223 bullet choice

17asleep

17asleep

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I want to start loading 223 Rem. ammo for use almost exclusively for shooting rabbits. Is pretty much any 50 grain bullet out there up to the job or are there some that might just drill nice neat holes and not do much damage? I was planning to use Sierra 50 grain soft points or match kings. Any comments?
 
The .223 isn't made for rabbits. SP's of any kind will blow great big holes in Bugs. Commercial fmj's won't. Matchkings aren't made for hunting, but since they don't expend much, they might do.
"...any 50 grain bullet out..." A lot depends on the rifling twist. A fast twist doesn't work well with light bullets. 1 in 9 is fast.
 
a 22lr or WMR is a far better choice if you want to eat the meat. If you want to use a centerfire (regardless of the bullet used), go for the head (like you would a grouse). Actually, the same holds for the rimfires, but the meat damage from a body shot is not going to be as drastic as with a CF.
 
You must be hunting JACKS....I did for years in the open fields with a 22-250...back when ammo was cheap...it had the reach but tried for head shots mainly. About all that is good on them is the back legs anyways. Lately i use the cheapest 55-65 fmj there are available. mine is a 1.in 9 twist Savage 12 fvss and damage is extensive...but they do not run....
 
yup, I am talking about Jacks, and I was also planning to use the cheapest available. Two other guys I shoot with have been using Game Kings with good results for years now.
To the guy who mentioned using a 22lr, We rarely see a shot under 100 yards so I think that would be pushing it with rimfire.
 
Hornady 55gr FMJBT. Drill nice holes in whatever gets in the way. There will be no expansion, maybe a bit of cavitation. Any match or varmint bullet in this weight range will grenade the Jack. Not a big deal if going for max destruction but not so good for food.

the win 40gr Varmint factory ammo is another cheap option to try. Many have found this to shoot very accurately for the distances you are hunting. I expect large exit holes.

Another thought is to use reduced loads. You can download the 223 to mimic anything from the 22magnum, through the 22 hornet, etc. With a muzzle velocity under 2500fps, most 50/55gr sp's will not expand explosively but will expand enough for good kills.

Downloading some 60/62gr SP might get you a Barnes X type effect on the Jack. Think impact velocities around 2000 to 2300fps.

Hodgdon site has lots of such reduced loads. They can be very accurate too.

Jerry
 
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For vermin control, I'd say take a look at the 50 gr Hornady SX (super explosive). I've used them for many years in my 222 and they are accurate and not that expensive, plus the really open up at modest velocity.

Realistically, full power 22 centerfire ammo isn't going to be the best choice if you plan on eating the rabbits.
 
I played around with reduced Blue Dot loads in my 222, with 45 grain RN-HP bullets intended for the Hornet. If I recall, I loaded them to a load density of about 50% (maybe 12 grains? Be careful). I never actually chrono'd them, but accuracy was satisfactory and the report was about as loud as a 22 WMR or 17 HMR. I've no idea what the terminal effects would have been like as I didn't shoot them at and real gophers (what's the point? I HAVE a 22 hornet and a 22 WMR to shoot if I want something in that power class ;))
 
oh if your buying a gun for the purpose of having a gun why nout buy one of them accuracey international 50 calliber bolt actions should work great for droping the varmints out to a 1000+ yards if you can hit them

ouch 1/3 less bullet weight and a fast burning shotgun powder should be pretty good fox load if it can be tunned right
 
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