Most fragile varmint for .223

[lhsako]

The jug test revealed that, the 50 grain the V-max is slightly more fragile than the blitz-king, followed Ballistic tip. I recall the SXSP in 70 grain in the 6MM. Some blew apart on the way to down range. The Speer 70 grain HP was a bomb!

 

[jwv2001]

Barnes varmint grenades, but just ok accuracy

What do you mean by OK accuracy? I've found them to be very accurate. One thing though, I thought they were super explosive. As you can see in my photo, the bullet left a pretty good furrow after killing this ground squirrel.

 

[pintopete]

IHSako, I haven’t done the water jug expansion test and comparison. I have shot a fair amount of chucks with .222 Rem chambered rifles. After spending some time at the bench testing a few 50gr bullets appropriate for chuck hunting, I ended up sticking with the Hornady SPSX bullets for a few of the factory Rem Sporter rifles that we use. I certainly would not call my testing exhaustive by any means, but adequate to come up with a load that is consistently accurate and effective. My load in a .222 Rem is 21.0gr H4198 with 50gr SPSX set .010 off the rifling. Those loads are about 3,200 fps. Your .223 could produce a bit higher velocity. With my .222 loads with the 50gr SPSX bullets, they enter the chuck, but don’t exit under most circumstances. No splat factor, but dead right there. Most shots are 100-125 yards limited by the lay of the land, trees shrubs, obstructions, and hedgerows. Below is info from Sierra & Hornady that I found both useful, and interesting.

Best of luck in your testing, and field success, Peter.

The Sierra Varminter Blitz bullets (1340 50gr & 1345 55gr) have thinner jackets and a softer core and should provide the most violent expansion of all (Sierra bullets) which is especially desirable on prairie dog sized game. These Sierra Varminter Blitz bullets were designed specifically for cartridges like the .222, their thin jackets and softer core provide rapid expansion tuned to its medium velocity. The Blitz's flat base also provides consistent accuracy and trajectory within the 225-250 yard effective range of the .222.

Similarly, Hornady used to include a note in the box with their SX bullets. It read "Hornady SX bullets are for use in cartridges of velocity up to 3500 f.s. Accurate and deadly at 222 velocities they are NOT intended for cartridges of higher speed." (Meaning 22/250 & .220 Swift)

 

[WV Hitman]

I've cut open several groundhogs after shooting them with 40 gr. BTs in my .223 Contender & .22-250 XP-100. Multiple fragments were in a 3" area around the entrance hole & partial bullet track. No sign of the base.

 

[Jrjones]

50gr hornady sx, 52gr speer hp, 50gr sierra blitzkings

 

[searcher]

What do you mean by OK accuracy? I've found them to be very accurate. One thing though, I thought they were super explosive. As you can see in my photo, the bullet left a pretty good furrow after killing this ground squirrel.

I have found the Varmint Grenades to be extremely accurate, though powder picky. Tac works in my .223's quite well with the 50-grain bullets. A ground squirrel isn't going to stop any .224" bullet shot at typical varmint hunting velocities.

I don't shoot milk jugs - prefer to see results on ground squirrels. I have shot many thousands of ground squirrels, using a variety of bullets. The best at disintegrating are the sintered core bullets. Those include the VG, as well as Lead Free Ballistic Tips, etc.

 

[AckleymanII]

We shot 250 rounds straight of each in a Rem 14T, 22/250 on ground squirrels that are about 1/2 the size of a full grown Grey Squirrel.

50g Nosler Ballistic tip
50g Hornady V max
50g Sierra blitz king

The results were clear and no grey area, the 50g blitz king produced the highest launches with more total detonations of the squirrel bodies resulting in more instant kills.

I was shooting with the President of PMC ammo, and they adopted the blitz king for their ammo.

 

[JB10]

Anyone have experience with these? They're one of the best shooting bullets I've ever used.


View attachment 1572131

Yes!!!! I love the 50gr ones. Very very accurate in my 223s and my daughters 22-250.

 

[lhsako]

IHSako, I haven’t done the water jug expansion test and comparison. I have shot a fair amount of chucks with .222 Rem chambered rifles. After spending some time at the bench testing a few 50gr bullets appropriate for chuck hunting, I ended up sticking with the Hornady SPSX bullets for a few of the factory Rem Sporter rifles that we use. I certainly would not call my testing exhaustive by any means, but adequate to come up with a load that is consistently accurate and effective. My load in a .222 Rem is 21.0gr H4198 with 50gr SPSX set .010 off the rifling. Those loads are about 3,200 fps. Your .223 could produce a bit higher velocity. With my .222 loads with the 50gr SPSX bullets, they enter the chuck, but don’t exit under most circumstances. No splat factor, but dead right there. Most shots are 100-125 yards limited by the lay of the land, trees shrubs, obstructions, and hedgerows. Below is info from Sierra & Hornady that I found both useful, and interesting.

Best of luck in your testing, and field success, Peter.

The Sierra Varminter Blitz bullets (1340 50gr & 1345 55gr) have thinner jackets and a softer core and should provide the most violent expansion of all (Sierra bullets) which is especially desirable on prairie dog sized game. These Sierra Varminter Blitz bullets were designed specifically for cartridges like the .222, their thin jackets and softer core provide rapid expansion tuned to its medium velocity. The Blitz's flat base also provides consistent accuracy and trajectory within the 225-250 yard effective range of the .222.

Similarly, Hornady used to include a note in the box with their SX bullets. It read "Hornady SX bullets are for use in cartridges of velocity up to 3500 f.s. Accurate and deadly at 222 velocities they are NOT intended for cartridges of higher speed." (Meaning 22/250 & .220 Swift)

Thanks! Any 40 grain blitz-kings in stock or for sale here. Looking for a safe load to use on one end of my farm. close shots 100 or so. That was my quest here.

 

[RegionRat]

Thanks! Any 40 grain blitz-kings in stock or for sale here. Looking for a safe load to use on one end of my farm. close shots 100 or so. That was my quest here.

A quick scan of the available 224 varmint bullets in 40 grains shows that you can get just about anything you want right now.


Go to Ammoseek.com and in the middle of the page you will see "reloading" with a drop down menu.
If you pick bullets, you can select 224 diameter, any brand, 40 grains, and add the word varmint to screen out other types. It spits out a list of reliable suppliers.

 

[searcher]

Anyone have experience with these? They're one of the best shooting bullets I've ever used.


View attachment 1572131

Those shoot really well in my rifles. The lead-free version is much more explosive - and just as accurate out to around 350 yards.

 

[nakneker]

Blue collar has a lot of 22 caliber bullets in stock that weren’t so easy to get not long ago. Link below.

Projectiles

A bullet is a kinetic projectile, a component of firearm ammunition that is shot from a gun barrel.

www.bluecollarreloading.com

 

[searcher]

Searcher. l have a quantity of 35gr lead-free Ballistic Tips. Should l expect them to more explosive too?
Thanks : 282

Yes. All of the sintered metal bullets made by Nosler and Barnes explode very well - much more than leaded bullets. I have shot a lot of the 40 grain Lead free Ballistic Tips, as well as the 35's. They are great. Those bullets seem to open up much more quickly and "spray" the metal particles, dumping more energy before exiting. I also think the cup separates much more easily from the sintered material. I'm not sure about that - but they definitely blow the critters up and are very accurate once paired with the right powder for your barrel. For the 35's and 40's, I have used Accurate LT32, Reloader 7, W748, 10X, Benchmark and Exterminator powders with those bullets to get sub- 1/2 MOA in my rifles.

 

[searcher]

Thanks! Any 40 grain blitz-kings in stock or for sale here. Looking for a safe load to use on one end of my farm. close shots 100 or so. That was my quest here.

You might want to consider the sintered metal bullets in a very light bullet. They disintegrate much better with less chance of ricochet than leaded bullets. That is what I use when shooting around cattle and neighboring homes, etc.. They will do you just as well at 100 yards as a heavier bullet. The Barnes Varmint Grenades, Nosler Lead Free Ballistic Tips seem to be the most accurate from my limited experimentation on a dozen or so rifles. Use fast powders to make them accurate.