What .223 Bullet Would You Use?

[K22]

I have several 12" twist 223 Rem's. Two are sub 1/4 moa rifles. One in a Rem 700 with a Douglas match barrel the other is a Weatherby Super Varmint Master with a factory barrel.

I've have extremely good results with Nosler 50 and 55 BT's with 12" twist 223's.

I've have good success with H4895, Benchmark, H335, and Varget with these bullet weights. Currently using H4895 but the others listed worked equally as well for me.

Primers: Exclusively Federal 205M match primers.

With my 8" twist 223's the 60 V max works better for me with groups in the sub 1/2 moa range. However the 55 Nosler BT's are not the far behind with about a grain lower powder charge than my 12" twist rifles.

 

[SmokinJoe]

Couple others that are good and economical: Nosler Varmageddon, Speer TNT and Hornady SX.

 

[B23]

Based on what you described the 53gr SMK, 52gr and 55gr Berger Target would all be very good choices. I'd probably give the 53gr SMK a go first just because they always seem to shoot extremely well in everything I've shot them in.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I just bought 53gr. Vmax bullets. .290 B.C. 1900 of them, wish I could have got another 100.

 

[chkunz]

I have been shooting the 53 SMK (flat base) in my 223 match rifle (20 inch barrel with 1 in 8 twist) and VV N133 powder using the Sierra manual accuracy load in NRA 100 yard reduced course matches for the past three years. This load gave a sub X ring groups on the 100 yard reduced course target (average of three bench rest 10 shot groups) and several cleans in competition with a 200- 15X best score. Several of my friends have also used this bullet/powder combination with good success in 100 yard reduced course competition.

 

[B23]

I just bought 53gr. Vmax bullets. .290 B.C. 1900 of them, wish I could have got another 100.

This is easily my favorite varmint/predator bullet in my 223AI but I'd still probably go with something like the 53gr SMK or one of the Berger's for comp shooting.

 

[Dgd6mm]

This is easily my favorite varmint/predator bullet in my 223AI but I'd still probably go with something like the 53gr SMK or one of the Berger's for comp shooting.

OP mentioned "target shooting only ", not competition.

 

[searcher]

The flat-base design of those Bergers are wicked-accurate. You might wish to reconsider that bullet and to re-visit your powder choices and try these if you haven't already done so - these are killer with those light bullets! Accurate LT32, Reloader 7, IMR8208XBR. I'd almost bet your current bullet would shine even better with one of these - particularly LT-32. I'll forego a bit of velocity in favor of wonderful accuracy in a target rifle. Good luck!

 

[Twicepop]

I'd recommend the Sierra 53 grain Match King flat base. If you're shooting at 300 yards and under, you gain nothing by using a boat tail bullet.

 

[bobcat93]

Hello..i would like to chime in on this one
.personally I think the nosler CC bullets are perfectly matched for the inherent accuracy level of the 223 rem. (I would try different bullet contor in any .223 rem.) I've notice a big difference in accuracy with baring surface of bullet ojive.
I've had 7 .223 rem factory rifles ..rem 700 ruger #1-V ruger 77 ar-15's you get the picture..im not stranger to the. 223 rem..but i don't know much either..other then in my rifles with the same components and COL the same..bullets same wt. But different profile..see what happens..then play with deating depth..my results say kiss touch rifling with nosler CC bullets in .223 rem COL
If you haven't tried that

 

[skeeljc]

I have a Rem 700 with a 26" Krieger 1 in 12 heavy varmint in .223. In have had good results with 52 gr Berger Match (FB) and both Benchmark and N133. I have some BIB 52 gr match but I have not tried them yet.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Sierra 52 Match King and 335..

 

[Longtrain]

The 52 HPBT may look slick, but you can’t beat 52 FB for pure accuracy.