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Favorite 223 rem bullet for 1-300 yards

....Because I have a repeater action with a mag well. If I wanted a single shot I'd have gotten one. I also plan to take the rifle to my brothers land and target shoot there. I single load for my 6br and 30br

Use a 75, 80 or higher if you are shooting distance. 52 grain bullets are only for practicing wind doping. My wife told me she won't shoot light bullets any more. Waste of time.
 
I shoot mostly 53vmax's out to 400 yards for practice wind doping and hold offs for shooting pdogs. When I shoot paper or steal for score or fun I run 75-80 grain bullets. All tho the 53 I have ran to 500 and 600 yards because I will shoot pdogs out that far and successfully at a rate of usually 1-2 shots for a kill.
 
Hello, my those that there are MANY viable options for 223…

I’ve settled on (as much as one “settles” lol):
100 yards Hornady 53HP (with Benchmark)
200 yards 69SMK (with Benchmark or Varget)
200 - 300 yards 77SMK (Varget)
600 yards - Berger 80.5 (Varget)

20” 1:7.7

Good luck,
Chris
 
Hello, my those that there are MANY viable options for 223…

I’ve settled on (as much as one “settles” lol):
100 yards Hornady 53HP (with Benchmark)
200 yards 69SMK (with Benchmark or Varget)
200 - 300 yards 77SMK (Varget)
600 yards - Berger 80.5 (Varget)

20” 1:7.7

Good luck,
Chris

Just save time and shoot the 80.5 at all distances. Most likely it'll group smaller than anything else anyway no matter how far you shoot it.
 
For an 8" twist, the 60 Vmax works really well for me with Varget or H4895, the latter powder I haven't been able to find for over 2 or 3 years.

This is a flat base bullet and shooting sub 1/2 moa is no problem with the Tikkas and these powders.

However, my purpose is different than yours, I am primarily interested in hunting varmints and predators. But I figure if I can hit a varmint or predator with this combo, you should be able to hit a gong without any problem at 300 yards.

I like the 60 Vmax since I want to minimize a trajectory that looks like a rainbow. They are also relatively inexpensive and abundant in supply.
 
Just save time and shoot the 80.5 at all distances. Most likely it'll group smaller than anything else anyway no matter how far you shoot it.
You are not wrong. B80.5FB were extremely accurate at 100 yards during my load development… they are great…Until you have to put the 80.5 in a magazine… sure you “can” but, I suspect you give up a lot of powder space and have a long jump… somewhat hindering performance.

And they are $$$$ compared to H53HP, which I have found to be extremely accurate at 100 yards.

(Note, my measure of accuracy is based on Highpower Service Rifle shooting… for which there are specific considerations)
 
You are not wrong. B80.5FB were extremely accurate at 100 yards during my load development… they are great…Until you have to put the 80.5 in a magazine… sure you “can” but, I suspect you give up a lot of powder space and have a long jump… somewhat hindering performance.

And they are $$$$ compared to H53HP, which I have found to be extremely accurate at 100 yards.

(Note, my measure of accuracy is based on Highpower Service Rifle shooting… for which there are specific considerations)

You are speaking of an AR-15 magazine, I'm guessing?
 
I'm planning on getting a Hawkins M5 bottom metal and mags. From what I'm seeing they Are 2.500. I think that's about as long as I can get. Can you even touch the lands with an 80.5 Berger or 77smk at that mag length and not hinder case capacity?
 
In my bolt 223 wylde LR trainer, the 75g ELDMs are at the lands at 2.510" this is with a custom .080" freebore setup and puts the boattail junction right at the bottom of the neck. I believe in a typical 223 wylde chamber the COAL is around 2.490" to the lands. I thought the freebore on a wylde was around .060"

I would think you could reach the lands with the 80.5 bergers at the 2.5" mag length in a standard wylde chamber anyway.
 
@kyotekiller25 interesting! I'm curious now. I have some left over 223 rem brass and 69smk and 75 eld from an old AR. Im going to go load some dummy rounds to Sammi spec and see what that looks like. Obviously the 77smk will be different and the 80.5 is a whole other animal I'm sure. But I'd like to get a visual of what you're describing with the 75eld
 
@kyotekiller25 interesting! I'm curious now. I have some left over 223 rem brass and 69smk and 75 eld from an old AR. Im going to go load some dummy rounds to Sammi spec and see what that looks like. Obviously the 77smk will be different and the 80.5 is a whole other animal I'm sure. But I'd like to get a visual of what you're describing with the 75eld

Loading to Sammi is going to put you below the donut.
 
Here's a 75 eldm and a 80.5 berger side by side. Very similar in shape/length. I haven't played with the 80.5s yet any, so I don't have any numbers to give. But it's on the list of things this spring...

Snapchat-1796755120.jpg
 
@kyotekiller25 interesting! I'm curious now. I have some left over 223 rem brass and 69smk and 75 eld from an old AR. Im going to go load some dummy rounds to Sammi spec and see what that looks like. Obviously the 77smk will be different and the 80.5 is a whole other animal I'm sure. But I'd like to get a visual of what you're describing with the 75eld
Loading 75ELDM to SAMMI (2.260” OAL) will put the bullet bearing surface below the neck…

(However, they are great bullets and I have done well with them at 600… I started with 75ELDM and switched to the 80.5 just to see. I found a good load easily and stocked up to try it. Shot it all last season. Honestly, with a load that works, either are capable. One is significantly less expensive. Perhaps one is more uniform??? Both are very capable. Full disclosure, I’m sitting on a couple thousand of each so, I may be biased to what I have… but, I do plan on shooting them all).
 

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