.223 Loads & Bullets For Gopher Hunting

[msg.drew]

Anything V-max will do the trick, I like heavy bullets over lighter ones.

I shot 35grs V max out of a 223 at over 4000fps with out any issues of separation

Just shot a bunch today out of my 1-9" Savage 12FV...used the 60gr V-max. Found that the 40gr V-maxs would some times come apart at the speeds I can get with the 26" barrel.

I could not see you being able to destroy a 40grs V-max out of a 26" barrel how did you come to the conclusion that you had separation or defect while they are flying...?

 

[Ishodu]

Anything V-max will do the trick, I like heavy bullets over lighter ones.

I shot 35grs V max out of a 223 at over 4000fps with out any issues of separation



I could not see you being able to destroy a 40grs V-max out of a 26" barrel how did you come to the conclusion that you had separation or defect while they are flying...?

What kind of load were you using to get 4000 fps with the .223?

 

[msg.drew]

The load is using a very small bullet the hornady V-max 35 grain, and off the top of my head 28 grains of powder and a 26"to 30" barrel

I seen some guys with a 223 and 22-250 pushing bullets to near 6000fps I don't know how i will see if i can find the pics.

 

[Cappy]

Anything V-max will do the trick, I like heavy bullets over lighter ones.

I shot 35grs V max out of a 223 at over 4000fps with out any issues of separation



I could not see you being able to destroy a 40grs V-max out of a 26" barrel how did you come to the conclusion that you had separation or defect while they are flying...?

Only because I found a couple of tips imbedded in the target paper and no holes. Like I said though it was only one every so often. Could be wrong, who kows.

 

[msg.drew]

interesting if it happens again take pictures.

 

[River Rat]

I like 36 grain Varmint Grenade's with 28 grains of Benchmark,that gives me over 3800.They shoot better then the 40 grain V max.The 36 Grenades are the same length as a 55 grain bullet.

 

[muskog]

I shoot 75 grain AMAX over Benchmark. Not the fastest or most explosive, but they shoot well out of a fast twist 223, and are fragile enough to perform very well. I've found that 52 grain AMAX also work very well, over varget, and are every bit as explosive as the VMAX

I used 40 grain ballistic tips and 36 grain varmint grenades out of my 22-250, and 40 grain ballistic tips and 50 grain VMAX from my 222. 35 grain VMAX work exceptionally well out of my 22 Hornet, as well as the 36 grain Varmint Grenades

Hey Prosper. Is your 223 a Stevens 200? The reason I ask is that I was thinking about trying the 75gr Amax but I wasn't sure if they would be too long.

 

[mikeelliot]

69 gr SMK, 25-26 gr Varget, WIN brass, CCI BR4 Shoot great in my Stevens 223. Haven't shot a gopher with it yet, but being a HP it should kill them good

 

[CyaN1de]

69 gr SMK, 25-26 gr Varget, WIN brass, CCI BR4 Shoot great in my Stevens 223. Haven't shot a gopher with it yet, but being a HP it should kill them good

The 69 Sierra MK's are not explosive at all. You will certainly kill a gopher with one but they just kinda drop dead, no aerobatics. I shot a bunch last year with a Tikka T3 in .223. A nice light 40 or 50grn V-Max at maximum velocities should make for some interesting aerials.

 

[lcq]

I bought 200 50gr SPSX and called Hornady for some startup loads. They said forget about using them in anything tighter than a 1:12 twist or they will vaporize before hitting the target, jacket is too thin. If you guys are having luck with a 1:9 twist I'm all ears because I'm told they are brutally effective.

Brian

 

[Eagleye]

I have shot a lot of the 50 Hornady SPSX out of the 222 and 223 rifles. They are quite explosive and produce dramatic visuals. Lately, I have been using the 50 Hornady V-max with very good resiults in my 222. I am using H322 or Benchmark to get the accuracy and velocity I want. The 223 will produce a bit higher velocity, but results are similar. Regards, Eagleye.

 

[prosper]

Hey Prosper. Is your 223 a Stevens 200? The reason I ask is that I was thinking about trying the 75gr Amax but I wasn't sure if they would be too long.

No, it's a Tikka. If I had it do do over again, I wouldn't have bought the tikka, I wouldv'e bought the Stevens and a nice pre-fit barrel from Pac-Nor, Shilen or Lothar Walther for about the same price as the t3