What bullet for 223 shooting FT/R at 500 Yards

[donb31]

I've been playing around with shooting FTR matches at local range. Since the max distance at the range is 500yd that's the max I'll be shooting at. I Bought a Savage 12 BVSS in 223 to set up for these matches. I am presently using a 22-250 with 52gr. Sierra bthp match at 100 yards with good success. I have been thinking that perhaps that bullet is a little light for the 500 yard matches. The Savage has a 9 twist so I should be able to go heavier, any suggestion would be appreciated. Thanks,

 

[boltman223]

I would try 77 SMK's. I have heard they work in some 9 twist otherwise you are down to the 69 SMK's. I forget exactly but, see what is available in 75 grain class hpbt's, hornady and Berger. I'm sure others with a little more experience will chime in. Good luck.

 

[Panzer22]

Berger 75 VLD, jump it .035 push it with 24-25 grains of H4895.

 

[Klong]

Shoot 80 AMaX or SMK or better yet, Berger 80 VLD. The wind drift in a full value 10 mph wind of the 52 gr 22-250 is 41 inches, the 80 gr SMK is about 20 inches at 500 yards. The 77 gr SMK is about 25 inch wind drift.

 

[boltman223]

Shoot 80 AMaX or SMK or better yet, Berger 80 VLD. The wind drift in a full value 10 mph wind of the 52 gr 22-250 is 41 inches, the 80 gr SMK is about 20 inches at 500 yards. The 77 gr SMK is about 25 inch wind drift.

He has a 9 twist

 

[Panzer22]

I can push the 75 VLD to 3150 fps. In a 24 in 1/8 brux. At that speed they drift 17.8 inches at 500 with a full value wind. 80's I can only get to 2800, and not as accurate, and drift 21.8 inches. The 75 outclasses the 80 Sierra. Even in an AR15 SR, at 2950, it still will.

 

[ttfreestyle]

My 9 twist shoots the 69 smk very good but I cant get it to shoot anything heavier. My 8 twist shoots the 75 amax and the 80 smk great. I have read that some 9 twist barrels will shoot the heavier bullets but I had no luck.

 

[lal357]

try 75gr. amax they shot well in my 1-9 savage 26" I had on my lrvp before I turned it into a 308 69gr also shot good

 

[Gina1]

Best bullet I've found for my 1/9 Pac Nor barrel is the Burger 70 grain VLD target bullet (if you can find them)

Gina

 

[MGYSGT]

68 gr Hornady or 69gr Serria shoot well in my 1-9.

 

[donb31]

Thanks for all the input, I shoot Bergers in my 308 and I'm quite happy with the results so maybe I'll give Berger 70gr VLD a try. Thanks again

 

[Hosted]

You will like the 70vld when they come back in stock again. With my savage 223 I have had great luck to 500 yards with the hornady 68gr & 75gr, 69smk, and the 70vld. The 70 has shot the best so far and is the best compromise between velocity and wind drift.

 

[ShootDots]

I have a 1-8Twist .223... I tried desperately to get both the 75A-Max's and 80gr. Smk's to shoot in my rifle>>>NO GO whatsoever! Terrible groups no matter what I did.. So I tried a 73gr Berger B/T match.. WOW! What a difference! I am sending them along at 3025f.p.s. using VV N540. The 73gr Berger is not the sleekest bullet of the bunch, but I bet it is one of, if not the most accurate bullet you will shoot. You really only need a 9 twist to shoot it well>>>but it shoots "lights-out" in my 1-8 twist.. Most of the time an 8 twist will shoot 80gr Smk's and similar bullets quite well>> BUT not ALL the time. It is a rare rifle indeed that will not shoot those 73's with superb accuracy, using either an 8 or 9 twist.

 

[stinnett1981]

I like the 53 grain V-max with a hot load of Benchmark. It shoots amazingly flat and accurate out to 500 yards for me. They shoot better than the 69g and 77g SMK's. Hornady list them as target and varmint bullets in their reloading book. They are the only V-max they list as a target bullet in their book. Mine is a 9 twist too and thats great for the longer 53 grain V-max. They have a BC of .29. Longer than 500 yards you will need the heavier bullets.

 

[Roarke]

Panzer,

Shhhhhhhh!!!!

Hahaha

 

[Panzer22]