Speed kills - 40 gr vs 53 gr in a 223

[White Eagle]

If any of you have ready my replies to PD bullets you have likely noticed that I am a proponent of the 40 gr bullets for PD shooting - here is the reason I favor the 40 gr over the 50/53 gr bullets.

Below are the JBM ballistic charts comparing them - it is obvious that the 40 gr does not give up anything significant to the 53 and in most instances the 40 gr bests the 53

3700 fps out of the 223 with 40 gr is obtainable with numerous powders.
3000 fps out of the 223 with 50/53 gr bullets is the top velocity with most powders only attaining 2850 - 2900 fps.
These are not "pie in the sky" figures - the 3700 and 3000 fps are from load data from reloading manuals. These calculations are top velocity with both bullets.

The 40 gr Nosler has less drop, drift figures are essentially comparble, energy figures favor the 40 gr out to 300 yds and then slightly shifts in favor of the 53 gr but so little as to be insignificant.

Recoil differences between the 40 and 53 is negligible but is slightly in favor of the 40 which may make a difference on a high volume day.

40 gr Nosler ballistic tip @ 3700 fps - 10 mph wind

Calculated Table​
Range​	Drop​	Drop​	Windage​	Windage​	Velocity​	Mach​	Energy​	Time​	Lead​	Lead​
(yd)​	(in)​	(MOA)​	(in)​	(MOA)​	(ft/s)​	(none)​	(ft•lbs)​	(s)​	(in)​	(MOA)​
0​	-2​	***​	0​	***​	3700.0​	3.314​	1215.7​	0.000​	0​	***​
100​	-0​	-0​	1​	1​	3192.9​	2.860​	905.3​	0.087​	0​	0​
200​	-2​	-1​	5​	2​	2740.8​	2.455​	667.1​	0.189​	0​	0​
300​	-9​	-3​	11​	4​	2331.2​	2.088​	482.6​	0.307​	0​	0​
400​	-22​	-5​	22​	5​	1958.4​	1.754​	340.6​	0.448​	0​	0​
500​	-44​	-8​	37​	7​	1625.7​	1.456​	234.7​	0.616​	0​	0​

53 gr Hornady V-Max @ 3000 fps - 10 mph wind

Calculated Table​
Range​	Drop​	Drop​	Windage​	Windage​	Velocity​	Mach​	Energy​	Time​	Lead​	Lead​
(yd)​	(in)​	(MOA)​	(in)​	(MOA)​	(ft/s)​	(none)​	(ft•lbs)​	(s)​	(in)​	(MOA)​
0​	-2​	***​	0​	***​	3000.0​	2.687​	1059.0​	0.000​	0​	***​
100​	-0​	-0​	1​	1​	2666.0​	2.388​	836.3​	0.106​	0​	0​
200​	-3​	-2​	5​	2​	2355.6​	2.110​	652.9​	0.226​	0​	0​
300​	-13​	-4​	11​	3​	2066.4​	1.851​	502.4​	0.362​	0​	0​
400​	-31​	-7​	21​	5​	1799.2​	1.612​	380.9​	0.517​	0​	0​
500​	-60​	-11​	35​	7​	1557.8​	1.395​	285.5​	0.697​	0​	0​

40 gr Nosler ballistic tip recoil - 9# rifle

Recoil​
Input Data​
Charge Weight:	26.0 gr​	Muzzle Velocity:	3700.0 ft/s​
Firearm Weight:	9.0 lb​	Bullet Weight:	40.0 gr​
Output Data​
Recoil Velocity:	4.3 ft/s​	Recoil Energy:	2.6 ft•lbs​
Recoil Impulse:	1.2 lb•s​

53 gr Hornady V-Max recoil - 9# rifle

Recoil​
Input Data​
Charge Weight:	28.0 gr​	Muzzle Velocity:	3000.0 ft/s​
Firearm Weight:	9.0 lb​	Bullet Weight:	53.0 gr​
Output Data​
Recoil Velocity:	4.6 ft/s​	Recoil Energy:	3.0 ft•lbs​
Recoil Impulse:	1.3 lb•s​

How would that same 40 gr BT do at say 4400 fps when shot out of a 220 Swift?

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

You have to start the 36 gr varmint grenade 4500+ to keep the drop under 10 feet at 700 yards(drift barely under 100" full value). And velocity will be under a 22 rimfire(@25 yards). 200 yard zero. 3000' elevation.

 

[Gary in MD]

Yes, I always try to keep in mind that it’s not the speed that the bullet starts with at the muzzle but the speed at which it hits the target/varmint that gets results.