If you had to pick a do all bullet for a .223 what would it be? From groundhogs and coyotes up to deer, self defense, etc.

I'm thinking a 55-60g Hornady SP would make a good candidate.

62gr TSX or Gold Dot

I wouldn’t argue that. That’s a pretty versatile bullet in what’s a versatile do a lot cartridge IMO.

Yep, versatile and affordable for high volume shooting.

65 Sierra Gameking. 64 Power Point is good too but hard to find.

65gr gamekings for me

55 grain hornady sp or sierra gameking for slow twist barrels

77 Sierra Tmk if fast twisted

WE all have a boat load of choices but I also think overall the 55 gr Hornady is hard to beat

pretty much any platform

Hank

I bought a crap load of 64gr Nosler bonded from Shooters Pro Shop with that very thought in mind, iirc they were 25 bucks a hundred then, haven't hit anything but paper, suppose they'll do fine leaving at 2776 fps over Alliant Varmint and CFE-223 from 7 twist 16" mid length AR's.

I have several thousand 62 grain Bear Claws. They will do anything I need. I use them in 233’s and 22-250’s

What twist? 1-12 then maybe a 55 grainer.

60 gr Nosler BT work for me

20” barrel, 12” twist, 55 gr FMJ. Works in everything from monkeys to elephant, inclusive.

55 Hornady SP.

It’s all twist dependent. 55 Hornady sp is acceptable but I prefer the vmax 50-55 grain for 1:12. 1:8 bolt guns are the 75 grain Amax/ELD, 1:7 get the 88’s. AR’s get the 75 hpbt though I’ve heard good things about the TMK and could be talked into the 73 gr ELD. I avoid the bastard twists in between 12 and 8. As of now I run the 50 vmax and the 75 gr offerings based on platform.

I posted this in the AR & tactical forum ; so I'm speaking more along the lines of fast twist barrels. I should have clarified that.

However my fast twist guns shoot the lighter 50s just fine.

YMMV but I'd consider a full metal jacket to be the exact opposite of a Jack of all trades bullet; seeing as the only thing it does well is punch paper.

The 55gr Hornady sp interlock is a great bullet. My buddy uses it for deer almost every year. Its worked great on yotes too. But an even better bullet is the 77SMK and 77TMK, if you are running a 1 in 8 or faster twist. Check out some penetration tests done on these bullets. There's a reason guys are wanting the infamous MK 262 and similar ammo. It passes FBI penetration tests, while many other bullets fail. This includes the 73gr ELD match bullets that someone was mentioning and even the 69gr SMK that I love. As for the 77 being a good varmint bullet, I'm pretty sure it would work just fine for those as well.. Some have mentioned the Barnes TSX. I don't think I'd want to use those in the varmint fields I've shot in. Too much chance for a ricochet. They are deep penetrators though..

I picked up a bunch of 62 gr fusions from RMR I believe. I had a buddy kill a 200 plus pound boar with one. I think it would be a good do all bullet.

Thank you for illustrating your narrow perspective.

I didn't illustrate anything. I asked a question out of boredom and curiosity just to see what the masses view as a general purpose projectile. In this time of shortages it gives a guy other options to consider that he may not have otherwise. Then you show up with your senseless dribble. One more for the ignore list.

Good to hear, i've loaded up 300 of those in 223 myself, another bullet i've never ran into meat.

While its far from my first choice, m193 or any 5.56 loaded 55 gr ball actually kills quite well unless speed drops off.

Dan knows what he speaks of. Hard to trump first hand experience with it in Indochina.

I've never shot any yellow folks or elephants with it but I know it kills pretty damn well within its velocity parameters for upset.

Like I said YMMV. I'm aware of double Ds Vietnam story, I've read it. But I don't see how shooting someone in indochina has anything to do with a do-all hunting load. I shot a couple of fox years ago with 55g ball and the results were less than impressive. I have thousands of 55g ball projectiles; but it's the last thing I'm reaching for when developing a load that im going to hunt with. What got double ds panties in a wad is a mystery to me and tbh I really don't care.

My feelers are hurt.

The specs I referenced were based on experience, not conjecture. Perhaps you have yet to recognize that a bullet is only one part of the death equation?

Burned up a bunch of various 55 grain FMJBT's. You could use it but there are better choices. Not real good on Prairie dogs.

I use the 65 grain SGK as the all around bullet. It shoots lights out in all my .223’s kills deer deadernhell and is not too much bullet for coyotes and other varmints.

I guess it depends on which side of the pendulum you fall. I’ve got a bunch of 62 grain SOST bullets that are supposed to be the best of both worlds. But I’ve got TSX’s and then I’ve got 77 SMK’s and 55 grain NBT’s as well as 55 FMJ just to be safe.

A tsx or partition

I've been going 53g vmax in my slow twist stuff and 75g Hornady bthp or 73g eldm in my ars and fast twist guns. My 223 ai bolt gun still gets 75g amaxes.

Bb

I have a buddy that uses 55gr fmj on yotes. Coyotes die and those pills don't wreck the pelts too bad. Personally, I wouldn't want to get hit by any bullet coming out of a 223/556 AR15 rifle...

Crazy talk, unless you said Hornady 55gr sp w/cann.


(At less than 10 cents a piece like they should be.)

I think a great all around bullet should be terminally effective, readily available, accurate and fairly inexpensive. The 62 gr. Fusion, 64 gr. Gold Dot, 63 and 65 gr. Sierra GK, 60 gr. Nosler Partition, 64 gr. Power Point, 60 gr. Hornady all work in that role.

Panties in a wad? Your imagination is interesting. I don't care what you use or what you use it on. Recall I said "monkeys to elephant"? That includes a variety of birds, pigs, monkeys, people, tigers, water buffalo and an elephant. Little bit of marginal stability, tuff bullet and a lot of velocity....worked every time. They even worked on Lambrettas and small cars.

You'll find what you need/want, I'm certain of that. It is a combo from yesteryear and given trends in recent years they might not be the best, who knows?

Maybe the Shadow do.........

Hard to beat that as an all around choice. Easy expansion and shows good barrier performance.

The best cheap 224 bullet is the Hornady 55sp. I've killed everything from whitetails to coyotes, beaver to chucks.
It's a pretty good paper puncher too. I like the 65 sierra GK too, But they don't have the cheap factor.

A jelly donut?

Why, how did it get here?


Not to derail, but how in the hell does the Gunny have 2 purple hearts and no Combat Action Ribbon? It is possible I guess, but I doubt the Gunny didn't rate a CAR. If he really did rate it in real life, he would have worn it in the movie I am sure.

For a cheaper do it all I would say the 75 grain horn bthp.

They will slap through a 200 lb piggies shoulders at 200 yards to parts unknown. I don’t hunt deer with a 223, but I wouldn’t be nervous about it with a Bear Claw.

The Hornady 55 gr psp w/cannelure is my general purpose bullet in our .223's. It works quite well from sage rats to coyotes. I haven't used it on anything bigger but friends have and it worked for them.

I wish Hornady had kept producing the 62 grain PSP w/cannelure they did a year or so ago.

As it stands, if going for larger game, I would use either 64 gr PP or 60 gr NPT.

The Hornady 55 gr psp w/cannelure is my general purpose bullet in our .223's. It works quite well from sage rats to coyotes. I haven't used it on anything bigger but friends have and it worked for them.

I wish Hornady had kept producing the 62 grain PSP w/cannelure they did a year or so ago.

As it stands, if going for larger game, I would use either 64 gr PP or 60 gr NPT.

Midway has the do all Hornady 55gr sp's right now for $10 & change + free shipping. They have 62 gr Speer Gold Dot Bonded for $29 + free shipping.

If I can only have one, it'll be a 77 gr., either a Sierra tipped TMK or a Nosler RDF; I won't feel slighted with either one.

Works fine up close, works great at LR.

YMMV

MM

Originally Posted by Dancing Bear
The Hornady 55 gr psp w/cannelure is my general purpose bullet in our .223's. It works quite well from sage rats to coyotes. I haven't used it on anything bigger but friends have and it worked for them.

I wish Hornady had kept producing the 62 grain PSP w/cannelure they did a year or so ago.

As it stands, if going for larger game, I would use either 64 gr PP or 60 gr NPT.


Found some for you:

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....4-diameter-62-grain-soft-point-500-count

Hornady do all 55 gr sp
What's the do all load to go with that for TAC in an
older 223 1 in 12 rifle?

Yessir..............those be the ones.

Why sacrifice real LR capabilities with a schitty BC 55gr SP, when these little puppies will do a least as good, usually better, at short range & they most surely maximize the round's capabilities at LR.

There's a reason most of the SOG's use 77 grainers....................

But the logic, or lack of it, of some, eludes me.

MM

Me too man. Your ammo looks great. I'm sure they fly great too. I wouldn't want to get hit by one.

I like somewhere around 25 or 25.5 grains of tac with 55s

I'd have to agree - all things considered, I've picked the 55gr. Hornady. My on-game experience with the .223 is limited to javelina and that was taken with the 60gr Hornady, but since I would be avoiding heavier bone with critters of that size or larger anyway the 55 grainer would do on broadside shots as well as any. And on paper, when doing a 50-yard sight-in my old Ruger AR-556 put four shots into a single tattered hole with that bullet.

Here’s their whole load manual. Scroll down:

https://blog.westernpowders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/WPHandloading-Guide-7.0-Web-REV.pdf

Ok- thank you

Ok- thank you

FYI y’all, I have some 62gr Hornady BTHP on Classifieds for cost. 62gr FMJBT for less than cost. Bought case of each to get the price down. Keeping all I need.

62 gr Barnes TSX

I would go you one better, the Hornady 62 gr BTHP from the same seller. Better accuracy that the 62 gr BTSP, in my experience. Proven effective on coyotes out to 250 yards (out of a short barrel AR) and even stabilizes in a 1 in 12" twist 26" barrel (in warm temperatures),
this one is my choice for all around .223 bullet.
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....r-62-grain-bthp-with-cannelure-500-count

Oh, and they are only .13 per bullet, so 13% cheaper than the less accurate soft point.

I don't use TAC. Used a 1 in 12 decades ago when 223 just came out LOL. Used lots of blc-2 back then.

I like the 55gr GD.....

Yep, tough little booger.

damn! more than i expected, good to know and thanks hanco.

I'll bet those bear claws are fine bullets.

The 77 grain Sierra TMK is my pick for an all arounder. From 5.56 up through 22-250 so far they have been very accurate and they kill everything, up to deer making them look way bigger than they really are. The 62 grain TTSX is my next favorite all arounder.

FBI uses this bullet, will reliably penetrate car glass, kill turds inside.

I have several hundred of those as well. Never fired any. You sticking to Nosler data on n CFE223? My 20” AR is on the verge of birth and I just might blood it in November.

Bet they are too BSA, i load them and the 64gr Nosler for Wifes defense AR's

shootem, i went 26gr CFE-223 for both the little Bear Claw and Nosler Bonded, i cant hold good enough to tell the difference between the two at 50 yards with Aimpoint and Eo-Tech 556, they ought to be scooting from that 20 inch barrel, dont see you'll have any trouble piling up deer, good luck and keep us posted if you will.

If I had to pick one, it would be the 65 Sierra or the 55 TTSX. I know the 62 TTSX is supposed to be “better” but I like the 55.

Another fan of the 77gr TMK. It's actually pretty impressive.

The only bummer is high volume practice.
I have a few 77gr MK, 64gr BSB, 64gr Win PP, as well as a couple boxes of TTSX, TSX, and even Gold Dots. Any of these work. My least favorite are the Barnes.

I buy bulk 55gr Hornady sp or fmj for practice or when running drills.

The TMKs are fun at a little distance and slow fire. I keep them loaded in handy mags. My pistol shoots them as good as my rifle.

Well said BigNate. They are fierce bullets on animals but the easy loading accuracy makes them a go to for me. I wished I had 5k of them. The Dillon cranks them out with 26 grains of Lever and man, there isn’t a bolt gun or AR they haven’t turned in excellent accuracy.

It is hard to deny the price point of the 55gr Hornady interlocks. $67.99/500 at midsouth is looking pretty good. The 69 and 77 SMK and TMK's are twice that. Although they do shoot better than the 55's. I remember taking 4 of my AR's out to develop some loads with the 77TMK's and every one of them loved that bullet. Sub moa 10 shot groups was the norm. Its hard to make those bullets shoot poorly.

These guys are making their own 69 gr version of the SMK & have spent a lot of time tweaking them & seem to have got it right now.

I've tried them & they have shot well enough for me (under 1", 5 shots) to buy 4K of them.

At 14.2 cents each, that's a decent price.

Their stock comes & goes as they produce them, so if you want them you need to watch closely or get on their mailing list.

I still prefer 77's but these are a good compromise for volume shooting.

MM

RMR Bullets

What did you do to get them to shoot? Load them on top of 24gr of .....?

I didn't do anything special for these, I just used my historical loads for 69 SMK's / TMK's with both 8208 & VV-540.

23.7 gr 8208 w/ Wolf Mag Match Primers

25.5 gr VV-540 w/ Wolf Mag Match Primers

Ran them in a couple of guns; one with an 18" WOA barrel, one with a Craddock (Rock Creek) 18" barrel.

No chrono data for these, but both those loads produce around 2875-2900 with 69 SMK's.

MM

So if you worked up a load, they may even do better. How are the flyers? Not that flyers make any difference for self defense. I'm also wondering how they compare in penetration?

Thanks MM, I have used pistol bullets from them buy haven't talked to anyone who personally vouches for these.

I haven't shot enough groups over time to really see any flyers unless you count the jerk behind the trigger yanking one occasionally.

And I haven't shot any animals with them either, but they dupe the SMK's so I'd expect comparable performance.

MM

I always see flyers, but you are right it's usually the jerk behind the trigger. Proved that last saturday. However, I ran them fairly fast. 10 shots in 10 seconds. Bumped one out of the X-ring. Wasn't really a competition, as we had very minimal shooters there. Most of our guys were out hunting on opening day. Even the phugg that suggested we have the shoot at the meeting was out hunting. SOB. He's a newbie handloader, but wants to tell all the members how to reload for "precision". This would have been the first shoot for him to prove his chidt doesn't stink. I've seen him shoot with his Christensen arms in the chassis to know why he wasn't there....The bullets you posted seem to be a great deal and one to be considered. I guess I'd have to shoot them to be sure how good they really are.

That's pretty damn good shooting, IMO................................assuming you didn't move in to the 25 !!

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, here, though.

MM

It does stink to pay the premium for the 77 TMKs but it nice for me to keep the guns zeroed with them and to reach into the ammo can and know they’ll reach great for steel and also pound coyotes and similar.

While the 75gr Hornie HPBT has no equal,the RMR's are in fairness,Good Little Bitches. Hint.

No complaints in my 22BR,even if it is a Fhuqking Krieger barrel! Hint. LAUGHING!






They are VERY 69gr Sugar-esque. Hint.



Just sayin'..................

You've been missing the fun lately, laughin' here...........................................

MM

My Tikka 1-8” really likes 75 grain ELD-M at 2935 fps. I hear it’s an effective deer bullet, too, and I can attest to small game and long-range efficacy. The 73 grain version was built for AR Mag boxes so I’ll bet it would work well.




P

Just bought some 77gr Sierra MK's at Cabela's for $19.99/box. Bought 3. Would have bought more, but that's all they had. I've had pretty good luck with these and the 69's. Very consistent shooters. Other pills I've tried like the 75gr Hornady BTHP get weird flyers. Although the 73gr ELD match bullet flies pretty true..

Save yourself some money next time and order them from powder valley. As you know only 50 come to a box. So you paid $40 for a 100 Bullets. That my friend is not a very good deal.


https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/product/sierra-224-22-77-grain-hollow-point-boat-tail-matchking/

Dang it. Im used to the 69's. Those come in boxes of 100. Ha ha.

Only bullet they do that with, heck even the 77gr tmk come 100 to a box. The bullet I like to get my hands on would be the 60gr tmk has a bc of .323 that’s impressive for a 60gr bullet.

Now you tell me. I thought I stole them. Ha ha.. Daughter was with me, so I was in a hurry. No wonder they were still on the shelf!! I'll put them with the box of 500 I bought a few months ago...

Blend them in with the old ones, like stocks, and dollar cost averaging says you’re money ahead.

TFF.....................

MM

Is this informative topic done with?

Deleted/

MM