Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Best LR bullet for a 9-twist standard 223 Rem?

What's the best long-range bullet that will run easily in a 9-twist standard 223 Rem?

Highest BC, easily accurate, reasonably priced, and it might as well fit in an AR magazine while we're at it.

I don't know if it is the "best" or not, but the 69 sierra is pretty decent and stabilizes in my Kimber Montana 223. That and the 63 SMP are about the only bullets from sierra that I will touch.

The Hornaday 75 BTHP may also stabilize (won't in my Kimber even after all the tweaking), and that'd be a good one to try too.

Both good choices...

My LTR LOVES the 75gr Hornady mentioned above. The 69gr matchking, not so much. I'm using the data from Hornady's Service rifle section of their manual - BLC-2 in Lapua brass with Gold Medal primers. My load averages about 40fps slower than theirs, but the SD is in the single digits.


Kaiser Norton

So the 9-twist will generally run the Hornady 75BTHP with no problems?

If so, that would be a nice option for me.

I think the 75 HPBT shoots well enough in most 9 twists.

My particular .223 Rem 1/9 isn't a huge fan of them though. They shoot perfectly fine at 200 yards, but start to open and won't hold MOA at 400+ like the 69 Sierra will.

You should certainly try them.

When speaking of the Sierra 69 grain, are you-all referring to the SMK or the TMK?

75gr BTHP and 77gr TMK shoot best in mine. I can't stabilize the A-Max.

My Savage .223 heavy barrel seemed to like the 75 A-Max. I made my longest kill on a 'chuck with one at 527 yards. In the rump out the chest.

My 9T factory Montana loves the 75 A-Max at 2950 fps. Luckily it stabilizes that bullet.

I haven't shot them yet, they are pretty new, but the new 73 eld m Hornady looks good for a 1-9.

I shot 75gr Berger VLDs in a 1:9 twist savage LRP and they were very accurate. I do hovever live at 6000 ft above sea level which probably had an influence on stability. Not familiar with ARs and their mag length.

I have two savages with the 9 twist.Both love 69smk and dislike the 75 amax. My 22-250 with 9 twist is the same. The 75 shoots about 2 inches at 300 yards and the 69 shoots well under an inch 3 shot groups. ED K

SMK is what I use.

I'd be tempted to try the new 73 eld and the 70 rdf. The old 77 noslers shoot well in many things and are forgiving but the ogive length variations can be annoying if you're trying to seat it right at mag length. Try the 75 hor bthp for sure and if its wobbly give the hornady 68 a go too.

I also notice Midsouth has been offering a 62g bthp that's made by hornady but not a standard item. It looks good and is priced well. Lots of options. I've got a few boxes of hornady 73 elds headed my way and I hope they shoot well in all my AR's. They should fit the mag and I'm betting the shorter ogive length means they'll stabilize in a 9.

I just want to make one good all around load that works well in most of my guns. It's proven a difficult task so far but the 73 looks like my best place to start. If I find one that works I'm going to fire up the progressive and load a few thousand so I can spend more time shooting and less time chasing unicorns.

Bb

PS: Has anyone tried those 62g bthp's Midsouth is pimping? I wonder if they are an overrun on the new 62 bthp military round that's being loaded for the marines?

My Remington with a 1/9 twist shoots 75 and 80 grainers under an inch at 200 yards,I load both with 24.4 varget. I have shot them out to 850 yards

Not only does Rick F's Montana shoot well with the 75 A-max, I was absolutely astonished when he was able to knock over some 500m rams at our local silohuette range. I actually thought it might have trouble with the pigs at 300 but I certainly didn't think it would take a ram down. As long as he hit in the upper half of the body, down they went. Accuracy seemed pretty good to since he was able to deliberately shoot the turkeys (385m) in the head ( firing from a rest). Also surprising was how well the little rifle held off-hand.
I have fired some 75 Bergers in my 9 twist Smith barrel and they grouped ok at 100 but I have not even tried them at longer range. GD

That's three 70 gr Nosler RDF, BC .416, 24.5 gr TAC (start low and work up).




P

Pharm, how much work have you done with the RDF? Can you tell us more?

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth.../re-nosler-70-grain-rdf-223#Post11869110

That's all I've done.





P