Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints New with 223's

So here is the story. I came across a sale on a Howa 223 with a green hogue stock. The store had 2 left in stock and they were 375.00. I took both! Now I'm reloading for it and getting ready to just shoot it. What weight bullet should I use? I'm fine using a 40-55gr bullet this will just be for shooting woodchucks anyways maybe a coyote. But with a 1-12" twist where should I be at on the grain of the bullet?

Congratulations, it sounds like you got a good deal on a couple of nice rifles.

Your 1/12 should handle any bullet up to 60 grains just fine. If coyotes are on the menu I personally would use a 55 gr. bullet, but the lighter ones work for lots of folks too and may be easier on pelts.

the 50 v-max gets good reviews here
53 tsx for deer

For small rodents I like the 36Gr Barnes Varmint Grenades, for coyotes and rockchucks any bullet in 50-60 grs. will do fine. For deer, TSX is THE choice. If I were to pick one bullet for all around use except deer and other medium to large game I would probably load up a large pile of 50gr V max's.

I'd have one setup for deer, 63gr Sierra is the only one I have experience with. Super accurate. I'd be listening to these guys to about the 53gr TSX, I'm holding out for the 50 TTSX before I drink the Koolaid

The second rifle I'd have setup for a lighter bullet, haven't tried the 50 vmax but I'm about to buy a whole bunch for my 223. Sounds like the above guys speak in high regard about them.

fwiw

I like the 40 gr or 50 gr bullets, either Nosler Ballistic Tips or Hornady V-Max with Ramshot TAC powder. They seem to shoot a little better than the 55 gr bullets in my Vanguard (same action barrel as the howa varmint) I prefer the light 40 gr bullets for ground squirrels, the 50 gr for rockchucks at longer range, and the 55 gr bullets for coyotes. Although any can be taken with any of the bullets listed.

The 40 gr Nosler BT's shoot very well out of my guns, under 26 - 27 grains of H322. So far only paper has been shot but PD's are on the menu. For deer, at least here in the west, I carry larger rifles. I have many friends who use their .223's for coyotes usually with the 55 NBT's.

Lovesomeshootin: No "but" about the 1 in 12" twist for the 223 - I have several 223 Rifles with that twist rate and as far as I can tell it works just dandy with a multitude of bullet weights including 40 gr, 45 gr, 50 gr, 52 gr and 55 grainers.
For Coyote and Chucks I would go with the 55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips.
Best of luck with your new Rifles.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

one in twelve twist on average handles up to a 65 grain flat base bullet. Not that its the ideal weight, just that it usually can handle it. In that twist rate I love the 50-63 grain bullets. 60 grain V-max is awesome on rockchucks and yotes.

I have a 1 and 12 in my Remington 700 SPS varmint 26" 223rem. I have found using 25.5grs. of Benchmark powder behind a Hornady 50gr. V-max or Nosler 50gr. ballistic tip. Using CCI 400 primer produced 3432fps. with very good accuracy out of my gun.

I've been shooting the 40g and 53g vmax. Both are explosive on impact. Leaning toward sticking with the 53 for performance in crosswind - both weight and higher BC are the keys here. Haven't run them at distance yet is why the choice hasn't been made.

Weight is moot,BC ain't.

In slow RPM tubes,the 50V-Max is King,weighing the whole enchilada...which includes terminal affects...........