Bullet for a 223
- Thread starter Levi001
- Start date
Bustercluck
CGN Regular
- Location
- Fort McMurray
Assumimg your shooting targets. Try the berger 80.5 full bore. I shoot varget with mine.
Levi001.
I also have a Tikka T3X with a 1-8 twist barrel.
What you're going to find out about the rifle, if you haven't already, is that it won't be "fussy" about bullet weights from 45-80 grains.
I've shot all of those weights through my rifle and just about all of them shoot into sub 1/2 moa groups as far out as I get to shoot, which is 600 meters at a wilderness area close by.
I shoot off a portable, three leg bench, with front rest and rear bags.
The only bullets I had stabilization issues with was the Berger VLD 223, 90 grain bullets
In truth, I accuracy with bullets heavier and longer than VLD 80 grain bullets always has "flyers"
My particular rifle shoots the Hornady, Speer and Berger bullets with VLD design, 80 grain and under very reliably and consistently.
I have a friend with a rifle chambered in 223Rem but he has a 1-7 twist rate barrel and it shoots the 90 grain VLD/ELD bullets very well.
My rifle does have a preference for two Sierra MK offerings, #9377 HPBT, 77grains and #9390 HPBT 80 grains. It will shoot both of these bullets consistently into 3/8 moa out to 600 meters.
These two bullets need to be loaded "HOT" to perform at their best. There are three powders that do the job well and I would suggest a starting weight of 24.0 grains over CCI450 magnum or BR primers. Then work up your load in 1/10 grain increments to 24.5 grains, which should put your pressures into the 50K CUP range. The rifles actions are strong enough for more, but your cases may not be.
Now, cases are also a concern. I'm using LAPUA cases for this rifle. If you use something else, you should start your charges around 23.5 grains. Pressures build up very fast in small cartridges and the weight of the cases makes a big difference.
The powders which work best for me are BLC-2, CFE223, and W748.
I also have a Tikka T3X with a 1-8 twist barrel.
What you're going to find out about the rifle, if you haven't already, is that it won't be "fussy" about bullet weights from 45-80 grains.
I've shot all of those weights through my rifle and just about all of them shoot into sub 1/2 moa groups as far out as I get to shoot, which is 600 meters at a wilderness area close by.
I shoot off a portable, three leg bench, with front rest and rear bags.
The only bullets I had stabilization issues with was the Berger VLD 223, 90 grain bullets
In truth, I accuracy with bullets heavier and longer than VLD 80 grain bullets always has "flyers"
My particular rifle shoots the Hornady, Speer and Berger bullets with VLD design, 80 grain and under very reliably and consistently.
I have a friend with a rifle chambered in 223Rem but he has a 1-7 twist rate barrel and it shoots the 90 grain VLD/ELD bullets very well.
My rifle does have a preference for two Sierra MK offerings, #9377 HPBT, 77grains and #9390 HPBT 80 grains. It will shoot both of these bullets consistently into 3/8 moa out to 600 meters.
These two bullets need to be loaded "HOT" to perform at their best. There are three powders that do the job well and I would suggest a starting weight of 24.0 grains over CCI450 magnum or BR primers. Then work up your load in 1/10 grain increments to 24.5 grains, which should put your pressures into the 50K CUP range. The rifles actions are strong enough for more, but your cases may not be.
Now, cases are also a concern. I'm using LAPUA cases for this rifle. If you use something else, you should start your charges around 23.5 grains. Pressures build up very fast in small cartridges and the weight of the cases makes a big difference.
The powders which work best for me are BLC-2, CFE223, and W748.
My CZ 527 has a 1:9 twist and it shoots 69gr barnes match burners very well over 25.8gr CFE 223 right around 3000 FPS CCI 450 primers very accurate out to 600 yards, for my light gopher plinking load I use 26.5gr H4895 behind a sierra 52gr HPBT match bullet CCI 400 or Fed 200 primers 3340 fps it shoots tiny little bug holes and leaves little red spots on the grass when you hit gophers, it also flattens coyotes with authority
I have a Sportco with a 1:8 twist barrel , and it shoots anything really well, but the 69 grain Match Kings, and 80.5 Bergers really shines all the way out to 1K with it and on a good day I can kep the F/Tr guys on their toes shooting it with sling'n'irons
For cheaper , easily available bullets for general target shooting however, the Hornadys work well, 70-75 grains.
Cat
For cheaper , easily available bullets for general target shooting however, the Hornadys work well, 70-75 grains.
Cat
That sure sounds like fun! The girls are 19 and 22 years old now...they have been bugging me for years about gopher shoots so be careful, you might end up with a couple of crazy hunter chicks too!
150 Round 1.88 MOA group with various powder charges is Premier.
Nosler 80gr HPBT custom competition
