Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Bullet weight for 1-9 twist .233

Looking for a bullet to load in my .223 that I’ll be using to coyote hunt primarily.. so I’m looking for a good hunting bullet that accurate... Thoight about trying the 64 grain Berger varmit bullets but I don’t know anything about them.. I’m fairly new to reloading too so advice will be appreciated... Thanks

I use the Sierra 65gr Gameking in both my 1-9 bolt gun and my 1-8 AR, 1/4" MOA and deadly on anything it hits, I call it my do all bullet

x2. I love this bullet!

I have been able to stabilize some 70+ grain bullets with my 1:9. You might try the 60grn Vmax from Hornady...Byron South loves them and they shoot tiny groups.

For a better BC.... try the 53 Grain V Max....or 53 gr Varmaggeddon from Nosler.

My 1-9 twist Remington shoots everything from 50 to 60 grains very well. I have shot a lot of the 60 grain Sierra SP's, but my favorite load is with a 55 VMax.

You'll probably have to try a few different ones to see what your rifle likes. It's always nice to check out product that's been around for a while. This one works well for me from several rifles. If it works, you can buy a bunch, cheap. This is a Hornady 55 gr. SP.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...ain-spire-point-boat-tail-with-cannelure

The Berger 64gr Varmint bullet used to be called the MEF (maximum expansion factor) they shoot very accurate but are not hide friendly at all if that is a concern, it has a BC of .287.
My favorite Berger that will shoot in a 1-9" twist is the 70gr VLD, they call it a target bullet but you wont find a coyote that will get away from getting hit with one of these bullets !!!!! it has a great BC of .374.
A bullet I love in my AR's but works awesome in a bolt gun too is the Sierra 65gr game king, you can kill Deer along with coyotes and varmints with this bullet it has a BC of .303.
In the lighter weight bullets the Hornady 53gr V-Max has a good BC of .290 but can be finiky in some rifles, it might shoot great in your rifle it might not. only you can find out.
My favorite's in the light weight are the 50gr Blitzking with a BC of .248, never had a 223 that wouldn't shoot them awesome, or the Nosler 55gr BT with a BC of .267.
I have one rifle a 223 in a CZ 527 that by far its favorite bullet is the Speer 50gr TNT it has a modest but catchy BC of .223

I like the BC on the 53gr V-Max but never could get them to shoot as good as the younger brother the 50gr V-Max ot the older brothers 55 and 60gr V-Max

Thanks for all the good info guys

My 9 twist 223 really shoots the 65 gr GK well, but also shoots the 40 gr Nosler BT extremely well. For an all around bullet, I suppose the 65 gr bullet is best, but just for coyote the 40 gr BT is a death ray. And in my limited experience in examining hides, the BT doesn’t mess them up too much.

The 65 Sierra GK is a great bullet I also would try the Hornady 75gr HPBT

75 Hornie HPBT..............

I had an early Savage 10FP 223 1-9' twist. The best groupings .2-.3 MOA were with the Nosler 40gr. BT's. I was using AA2230, but don't recall the exact powder charge.

The best bang for the buck ballistics-wise is likely the Hornady 75 BTHP. They stabilize just fine in 1:9's for me, sample of two. I prefer CFE powder at 5.56 pressure in bolt guns.

Don't over look it's little brother, the 68 BTHP either....

I run 25 grains of H 322 with that bullet...as it shoots like bitty groups out of the Howa Mini....even out to 300 yds it keeps them tight... doesn't quite do so with some of the other powders I tried it with.

Will a 1 in 9 stabilize a 62 grain Barnes? I shoot them in my 1in 8 ARs. They hammer big pigs, extremely accurate too.

Haven't tried the 65 gr GK but the 63 gr SMP is the most accurate I've found in my 1-9 twist bolt gun.

Nosler 70 rdf will stabilize in a 9 twist and will shoot tiny groups to 800 yards and will fold up a coyote very well. Put a stiff charge of rl15 behind it and you are all set

If you can shoot the 75 grain Hornady you can shoot the 77 grain Sierra. The Hornady bullet is longer. If you don't believe it, measure them.

For your application though, you will love the 55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip.

If your shots will be under 150 yards the Sierra 55 grain HPBT will shoot good with just about any rifle and any powder.

I am an avid Coyote hunter too. In my long gun (5.56 chamber) I use 55gr Nosler BT's @ 26.7 grains of W748, Fed Premium cases and WSR @ 3100 fps. It shoots .4 - .6 inch 5 shot groups, day in and day out. There is a wide range at the top for W748. Start around 26.0, and go up in .1 increments until you find pressure. If you have a .223 chamber start much lower.

In my 16 inch gun i use the Sierra 55gr HPBT's with 26.1 grains of H4895, Lake City Nato cases, CCI #41 @ 3010fps. You can dang near get NATO velocities from H4895. Again.. There is a very wide range of good accuracy at the top. 25.3 - 26.1. That rifle shoots that load with regular consistency at .6 - .7. inch 5 shot groups.

Happy hunting buddy.