223 bullet weight

[Wilf]

I have 223 bolt action with a 1:8 twist with 24 inch
Varmint fluted barrel, I do reload no expert by any means, the rifle shoots 55 grain Hornady v max decently well just under 1 inch groups at 100 metres.
Any suggestions if I should go to a heavier bullet to help close up the groups, I understand there is many number of things that would help close the groups but would like suggestions on bullet weight

[elkhunter11]

My 1 in 8" twist rifles have shot sub 1/2moa with bullets from 50gr, to 69gr, but I typically go with 69gr bullets.

[fordtruckin]

1:8 should easily stabilize up to 69gr. Just depends if your rifle likes the bullet.

[Twisted Canuck]

Heavier bullet will also buck the wind a bit better.

[catnthehat]

At 100 yards you likely won't see a difference, but once you get out past 200 you may.
I don't load varmint bullets in my .223's I own now. But in the past I had a few that did very well with a 55 grain varmint bullet at 300.
Cat

[FishOutOfWater]

My rifle likes both light & heavy weight projectiles. Factory Hornady 40gr Vmax is MOA, and handloaded 68gr BTHP's are sub-MOA if I do my part.

Moral of the story, shoot whatever YOUR rifle likes... And don't fix something that isn't broke.

[waldedw]

I have a CZ527 with a 1 - 9" twist, it will shoot 52gr HPBT and 53gr V-max into tiny little groups, but it will also shoot 75gr really nice, nothing set in stone, tinker and see what it likes.

[prarie_boy1]

My 1-8'' .223 will shoot anything between 50-75 grains accurately.

[Big Sky]

If you're shooting varmints I'd try the 53gr vmax. It has a high b.c. that fights off the wind better than other light bullets.
If you're shooting at paper, try something in the 69 or 75gr category. Again, the higher b.c. helps at distance.

[Groundhogger]

I had a Savage 10 in .223 (1:9") when I started reloading (rifle you can almost see in my avatar) and after allot of load testing...discovered it strongly-favored light bullets. 55gr shot well, 53gr. shot the best. (Hornady V-Max)

Curious to test the water (and avoid the expense of a 204R) I worked down the list to see how light I could go, figuring speed #s would improve as an added bonus. I tried (unsuccessfully) with 40gr. V-Max and on a whim, 35gr NTX.

I got 35gr. bullets to shoot better than anything over 55gr., which was a bit of a surprise.

I have a 223 back in the safe as of half a year ago (1:8 this time)...and it shoots factory 75gr, BTHP ammo sub-MOA. If I do my part, it'll cloverleaf @ 100 yards nearly every time=the desire to work up a load for it isn't really there. lol In spite of that, I've picked-up the heaviest Hornady V-Max they make (60gr) so I'll be playing around with that in the coming weeks.

All of ^that to say, there IS no one answer. When working up loads, I never expect to arrive at a winner on the first outing. It's usually 5 rounds of every bullet weight I have that SHOULD work, 3 of everything else. Pretty easy to find preferences doing it that way, then work on fine-tuning.

I'm sure there are better ways, that's my process.

[Pioneer2]

The Hornady SX will turn into confetti with a 1-10 twist or faster

[prarie_boy1]

Originally Posted by Groundhogger

I had a Savage 10 in .223 (1:9") when I started reloading (rifle you can almost see in my avatar) and after allot of load testing...discovered it strongly-favored light bullets. 55gr shot well, 53gr. shot the best. (Hornady V-Max)

Curious to test the water (and avoid the expense of a 204R) I worked down the list to see how light I could go, figuring speed #s would improve as an added bonus. I tried (unsuccessfully) with 40gr. V-Max and on a whim, 35gr NTX.

I got 35gr. bullets to shoot better than anything over 55gr., which was a bit of a surprise.

I have a 223 back in the safe as of half a year ago (1:8 this time)...and it shoots factory 75gr, BTHP ammo sub-MOA. If I do my part, it'll cloverleaf @ 100 yards nearly every time=the desire to work up a load for it isn't really there. lol In spite of that, I've picked-up the heaviest Hornady V-Max they make (60gr) so I'll be playing around with that in the coming weeks.

All of ^that to say, there IS no one answer. When working up loads, I never expect to arrive at a winner on the first outing. It's usually 5 rounds of every bullet weight I have that SHOULD work, 3 of everything else. Pretty easy to find preferences doing it that way, then work on fine-tuning.

I'm sure there are better ways, that's my process.

I’ve had excellent accuracy with a 60 grain Vmax and benchmark in my 1-8” .223 sub 1/2 MOA when I stick my
20X leupold on

[WinFwt]

My son is shooting a Savage Model 12 in .223 with a 1-9" twist.
Has had excellent results with bullet weights from 50 to 60 grs. Have not tried anything heavier yet. Although we're looking at trying the Sierra 69 gr. TMK's to see if it will handle them.
Current bullets used are Nosler 50 gr. Ballistic Tip, Sierra 52 gr. HP Match, and Nosler 60 Ballistic Tip.
We developed these loads with Benchmark powder and Remington 7 1/2 BR primers.
All loads shoot consistent sub 1/2", the 60's shoot low to mid 3's.

[prarie_boy1]

1:9 should be no problem with the 69 grain Sierra MK

[catnthehat]

The 69 grain Match King was designed around the 1:9 twist ,
I have been able to shoot them out to 1K with an irons rifle
Cat

[brewster29]

Originally Posted by Pioneer2

The Hornady SX will turn into confetti with a 1-10 twist or faster

My 8” twist Tikka shoots the old SPSX 55 gr very well, many groups sub 0.2”. No issues with them coming apart at all. It also shoots 70-75 gr just as well.

[WinFwt]

Thanks for the comments on the MK's guys. I'll load up a test batch right away for him to try. Might even try a test in my 22-250.

OP, lots of good info above. Good luck with trying the heavier bullets.

[YoteStopper]

I have a 8 twist McGowen that shoots the 77gr OTM PMC Match very well. In the process of working up some gopher loads with 55gr Vmax, my initial loads with crappy brass are sub moa but I think that can be tightened up with some more speed as I'm quite a bit slower than it should push them with CFE 223.

[Groundhogger]

Originally Posted by prarie_boy1

1:9 should be no problem with the 69 grain Sierra MK

^I believe you 110%, but I was told to try those when loading for my Savage 1:9 and I couldn't get them to shoot no matter how many powders I tried. I refer to the Hodgedon loading manual, and never go higher/lower than spec. Maybe I needed to, or maybe it was just the rifle I had. They were the bullet I was referring to when I said I could get the 35gr. to shoot better than anything over 55gr. Great shooting gun with 53gr. V-Max.

[LJalberta]

I like the 75 Eld in my .223. I seat them fairly long. If mag length is a concern I’d try the 73 Eld or 75BTHP. I’ve heard great things about Sierra, but I’ve never tried them.

[elkhunter11]

The 69gr Matchking was my go to bullet for the 223rem, it shot well in several 223rem rifles. I did try the 69gr TMK in my last Tikka, and the first five shot group that I fired using CFE223, went .355", so I didn't even try anything else. A friend had a new custom put together by KS Arms, with their barrel, and it prefers the 69gr Scenar, or 77gr Matchking with Varget.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Groundhogger

^I believe you 110%, but I was told to try those when loading for my Savage 1:9 and I couldn't get them to shoot no matter how many powders I tried. I refer to the Hodgedon loading manual, and never go higher/lower than spec. Maybe I needed to, or maybe it was just the rifle I had. They were the bullet I was referring to when I said I could get the 35gr. to shoot better than anything over 55gr. Great shooting gun with 53gr. V-Max.

For some reason, some barrels just will not shoot a certain bullet as well as others .
However, I would try a test with different bullet lengths before I gave up on it. I don't put nearly as much effort into shooting different powderz as I do changing the OAL of a bullet, but others have found different methods work for them
Cat

[pikergolf]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

The 69gr Matchking was my go to bullet for the 223rem, it shot well in several 223rem rifles. I did try the 69gr TMK in my last Tikka, and the first five shot group that I fired using CFE223, went .355", so I didn't even try anything else. A friend had a new custom put together by KS Arms, with their barrel, and it prefers the 69gr Scenar, or 77gr Matchking with Varget.

69gr MK was very accurate in my .223. Benchmark and CCI 400 primers. That rifle didn't like Varget nearly as much as Benchmark. The MKs seem to be impossible to get for the last year or some though.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by pikergolf

69gr MK was very accurate in my .223. Benchmark and CCI 400 primers. That rifle didn't like Varget nearly as much as Benchmark. The MKs seem to be impossible to get for the last year or some though.

My friend bought both the 69gr and 77gr last summer, and Prophet River currently has both in stock.

[pikergolf]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

My friend bought both the 69gr and 77gr last summer, and Prophet River currently has both in stock.

Thanks!

[Big A]

I have browning x bolt in 223 with a 1-8 twist and my rifle likes the 40gr nosler fb with a healthy charge of BM, 65gr gamekings over cfe223 and 70gr speer over cfe223 aswell. All are 1/2 Moa or less. Does not like the 53 vmax’s at all, no matter what the powder.

[bucksnbears]

Question one.
What are you shooting? Paper or critters?
#2, are you willing to keep buying different components to try to squeeze out a miniscule smaller group?

[Groundhogger]

Thanks cat-that gun is gone (should have kept it) but since I used it for groundhogs and those shots were almost always under 200 yards, the 53gr. V-Max were fur-flyingly-good. lol My new 223 shoots factory Hornady BLACK 75gr BTHP ammo very well, cloverleafs @ 100 yards. I haven't hunted groundhogs with that stuff yet, but I think that rifle will be first-up this spring.

With the 69gr SMKs through that first gun, I kept it .010" off the lands but unlike 53/55gr. where it would cooperate at multiple charges...I sometimes got further away from good results when tweaking loads than the other way around. Couldn't see a pattern, and ultimately decided the pursuit wasn't worth it. The 53gr. were devastating anyway.

Originally Posted by catnthehat

For some reason, some barrels just will not shoot a certain bullet as well as others .
However, I would try a test with different bullet lengths before I gave up on it. I don't put nearly as much effort into shooting different powderz as I do changing the OAL of a bullet, but others have found different methods work for them
Cat