Ruger 77 MkII in ..23 (slow twist)

[COLT45SA]

I have a Ruger 77 MkII in .223 with a factory 1:12 twist barrel. I'd like to know from those who have this configuration what powder and bullet combination have you found to be the most accurate in your 77. If it's of any value, the rifle was built in 1995.
I'm not one who shoots in competition, but if you saw some of my targets from other rifle/caliber/bullet/powder combinations you might think that I was. I do however strive to achieve the best accuracy possible from every rifle I own without spending a fortune on modifications to the rifle itself. The extent of work I have done is bedding and trigger.
Thanks to all of you who are as anal as I am~!

 

[std7mag]

Probably something 55gr & below.
Sierra does make a 52gr TMK.
Combine it with some W748 or some 8208 and you should have a decent shooter.

 

[Jeff Porter]

52-53 gr match bullet with 26-27 gr W748 seated 2.335” OAL works in about any rifle I have tried it in.

 

[603Country]

I’d expect the 55 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip would be the most accurate. I use it in the 223 and 220. I also load the Sierra 55 gr GK. It’s a little tougher for pig shooting, but not quite as accurate. But, if just punching paper, the flat base match bullets would be ideal (if they’ll outshoot the Ballistic Tip).

And you might try the 40 gr Ballistic Tip bullets. They are really accurate in my 223 (haven’t tried them in the 220).

 

[JB10]

50gr nosler varmint ballistic tip with w748. Its a laser. I have target shot with it out to 525 yards and was amazed. Bought it 2nd hand from my gunsmith and he told me the load recipe it liked.

 

[nockhunter]

Try a Speer 55gr TNT, or Hornady 55gr spsx, with H322, or H355. Very accurate and devastating on woodchucks.

Mike

 

[COLT45SA]

Probably something 55gr & below.
Sierra does make a 52gr TMK.
Combine it with some W748 or some 8208 and you should have a decent shooter.

I've been shooting and reloading for many years, and after your response I learned more about bullet weights and barrel twist rates.
Thanks for moving me to the right aisle in the library. I now have some 50gr, 52gr, and some 53gr bullets and will move back to square one~!

 

[WyleWD]

I have a Ruger 77 MkII in .223 with a factory 1:12 twist barrel. I'd like to know from those who have this configuration what powder and bullet combination have you found to be the most accurate in your 77. If it's of any value, the rifle was built in 1995.
I'm not one who shoots in competition, but if you saw some of my targets from other rifle/caliber/bullet/powder combinations you might think that I was. I do however strive to achieve the best accuracy possible from every rifle I own without spending a fortune on modifications to the rifle itself. The extent of work I have done is bedding and trigger.
Thanks to all of you who are as anal as I am~!

Is this a "VT" model with a varmint barrel??? WD

 

[COLT45SA]

Is this a "VT" model with a varmint barrel??? WD

No, it's just a plain vanilla stainless model with the standard diameter barrel.

 

[LVLAaron]

Nosler 40g ballistic tip is a very good bullet that would suit you.

 

[COLT45SA]

Nosler 40g ballistic tip is a very good bullet that would suit you.

Thanks~! I recently bought a box of them to try but haven't gotten around to loading and shooting them. Fingers crossed~!!

 

[LVLAaron]

They should be a great varmint round. I miss "the good old days" when boxes of 250 were on the shelf at Cabelas for 50 bucks. With Benchmark powder you can get them screaming fast in an AR and still shoot 1/4-1/3 inch groups

 

[COLT45SA]

They should be a great varmint round. I miss "the good old days" when boxes of 250 were on the shelf at Cabelas for 50 bucks. With Benchmark powder you can get them screaming fast in an AR and still shoot 1/4-1/3 inch groups

I'm not shooting an AR. I like wood and blued steel~! I'm not shooting varmints either because I live in Florida. We have very acceptable gun laws in the state, and we have plenty wild hogs and coyotes. The problem is finding a place to shoot them. Over the past 25 years the "libs" who have invaded us have made local laws so restrictive that if you don't own a sizeable piece of land of know someone who does and is willing to let you shoot on their property, the only varmints left for you to hunt are pictures on a piece of paper. And you can only shoot on a place that's 45 minutes away and costs $12 to get in. If you're willing to do that, you'll be shooting next to GI Joe rapidly emptying his 30 round magazine on your left and the great African Elephant hunter shooting his .450 Nitro Express on your right. Not exactly ideal circumstances for precision shooting. If I get there in the middle of the week at opening time, I may be able to get a quiet 1/2 hour before the "sheeple" start showing up. I've been here for 50 years and things have changed. I'm thinking about selling out and heading for southern Alabama or southern Arkansas where I can buy my own 10 to 20 acres.

 

[sw282]

Nosler 40g ballistic tip is a very good bullet that would suit you.

55gr Ballistic Tip in 223 will make a prairie dog fly.
A 40gr Nosler BT will cut one IN HALF.

 

[DGP4]

My 1:12 Remington SPS loves 52 grain bullets with Ramshot TAC powder. So far the 52 grain Sierra SMKs and the Hornady Match bullets shoot the best. I use the Speer 52 grain Varmint for hunting. I was born and raised in South Florida and am surprised at your comment on hunting. Florida has rather large WMAs throughout the state. Most ranchers and farmers would be overjoyed to let you shoot hogs as the do massive damage to pasture.

 

[COLT45SA]

My 1:12 Remington SPS loves 52 grain bullets with Ramshot TAC powder. So far the 52 grain Sierra SMKs and the Hornady Match bullets shoot the best. I use the Speer 52 grain Varmint for hunting. I was born and raised in South Florida and am surprised at your comment on hunting. Florida has rather large WMAs throughout the state. Most ranchers and farmers would be overjoyed to let you shoot hogs as the do massive damage to pasture.

I wish I knew a couple. Between a sick wife, her death, followed by throat cancer and its aftermath it's been years since I've hunted. Last time out was on a larger ranch that was sold 18 years ago. Since then I haven't met or approached anyone with a ranch or grove.
I have an acquaintance who hunts hogs regularly on 3800 acres. but he is a strange fellow and NEVER invites anyone to hunt with him~???? He knows that I'm a shooter because I've baited him by offering to do some reloading for him and shown him a couple of my paper targets. I guess he's not concerned with accuracy and consistency.

 

[SSL]

My last 1-12" .223 consumed an awful lot of Hornady 5-grain SX bullets over AA2200 powder. Shot great and was explosive on groundhogs and such...not a good combo for hogs though. Any twist faster than 1-12" is pretty much guaranteed to blow those SX bullets up on the way to the target at any real speed. Nowadays I still use the AA2200, but under 50 to 53-grain VMax in a 1-8" barrel, which should work well for your 1-12". From 55 to 68-grain I use CFE223.