Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints 40gr bullets in 223

I've shot mostly the 50gr V-Max or Ballistic Tips in my 223, but after reading a lot of posts here it appears that many of you have switched to the 40 grain versions.

Have you found them to be better performers than the 50gr bullets? I'm sure they're a bit more explosive, and probaly work great on PDogs. How do they do at long range in the wind?

Hal

I shoot alot of 223 ammo...have never shot 40s...just look at any ballistics program..(Realguns.com has a good/easy one) and compare 40s and 55s or even 50s....sure the 40s are faster..but look at the downrange numbers at say 4-500 yds...you'll see the heavier bullets especially boat tails will retain more fps & energy longer..the lighter 40s will shed energy & fps much faster..its all in the bullet's BC..I do shoot 40s in my 20 calibers..but thats a whole different caliber...Nosler 55 BTs and Sierra 55 BKs are tough to beat from the 223 for p/dogs.

Go to the Vihtavuori site and take a look at their N133 load. Try it you'll be a believer.

I prefer the 40 gr. NBT to 50's. A little less recoil, 300 fps faster, and it's pretty fair BC make it a real killer. I also like it's tapered jacket/thick base. I've shot it to 600 yards in my 223AI and even in the wind, I wouldn't want to be a thing at at that range.

My 700 has a 1 in 12 twist and the 40's just shoot better than the 50's or 55's. I think I might try the 35's and see how they work.

I have only been on one p-dog trip, and I used both 40 grain V-max and 50 grain Ballistic tips from the 2-223's I took along. I got better impact results with the 40's for the most part, and they were definitely moving faster. The fella that hosted me buys nothing but 40 grain V-max for his 22 caliber p-dog guns. I can't speak to the long range aspect as I don't have enough field experience with long distance to offer an educated observation.

I hope a lot of people reply to this thread about the 40's. I've been toying with the idea of shooting the 223 downloaded to Hornet velocities with 40 grainers, as well as using Seafire's Blue Dot loadings for shooting closer to home where its a bit more populated. I don't want to actually get a Hornet so thought that using the 223 components that I already have would work just fine for me. I have a 223 with a 9 twist barrel, but its a varmint contour and I'm looking for a sporter type rig for this idea. Don't want a 9 twist, was thinking a 12 twist, which would certainly allow me to use up to a 50 grain bullet at full throttle for the next time I go after the p'dogs. My intent is use this barrel for light bullets only, as anything heavier is covered by the 9 twists I already have.

I'm fixin' to try the bulk Remmy 45 JHP loads in my Tikka. It liked the Winchesters, but they have gone the way of the dodo since the wars got started. If it doesn't like the Remmy's, then I will probably try some light, fast BT loads.

I go on two trips a year and I like to shoot a lot! I didn't trust the 40's at first but after reading about them I broke down and bought 1,000. When I got home I ordered another 1,000 . Most of the time I am shooting under 300 yards
because I like to see them fly.
I think they kill dogs as well as my 220 Swift with the 55 grain bullets. A lot easier on the ears too. I like the Hornady V-Max just fine.
whelennut

Whelennut,

Is that a Heavy Varmint, or a Stealth? I've got a Heavy Varmint in 22-250 and its a sweet shooter. Rumors were that the early ones were built with Wilson air-gauged barrels.

Hal

The 50s will fly flatter and further..

That said, I use the 40s a lot, as they are fine at distances up to 350 yds...

In fact 14.5 grains of blue dot will give an MV of 3250 fps, recoil will cut by 50% allowing you to see your hits in the scope's sight picture... and it takes a long time to heat up your barrel..

if you get 3 shots every 2 minutes with Blue Dot, you can shoot a 223 for 5 hours straight without heating the barrel up enough to have to let it set down and cool...

A Sierra 40 grain HP is an often overlooked bullet, as is the 46 grain HP from Winchester.. both are highly accurate and highly explosive also...

But 40 grain bullets and Blue Dot powder... you can shoot from dawn to dusk with ONE rifle...

And Whelan, seems like that 223 of yours was tearing them up... it sure is an addiction isn't it???

40 b-tips are good as gold in the 223.

If'n you are stretchin' farther than 300, a move up to the Swift or the 22-250 and 55 grain v-maxs might be in order.

BMT

That is my 1/9 twist Heavy Varmint Model 70 in .223.
I shoot 40 gr V-Max now with Varget. I tried H335 but ball powder scares me in the hot sun all day. Benchmark works good in my Remington VS 700 with TNT Speer 50 gr. This Winchester likes
Varget! I have a Howa heavy barrel I will debut this summer!
This is the most fun you can have with your clothes on!
whelennut

Seafire,
Blue Dot it is!
Thanks,
whelennut

Whelen,

work up to that 14.5 grain max.. don't go over that, as it adds little to the velocity of the round by going higher...

as a treat, if you pick up any 30 grain Bergers, a charge of 15 grains of Blue Dot there, chrony'ed at 3850 out of several of my 26 inch barreled 223 bolt guns.. and it was also a tackdriver!

Both loads have been safe when tried in any bolt action I am aware of.. source originally was James Calhoon's web site, and I just worked up and down with it, using his load data as a reference point.. so credit goes to him for the idea...

these loads reduce recoil enough tho, they won't cycle an AR bolt if you are shooting one of those...myself, I am a bolt action kind of guy...

Whelennut,

What's the barrel length on your M70 .223? How heavy is this rig?


Leo

Well, I am not Whelen, but here is a pic of my Model 70, in 223... 26 inch ER Shaw barrel... heavy magnum contour.. Boyd's Thumbhole stock.. Weaver 4 x 16 V 16 scope.. target dot reticle...




and here is some of its results in the field...
13.5 grains of Blue Dot, 55 grain Hornady SP ( bulk).. Winchester Small rifle primer, MV of 3000 fps or so...distance was about 250 yds or so...

Seafire,

Pictures/images not working. Would love to see them if you're able to fix problem.


Leo

BTW what does your rig weigh? Reason asking if because I have HTG stock for my Savage .223rem on order and possible thinking put on the heavy sporter weight barrel which is also 26" long. Don't think it's going to be the "walk about" varmiter I wanted but if I can keep it in the 8.5-9lb range(???posssible???), then it will be ok.

This is my opinion of course...

To me, a .22 caliber centerfire, including the plain-jane .223, really shines with 50-60 grain bullets rather than the lights....

If I want a 40 grain bullet that leaves at 3700+, I'll take the .204 everytime which can easily push a 40 past 3800...

Look at the tables on the .204 compared to the .223 as well with a 40...

That said, this is all ballistic gack and a 40 in a .223 can and does kill very well...

Yeah, I think the new site that is taking over for Sony Image Station, won't allow pics from their site to link with the rest of the internet...

Works with other sites.. I'll have to look into that...

Shazzbutt....

something isn't working all of a sudden...

I have a PM into the management here...