What bullet would a rancher like?

[SD guy]

I hadn't heard of that one yet. It sounds interesting.

22 Cal .224 62 gr ELD-VT™

If your twist rate is sufficient (1 in 8 twist minimum recomendation) I expect the hits can be spectacular on varmints. still not something id use to take a deer.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Not interested in expensive, hard to find bullets. Would run a 53,55 or 60 gr vmax before that bullet.

 

[SD guy]

Then the 55grain Hornady 2266 may serve you very well.

 

[Mark W]

Then the 55grain Hornady 2266 may serve you very well.

You got that right! They shoot exceptionally well in my bolt action and AR 223s. The only creature that I’ve shot with them was a medium sized ground hog at 200 yards. He was was anchored with an impressive exit wound.

22 Cal .224 55 gr SP Boattail with Cannelure - Hornady Manufacturing, Inc

...

www.hornady.com

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

SD guy and Mark, I found these for less than 15.00/100 shipped. Ordered 400 to start/play with. The place had over 300 boxes, so I should be able to get more.

 

[justinp61]

Check out Sierra 1365's too. I shoot them in a 22-250 with great results.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Check out Sierra 1365's too. I shoot them in a 22-250 with great results.

I have some on hand, going to shoot a few as a comparison.

 

[5spd]

For all the ranchers, ranch hands I load for the go to bullet is the 55g vmax on top of ramshot TAC.
Same load for all of them. All of the ar15s are 1/8" twist and 18" or 20" bbls.

 

[justinp61]

I have some on hand, going to shoot a few as a comparison.

I’ve killed groundhogs out to 470 yards and coyotes to 250 yards with no issues. They are very accurate in my 1-12 twist barrels.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

SD guy and Mark, I found these for less than 15.00/100 shipped. Ordered 400 to start/play with. The place had over 300 boxes, so I should be able to get more.

That link on post #19 of this thread is those same bullets in bulk and there has been a code for free shipping lately.

 

[Larry Koch]

Hornady SPSX. The carnage can be incredible.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

The Hornady 2266 bullets arrived. I loaded up some.
Fed range brass, C450, H335(25 gr) seated to 2.220
Small sample range results @100 yards
New BCA upper(ordered Friday arrived yesterday) .86
Bushmaster 1.86 mostly vertical
Carbine 2.19 mostly horizontal dispersion
I will test again will .2 gr powder charge increase and seated 0.007(closer to cannulure and suggested coal). Would be neat to find one load near 1 moa in all three uppers.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I looked at my notes, I used metal mags for the first 2 uppers and pmag for the new upper. I shot the original load in the Bushmaster today with the pmag, nice small round group. I have seen this in AR's before, metal mag lips and poi change. Hoping for a shift to better shooting weather.

 

[OK hunter]

55 or 62 grain TTSX for sick cows, deer and speed goats.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

One of the ranches I shoot on. The son (adult) has an AR with a day/night scope, shooting probably anything that needs shooting with it. What bullet should I load for it, coyote, prairie dog, badger, sick cow, deer? antelope? 55gr sp ? No hogs.

I would stay away from the solid projectiles that have a high chance of ricochet.

 

[OK hunter]

So if you're concerned with ricochet, what would you recommend for sick cows, deer and speed goats?

 

[jxb]

Any bullet that doesn't put holes in pipe, livestock, equipment, or anything else that tends to cause the rancher severe discomfort.

Centerfire HP and BT generally come apart on impact and seldom bounce. 22lr is pretty much a non starter most places that have pipe and the land owner can generally walk you over to examples of why.

 

[searcher]

So if you're concerned with ricochet, what would you recommend for sick cows, deer and speed goats?

That is always the balance - a bullet that will penetrate or one that will not ricochet. If not worried about ricochet, use the 77's or Barnes TSX. If there are nearby neighbors or lots of roaming livestock, best to use the varmint bullet like the 55 Blitz King, 50 Varmint Grenade or 55 V-Max. On deer, sick cattle, etc., well-placed head shots only. While you mention no hogs, we do use them on those as well and one behind the ear puts them down nicely.

 

[Kalitrazescapee]

Just to be different, a Sierra 65 grain GameKing. I bought many years back and they are accurate and effective. They aren't MatchKing accurate in my many rifles but still very good even to 300 yards. You can push them pretty fast too.

I read your post after I had posted. The bullet I mentioned does work in a 1-9 twist.

I've used/ have Sierra 65 gks...hard to find in stores

 

[2ndtimer]

Mid-South has the 62 gr BTHP Hornady bullet back in stock. It has been an excellent affordable “all purpose“ AR bullet that only recently became available. https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....ameter-62-grain-bthp-with-cannelure-250-count
They also are offering a 55 gr polymer tipped bulk bullet at a very attractive price that sure looks like a Hornady V-Max with cannelure. I am tempted to give those a try myself.

Midsouth Exclusive 22 Caliber .224 Diameter 55 Grain Bulk Poly Tip 250 Count

Midsouth Exclusive 22 Caliber .224 Diameter 55 Grain Bulk Poly Tip 250 Count by MIDSOUTH BULK BULLETS Product Overview: The Midsouth Shooters Bulk Poly Tips were made by a Major US Bullet Manufacturer for Midsouth Shooters Supply. They are engineered after an industry classic profile that...

www.midsouthshooterssupply.com