullets so I purchased some Berger match grade 55 gr . When they arrived I saw the box labeling says “For 1 in 14” Twist or Faster.” I also notice the BC is only .262 which is less than optimal (?)

The rifle I’m loading for is a Savage 10T which has a 24” 1:9 twist barrel. I don’t recall any info in the Brownell’s product information that stated the twist rate preference for thes bullets. I suppose I should have done more research and gotten on the Berger website before ordering.

I would really like to try to make this rifle a real tackdriver. Will I be handicapping myself by using these bullets ? If not - great. If so, what bullet(s) should I look at ?

Thanks in advance

You will be fine! Try them out and have fun!