Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Winchester .223 ammo 45-gr HP

Anyone using the factory Winchester .223 Rem 45-gr HP varmint loads? In what sorts of rifles? On what game and ranges?

I have used them in my Weatherby SPM, and also in my Tikka T3 varmint.

Both guns seemed to like the Winchester's, and they could easily shoot under 1" groups at 100yds.

Took them out to South Dakota twice, I am pretty sure the PD's didn't like them.

I was only using them out to 400yds, after that the 22-250 came out.

The last time that I purchased them they were around $18 for a 50 pack, don't know what there at for prices now, but I would buy them again when I run out.

I bought a 40 pack for $32 here in Alberta two months ago as they were the cheapest shells I could buy without crimped primers. They shot alright, but didn't give very satisfactory results on impact. I have more splits (gophers, not cases) with the 55 grain spirepoint varmint bullets I reload.
I shoot a Norinco JW -105 bolt action. It's a cheap gun but it shoots as good as I can hold.

Good accuracy but an occassional richochet can be heard when shooting squirrels, something I dont hear when running the vmax.

I was thinking they might not richochet, for a coyote load I could use where there are houses about 1/2 mile from my setup. They are $19.50 a pack of 40 rounds, so I may try some in my bolt action.

They shoot very well in the few .223 rifles I have tried them in. High velocities, too, when I chrono'ed them. About 3600 FPS, IIRC.

They shot well in my guns. Only shot paper tho......