Most .223 varmint rifles will thrive with 50-gr bullets. Good for every pest from cockroaches to coyotes. (Well all right, they do over penetrate on cockroaches, LOL!)
Either of Ramshot's suggested loads using TAC or XTerminator work well, as will 27.0 W748, 24.0 H322, or 25.5 A2230. You wouldn't be displeased with book loads using Benchmark, RL10X, A2015, RL-15, 3031, 4198, 4895, BLC2 or a half dozen other powders, for that matter. I do find Varget to be a wee bit too slow for bullets of that weight, though.
You got that right. 40 to 50 grain bullets, usually Vmax or Ballistic Tips, have accounted for close to 98% of the critters that I have taken with my various .224 bore guns in my life. The other 2 or 3% being taken by 52 or 53 grain bullets.
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For deer and pig hunting with a 1:8 twist 223rem which tipped barnes bullet weight you you guys go with: 55 gr ttsx or 62 gr ttsx? To be legal, need to make 1200 ft-lb energy at muzzle. The 62gr ttsx should reach that around 2950 fps which was why I was thinking of leaning that way, but open to hearing your thoughts and recommendations. Thanks for the feedback!
Sig, have you used those 62's in a 1-9 down here in the flatlands? Barnes recommends that as minimum twist rate, but I wonder...
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60 grain V-Max 18 inch DPMS barrel with rifle length gas system LC Nato brass fired a few times Fed AR Match primers 23.5 - 23.9 grains of AA2015 will give you roughly 2900 fps on a 60° day
Expect accuracy to take your breath away.
I was getting .7's - 1.2's with all the other popular powders that are talked about and dreamed about. Was fairly satisfied. I have no idea why.... But i gave AA2015 a try. 1/2" groups growing in a linear fashion. At 24.0+ groups open to an inch or so.
I went back for a full repeat with identical results. Then i wen't back again for a 3rd time with the " new load". yes! Repeatable
I use 26 grains of CFE 223 with a 62 grain Bear Claw. They kill cshit out of pigs. Chilinstructer sold me that junkie Ruger. It will only shoot 3/4 groups, should give give it away😎. Not
Not .223 so please forgive me. The Low-Walls built by Miroku are amazingly accurate. I have three in .22 cal, one by U.S Repeating Arms and two by Winchester, Out of the box the one I shoot the most often will out shoot my worked over Ruger 77/22 with ease, and I haven't even gotten to the ammo brand comparison yet~!
I've struggled with accuracy from my Ruger 77 MKII for well over a year. All I've done to the rifle itself is bed the action and install a Timney trigger. I found out not too long ago that it has a 1:12 twist rate in the barrel which doesn't do well in bullets from 55gr up. I was eventually able to get the 55 grainers under 1 MOA, but would really be happier with 1/2 MOA. I'm not a fan of lite bullets, but before I go out half cocked and re barrel the rifle, I'm going to try some 52gr and 53gr pills. 1/2 moa would do the trick because I realize the placement of the shot is just as if not more important than the weight of the bullet. Do you think I'm on the right track, or am I just wasting time, powder, and bullets~?
Last edited by Winchester_1885; 05/10/22. Reason: Spelling and punctuation