When to throw in the towel?

[grovey]

When do YOU give up on a chosen bullet? I have a factory 12 twist 223 that I really want to shot the 53gr vmax, and after about 300 of them down range and 4 or 5 powders I can't muster better than 3 into 3/8" or 5 into 5/8"-3/4" . The 55 gr berger shoots better in this rifle, so I know the gun is capable, but danged if I didn't just pick up another box of these 53's.

 

[redrockranger]

Your barrel has spoken.

 

[Terry]

Feed it what it wants.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

There's multiple 50gr offerings in .224" dia., and I'm guessing one of them will give you what you're after. All five of my 223's thrive on the Nosler 50gr BT, and the V-Max is right behind. Why do you feel you need the 53gr weight?

 

[jfseaman]

Feed it what it likes.

My 12 twist really only likes 40 grain V-Max. The bullet comes to a stop a little past 300 yards but up to that point it's great.

 

[nakneker]

I wouldn’t fight it and I would throw in the towel to answer your question. The rifle is answering your question.

50 grain Sierra blitz king
50 grain Ballistic tip
Try some flat based 50 grainers

There so many bullets close to the 53 grain vmax, I wouldn’t keep shooting them and getting frustrated. It’s part of the fun of reloading, so many bullets to choose from.

 

[Hotshot]

Sounds like typical factory barrel accuracy, in fact better than average probably. I can't get those bullets to shoot that good but I have great luck with 55 and 60 grain Vmax in a Lilja barrel.

 

[grovey]

The 53 gr vmax was my first choice because it has the best bc ( by alot ) of any .224 bullet that a 12 twist will shoot. It also costs 60% of what the Berger does, and that doesn't suck. I think I'm going to have to have the it's you , and not me talk with this new box that followed me home.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

When you have trouble finding a load in a varmint caliber using a boat tail bullet with multiple powders and plenty of rounds downrange...try a flat base bullet. Seen some rifles go from looking completely hopeless while using boat tails TO shooting everything you throw in them with a flat base in front of the charge.

It's not like the 223 is a long range round. I wouldn't be too concerned with BC. Although I only have 6mm and 20 cal varmint rifles, I personally have really good luck with Sierra flat base HP varminter bullets. For a boat tail, I like the Sierra Blitz Kings. The flat base Speer TNT's usually shoot extremely in the 22-250 rifles I have loaded for friends

You also have to remember that Hornady likes to exaggerate their BC's. It has been proven many times with various diameter Hornady bullets. I would blindly trust the claimed BC's of Sierra bullets. Wouldn't trust Hornady BC's to be true without personal testing and verification. I'd bet money there's NO WAY "any" 53gr 22 cal bullet from hornady is going to have a higher BC and fly flatter than a 20 cal 39gr Sierra BlitzKing when launched at the same speed. That being said, it seems obvious to me that Hornady is exaggerating the .290BC of a 53gr V-Max. (.003 more than the .287BC of the Sierra 20 cal 39gr BK)

 

[AckleymanII]

Mine did not like them either, but loved 55g Nosler ballistic tips and the winner is the 55g Nosler Varm.

Hot load of Benchmark and cci 450 primer!

Touch the lands

good luck!

 

[grovey]

I'm just going by the available published info. Most times I've read a post about the 53 gr vmax by someone that uses it... it's being praised. I can't really knock it because it isn't exactly a match bullet, and that's what I'm trying to make it. . For my needs 300yds is the maximum range.

The 55 gr Speer tnt shot around 1/2 moa in this rifle, but I've been told the 50's shoots better. The 50 is headed the wrong direction BC wise, so I didn't try it. I've had great results with the 50gr zmax in two 221's I load for, but I've never tried it in this rifle.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I'm just going by the available published info. Most times I've read a post about the 53 gr vmax by someone that uses it... it's being praised. I can't really knock it because it isn't exactly a match bullet, and that's what I'm trying to make it. . For my needs 300yds is the maximum range.

The 55 gr Speer tnt shot around 1/2 moa in this rifle, but I've been told the 50's shoots better. The 50 is headed the wrong direction BC wise, so I didn't try it. I've had great results with the 50gr zmax in two 221's I load for, but I've never tried it in this rifle.

Yeah the 50gr TNT is what I loaded in a couple 22-250's for friends. Very forgiving and accurate with a lot of different recipes. Very little testing to find a consistent load. Flat base bullets are usually easier to tune as well due to the forgiveness. What they lack in BC for long range use, they make up for in accuracy at shorter ranges. I'm sure that's why short range BR guys use them in their relentless pursuit of the 0.000" group.

For only 300 yards, I would be fully concerned with accuracy. Not BC. Any 22 cal bullet will easily make it out to 300. Hell, some guys shoot 22LR at 300 yards.

 

[Wirelessguy2005]

Nosler also makes a 53 grain Varmageddon bullet with a BC similar to the 53vmax, you should check that out.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...aliber-224-diameter-53-grain-tipped-flat-base

 

[Dusty Stevens]

If guess your twist is less than you think. The 53 may be longer and teetering on the edge like a 142 and 143 in the 6.5 caliber

 

[STS]

I would have given up at about 250 of them before you did. Bullets will usually shoot right off the bat or never.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

If guess your twist is less than you think. The 53 may be longer and teetering on the edge like a 142 and 143 in the 6.5 caliber

Had that issue in my 1968 Ruger M77 6mm Remington (all original with varmint barrel). Wanted it to shoot the 87gr V-Max, but I wasn't initially aware that I was teetering on the edge of stability. Could never get a group better than 3/4" - 1" at 100 yards. Finally saw an oblong hole in the paper and realized what was going on. Switched to a lighter flat base 75gr Sierra HP bullet and was pleasantly surprised to find out the old girl will easily shoot groups hovering around +/- 1/4".

 

[NickB1075]

I would have also given up way sooner then you did. But I personally would be happy with consistent accuracy like that for a Factory Barrel. I really think your probably at the top end of accuracy for the barrel. Maybe not, but honestly it's not worth time or money to me to go crazy over a factory rifle like you are.

Nick

 

[Hotshot]

Grovey, 300 yards max, really? What's the high bc bullet offer at that range? Maybe an inch

 

[grovey]

I was trying to make the most out of my 12 twist to compete with the 8 twist Tikka's that rule the local factory gun matches around chere. My 55 gr berger load is hot and probably shoots as well as the rifle or it's owner is capable of, so I'll devote some time to it this yr.

 

[Hotshot]

Their advantage is they are using actual target bullets. Sierra and others make some really good 50-55 grain target bullets in .224